March 2021 Edition
Innovation
Sponsored by People's United Bank
5 Qs with John Harrington
Chief Business Officer, HighByte
1. What is the premise of HighByte, how does it aim to serve customers?
 
HighByte is an industrial software development company in Portland, Maine building solutions that address the data architecture and integration challenges created by Industry 4.0. We’ve developed the first DataOps solution purpose-built to meet the unique requirements of industrial assets, products, processes, and systems at the Edge.
 
2. What challenges does the manufacturing industry currently face? What does the future of Industry 4.0 look like?

Employees in manufacturing companies are looking to get access to more information faster so they can quickly make better decisions to drive their businesses. These could be identifying and responding to quality issues, identifying and servicing machinery before it breaks down, optimizing a highly complex production line, providing visibility of production status and production metrics to all employees; the list goes on and on. 
 
There have been many advances in low-cost sensors, network connectivity, cloud platforms, data analytics and data visualization over the past 10 years which are significantly advancing the abilities to solve the issues. However, the efficient management and delivery of data at scale has not changed in the past 10 - 15 years. HighByte is modernizing the integration and delivery of data for industrial companies, recognizing the new business environment and technology landscape we live in.
 
3. What resources, partners, and companies have been helpful to HighByte as it has continued to grow? 

HighByte has been fortunate to work with many resources available in the State of Maine which are available to startup technology companies. We have formally used the services of the following:

Maine Technology Institute
Maine Venture Forum
Maine Startups Insider
Startup Maine
Finance Authority of Maine
Maine Angels

We have consulted with, spoken to, and learned from many more services in the greater Portland area which are too numerous to list here.
 
4. How does HighByte’s software differ from other intelligence hubs? How does HighByte optimize its services for both OT and IT platforms?

HighByte's software is unique in many ways. The technology includes a flexible modeling capability that allows companies to structure, standardize and contextualize the information being integrated. This addresses challenges of scale in the amount of data and the number of systems which must be integrated. Most of the competing solutions did not contemplate the scale challenges we are seeing and that will continue to increase. 
 
HighByte's solution was designed to be setup and maintained by the Operations Technology (OT) team. Many of the solutions today are designed for the Information technology (IT) team and leverage systems they are familiar with.
 
HighByte's solution supports the OT team to effectively bridge the OT/IT divide and provide information to the IT team in ways they need to receive it.

5. What are HighByte’s plans for growth within the next few years?

HighByte doubled the number of employees in 2020 and expects to double again in 2021. We will continue to grow aggressively over the next few years and expect the sales to grow even faster than the employee count as the product meets critical requirements and we have more broad market exposure.
March Tech Night:
HighByte: The Industrial DataOps Solution for Industry 4.0
March 11 | 12:00 p.m. | Click here for Zoom link

Listen in to hear how HighByte is solving persistent data interoperability and security problems faced by industrial operations as the first DataOps solution purpose-built to meet the unique requirements of industrial assets, products, processes & systems at the Edge.
 
About HighByte: HighByte is an industrial software development company in Portland, Maine building solutions that address the data architecture and integration challenges created by Industry 4.0. 
Virtual Central Maine Tech Night (CMTN) Recordings
By moving to the virtual Zoom platform to comply with social distancing recommendations, Central Maine Tech Night (CMTN) has made its presentations available for viewing anytime. You can watch recordings of past CMTNs on the




Fighting Cybercrime: Old Tools for New Threats
Article by Thomas Stapleton, SVP International Banking, People's United Bank
Digital communications and transactions have vastly increased the speed and convenience of business. But this digitization has also paved the way for whole new types of threats and risks that many companies struggle to contain. In particular, middle market companies that use wire transfers to buy and sell goods directly with overseas customers and suppliers are being targeted by hackers at an alarming rate, and many are incurring serious financial losses.

For more information regarding cybercrime mitigation, click here.

For more important tips to help maintain operational continuity during the COVID-19 crisis, click here.
Business Investment
Top Stories of February 2021

“The Davis Institute will enable our faculty to transform their scholarship and teaching,” said Margaret McFadden, Colby's provost and dean of faculty. "Our educational mission must include preparing students for a future in which AI is ubiquitous, and this Institute will make that possible in a way that no other liberal arts college can do.”


Oakland-based accounting firm One River CPAs has acquired an Augusta firm, Gibson LeClair LLC, and is looking to continue growth. One River had 2019 revenues of $2.9 million, ranking the firm No. 11 in the state, according to the 2021 Mainebiz Book of Lists. Boulette projects the annual revenues of the combined firm to be about $4 million, which could move it up a few notches.


The renovation of a 110-year-old building on the corner of Common and Main streets in downtown Waterville is almost complete, transforming a former jewelry store into new retail space and two market-rate two-bedroom apartments.

The renovation by developer Bill Mitchell is itself notable — a beautiful adaptive reuse of one of downtown's landmark buildings. But it's just a piece of the whole-scale transformation of the southern end of Main Street in the last six years.


“The next logical step was to develop a cohesive graphic identity that honors the unique programming of each division yet conveys the collaborative nature that is the essence of Waterville Creates” Shannon Haines, president and chief executive officer said in a prepared statement. “The unified brand, website, and ticketing system are essential elements to creating an exceptional patron experience for residents and visitors.”


College officials said the specialized lab expands student capacity not only for degree and certificate programs in plumbing; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); and sustainable energy systems, but also for short-term training through the KVCC Institute for Workforce Training and Professional Development.


The forum, to be located in the heart of the building, “will be a dynamic, flexible space designed to connect the community through a range of uses, from informal gatherings to student performances and exhibitions,” according to a statement released to the news media.


“During a time of immense challenges for our region, our state and our nation, education lights the path to a better future," Thomas College President Laurie Lachance said in a news release. "It provides graduates with careers and economic stability and creates opportunities that last lifetimes, including for the communities where they live, work, and lead. It is because of this, and thanks to the tremendous time, effort and investments from the people and organizations who care about Thomas students, that we have been so successful.”


Ole Amundsen, vice president of Friends of Quarry Road, said Sunday’s event served as a way to “reignite imagination” of alpine skiing in the city.

“We have big plans for Quarry Road,” he said. “We’re trying to recreate that feel and that vibe of people getting out for an afternoon ski, and that it’s possible to do it in Waterville.”


The video game-themed cocktail list is sure to bring back memories for the ’80s and ’90s kids. Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, Pinball, Skee-Ball, ping pong, air hockey and more highlight the namesake arcade portion of the business.

This is the new Drip City Arcade Bar on the West River Road. Open for just over a month, the family-run business is already building a loyal following despite opening during the coronavirus pandemic.


“Connectivity and coordination across R&D innovation ecosystems are even more critical today to support recovery from potential COVID-19 impacts on high growth startups,” said Diane Sturgeon, Acting District Director of U.S. Small Business Administration's Maine District Office, “Ensuring that access to resources and capital are available to all Americans is essential in creating a robust and dynamic workforce with inclusive growth, and ensuring that the benefits of entrepreneurship accrue across the nation. By investing in local organizations, the SBA is providing resources to those who understand their communities best and are able to leverage their knowledge on behalf of Maine’s entrepreneurs.”


SledTRX, a website developed by Thomas junior Jake Warn, aims to remove barriers to identifying routes and finding amenities and points of interest along the state's more than 10,000 miles of trails.

Warn, of Winslow, is a snowmobiler who is often frustrated with the old-fashioned and non-connected information available. He created SledTRX, which launched in December, to simplify trip-planning and make Maine’s snowmobile trails more attractive to resident and non-resident riders.


According to the National Register citation, a small number of octagon houses were built in Maine. Some are built in the Gothic or Italianate style; others like Pressey House, are Greek Revival.

“As a well-preserved example of this relatively rare form, the Pressey House Lakeside Bed & Breakfast, with its interestingly attached ell and barn, deserves attention,” the citation says. “most octagon houses in the state exist in more urban surroundings with separate stables or carriage houses.”
Contact: Don Plourde
207-660-4000 dplourde@cbplourde.com
Central Maine Real Estate Spotlight
Featured Commercial Property:
Building Size: 5,000 sq.ft.
Sale Price: $499,000
Property Features:
  • Loading docks and overhead doors
  • Off-street parking
  • Metal roofing

Context:
  • Multi-use building
  • Spacious interior
  • Proximity to I-95
Workforce Investment
Workforce Training & Professional Development: 
Spring professional development classes are open for registration
Workforce training has not stopped at Kennebec Valley Community College.

Workforce Training & Professional Development at Kennebec Valley Community College provides non-credit and customized training programs to individuals and businesses throughout Kennebec, Somerset, and Knox counties. Customized training programs for your incumbent or new hire workforce may qualify for a Maine Quality Center grant to reduce the cost of training.

KVCC’s professional development training scheduled currently delivers training for welding, heat pump installation, high pressure boiler, heavy equipment operator, emergency medical technician (EMT), certified nursing assistant (CNA), phlebotomy and more.

KVCC’s Institute of Workforce Training also continues to deliver customized training programs. Some of those trainings include leadership, human resource management, MS Excel, lab skills, conflict management and First Aid/CPR.

In response to COVID-19 we have adapted our delivery model to ensure the health and safety of staff, instructors, and trainees. Many of our classes have moved to hybrid or fully online training.
 
To check out our spring professional development schedule or register for a class, visit our website at www.kvcc.me.edu/workforce or call Melissa at 207-453-5083.
 
To learn how you can train your team using a Maine Quality Center grant call Elizabeth at 207.453.5858 or visit us online at www.kvcc.me.edu/workforce.  
Quality of Place
Sponsored by MaineGeneral Health
Do you have orthopaedic needs but don’t want to go to the Emergency Department or Express Care because of COVID-19? MaineGeneral Orthopaedics offers a walk-in clinic for your sprains, strains and broken bones. The walk-in clinic has no-appointment, walk-in access for patients Monday through Friday.

For hours and other information, visit https://www.mainegeneral.org/medical-services/ortho/.
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Board of Directors:

Chris Gaunce, chair – Central Maine Motors Auto Group
Beth Gibbs, treasurer – Thomas College
Lucille Zelenkewich, secretary – Bar Harbor Bank and Trust

Terri Vieira – Northern Light Health - Inland Hospital
Erica Lacroix - Town of Winslow
Ryan Poulin - New Dimensions FCU
Elizabeth Fortin – Kennebec Valley Community College
Paul Stein – MaineGeneral Health
Steve Daly – City of Waterville
Gary Bowman – Town of Oakland
Michelle Flewelling – Town of Fairfield
Brian Clark – Colby College
Michael Runser – Valley Beverage
Allan Rancourt – Kennebec Federal Savings
Donald Plourde – Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate
Tom Meucci - Huhtamaki
Liz Menard - Bill and Joan Alfond Foundation

Ex-Officio Board Members:

James Dinkle – Kennebec Regional Dev. Authority/ FirstPark
Ole Amundsen - Kennebec Valley Council of Governments
Christian Savage - Somerset Economic Development Corporation