UNE SPARK Series to explore entrepreneurship, innovation in Maine’s blue economy on Oct. 7

The University of New England College of Business will bring leaders from Maine’s marine industries to campus on Wednesday, Oct. 7, for “The Business of the Blue Economy,” the latest installment of its SPARK Series connecting students with professionals shaping Maine’s workforce and economy.

Featuring entrepreneurs working across aquaculture, biotechnology, sustainability, and marine innovation, the discussion will explore the intersections of science, education, and entrepreneurship and the opportunities emerging within Maine’s blue economy and ocean innovation landscape.

Panelists include Nate Henninger, founder and owner of Sea Farm Solutions LLC and farm manager at Madeleine Point Oyster Farms; Krista Rosen, CEO and co-founder of Atlantic Blue Biotech; Katie Weiler, CEO and founder of Viable Gear; and Mike Masi, founder of Shell+Claw.

Jeremy Pare, L.P.D., M.S., director of UNE’s Marine Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in Business programs, will moderate the discussion.

Presented by the College of Business and UNE’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), the event reflects the University’s growing emphasis on connecting students with Maine employers and industry leaders while preparing graduates to contribute to the state’s workforce.

“The SPARK Series brings executives, entrepreneurs, and other professionals to UNE to explore emerging business trends and real-world challenges. Through direct interaction with industry leaders, students gain practical career insight, expand their professional networks, and build connections that can lead to internships, mentorship, and employment opportunities,” said Amir Mousavian, Ph.D., acting dean of UNE’s College of Business.

The blue economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean, coastal, and other aquatic resources to support economic development, a sector with significant growth potential in Maine, where ocean-related industries generate an estimated $6.8 billion in economic activity. The SPARK panel builds on UNE’s strengths in business, entrepreneurship, and the marine sciences while exposing students to career opportunities emerging where those disciplines intersect. 

The panel also follows the recent conclusion of Maine Blue Economy Week. Held Sept. 3 to Oct. 2, the statewide event convened entrepreneurs, funders, researchers, students, and others shaping the future of Maine’s ocean and coastal economy. 

Prior to the panel — during the networking hour — attendees will also have the chance to meet UNE's Shaw Innovation Fellows, who are working with blue tech founders on projects that address current challenges to ocean health. Their work ranges from solar-powered aquaculture equipment to building collaborative businesses focused on sustainable aquaculture and building markets that transform invasive European green crabs into haute cuisine, creating demand that helps curb the crabs' damage to coastal ecosystems.

Lisa Herschbach, Ph.D., CIE director and assistant dean of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in UNE’s College of Business, said the discussion will also give students an inside look at how Maine entrepreneurs are translating ideas and research into businesses that respond to economic, environmental, and community needs.

"Between the panel and the networking hour, attendees can talk directly with founders, hear how they built their companies, and see our Shaw Innovation Fellows already working on real blue tech projects,” Herschbach said. “That kind of exposure helps students picture themselves in the blue economy and start building the skills and connections they'll need to join its workforce."

Launched in 2025, the SPARK Series has explored topics ranging from professional sports and cybersecurity to entrepreneurship and building values-driven Maine brands. Across each event, the series creates opportunities for students to learn directly from professionals navigating the industries and workplaces they will soon enter.

For more information and to register, visit the event registration page.