Ms. Gordon co-founded Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc. (MMQCI) in 2000 and serves as President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to founding Maine Molecular Quality Controls, Inc. Ms. Gordon was senior technologist at the Maine Medical Center and then Research Associate at the Maine Medical Center Research Institute. Ms. Gordon’s scientific expertise is in molecular genetic testing and molecular cloning technology. She developed the technical protocols for production and manufacturing the nucleic acid constructs in MMQCI’s products. She is co-inventor on two patents. Ms. Gordon is treasurer of the AACC, Industry Division and a member of the Annual Meeting Organizing Committee for 2006. She received her B.S. in Medical Technology (Suma Cum Laude) from the University of Vermont. She pursued graduate studies in Applied Immunology and Molecular Biology at the University of Southern Maine.

Kepware Technologies Chairman Corson "Corky" Ellis was introduced by Bob Martin. His introduction recalled how COBOL and FORTRAN were the types of computer programing he and others studied when data processing was entered on punch cards. Obviously, data processing and computer driver software has rapidly advanced.  

Maine was the location where Ellis and his wife decided to raise their family and where he decided to build the software business.“Maine is a great place to do business,” he said.  “It’s a beautiful place to raise a family and develop a business.Corky established the company in 1995, with an office currently located on Congress Street in Portland.

Consider a wind farm in Germany, an oil rig in Canada, and an automotive manufacturer in the United States. Each of these companies have machines and devices that are producing vast amounts of data waiting to be processed and understood. Kepware Technologies develops communication and inter-operability software solutions for these automation industries. Their drivers interface, connect, manage and monitor diverse automation devices and software applications.Kepware Technologies' mission is to be "Your Standard for Connectivity." Soon the company will employ 500 people.Almost all of the customers are outside Maine, because the software is marketed and sold to manufacturing companies.

Organizational challenges put Corky’s business plan at risk during the company’s early years. He described setbacks and successes in developing the specialized computer driver company in Maine. His dedicated investment in the company provided him with-on-the-job training about business development. Until a sustainable business plan was implemented, Kepware Technologies faced fiscal challenges in early 2000, in spite of a growing awareness about how the software could improve manufacturing efficiencies.  

Although growth has been steady, the company desperately needs engineers and employees with programming education to continue to meet customer needs. In fact, workforce development is essential to continue the company’s growth. The company supports science and engineering education by giving sizeable donations to Maine’s schools and the University of Maine in Orono. Future engineers begin by learning more “science, technology, math and engineering (STEM)” starting in junior high school. Maine needs to double and triple the numbers of engineers.  University of Maine Orono graduated 50 engineers this year; and the University of Southern Maine graduated 12 engineers. “Kepware Technologies is desperate for engineers,” said Corky.

Kepware Technologies gives five scholarships at $12,000 each to the University of Maine. Additionally, the company supports a laptop program for 4th graders to help equip classrooms. Interns are hired and are paid. Ten percent of pre-tax profits are given to charities.

Information about Kepware Technologies is available at the company’s website www.kepware.com; and at www.facebook.com/kepware, and on Twitter.

(Photo: Rusty Atwood and our speaker, Corky Ellis.)

Ellen Niewoehner led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Russ Burleigh struck every note on the keyboard to lead us through "God Bless America."

Jim Thornton offered up the raffle of $1,180, and Roxane Cole now holds the title of Queen, since she found it, and went home a winner. Cheers and groans greeted the good news.

(Photo: Roxane Cole relishing her big win at finding the Queen of Hearts)

Janelle LoSciuto was the conductor to our “I’ve Been Working On the Railroad.”

June birthdays were celebrated, with a special cake in recognition of George Crockett’s ‘80^th. George wants to express his sincere appreciation for the greetings and friendship expressed by the members on his birthday, with special thanks to Russ Burleigh for creating such a unique birthday card. He looks forward to his 90th.'

(Photo: Amanda (George's daughter) and George Crockett.)

Christine Force shared Centennial Celebration news of the goal of enlisting Sponsors to raise $100,000 in honor of our Centennial year. Please send nominations and ideas to Christine.

(Photo: Christine Force)

Amy Chipman brought us up to date with news of Foundation contributions, noting that as a result of some undesignated funds, the Club has 100% participation in the Paul Harris Foundation. Amy pointed out that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was matching Paul Harris Foundation dollars on a 2 to 1 basis to eradicate polio.

Amy also recognized Cy Hagge with a Paul Harris Fellow award, and noted his commitment to the Paul Harris Society, which involves an annual $1,000 donation to the Foundation for ten years.

(Photo: Cy Hagge and Amy Chipman.)

Bob Clark shared the banner that hung at the Maine Outdoor Challenge designating the Portland Rotary-Boys and Girls Club Partnership. It will hang permanently at the Boys and Girls Club.

(Photo: Mike Fortunato and Bob Clark.)

President Kris noted that the Sun-Journal carried a story about the 38 teams that participated in the Maine Outdoor Challenge. The event numbers are not completely tallied as of the meeting, but it appears that we raised over $50,000 for the 3-H Project and the Boys and Girls Club.

Invocator: Carl Spang
​Program Reporter: Alan Nye
Bits & Pieces Reporter: Ben Lowry
​Registration/Greeter: Leonard Scott
Sell Meal Tickets: Loretta Rowe
​Raffle: Anne Fisher
​Badge Box: Alex St. Hilaire
Collect Meal Tickets: Russell Voss
​Song Leader: Happy Dollars
​Pianist: Kathy Grammer​
Sgt-at-Arms - Early: Charlie Frair
​Sgt-at-Arms - Late: Matt Tassey

Portland Rotary meeting locations for 2015 

If you would like to mark your calendars for where our meetings will be held,
we are at the following locations through June 2015:

You can watch our recent Portland Rotary Club speakers on the Community Television Network website:

http://ctn5.org/shows/rotary-club-speakers-series

You can always find the link on the Portland Rotary Home Page!