SEBAGO – As Diane Dunton walked the trade show floor at the first Sebago Summit, sponsored by the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce and held at Saint Joseph’s College on Tuesday, the majority of 50 exhibitors told her they “need more time to connect with others” in terms of propelling their local businesses, she said.

Exhibitors at the Sebago Summit, held in the college’s gymnasium, had the opportunity to network with each other and told Dunton they valued the time spent collaborating with other local business owners.

After the six-hour trade show closed at 3 p.m., participants also took part in a discussion with a panel of prominent local business leaders about how to “leverage our strengths” as a business community in the Lakes Region. The panel discussion capped the all-day event, which also featured keynote speeches from former state Sen. Bill Diamond of Windham at breakfast, and author Jim Bouchard at lunch.

Moderated by Dunton, president of Potential Released Consulting Services in Windham, the discussion panel represented a diverse range of businesses backgrounds. They shared their successes and how they’ve overcome difficult challenges throughout their careers.

“We must, as leaders, be flexible and persistent in the face of change and setbacks that come our way,” Dunton told the audience of Lakes Region business owners, town officials and chamber members.

“We need to listen, listen, listen. We need to listen to our customers, our employees and our stakeholders. We need to be continuous learners,” Dunton said.

Panelists included Richard Dyke, owner of Bushmaster Firearms for more than 35 years, and current owner of Windham Weaponry; Mark Ouellette, executive director of Mobilize Maine, a statewide economic development initiative; Peter Anania, president of Anania & Associates and a member of the Windham Town Council; and Wendyll Caisse, co-owner of three Buck’s Naked BBQ locations and a former member of Windham’s Economic Development Corp.

“What do you see as the biggest challenge that organizations are facing today?” Dunton asked the panelists.

“The thing I’ve seen with the businesses I’ve worked with across the state is … how [do I] I attract a qualified workforce to my business,” Ouellette said, explaining it has been well documented that there is a workforce skills gap in Maine. “It’s coming to the forefront as people struggle; especially when you look at the demographics of our state, which are aging very quickly,” Ouellette said.

“I’d say a challenge, as an owner, is thinking too much about working in a business rather than on it,” Caisse said. “I think it’s really important to develop a brand and understand what you stand for.”

“I think the biggest thing is anticipation, forward thinking and planning, and sticking to it on a regular basis,” Anania said.

According to Dyke, “Every year, you have to be honest with yourself. Sit down and figure out what you did the last year … and think about what produced the most for you and what produced the least. Whatever produced the least, you need to shake off.”

Dunton also asked the panel about mistakes they’ve made in their businesses and what they’ve learned, how they stay motivated, what it takes to be a leader and more importantly, what is special about the Lakes Region and how the business community can work together “to leverage our strengths.”

“I think what has propelled us to keep growing, by opening stores [Buck’s Naked BBQ], is to be strategic and have goals in place,” Caisse said.

Without a plan, she said, owners are doing their businesses a “grave disservice.”

“In the Lakes Region area, there is a real fondness for the area and helping people,” said Anania, when asked what contributes to the strengths of the region’s businesses.

“It’s entrepreneurship, and the love of doing business,” he said.

“It’s about authenticity,” added Ouellette, “which is extremely important in this economic environment. We need to think about what is special about the Lakes Region and capitalize on it.”

In order to grow as a region, Anania said, “You have to have belief that you can make it happen. You have to believe the people can make it happen and you have to believe in your people.”

Event of the year

The Sebago Summit is the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce’s premier business event, giving businesses in the Lakes Region a chance to showcase what they have to offer at a business-to-business trade show, according to the chamber’s executive director, Aimee Senatore.

The Summit, she said, also serves as an educational forum for businesses, as they rub shoulders with leaders of other businesses and organizations in the Lakes Region.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled about the participation,” Senatore said, as she welcomed people into the auditorium for the keynote panel discussion. “There is a strong sense of commitment within our chamber and our board of directors.”

Devin Fahie, of Sebago Signworks in Limington, said the Summit was the first business-to-business trade show he had ever attended and that he felt honored to be a part of it.

For a business that operates with no advertising budget, he said, the Summit gave Sebago Signworks “a storefront for a day” in the heart of the Lakes Region and a chance to collaborate with other businesses in the area.

“It’s a good investment,” Fahie said of the event, which cost his company around $2,500 to take part in.

“It’s been a good experience,” said John Howe, a Sebago Signworks foreman who sat behind a table at the trade show, alongside other businesses like Amcomm Wireless and Edward Jones Investments.

While Howe gave two thumbs up to the participating businesses, which were all local, he said, “I’d like to see more smaller businesses here.”

Lynn Priest, owner and massage therapist at Sedona Wellness on Tandberg Trail in Windham, said being at the trade show was the perfect medium to advertise her business, as she and nail technologist Beth O’Neill gave away free massages and manicures to people who visited their booth.

“It’s been great. We have met a lot of nice people,” said Priest. “Between many manicures and hot-stone massages, we’ve been steady since 9 a.m.”

“It’s a great showing for businesses, there is no doubt about that,” said Dave Pollard of Spring Meadows Golf Club in Gray, a sponsor of the event. While the public turnout was not as high as he expected, he lauded the business participation at the trade show.

“It’s a really good show of support,” Pollard said.

“This has been an awesome first,” said Dunton, during the late-afternoon panel discussion, which also focused on how the 10 communities in the Lakes Region can work collaboratively to achieve economic development goals.

“Today has been a new beginning,” Dunton said.

Devin Fahie, left, and John Howe, of Limington-based Sebago Signworks, attend their first business-to-business trade show, the Sebago Summit, on Tuesday at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish.From left, Diane Dunton moderates the keynote panel discussion, which includes local entrepreneurs Mark Ouellette, Wendyll Caisse, Peter Anania and Richard Dyke.