Clients: Government

Aquaculture Research Institute at the University of Maine brings together researchers and faculty from multiple disciplines to enable UMaine’s aquaculture research portfolio to embrace the entire innovation development pipeline. We were hired to facilitate two strategic planning retreats.

The City of Auburn, Maine, hired us to plan and facilitate a series of work sessions among City Department Directors and City Councilors to discuss work plans, long term goals, and other specific topics.

When the City of Auburn, Maine hired a new City Manager it presented a perfect opportunity for the City Council & Mayor to discuss and define the ideal relationship between the Council and the Manager. We were hired to plan and facilitate a workshop to discuss this relationship as well as identify near-term City Council goals.

The Auburn City Council wanted to make a long term holistic plan for a Senior Community Center and senior programming, and the Council wanted to hear directly from the community to help develop the plan. We were hired to facilitate a workshop of the Council to consider community input and decide how to proceed. We also prepared a complete report of the workshop.

The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Town of Bar Harbor and other key institutions, convened a meeting among business and community leaders to discuss innovative approaches to developing more business activity in the shoulder seasons (spring and fall). We were hired to facilitate the meeting and prepare the resulting report of findings.

The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Town of Bar Harbor and other key institutions, convened a series of meetings among business and community leaders to discuss innovative approaches to developing more business activity in the shoulder seasons. We were hired to facilitate these multi-stakeholder meetings and prepare the resulting summary reports.

Bath is a city of about 8,500 located in midcoast Maine. We were hired to help plan, facilitate, and document a public meeting about the future of South End Park, a city property on the banks of the Kennebec River. During the meeting participants wrote their ideas on paper and we organized them on the wall for all to see. We also prepared a complete report of the meeting.

The City of Bath Planning Department hired us to facilitate a public forum at which residents discussed desired characteristics of potential new downtown buildings. As part of the forum, images of downtown buildings were displayed around the room and participants “voted” for their favorites. We also prepared a report of the meeting to assist property owners and policy makers as they make future decisions about downtown development.

Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine and is the principal commercial center of York County. We were hired to conduct advance interviews, plan and facilitate a workshop for The Biddeford City Council.

We were hired by the Town of Bowdoinham to plan, facilitate, and provide Complete Reports of two public meetings to gather input on the town’s comprehensive plan.

We were hired to facilitate a series of three community input and visual mapping workshops to gather residents’ opinions on resource management for the Town of Bowdoinham.

Before revising its comprehensive plan, the Town of Bowdoinham wanted first to establish a unified vision for the town. We were hired to facilitate public input meetings and analyze survey data, and then work with the Comprehensive Planning Committee to establish a written vision statement.

The Town of Bowdoinham is dedicated to community involvement in the development and implementation of its Comprehensive Plan. As in the past, we were hired to facilitate a series of community workshops to gather opinions on implementation strategies for the plan.

The Town of Bowdoinham is dedicated to community involvement in the development and implementation of its Comprehensive Plan. As in the past, we were hired to facilitate a series of community workshops to gather opinions on implementation strategies for the plan.

Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine located at the north end of Casco Bay. We were hired to facilitate a series of Public Input Meetings to support the Town of Brunswick Comprehensive Plan Update.

The directors of both the Brunswick Economic Development Corporation and Topsham Development, Inc. convened a workshop on design and impact issues, opportunities, and challenges presented by the potential development of a midcoast regional business park. Through the workshop, the two organizations solicited public comments and ideas regarding how design standards might be used to manage appearance, community and environmental impacts, and even what sorts of business tenants should be targeted to align with such standards. We were hired to facilitate the workshop and prepare a report.

The Elementary School Building Committee was charged by the Town Council to develop recommendations on the location and design of a new elementary school. We were hired by the Brunswick Office of Superintendent of Schools to facilitate meetings of the Committee and prepare summary reports of each meeting.

The Brunswick, Maine School Department hired us to facilitate a series of community input meetings and prepare a draft strategic plan to help chart the future of the Brunswick schools.

We were hired to plan and moderate two public forums to discuss paper streets and shore access in this waterfront community in southern Maine.

The Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth, Maine is owned by the Town with a citizen Advisory Board. I have been hired to help the staff and board develop a strategic plan for the library.

Casco Bay Island Transit District (CBITD, also known as Casco Bay Lines) operates year-round passenger, vehicle, and freight service to six Casco Bay islands. We were hired to facilitate a strategic planning meeting among the members of the CBITD Board. In advance of the meeting we conducted interviews with stakeholders and prepared a report of findings. We also facilitated an additional follow-up meeting to further discuss the emerging conclusions from the retreat.

Casco Bay Island Transit District (CBITD, also known as Casco Bay Lines) operates year-round passenger, vehicle, and freight service to six Casco Bay islands. Like last year, we were hired to facilitate a strategic planning meeting among the members of the CBITD Board. We also facilitated a follow-up meeting to discuss a new vessel selection process. We prepared Complete Reports of both meetings.

The Central Western Maine Workforce Investment Board coordinates workforce development services for job seekers and employers. We were hired to help plan and facilitate a Financial Freedom Forum – an opportunity for Maine service providers to share ideas about improving financial capabilities and self sufficiency among their clients, many of whom are low income and/or have disabilities.

This statewide council, mandated by the State Legislature to represent consumers of mental and behavioral health services, hired us to facilitate a full day conference focused on ethics and team building. In addition to planning and facilitating an ambitious agenda, we also prepared a complete report of the meeting.

The Consumer Council System of Maine is mandated by the State Legislature to represent consumers of mental and behavioral health services. We were hired to facilitate a strategic planning retreat and prepare a complete report.

The Consumer Council System of Maine has teamed up with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) to convene a series of meetings of peer and family support groups for people with mental and behavioral health challenges. The purpose of the meetings is to explore collaboration opportunities. We have been hired to help plan and facilitate the meetings and prepare a complete report.

Cumberland County, Maine is home to 28 cities and towns. The county government manages a court and justice system, emergency management services, and partners with others to support economic development and regional health and water quality. We’ve been hired to facilitate a strategic planning retreat for the County Commissioners to take stock of recent successes and challenges and make plans for the future.

Building on our earlier work with the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, we facilitated several meetings of the Design Team of the new Cumberland County Clean Water Collaboration, a coalition of municipal managers and stormwater management professionals working together on municipal and regional stormwater projects. In these meetings we discussed objectives and tasks for the new Collaboration.

Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District is a non-regulatory public resource helping solve the challenges of soil and water pollution, land development, wildlife habitat and flood mitigation. The District’s biennial Maine Stormwater Conference brings together municipal, state, and federal employees; engineers; planners; academics; and other professionals to learn about and discuss stormwater management. At the 2015 conference, we facilitated a roundtable discussion among municipal managers and others about innovative stormwater management approaches. We also prepared a report of the session.

In collaboration with Cumberland County and the Greater Portland Council of Governments, the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District hosted a meeting among municipal managers and stormwater management professionals to kick off the Cumberland County Clean Water Collaboration and identify regional priorities for clean water projects. We were hired to help plan and facilitate the meeting.

In collaboration with Cumberland County, the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District is hosting a meeting of the Regional Clean Water Collaborative. We were hired to help plan and facilitate the meeting.

In response to a recent legislative mandate, a coalition of organizations, including the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, the Maine Center for Economic Policy, the Muskie School of USM, and the DHHS Office of Elder Services, hired us to facilitate dialogue among health care providers, workers, and consumers. Our objective was to find common ground among these interests and develop consensus recommendations on the nature of a statewide registry of direct care workers.

The Downeast District Coordinating Council for Public Health is overseeing implementation of a federal Community Transformation Grant which will help Washington and Hancock Counties expand efforts in tobacco-free, active living, healthy eating, quality clinical preventive services, and healthy and safe physical environments. We have been hired to help plan and facilitate a series of meetings of the Community Transformation Grant Oversight Committee, to develop a shared understanding and collaborative approach for implementing the grant. Leigh Tillman is serving as lead facilitator.

The town of Durham (pop. ~ 4,000) borders the Androscoggin River in southern Maine. We were hired to plan and facilitate a public input meeting for Durham’s Comprehensive Plan Committee.

The Elder Justice Partners is a partnership of 17 state government and non-profit agencies working to protect Maine seniors. Elder Justice Partners convened a day-long summit of leaders working in the area of elder abuse to highlight the current state of elder abuse outreach and prosecution and plan for the future of elder abuse work in Maine. We were hired to facilitate and prepare a complete report of the summit.

We were hired to plan and facilitate a Growth-Density Evaluation Forum for the town of Falmouth.  The primary purpose of the Forum was to hear residents’ concerns relative to growth, density, and residential zoning as requested by Falmouth Town Council.

We were hired to plan and facilitate the annual retreat of the Falmouth Town Council, which included developing elements of a long-term strategic work plan.

Falmouth is a coastal Maine community of about 11,000 people. For the second year in a row we were hired to plan and facilitate the annual retreat of the Falmouth Town Council.

For the fourth year in a row Craig was hired to plan and facilitate the annual retreat of the Falmouth Town Council. Falmouth is a coastal Maine community of about 11,000 people.

Falmouth is a southern coastal Maine community of about 11,000 people. We were hired to plan and facilitate the annual retreat of the Falmouth Town Council for the fifth year in a row. During these annual retreats Council members discuss priorities for the year, and build relationships and enthusiasm for the work ahead.

Falmouth is a southern coastal Maine community of about 11,000 people. We were hired to plan and facilitate the annual summer retreat of the Falmouth Town Council for the sixth year in a row. During these annual retreats Council members discuss priorities for the year, and build relationships and enthusiasm for the work ahead.

Falmouth is a southern coastal Maine community that celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2018. We were hired to plan and facilitate the annual summer retreat of the Falmouth Town Council for the seventh year in a row. During these annual retreats Council members discuss priorities for the year, and build relationships and enthusiasm for the work ahead.

Falmouth is a southern coastal Maine community that celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2018. We were hired to facilitate the annual summer retreat of the Falmouth Town Council for the eighth year in a row.

As in years past, I facilitated a full-day retreat of the Falmouth Town Council to review past goals and make new goals for the upcoming year.

The Fryeburg Selectmen hired us to facilitate two public workshops to introduce and clarify proposals to increase citizen participation in Town Meetings and in voting on town issues. During the workshops, held on two consecutive evenings, the community was encouraged to ask the Selectmen questions and offer their comments on the proposals.

The historic river city of Gardiner, Maine, hosted an event to train, celebrate, and thank its volunteer members of Boards, Committees, and Commissions. Craig delivered a keynote on the benefits of effective meetings and collaborative leadership.

As they have in the past, the Gardiner City Council hired us to facilitate a workshop to take stock of recent accomplishments, update Council interaction guidelines, and establish Council goals for the coming year. Gardiner is a city of about 6,000 on the banks of the Kennebec River in Maine.

The Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System is a national pilot program designed to bring hourly oceanographic data from the Gulf of Maine to all those who need it. GoMOOS is a regional consortium of interests and disciplines based in Portland, Maine. They hired us to help the board decide how to evolve most effectively. We facilitated a full-day retreat of government agency officials and scientists and prepared the meeting report.

This Governor-appointed Council hired us to plan and facilitate a highly interactive one-day retreat. The group affirmed their mission and determined specific goals and actions to make them more effective. We also prepared a written report of the meeting.

We were hired by the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program to facilitate a series of community listening sessions designed to provide input for establishing a grassroots agenda for elder advocacy.

The Greater Franklin Development Council attracts and assists businesses and entrepreneurs by advocating, promoting, and collaborating to support a sustainable and thriving community. I am working with their board and staff on strategic planning.

The Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) is a nonprofit organization that assists with cooperative services such as bulk purchasing, transportation planning, data, mapping, and economic and community development. GPCOG’s members include 26 municipalities from Casco Bay to western Cumberland County, along with the County itself and other affiliate organizations. We were hired to help gather stakeholder input and facilitate a series of meetings to develop a five-year strategic plan for GPCOG.

As in the past, Craig has been hired to facilitate a session of town and city council chairs and vice chairs to share best practices and lessons with each other.

The Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) is a nonprofit organization that assists with cooperative services such as bulk purchasing, transportation planning, data, mapping, and economic and community development. GPCOG’s members include 26 municipalities from Casco Bay to western Cumberland County, along with the County itself and other affiliate organizations.

The Greater Portland Transit District METRO provides bus service to over a million riders every year in Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth, and South Portland. We were hired to plan and facilitate a strategic planning meeting of the METRO Board, comprised of City and Town Council members of Portland, Westbrook, and Falmouth, to update the mission, set goals, and build teamwork.

The Greater Portland Transit District METRO provides bus service to over a million riders every year in Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth, and South Portland. As in the past, we were hired to plan and facilitate a strategic planning meeting of the METRO Board.

The Greater Portland Transit District METRO provides bus service to over a million riders every year in Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth, and South Portland. We were hired to plan and facilitate a Strategic Planning Workshop of the METRO Board of Directors.

The Greater Portland Transit District METRO provides bus service to over a million riders every year in Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth, and South Portland. We were hired to facilitate a series of retreats and meetings for Senior Staff.

We were hired to provide four facilitators for the HRSA Community Strategic Partnership Conference in Portland, Maine in October. This was a gathering of practitioners from across New England to collaborate on ways to improve delivery of rural healthcare.

The federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) partnered with the Maine Primary Care Association and the Maine Center for Disease Control to hold a strategic partnership meeting focused on connecting specialists with rural health providers to address Hepatitis C. They hired us to facilitate a full day meeting of these providers to discuss how to improve connections with specialist consultants regarding the disease. In addition to facilitating the meeting, we prepared a complete report.

The City of Portland received a significant Healthy Maine Partnership grant from the Maine Center for Disease Control to provide public health and related services. We were hired to facilitate a board retreat to discuss how Healthy Portland will transition into a larger initiative. We also prepared a complete report of the meeting.

We were hired to work with the the superintendent, principals, assistant principals, and business managers of the Ipswich (MA) Public Schools to help identify issues and establish roles and responsibilities for this site-based management school district of about 2000 students.

Casco Bay Lines operates year-round passenger, vehicle, and freight service to six Casco Bay islands in southern Maine. Casco Bay Lines hired engineering firm KPFF to review and make improvements to ferry schedules and services. We partnered with KPFF to provide stakeholder input facilitation and related services for the project.

The Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC, formerly the Land Use Regulation Commission, or LURC) has jurisdiction over Maine’s unorganized territories, an area of 10.4 million acres – roughly half the size of the state. LUPC has hired us to conduct three meetings of recreational lodging stakeholders to provide input on new ways that recreational lodging might be regulated in the unorganized territories. In addition to planning and facilitating the meetings, we will also prepare complete reports.

Senior administrative staff of this 1800-student High School in Massachusetts came for a weekend retreat to Camp Kieve on the shores of Damariscotta Lake. They are organizing into five distinct “small schools” and thus needed to work out many details about how the five headmasters will work collaboratively and independently. We facilitated the meeting and wrote the meeting report; a documentation of their new agreements. The Kieve team-building staff also helped them build trust and improve communication skills, making full use of Kieve’s “outdoor classrooms.”

The Lewiston Public Library is over 100 years old and provides books, periodicals, archives, research services, public computers, events, programs, and many other community services all in a lovely downtown building in Lewiston, Maine. We were hired to facilitate a staff retreat to build teamwork and plan how to best serve the community in the future.

The Lewiston Public Schools serve nearly 5,000 students in nine community schools in the city of Lewiston, Maine (population about 35,000). We were hired to facilitate a workshop among school committee members and school department directors and managers to build shared understanding and general consensus on how to handle student discipline issues. We also provided a complete report of the workshop.

The Lewiston Public Schools serve nearly 5,000 students in nine community schools in Maine’s second-largest city. We were hired to facilitate a dynamic, interactive public forum for parents and community members to understand the schools’ near-term plans and give input on proposed vision and goal statements. We also provided a Complete Report.

The Lewiston Public Schools serve over 5,000 students in Lewiston, Maine. We were hired to plan and facilitate a public forum focused on understanding how students and community members are using social media and what individuals, the schools, and the community can do to prevent bullying and misuse. We also provided notes of the forum to serve as the basis for new school guidance on social media.

The Long Creek Watershed is located in a commercial area that includes parts of South Portland, Portland, Westbrook, and Scarborough. We were hired by the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District to plan, facilitate, and document two meetings of a panel of experts who gave feedback on the the implementation of the Long Creek Watershed Management Plan. We also helped develop a series of questions by which to gauge the effectiveness of the plan.

In collaboration with Coplon Associates of Bar Harbor, we worked for the Town of Machias, Maine to develop a plan for downtown revitalization.

The Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities (MADSEC) believes in, and advocates for, the right of all students to receive a free and appropriate public education. As a service to members, they provide several professional growth opportunities and they hired us to deliver a workshop for members on the topic of communications with a focus on e-mail.

The Maine Board of Dental Practice licenses and monitors compliance among Maine’s dentists, hygienists, and related professions. We were hired to plan and facilitate a board workshop to identify next steps and action plans in moving the goals of the Board forward. We also prepared a complete report.

The Maine Board of Dental Practice is a state regulatory agency and was established to protect the public through the regulation of individuals practicing in the dental profession. The Board hired me to help them with strategic planning. I solicited a full-day in-person retreat in Augusta.

The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services advocates for Maine’s veterans and helps them access their earned benefits and programs in the areas of education, housing, employment, healthcare, and more. The Bureau received a mandate from Maine’s Legislature to develop a Strategic Plan to End Veteran Homelessness in Maine. To ensure that the strategic planning process was as inclusive as possible, the Bureau convened a forum to gather input from stakeholders. We were hired to help plan and facilitate the forum and prepare a report of conclusions that will contribute to the development of the Strategic Plan. We also provided follow-up support to help the Bureau develop the plan.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Emergency Preparedness Unit analyzes public health vulnerabilities in areas such as disease, terrorism, weather events, and much more. The Central Maine Regional Resource Center is one of Maine’s three Regional Resource Centers, charged with developing comprehensive plans for coordinated healthcare response to public health emergencies within the region. We were hired to facilitate an HVA (“Hazard Vulnerability Analysis”) meeting among 40 regional stakeholders to discuss and score the relative risks of potential hazardous events and situations in Central Maine. We also prepared a Complete Report of the meeting which included discussion comments as well as the scoring data.

The Maine CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) Public Health Emergency Management team conducts public health emergency planning and training and coordinates emergency resources statewide. We were hired to facilitate a strategic planning meeting for the team and prepare a complete report.

We were hired by the Maine Center for Disease Control (formerly the Bureau of Public Health) and the Muskie School for Public Service to facilitate four break-out sessions for a full-day, statewide conference on Pandemic Flu Planning for Communities.

The Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued an RFP for statewide delivery of public health services. They convened a bidders conference in Augusta and asked Good Group Decisions to provide four facilitators for regional break-out sessions.

We were hired to provide several facilitators for a statewide conference designed to develop a plan to vaccinate Maine residents against the H1N1 virus, also known as Swine Flu.

We were hired by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to facilitate a meeting of the Childhood Obesity Stakeholder Group, a cooperative of Maine State agencies and nonprofit organizations united to fight the obesity epidemic in children. The purpose of the meeting was to help the group make decisions about developing grant-funded programs.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) administers the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps, a group of volunteer medical professionals that are trained and equipped to deal with public health emergencies. We were hired to facilitate a meeting of Maine’s Medical Reserve Corps Statewide Collaborative to help analyze needs gaps in their work with partners such as hospitals, emergency management agencies, and others. 

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reviews vulnerabilities in areas such as epidemiology, emergency medical services, weather services, and much more. We were hired to facilitate a meeting with statewide stakeholders to discuss and score the relative risks of potential hazardous events and situations in Maine.

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) administers the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps, a group of volunteer medical professionals that are trained and equipped to deal with public health emergencies. There are four Medical Reserve Corps in Maine and we were hired to help organize a Statewide Advisory Group made up of representatives from each Corps. We facilitated two meetings of the advisory group and prepared complete reports of each. Leigh Tillman assisted with this project.

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) develops and delivers services to preserve, protect and promote the health and well-being of the citizens of Maine. We were hired to facilitate a full-day meeting to explore and refine foodborne illness outbreak response protocols. We also provided a full report of the meeting. Leigh Tillman served as lead facilitator.

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reviews vulnerabilities in areas such as epidemiology, emergency medical services, weather services, and much more. We were hired to facilitate 20 meetings for Maine CDC to assess public health infrastructure, competencies, and capacities. We met with public health officials around the State of Maine. Marlene Flaherty was the lead facilitator on this project.

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Emergency Preparedness Unit reviews vulnerabilities in areas such as epidemiology, emergency medical services, weather services, and much more. We facilitated a meeting of over 50 statewide stakeholders to discuss and score the relative risks of potential hazardous events and situations in Maine. We also prepared a Complete Report of the meeting which included discussion comments as well as the scoring data for all 35 different situations.

We planned and facilitated a full-day retreat of the Maine County Commissioner’s Association which consists of County Commissioners and Administrators from thoughout Maine. The retreat resulted in several key decisions about the organization’s strategic direction and specific tasks to be done.

The Maine Cybersecurity Cluster (MCSC) is an academic and research center bringing together government, industry, and academia dedicated to workforce and economic development in the field of cyber security. We were hired to plan and facilitate a “Visioneering Workshop” to bring together academic, government, business leaders, and cybersecurity practitioners to generate ideas and potential solutions for addressing the cybersecurity vision and applied research growth opportunities for NASA, Maine, and the greater New England Region. The Visioneering Workshop was held in 2017, held in conjunction with the statewide Partners in Cybersecurity Summit in Portland Maine.

The Maine Department of Agriculture engages in several activities that overlap with the Maine Farmland Trust. We were hired to facilitate a full-day retreat of leaders from these two organizations to discuss how to coordinate activities most effectively.

As part of the state rule making process, the Maine Department of Agriculture hired us to facilitate a meeting among stakeholders to discuss the Voluntary Municipal Farm Support Program. In addition to facilitating the meeting, we prepared a complete report.

The Maine Department of Agriculture hired us to facilitate two meetings, one in Topsham and one in Farmington, to gather input from farmers, land owners, land trusts, and municipal officials, on the pros and cons of mapping farms on regional maps. This information is helpful to the Department as they design some new programs. We also prepared complete reports of the two meetings. Leigh Tillman assisted with this project.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services was awarded a grant to develop a statewide Oral Health Improvement Plan in collaboration with stakeholders ranging from regulators to providers. We were sub-contracted by Medical Care Development to facilitate meetings of Maine’s Oral Health Advisory Committee, to facilitate a statewide conference, and to write the resulting plan.

In moving to a system of Managed Care for mental health and substance abuse treatment services, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services wanted to be sure and hear from stakeholders about what was working well and what should be improved. In collaboration with the Muskie School for Public Service, we were asked to facilitate and report on a series of 14 public meetings designed to gather input. We also established a website for the benefit of the stakeholders.

Craig facilitated a series of meetings for the Bureau of Employment Services designed to develop common understanding of how employment services are currently funded, develop recommendations for bridging short term gaps, and develop enduring principles useful for future budgeting decisions.

In the interest of protecting Maine citizens, the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation licenses, examines, and audits financial institutions, the insurance industry, and numerous other professions and occupations providing services to the public. We were hired to facilitate a workshop on conflict management as part of a leadership training program for the Department.

The Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation licenses, examines, and audits financial institutions, the insurance industry, and numerous other professions and occupations providing services to the public. We were hired to facilitate a series of workshops as part of a leadership training program for the Department.

The Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation licenses, examines, and audits financial institutions, the insurance industry, and numerous other professions and occupations providing services to the public. We facilitated a workshop as part of a leadership training program for the Department.

We were hired to facilitate meetings of the transit subcommittee of the Gateway 1 Corridor planning project. We helped the committee develop an RFP for the study of transit options throughout the Route 1 corridor from Brunswick to Prospect, Maine.

We were hired to plan, facilitate, and provide a complete report of a public information meeting to develop shared understanding about potential changes in downtown Hallowell, Maine, a small city along the banks of the Kennebec River.

The Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) coordinates the State of Maine’s programs of emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. MEMA hired us to facilitate two meetings of service providers and stakeholders to discuss and achieve consensus on how people with special needs would be best accommodated in shelters during emergency situations.

The Maine Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority (MHHEFA) provides colleges, universities, and healthcare facilities access to capital markets by issuing low cost, tax-exempt bonds and lending the proceeds to finance or refinance the acquisition, construction, and renovation of facilities. We have been hired to help the Board with strategic planning.

The Maine Health Data Organization (MHDO) is a state agency that collects health care data for the purpose of research, policy development, and health care improvements. We were hired to facilitate a series of meetings of an ad hoc group of consumer advisors who provided advice to MHDO on the new CompareMaine website, a tool to compare health care cost and quality options in Maine. We also provided complete reports of the meetings.

The Maine Health Data Organization (MHDO) is a state agency that collects health care data for the purpose of research, policy development, and health care improvements. We were hired to help plan and facilitate a meeting of MHDO Board members to discuss the scope of data collection.

The Maine Health Data Organization (MHDO) is a state agency that collects health care data for the purpose of research, policy development, and health care improvements. We were hired to help plan and facilitate a retreat of MHDO Board members to reflect on the past year and plan for the future.

The Maine Health Data Organization (MHDO) is a state agency that collects health care data for the purpose of research, policy development, and health care improvements. For the third year in a row we were hired to help plan and facilitate a retreat of MHDO Board members to reflect on the past year and plan for the future.

The Maine Health Data Organization (MHDO) is a state agency that collects health care data for the purpose of research, policy development, and health care improvements. For the fourth year in a row we were hired to help plan and facilitate a retreat of MHDO Board members to reflect on the past year and plan for the future.

The Maine Health Data Organization (MHDO) is a state agency that collects health care data for the purpose of research, policy development, and health care improvements. For the fifth year in a row we were hired to help plan and facilitate a retreat of MHDO Board members to reflect on the past year and plan for the future.

Working with the Human Services Research Institute, we facilitated, administered and documented bi-monthly meetings of the MHDO Consumer Advisory Group, whose purpose is to provide input and guidance to the Maine Health Data Organization (MHDO). The MHDO is a state agency that collects health care data for the purpose of research, policy development, and health care improvements. The Human Services Research Institute is building and operating a data warehouse and public website to help the MHDO provide clear information on health care costs and quality in Maine.

Made up of representatives from each of Maine’s 39 hospitals, the Maine Infection Prevention Collaborative (MIPC) seeks to prevent and control health care associated infections. We were hired to facilitate regular 5-hour meetings of the Collaborative. The MIPC makes decisions by consensus.

The Maine Local Government Human Resource Association (MLGHRA) advances knowledge, cooperation, and professional development among public sector human resources professionals throughout Maine. We were hired to plan and facilitate a goal-setting retreat among members of the MLGHRA Executive Board.

The Maine Municipal Bond Bank was created in 1971 by the Maine State Legislature. The agency provides Maine’s cities, towns, school systems, water and sewer districts, and other governmental entities access to low cost capital funds through the sale of its highly rated tax-exempt bonds. We were hired to provide Zoom coaching and resource materials for staff and board members.

At beautiful Maple Hill Farm in Hallowell, we facilitated a full day conference for the members of the Maine Nutrition Network. About a hundred people attended. We helped the group decide their mission and specific areas of work for the next few years, along with how they should best be structured to achieve their goals. As follow up, we helped them write their strategic plan to be finalized at their annual meeting.

The Maine Nutrition Network is a collaborative of public and private partners that coordinates nutrition and physical activity initiatives and contributes to policies and environments that improve the health of Maine people. We were hired to facilitate the Network’s annual meeting of about 100 people – in order to engage strategic stakeholders and partners in a discussion about the future of the Network. Leigh Tillman assisted with this project.

The Maine Office of Tourism, an office within the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development, supports and expands the tourism industry and promotes the state as a tourism and filmmaking destination. We were hired to facilitate a Maine Office of Tourism staff retreat to review the Office’s strategic plan and optimize staff functioning.

The Energy Division of the Maine Public Utilities Commission promotes the more efficient use of electricity statewide through Efficiency Maine and the Maine State Energy Program. They hired us to facilitate a full day staff retreat and help them develop a resulting strategic plan.

The Maine State Innovation Model (SIM) is a partnership of health care providers, insurers, data analysts, and others with the goals of improving the health of Maine’s population, improving the experiences of Maine patients, and reducing the total costs of care. We were hired to facilitate a series of six meetings of the SIM Medicare Proposal Oversight Committee and support the Committee’s development of a proposal to explore innovative payment models for the Maine Medicare system.

We were hired to facilitate a series of interest-based bargaining meetings among the nonpartisan staff members for the Maine State Legislature and the leadership of the Maine State Employees Union. Interest-based bargaining focuses on developing mutually beneficial agreements based on the interests of the participants.

As in the past, we were hired to facilitate a series of interest-based bargaining meetings among the nonpartisan staff members for the Maine State Legislature and the leadership of the Maine State Employees Union. The interest-based bargaining method focuses on developing mutually beneficial agreements based on the interests of the participants.

The staff of the Maine State Legislature provide nonpartisan research, analysis, administrative and management services to the Legislative Council and its committees. At their annual retreat, Craig facilitated a workshop with Maine State Legislature employees to discuss and develop consensus on shared workplace values.

The staff of the Maine State Legislature provide nonpartisan research, analysis, administrative and management services to the Legislative Council and its committees. For the second year in a row, Craig facilitated a workshop at the Maine State Legislature employees’ annual retreat. This year’s topic was on conflict management.

To make sure that all views were heard in a respectful, focused manner, the State Planning Office hired us to moderate a formal public hearing on a proposed rule under Maine’s Informed Growth Act.

The State Planning Office (SPO) reviews the comprehensive land use plans of Maine municipalities and was on the verge of proposing a new way for it to be done. Before changes were actually made, SPO wanted to hear from stakeholders around the state. They hired us to facilitate a series of meetings and prepare a report of findings. They also hired us to facilitate a public hearing on proposed rule changes. We established a website specifically designed to inform stakeholders about the rule-changing process and solicit their comments.

The Land Use Team of the State Planning Office hired us for a three-hour session focused on personality type assessment and how the team can work together most effectively.

The Governor hosted a Jobs Summit in February and we agreed to provide volunteer facilitation services for this important full-day conference in Augusta.

The federally-mandated Maine Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) is responsible for developing, monitoring, and evaluating the State Plan for Independent Living and communicating with the State Rehabilitation Council. As part of our apprenticeship program, we facilitated a meeting among members of the SILC to develop a three-year communications plan. Leigh Tillman served as lead facilitator.

MaineHousing is an independent state agency that assists Maine people in obtaining and maintaining quality affordable housing and services suitable to their housing needs. In partnership with the Maine Office of Child and Family Services, MaineHousing hosted a meeting of statewide stakeholders to discuss plans to reduce youth homelessness in Maine. We helped plan and facilitate the meeting.

The Manchester Health Department (MHD) provides public health services to the large, culturally diverse city of Manchester, New Hampshire (pop. 110,000). We were hired to facilitate a strategic planning process to help the MHD develop strategic goals and a framework for implementation. In addition to facilitating strategic planning meetings, we conducted stakeholder interviews and employee focus groups, and prepared a written final draft of the strategic plan.

We were hired by the Integrated Core Injury Prevention and Control Program of the Muskie School of the University of Southern Maine to facilitate a full-day, statewide conference on how to reduce the misuse of perscription drugs. We provided multiple facilitators for the day and also prepared a report of the conference.

The Natural Resource-based Industries Steering Committee, appointed by Governor Baldacci, hired us to staff a Working Group of state agency managers and develop a methodology for continued assessment of Maine’s natural resource-based industries. We prepared an indicators report designed to inform policy makers about the state of these industries and where they might be headed. The report was published December 9th,2004.

The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) is a public transportation authority that manages the budget, contracts, promotion, and customer services associated with the Downeaster passenger rail service between Maine and Boston. We were hired to facilitate public meetings in Portland, Maine and Dover, New Hampshire to discuss the proposed Downeaster Service Development Plan and give the public an opportunity to provide suggestions for revisions. We also prepared complete reports of the meetings.

The Town of Norway hired us to study the downtown economy, survey merchants and visitors, analyze urban design issues, and prepare a downtown enhancement strategy. The plan incorporated the Main Street Approach and was built on Norway’s exceptional historic character. We did this project in collaboration with Brian Kent of Kent Associates.

The Town of Norway, Maine has hired me to run a multi-phase process to help the Town develop a Vision for its future, as a foundation for upcoming comprehensive planning.

The Office of Elder Services (OES) of the state of Maine Department of Health and Human Services promotes programs and services for older adults, their families and for people with disabilities. OES hired us to facilitate a full day meeting between OES staff and the leadership of Maine’s five Area Agencies on Aging. The group discussed ways to work most effectively together and identified shared goals for the future. In addition to facilitating the meeting we prepared a complete report.

The Town of Orono, Maine has hired me to plan and facilitate a pair of workshops for the Town Council.

PACTS (Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System) coordinates transportation planning and investment decisions among state, municipalities and public transportation organizations for the Portland, Maine region. We were hired to facilitate a meeting of the PACTS Transit Operations Committee to discuss regional transit (bus, train, ferry, etc.) issues. We also provided a complete report of the meeting.

The Pentucket Regional School District, serving the towns of Groveland, Merrimac and West Newbury, Massachusetts, hired us to facilitate a four-hour meeting of the school committee where we developed annual priorities and operating guidelines. In addition, they hired us to work with the administrative team consisting of the superintendent and six principals, to refine roles and responsibilities.

PACTS works to improve the coordination of transportation planning and investment decisions by state, municipal and public transportation organizations in the Portland, Maine region (including 18 towns from Biddeford to Brunswick). We were hired to facilitate a meeting of the PACTS Policy Committee to help establish consensus on future size and responsibilities of committees and on future sub-regional and elected official representation.

PACTS works to improve the coordination of transportation planning and investment decisions by state, municipal and public transportation organizations in the Portland, Maine region. We were hired to facilitate a meeting among four PACTS Committees (Policy, Executive, Planning and Transit), to start the process of preparing the 2014 update to the “Destination Tomorrow” regional transportation plan. We also provided a complete report of the meeting.

PACTS works to improve the coordination of transportation planning and investment decisions by state, municipal and public transportation organizations in the Portland, Maine region. We were hired to facilitate an input-gathering meeting among elected officials representing Cape Elizabeth, Portland, and South Portland on the Regional Transportation Plan (called “Destination Tomorrow”). We also provided a complete report of the meeting.

We were hired to facilitate a retreat among the leaders of the greater Portland, Maine area transit providers, to build shared understand among the agencies and discuss regional transit priorities. This meeting was initiated in part by the Transit Committee of PACTS, the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System. In addition to facilitating the retreat, we also provided a complete report.

The City Council of Portland, Maine hired us to facilitate a process to discuss and identify the city’s goals and priorities for the coming year. We conducted advance interviews with the Mayor, the City Councilors, and the City Manager and then facilitated a Council workshop to develop a statement of goals and priorities.

The Public Health Division of the City of Portland hired us to help them develop a strategic plan. We interviewed key stakeholders and facilitated a series of management meetings that resulted in a prioritized list of activities to be done over the next three years. The plan contains specific performance measures with data presented graphically.

The City of Portland, Maine, Public Works Department and the Portland Water District hired us to facilitate a meeting among the two organizations and local utilities, to discuss and prioritize projects in Portland and to build a more strategic alliance. We also prepared a complete report of the meeting.

The City of Portland, Maine (population about 66,000) Refugee Services Program works to improve stability, independence, and overall quality of life for refugees in Maine. The Program has formed the Community Leadership Engagement Coalition to help community stakeholders who have been historically marginalized in the public education system based on race, ethnicity, immigration, and income status. We were hired to plan and facilitate a half-day workshop on group empowerment for the Coalition.

The Quality Review Committee is a state-chartered group with responsibilities to review the quality of work that Elder Independence of Maine delivers to about 3,000 consumers of home-based care services throughout Maine. They hired us to facilitate a strategic planning session to re-consider their overall mission and scope of work.

The Quality Review Council is established by state law to review homecare services provided by Elder Independence of Maine. The Council reviews quality reports and also works on short-term, high priority projects to improve home care. We were retained to facilitate all regular meetings of the Council.

Faced with projected multi-year budget constraints, this central Maine school district hired us to facilitate a large public input meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to explain the situation, and gather public comment on potential closures and/or reorganization of buildings and schools.

The brand-new school board for RSU 24 hired us to facilitate a kick-off retreat. Given the recent consolidation of three school districts (Ellsworth; School Union 92, which includes Lamoine, Hancock, Mariaville, Eastbrook, and Waltham; and School Union 96, which includes Franklin, Gouldsboro, Sorrento, Steuben, Sullivan and Winter Harbor) into one, the board wanted to get off on the right foot. We discussed everything from how board members interact with each other to initial goals for the new district. After the meeting, we prepared a report.

Town leaders in the historic town of Richmond, Maine, on the banks of the Kennebec River, wanted to gather public input before updating the town’s comprehensive plan. We were hired to facilitate and document two input meetings to hear public opinion on future land use in Richmond.

The City of Rockland, Maine has recently taken ownership of the MacDougal School and they hired us to facilitate a public meeting to solicit input on how best to use the school. Leigh Tillman assisted with this project.

The southern Maine city of Saco (pop. 18,500) engaged the entire community in an effort to create a collective vision for what Saco will be in 2025. We worked with Pamela Plumb & Associates to facilitate and document a series of community input and City staff meetings to help Saco plan for the future.

The southern Maine city of Saco hired us to work with a committee of City and School Department staff to collaborate on some organizational decision-making.

The City of Sandford, Maine hired me to plan and facilitate a workshop for the City Council.

The Saratoga Springs Public Library in historic Saratoga Springs, New York, has a staff of over 100 serving the local school district and 500,000 visitors per year. We were hired to plan and facilitate a full-day staff retreat to develop a shared vision for the future of the library and do some fun team building activities. We also prepared a Complete Report of the retreat.

As part of its annual staff development day, the Town of Scarborough in southern coastal Maine hired us to facilitate two staff workshops on Intergenerational Communication. The workshops were designed to be interactive and focused on the experiences of the participants.

The town of Winslow, Maine has aging public schools and needed to make some hard decisions about which to close and how to consolidate. The School Committee convened a large public forum to present four potential options and provide townspeople a chance to ask questions and make comments. Hired by School Union 52 (Winslow, China, Vassalboro), we facilitated the discussion, administered a straw poll during the meeting, and wrote a report which included a summmary of all the questions and comments.

The University of Maine received a National Science Foundation grant to establish the SEANET (Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network) program in Maine. Over five years SEANET is conducting multi-institutional, transdisciplinary research on how aquaculture can fit into the landscape, ecosystem, and economies of Maine’s working waterfront communities. We were hired to plan, facilitate, and provide a complete report of a two-day strategic planning session among the management team and other project stakeholders.

SGR exists to help local governments become more successful by Recruiting, Assessing, and Developing Innovative, Collaborative, Authentic Leaders. This innovative consulting company has invited me to be a speaker at their January 2023 Servant Leadership Conference in Forth Worth, Texas.

The Maine Department of Transportation has teamed up with the engineering firm TY Lin to perform a feasibility study of a new bridge across the Kennebec River in Skowhegan. We were hired to take the lead on the public outreach aspects of the project. Click here to learn more about the feasibility study.

Knightville is a residential and business neighborhood in the City of South Portland, Maine. We were hired to help plan, facilitate, and document a meeting to discuss parking and traffic patterns in the neighborhood.

The City Council of South Portland, Maine, hired us to facilitate a three-hour workshop during which Council members shared perspectives on long-term objectives for the City and developed consensus on one-year goals for the City Council.

The City Council of South Portland, Maine, hired us to facilitate a Council goal-setting workshop. South Portland is an oceanfront city with population of 25,000, a community college, and diverse commercial and residential neighborhoods.

South Portland, Maine is an oceanfront city with population of 25,000, a community college, and diverse commercial and residential neighborhoods. As in the past, we were hired to facilitate an annual goal-setting workshop for the City Council.

South Portland, Maine is an oceanfront city with population of 25,000, a community college, and diverse commercial and residential neighborhoods. As in the past, we were hired to facilitate an annual goal-setting workshop for the City Council.

South Portland, Maine is an oceanfront city with population of 25,000, a community college, and diverse commercial and residential neighborhoods. As in past years, we were hired to facilitate an annual goal-setting workshop for the City Council.

The South Portland Fire Department (SPFD) provides fire and emergency medical services to a community with a resident population of over 25,000 – one of Maine’s largest cities. We were hired to facilitate a series of meetings with the SPFD to help develop a purpose statement and and a broadly supported roadmap for the next five years.

The South Portland Fire Department provides emergency services, prevention, and outreach to the residents, businesses, and visitors of South Portland, Maine. We were hired to conduct stakeholder interviews, as well as plan and facilitate a series of meetings focused on helping the SPFD develop a three-year strategic plan.

The Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) is a council of governments addressing economic development, housing, water quality, and other regional issues in 39 member municipalities in southwest Maine. We were hired to plan and facilitate a strategic planning retreat for SMPDC to build consensus on a regional vision, the SMPDC mission, and the organization’s general strategic direction. We also prepared a complete report of the retreat.

Since 1895 the Southwest Harbor Public Library on beautiful Mount Desert Island, Maine, has provided a place for the community to explore new ideas and pursue lifelong learning interests. We were hired to facilitate a board and staff retreat.

Established by the Maine State Legislature to develop and implement a unified correctional system, the State Board of Corrections hired us to facilitate a full day retreat focused on strategic objectives and roles of board, staff, working groups, and focus groups.

The Maine Board of Dental Examiners licenses and monitors compliance among Maine’s dentists, hygienists, and related professions. We were hired to plan and facilitate a board workshop to determine top priorities for the next year and to clarify roles and responsibilities of the board.

The Statewide Quality Improvement Council (QIC) represents people served by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services by advising the Commissioner on issues of statewide system implementation, advising the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Block Grant process, and working to ensure that Maine provides quality mental health and substance abuse services in an environment of respect and empowerment. We were hired to plan and facilitate two strategic planning meetings to build shared agreement on vision, mission, values, an action plan, and committee responsibilities. As a result we prepared a Complete Meeting Report and a Draft Strategic Plan.

The directors of both the Brunswick Economic Development Corporation and Topsham Development, Inc. convened a workshop on design and impact issues, opportunities, and challenges presented by the potential development of a midcoast regional business park. Through the workshop, the two organizations solicited public comments and ideas regarding how design standards might be used to manage appearance, community and environmental impacts, and even what sorts of business tenants should be targeted to align with such standards. We were hired to facilitate the workshop and prepare a report.

The Maine Field Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hired us to facilitate a series of three open house sessions on lynx trapping in Presque Isle, Orono, and Gorham, Maine, for members of the public to learn about the permit process, exchange information on techniques to avoid incidental trapping of lynx, and provide feedback on assessments and plans. Leigh Tillman served as lead facilitator.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) works with a variety of entities, agencies, and private landowners to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats. USFWS has hired us to provide organizational development consulting and meeting facilitation services for the Ecological Services Program staff of the Northeast Regional Office, located in Hadley, Massachusetts.

Waterboro is a town of about 7,700 in southwestern Maine. We were hired to help plan and facilitate a meeting of business and community leaders to provide input for the economic development portion of the town’s comprehensive plan. We also prepared a complete report of the meeting.

The City of Waterville, Maine on the banks of the Kennebec River, is home to about 16,000 people. We were hired to facilitate a workshop for members of the City Council.

The City of Westbrook, Maine, had recently acquired a new parcel for its City Forest, and the Westbrook Recreation and Conservation Commission was seeking public input on how the land should be used. We were hired to facilitate two visioning meetings for participants to share ideas about what types of activities might be a good fit for the City Forest. We also prepared complete reports of the meetings.

The City of Westbrook, ME, hired us to facilitate a community-wide visioning process. As a result of a series of fourteen meetings and a full day community visioning meeting, we drafted a vision statement to serve as the basis of Westbrook’s updated comprehensive plan. We are also facilitating meetings of the comprehensive plan task force and community input meetings for specific interests. Leigh Tillman assisted with this project.

The Westbrook School Department hired us to help develop a strategic plan. Working with the school board and the newly-appointed superintendent over a six-month period, we managed a process that included substantial community input, such as focus group meetings and a community-wide survey.

The Town of Windham, in partnership with Hudson Realty Capital LLC, a developer, hired us to facilitate a series of meetings to gather public input on the future of Little Falls, a village within the Town of Windham. In this unique approach, the developer and the town sought public input before crafting detailed plans for development of a key piece of property in the heart of the village. We were hired to facilitate the public meetings and prepare resulting reports.

We were hired to plan and facilitate two public meetings designed to gather input on an emerging neighborhood plan for North Windham, Maine. We prepared complete reports for each meeting.

The town of Winthrop, Maine (pop. ~ 6000) borders several lakeshores in beautiful central Maine. We were hired by the Winthrop Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce to facilitate two community input sessions to help develop a vision for downtown Winthrop.

Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS) coordinates transportation planning and investment decisions among state, municipal, and public transportation organizations for the greater Portland, Maine region. PACTS hired the engineering firm WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff to develop a multimodal transportation corridor plan in Portland and South Portland. We partnered with WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff to provide stakeholder input facilitation and related services for the project.

Yarmouth is a coastal town of about 9,000 in southern Maine. The town’s Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee hired us to plan and facilitate three public input meetings to build understanding about Yarmouth’s proposed Character-Based Development Code, including its application and impacts.

The Yarmouth School Department serves about 1,500 students in the coastal town of Yarmouth, Maine. We were hired to facilitate a Yarmouth School Committee workshop on board development.

The Transportation Program of the York County Community Action Corporation promotes self-sufficiency by providing York County residents with a means to get to work and/or services and resources which otherwise would not be accessible. We facilitated the Annual Transportation Gathering, a half-day retreat where employees focused on improving how they work together as a team and serve their customers.

York County Community Action Corporation (YCCAC) delivers a range of social service, health, and educational programs to York County individuals and families living in poverty. We were hired to facilitate the beginnings of a strategic plan process, including a series of task force meetings with complete reports. Leigh Tillman assisted with this project.

York County Community Action Corporation (YCCAC) works on the “front lines” to deliver social service, health, and educational programs to York County individuals and families living in poverty. Craig was hired to provide a training workshop for members of the YCCAC Board.

I have been hired by the Town of York, Maine to facilitate the establishment of a 10-year plan for Fire Service Delivery. Did you know that York currently has two fire departments? And two very active call companies?