FORT KENT - More than 50 loggers, off road truckers and bookkeepers now have a better understanding of business and the role each person has in operating a successful enterprise thanks to two days of training at the University of Maine Fort Kent May 14 and 15.

   Organizers of the first of its kind in the region, business management training program for loggers and off road truck drivers are calling the sessions a success and a much needed program to help people in the industry be more profitable.

   "They are first and foremost business people, who happen to be in logging, so they have to pick up these skills, now more than ever before," said Dana Saucier, management consultant for Genesis Performance Partners, who along with staff at Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) developed the training sessions.

   Subject matter experts who have experience working with contractors in banking, insurance, human resources and the logging industry taught the modules. During the first day, an overview of the accounting software QuickBooks filled the morning session. Attendees also received a free copy of the software on completion of the course. The afternoon was highlighted by a banking roundtable on planning and financing a business.

   The next morning was a discussion on planning and analysis in timber harvesting with a forestry consultant from the Adirondack Mountains in New York State. Steven Bick, PhD is a trained forest economist, with B.S. and M.S. degrees from SUNY-ESF and PhD from Virginia Tech. A large part of Bick's work has been educational programs for loggers and has taught more than 150 full-day workshops from Ohio to Maine and has spoken to industry audiences around the country.

   "People go into logging because they want to work for themselves, be outdoors and cut wood," said Bick. "They don't go into it because they want to spend a lot of time on bookwork and accounting but yet it is an important part of their business."

   Bick introduced the audience to software he developed to track costs. He added it is important to know the total cost of production to maximize efforts and profits.

   Other modules on the final day included: overcoming barriers at the U.S. Canada border; machine availability, productivity and quality; collecting and analyzing production data; and an overview of human resources.

   Paul Lozier of Soldier Pond has been in the logging business for more than 25 years, but attended this workshop to acquire new skills to help the bottom line of his business.

   "I wanted to familiarize myself with the QuickBooks program, learn a little more about financing and insurance and get a handle on things I deal with on a daily basis in the logging business," he said.

   "The forestry industry in Aroostook County represents somewhere between two thirds and three quarters of the gross domestic product from the region, so we think this is time well spent, these are resources well applied and the people in this room are taking full advantage of this opportunity," said Alain Ouellette, NMDC planning and development division director.

   To offset the cost of the training, several corporate partners signed on at various levels. Platinum sponsors were Katahdin Trust Company, NorState Federal Credit Union, TD Bank, Irving Woodlands LLC, Varney Agency, UMFK and NMDC. Contributing at the Gold level were United Insurance, LEADers Encouraging Aroostook Development and Aramark Dining Services. Acadia Federal Credit Union, FA Peabody and Key Bank were Silver sponsors.

   State, regional, and community leaders join TAMC officials in ushering in a new energy era in Maine May 13 at an official "Valve Turning" ceremony marking TAMC's lead as the first in Maine to heat and cool a facility using compressed natural gas (CNG). Participating in the event were, from left: James McKenney, TAMC vice president for diagnostic and support services; Tim Doak, TAMC facility engineer; Robert Dorsey, Aroostook Partnership for Progress president and CEO; Brian Doyle, Governor's account executive, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development; Jack Barry, American Hospital Association, New England regional lead; Gene Lynch, vice chair, TAMC Board of Trustees; Sylvia Getman, TAMC President and CEO; Maine State Representative Robert Saucier, District 5; Phil Bosse, area representative for U.S. Senator Susan Collins; Sharon Campbell, area representative for U.S. Senator Angus King; Barbara Hayslett, district representation for Congressman Michael Michaud; Chris Green, Mechanical Services, Inc.; and Matt Smith, XNG.  

   The effort to seek state approval for TAMC and other such projects was supported by the Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP), which formed a Natural Gas Working Group to champion the cause and tackle the barriers and rules implementation with the State of Maine. APP worked with state and local officials who were instrumental in working with the Maine PUC, Fuels Board and Fire Marshall to finalize the Natural Gas operating parameters and eliminate the permitting obstacles.

   To read the complete TAMC press release click here.