03/06/15 MaineBiz, Peter Van Allen, Editor

Posted by Julie L'Heureux 
on Mar 13, 2015
 
David Clough introduced Peter Van Allen, Editor of MaineBiz. In May, 2014, Van Allen became the editor of MaineBiz, a bi-weekly business journal. His 25 years of journalism experience included positions with the Philadelphia Business Journal and business editor at the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and the Post-Tribune in Gary, Indiana. He’s an native of Iowa City, Iowa.
 
Our Portland invitation was the first time he’d ever spoken to a group of Rotarians. He's also been invited to speak to the Rotary Club in York, ME, in May.
 
Van Allen gave an optimistic report about his perceptions of Maine.....quality of life is an attraction for Maine vacationers and businesses. In fact, the quality of life attracted he and his wife to revisit the state. They developed their affection for Maine about 15 years ago, while vacationing. First, they fell in love with the scenery and then the pace of life became appealing to them. They now live in Yarmouth.
Among his editorial goals is to keep the “Maine” in MaineBiz.

One difference he observed between Maine and other places where he’s worked, are the importance of understanding the state’s communities, especially the sensitivities and issues special to small towns. 
He’s involved in meeting people and entrepreneurs throughout Maine. A few examples included William Haggett, the CEO of Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, ME, and formerly the CEO of Bath Iron Works (BIW), who led the company’s three for-profit companies to the $100 million mark in collective sales. Moreover, the Pineland Farms profits continue to grow. He met with CEO of the Cianbro Companies, Peter Vigue, who advocated for business opportunities he envisioned to help transform the state’s economy and improve the lives of Mainers. 

As a business journalist, Van Allen finds Maine’s business and political leaders to be especially approachable. Some even feel free to give out their cell phone numbers. Maine’s CEOs have a certain level of accountability. “People are interested in who Maine people are, where we live, and even the specifics about the locations of our homes and businesses. This is a Maine way of doing business. It’s a beautiful part of ‘the real Maine.’,” he said.
 
Yet, in the midst of the optimism are the Maine people who are struggling, too. He hears about how people need jobs, but they also need the skills to do the jobs. Population density is likewise a challenge to doing business in small towns.
 
Although Forbes’ annual ratings of the best states for business places, Maine ranked 49th among the 50, he said this ranking is a disservice because it overlooks the opportunities. A challenge to business development is matching education with hiring. Some Maine companies he’s spoken with simply can’t keep workers, either because their skills don’t match the jobs or the qualified workers find employment elsewhere. 
 
Another challenge is the “trailing spouse” issue, especially concerning if one or the other happens to lose their Maine employment.
 
Maine businesses have benefited from people who moved into the state. For example, E.B. White moved to Maine to write, but his family stayed to develop businesses in the maritime industries.
 
Maine is positively known for certain quality names. There’s a reputation for quality reinforced by having vacationers take pride in certain name brands. “A sense of “specialness,” quality and pride are developed about what’s here,” he said. In fact, efforts have been put forth to brand everything made in Maine and that leaves the state as “Made in Maine.”

On March 19th, MaineBiz will host its first “On the Road” event at the Portland State Theater. For more information, click on: http://tinyurl.com/nd969ce.

 

(Photo: Peter Van Allen and President Kris Rosado)