January 13, 2010

Portland, Maine – Pine Tree Development Zone (PTDZ), a program that offers eligible businesses the ability to increase business activity and create employment opportunity to support Maine’s economy, announced that Hall Web Services, a Maine-based web design and internet marking firm,  has certified as a PTDZ business.

The Pine Tree Development Zone initiative is intended to encourage and reward the creation of new qualified business activity statewide through tax benefits that constitute an overall gain to the business and to Maine’s economy. The goal of the PTDZ program is to create quality jobs in targeted industries and support new and expanding Maine businesses.

“We’re very proud to recently become a certified Pine Tree Development Zone company,” said Tom Hall, President of Hall Web Services, “This status will help Hall with our growing business and add more jobs here in Portland – well paying, benefited jobs that will stay here in Maine. We see a great opportunity for growth in our Search Marketing Software as a service product over the next decade with the help of the PTDZ certification.”

Over the past ten years, Hall has grown to serve hundreds of B2B businesses throughout the world, including several international corporations. Hall maintains a full suite of full service web services including web design, application development, internet marketing (SEO and PPC), inbound marketing (email marketing, blogging, and social media), and adds consulting for all of the same services. All full service customers also have access to Hall’s unique internet marketing tools.

About Hall Web Services
Hall Web Services of Portland, Maine offers a suite of site status and management tools, web marketing consulting and full service web services to B2B businesses.  Hall’s full service options include web design and development, managed hosting, internet marketing, inbound marketing strategies and multimedia production.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: entreverge Director Johann Sabbath

Phone (207) 807-7073 cell

Email: johann.sabbath@gmail.com

Portland, ME – Portland PROPEL unveiled entreverge, a bold new project to celebrate and support local entrepreneurs.

The inaugural entreverge Awards, a collaborative project led by PROPEL in partnership with the Portland Regional Chamber and numerous local businesses, business groups, non-profits, and social networks, will accelerate economic growth by connecting entrepreneurs and business innovators with resources and relationships within Portland’s local business community.

“The launch of entreverge comes at a time when the economy is starving for positive energy and when national trends toward innovation and entrepreneurship are amplifying louder than ever”, said Mike Carey, Chair of PROPEL and auctioneer with Tranzon Auction Properties.

Nominations for the entreverge Awards will be fielded at www.entreverge.com from May 5th to 31st.  Nominees will be considered by PROPEL on a number of criteria, including the nominees’ scalable vision for their business and their commitment to a triple bottom line—the people, place, and prosperity of Maine.

Five entreverge Award-winners will receive face time with Portland’s leading business figures and a package of pro bono consultation, services, and products volunteered by local artistic, finance, IT, legal, marketing, and web experts and other business service providers.

Dana Hutchins, owner of Image Works Internet Business Solutions, is one of the local business leaders who is volunteering consulting services to the winners.  “When I was approached about getting involved, “ remarked Dana, “I thought is was a great opportunity to give back to the business community and meet exciting new clients.”

“This is a critical time for collaboration and getting the resources of Portland’s business community behind its future leaders,” said Will Thomas, an entreverge organizer and founder of the Portland-based triathlon company Tri-Maine. 

The entreverge Awards will culminate with a celebration on Thursday evening, June 25th at Port City Music Hall in downtown Portland with live performances by Adam and the Waxmen and the Jason Spooner Band. Tickets can be purchased through the Portland Regional Chamber by calling 207-772-2811.

Recognizing the need to celebrate risk and innovation in today’s economic climate, PROPEL began planning entreverge this winter when approached by the University of Maine Farmington and Swardlick Marketing Group.  Six months later—after comprehensive feedback from many of Portland’s business leaders and social entrepreneurs—entreverge has arrived.

“I’ve spent the last few months meeting with business leaders and organizational heads throughout Greater Portland,” said entreverge Director Johann Sabbath, “trying to figure out the greatest potential value that PROPEL could bring to the community.  Organizing entreverge became the answer.”

Portland PROPEL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering leadership and education among Greater Portland’s young blue, white, green, and no-collar business community. In 2006, PROPEL was inspired by the Realize!Maine network and formed as an affiliate of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce.

entreverge is made possible by Premier Sponsors Bangor Savings Bank, Swardlick Marketing Group, and the University of Maine Farmington and Premier Media Sponsor Mainebiz.

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Portland, ME – Next Day Art, an art licensing and product ideation company located in Portland, Maine, has secured product licensing agreements with some of the largest and most recognized manufacturers of calendars, journals, gifts, puzzles and more.  With over 500 images under licensing agreement with manufacturers in just over 12 months, the company is in a great position to grow in 2008 and beyond.

According to James Meserve, president of Next Day Art, “Industry leading companies like Hasbro, MeadWestvaco, C.R. Gibson, Demdaco and more have licensed artwork from us over the last six months.” 

In addition to the specific companies listed above, Next Day Art has negotiated licensing agreements with manufacturers of wall décor, mobile wallpaper, quilting and textile fabrics, greeting cards, collectibles, wallpaper, poster reproductions, serving trays, mugs, coasters and more.  Most of the products licensed through Next Day Art are scheduled to hit stores nationally and internationally in 2008 and 2009.

“We are very pleased, especially as a new company, with the reception we have garnered from the manufacturers and designers we work with”, commented Meserve.  “We operate under the slogan ‘Bringing Great Art to Life’ and hope to give artists another avenue to make money as well as the opportunity to share some of their beautiful works with a wider audience as they become interpreted onto various products.”   Continued Meserve, “It’s really fun and gratifying to see the products come to life and appear in stores.”

Companies that produce greeting cards, home accents, gifts, wall décor, home accents, textiles, collectibles, puzzles, calendars and more rely on Next Day Art to source and license art.   Next Day Art represents artists from Maine and the rest of the United States, as well as globally including Canada, Europe and Australia.

To find out more about Next Day Art, visit their website at www.nextdayart.com or call 207-761-4278.  For representation of licensing inquiries contact jim@nextdayart.com

PORTLAND, ME: Dr. David J. Stuchiner, Chairman of the Iris Network’s Board of Directors, announced Wednesday the appointment of James E. Phipps as the new President/CEO of The Iris Network.

Mr. Phipps comes to The Iris Network having served 18 years on the organization’s Board of Directors, most recently as its former Chairman. Prior to his arrival at the Iris Network, Mr. Phipps was an attorney and partner at the Portland-based law firm Preti, Flaherty, LLP. For over 20 years, Mr. Phipps has been representing nonprofit organizations in areas such as rehabilitation, health care, education, and transportation, with assistance in Medicare compliance and nonprofit tax issues.

Mr. Phipps is a graduate of Florida State University. He earned a joint MBA/Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Maine State Bar Association. Mr. Phipps lives on Chebeague Island, ME with his wife and two daughters.

“The Search Committee was impressed by Mr. Phipps’ long history of dedication to the Iris Network and to the visually impaired and blind community of Maine,” said Nancy Hawes, Board Member and Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. “As a leading attorney in the state of Maine representing nonprofits, Mr. Phipps will help guide the organization toward accomplishing its mission to serve as a resource for people across Maine with vision loss.”

Mr. Phipps will begin his duties as President /CEO in March 2008.

The Iris Network serves as a state wide resource and catalyst for people who are visually impaired or blind so they can attain their determined level of independence and integration into the community. Headquartered in Portland, the Iris Network has outreach offices in Bangor, Brewer, Ellsworth, Houlton, Lewiston and Saco.

Visit www.theiris.org for more information.