Sector Partnerships Training Series

Training Description:
An underrated skill and most crucial part of any project is making sure you are tackling the RIGHT problem. This training will focus on how industry partnerships can effectively assess the critical challenges and opportunities within a specific industry sector by conducting thorough research and stakeholder engagement. And then how to translate those insights into tailored project proposals that directly address identified needs and drive positive change within the sector. Identifying needs and designing projects that address those needs are the primary function of an industry partnership, so it is critical that these steps are done well.
Speaker:
Daniel Griner
Director of Design, Innovation, and Strategy / Lecturer
University of Colorado Denver – College of Engineering, Design and Computing
https://www.dangriner.com/
Training Open to Public. Access here:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/81095118122?pwd=qXbVvjbENEper8CIdsAmovVk98Giei.1
Meeting ID: 810 9511 8122
Passcode: 08491179

Training Description:
Seeing the long view of what a project will entail, what teams should be engaged, and what critical resources are needed to bring a project to the finish is a rare skill and can seem daunting for many. This training is focused on how to scope a project once the need has been identified and a project outlined to respond to that need. Content will focus on how to define the boundaries and parameters of a project, clearly outlining what work is included and excluded. We will cover how to identify project goals, deliverables, constraints, and key stakeholders, setting the foundation for successful project execution by managing "scope creep," ensuring everyone involved understands the project's limitations and expectations, and aligning expectations to the realities of funding.
Speaker:
Daniel Griner
Director of Design, Innovation, and Strategy / Lecturer
University of Colorado Denver – College of Engineering, Design and Computing
https://www.dangriner.com/
Training Open to Public. Access here:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/88661926329?pwd=Nc2dcWHSW7aTtGy4gUz9M395V8Cqzo.1
Meeting ID: 886 6192 6329
Passcode: 05430292

Training Description:
The Clean Energy Workforce Partnership, based in the Governor’s Energy Office, is one of the larger and more comprehensive sector partnerships in the state of Maine. This training is focused on the work of the Clean Energy Workforce Partnership and will cover their methodologies and share out the most recent results of their work. This is an excellent opportunity to engage with an effective industry partnership and gain insights into their processes and progress.
Speaker:
Tagwongo Obomsawin
Clean Energy Partnership Program Manager
Maine Governor's Energy Office
Tagwongo Obomsawin serves as the Clean Energy Partnership Program Manager for the Governor's Energy Office. Prior to joining the office, she worked for several years in Maine's renewable energy industry and with small businesses focused on decarbonization, electrification, and local economic development. Tagwongo grew up in Farmington, Maine and earned her Master's in Business Administration from Bard College, and Bachelor's in Economics from the University of Maine.
Training Open to Public. Access here:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/89202564883?pwd=9fHGvLhG4xSfjv7jaRgIHhdZnsBmZA.1
Meeting ID: 892 0256 4883
Passcode: 50653440

Training Description:
Grant writing is a key component of success for sector partnerships, regardless of size or industry because funding is one of the two primary challenges for sustaining partnerships over time. This training is a crash course on grant writing by two highly sought after grant writers. The session will cover the basics of federal grants, from reading the RFP to final submission and will include best practices on building relationships with program managers, how to build an accurate budget, and suggestions on where to start for people who are new to grant writing. Dr. Gehring and Ms. Pearks will also be available to hire as contractors for grant writing support to those who attend.
Speakers:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rnaediting
Michelle Sauer Gehring, PhD, ELS
Dr. Michelle Sauer completed her graduate education in microbiology at Texas A&M University and pursued a traditional research path by taking on a postdoctoral fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. By 2011, she was an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston and an accomplished scientist with grants, publications, and clinical studies. Wanting to use her strengths in editing and medical writing, she pivoted to create a separate career in medical communication. She attained her certification as an editor in life science (ELS) and has worked in research development and scientific publications in both employed and freelance settings.

Alison Pearks, MSc, ELS, CRA
Ms. Pearks focuses on connecting researchers to opportunities and helping them craft proposals to showcase their research in the best light. After getting both a BS in Zoology and an MSc in Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State, Ali spent 7 years at the National Cancer Institute and 8 years at Texas A&M as a bench scientist conducting molecular biology, comparative genomics, and transgenic research. She transitioned to research development 13 years ago and has worked as a pre-award administrator for 9 years; during this time, she earned her ELS certification and became a Certified Research Administrator. Ali has assisted with over 1200 proposals since 2011.
Training Open to Public. Access here:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/85886188741?pwd=Lajx36PuqWlWoJATTLFCZQ36syCPzo.1
Meeting ID: 858 8618 8741
Passcode: 00613153

Training Description:
Tracking data is one of the most important tasks for a sector partnership to do in the course of their work, as it allows them to evaluate the effectiveness of their projects and align with the requirements of funders. This training will focus on the basics of tracking metrics, including common methodologies and tracking tools, and will give an overview of what metrics are tracked by the state and other easily accessible resources that can be used to support partnerships.
Speaker:
Hunter Morancy
Principal Economic Research Analyst at Center for Workforce Research and Information
Maine Department of Labor
(2) Hunter Morancy | LinkedIn
Training Open to Public. Access here:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/89312760967?pwd=2tXR9pk0KFwQb5u0KT0SeyagznIsNy.1
Meeting ID: 893 1276 0967
Passcode: 54850968

Training Description:
This training is a round table discussion with two existing partnerships in the state of Maine. They will be sharing advice on a variety of topics related to their work and partnership experience.
Speakers:
Kathryn Ference
Director of Workforce Development
Maine Tourism Association

Mari T. O'Neil
Workforce Development Director-Retail Association of Maine
Executive Director-Maine Business Education Partnership

Training Open to Public. Access here:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/85309361926?pwd=moGUIzY9SC4D7jY1L3PEeUbGTkGUgd.1
Meeting ID: 853 0936 1926
Passcode: 42669271

Training Description:
Over two days Dan Griner and Marie Evans will take the participants through processes to help identify the core challenges in their organizations and to formulate a good problem/opportunity statement. They will then take the teams through a variety of innovation and design-thinking approaches to develop their strategic acumen and begin the work of finding holistic and sustainable solutions. These will include stakeholder mapping and interviews, informational mapping and concept selection, and testing and refinement. Whether taking on physical, digital, or programmatic challenges they will draw from a superset of design tools instead of one particular methodology. Dan and Marie will make the program prescriptive and flexible to adjust the curriculum and flow of the course to the skills and needs of the participants. They will make sure to help the various industries and disciplines represented to right-size the type of tools and effort that is needed for their particular challenge and make the workshop uniquely impactful. To ensure that the concepts taught are sticky and able to be used beyond the workshop, participants will also be given templates and digital tools to use for their future work
Speaker:
Daniel Griner
Director of Design, Innovation, and Strategy / Lecturer
University of Colorado Denver – College of Engineering, Design and Computing
https://www.dangriner.com/

Dan has spent over 30 years in entrepreneurship and product development roles. Founding 4 companies and 2 non-profits, Dan has worked on a variety of products, services, and initiatives across a range of industries. He has also held leadership roles in Fortune 500 companies and higher education institutions around the world. This breadth of experiences has given him the ability to elicit unique value and insights in his work. His ability to take complex concepts and bring clarity for his collaborators makes him a gifted educator. At University of Colorado Denver, Dan serves as the Director of Design, Innovation, and Strategy where he has a variety of innovation and entrepreneurship programs he oversees, including the Smart Futures Lab, The Outside Lab @Cu Denver, and the upcoming Civic Innovation Hub. Dan is seduced by big problems and is adept at taking clients and collaborators through design and innovation methodologies to drive towards inclusive and sustainable solutions. Dan is also passionate about bringing opportunities to people of diverse backgrounds and people with disabilities. He is very active in his community where he serves as an advisor to two Investment funds and is a member of several chambers of commerce and on advisory boards of non-profits.

Marie Evans
External Project Manager
University of Colorado Denver – CU Inworks
(9) Marie Evans | LinkedIn
Marie Evans brings international and non-profit experience combined with human-centered design expertise to her facilitation work. With a background spanning multiple cultural contexts and social issues, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to guide diverse groups through complex problem-solving processes. Her collaborative approach focuses on bringing stakeholders together to deeply understand challenges before developing solutions, whether working with medical innovators, urban entrepreneurs, or nonprofit organizations. Her portfolio includes leading Stanford summer bridge medical programs through design processes, empowering students to create innovative healthcare solutions. She's helped facilitate multiple strategic planning processes, and run workshops with organizations from all different sectors - from elementary school students and the city of Westminster, Colorado, to companies like Outside Inc. With her colleague, Dan Griner, she helped in developing the Smart Futures Lab at the University of Colorado Denver, a program supporting entrepreneurs in the smart cities space. Drawing from this rich background, Marie specializes in creating engaging workshop environments that empower participants to unlock their creative potential while maintaining focus on practical, implementable outcomes.

Training Open to Public but limited seats. $200 attendance fee. Contact Molly Thompson to reserve a spot.
 Molly.thompson@maine.gov

Training Description:
This training is a round table discussion with two existing partnerships in the state of Maine. They will focus on how they chose what metrics to track, how they tracked them, and offer advice on what worked best and what pitfalls the partnerships have faced in tracking data.
Speakers:
Jesse Billingham
Program Manager
Northeastern University - Roux Institute
Jesse Billingham |

Dr. Aileen Huang-Saad
Director of Life Sciences, Health, & Engineering; Associate Professor of Bioengineering
Northeastern University - Roux Institute
Aileen Huang-Saad |

Dr. Katherine Simmonds
Clinical Professor; Associate Director of Health Programs
Northeastern University - Roux Institute
Katherine Simmonds - Bouvé College of Health Sciences
Training Open to Public. Access here:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/81737811056?pwd=OP8dQS3xrq9pbserPF0AUn23XlbFhL.1
Meeting ID: 817 3781 1056
Passcode: 11617975

Training Description:
This training is a round table discussion with two existing partnerships in the state of Maine. It will focus on best practices for engaging and managing partners. Keeping industry at the table is one of the two biggest challenges for sector partnerships, so this training will offer some valuable insights into how to do that well.
Speakers:
Edmond Kabagambe 
Executive Director, Maine Labor and Resource Center (MLRC)
www.mlrcmaine.org 

Erica Watson
Senior Program Director Education & Workforce
Maine Development Foundation
Our Dedicated Staff at MDF | Maine Development Foundation

Training Open to Public. Access here:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://mainestate.zoom.us/j/81889299707?pwd=kNkIAITZ26HPfLda4XRSpIHDzKaIT6.1
Meeting ID: 818 8929 9707
Passcode: 65349401