Business panel instills students with values-based strategies for building local brands

Strategies for building local businesses rooted in Maine’s culture and values were the focus of a recent panel discussion hosted by the University of New England College of Business.

The event, part of UNE’s Spark Business Series, brought together leaders from several Maine-based organizations to share their experiences growing brands grounded in craft, community, and purpose. 

Panelists included David Tucci, president of Aroma Joe’s; Michelle Anderson, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Maine; Topher Mallory, CEO of Mexicali Blues; Tom Ruff, founder and CEO of Orange Bike Brewing; and Jill Miller, managing partner of The Maine Pie Co. The discussion was moderated by Sarah Delage, associate vice president of Communications at UNE.

Held on the University’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, the conversation explored both the opportunities and challenges of launching and sustaining organizations in Maine’s unique economic and cultural landscape. Panelists reflected on how successful local brands often resonate with values widely shared across the state: hard work, authenticity, community connection, and a willingness to give back.

Maine consumers, panelists said, are particularly loyal when businesses build genuine relationships with their communities and stay true to their missions. That loyalty can be a powerful driver of growth for companies that develop products and experiences aligned with the region’s culture.

At the same time, panelists acknowledged challenges facing local organizations, including rising operating costs and the need to adapt in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Maintaining relevance while staying authentic to a brand’s core identity was described as a balancing act many businesses continue to navigate.

The conversation also highlighted the important role nonprofit organizations play in Maine’s economy and communities. With roughly one in six Maine residents employed by a nonprofit, panelists emphasized the sector’s reliance on volunteer support and strong community partnerships.

A central theme of the discussion focused on the skills the next generation of professionals will need to succeed in today’s workforce. Panelists encouraged students to cultivate adaptable, transferable skills such as agility, communication, and emotional intelligence — qualities they said are essential when working across diverse teams and multigenerational workplaces. They also noted that emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, should be viewed as tools that can enhance productivity and creativity when used thoughtfully.

For students in attendance, the panel offered an opportunity to hear firsthand from leaders shaping Maine’s business and nonprofit landscape while gaining practical insight into entrepreneurship, branding, and leadership.

“This is what the Spark Business Series is all about. It is about creating opportunities for students to get in the room, ask thoughtful questions, and learn from people who are actively building businesses and organization,” said Connor Blake, MBA, director of UNE’s Center for Sport and Business Innovation and advisor to the dean of the College of Business. “We are grateful for the leaders who are willing to show up, share their experiences, and invest their time in our students.”

The event is part of the UNE College of Business’ Spark Business Series, an ongoing speaker series designed to connect students with industry professionals and explore real-world business challenges. By bringing leaders from across sectors to campus, the series provides students with opportunities to engage directly with practitioners, expand their professional networks, and gain perspective on the evolving workforce they will soon enter.

Since its founding by Blake in 2025, the series has hosted conversations on Portland’s rank as the country’s No. 1 minor league sports market, as named by Sports Business Journal, as well as cybersecurity and crisis management.

And, last fall, the College of Business launched a spinoff series, Spark Conversations, in UNE’s student commons in Biddeford to bring business leaders into the heart of the student experience. Prominent philanthropist and IDEXX founder David Evans Shaw was the sub-series’ first speaker, and the college will host Mary Allen Lindemann, co-founder of Coffee By Design, for a discussion called “Business Brewed Right” on Wednesday, April 8, at 5 p.m.

“When students and industry come together in a way that feels real and relevant, that is where the value of a series like this really starts to take shape, and I hope this is just the beginning,” Blake said.