If you read last week’s column, you know that one of the Bath-Brunswick-Topsham Regional Chamber of Commerce’s exciting February events is happening this week — in fact, you may still be able to make it if you are reading this before 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, as we have our annual meeting of the membership and Chamber After Hours at Cook’s Lobster & Ale House in Harpswell (just swing by!). We also have three other great chamber opportunities that our e-newsletter subscribers know about (hint: get on that distribution list by emailing me), but the general public may not know about these events, so here they are:

Members Helping Members: Health Access Solutions Webinar, Feb. 11

Affording health insurance right now is a key issue for many business leaders big and small. In the search for solutions, chamber member Health Access Solutions has a program that several businesses in our region swear by, which I can clumsily describe as a “pay out of pocket and get reimbursed by submitting receipts” plan. Now, of course, there are a myriad of questions that go along with that about preexisting conditions, in-network vs. out-of-network, and much more, which is what this free webinar is for — to ask those questions and to learn more about the program.

To be clear, we as a chamber have many different insurers who are members, and we value them all, but where this idea is a model that was new to our leadership team and where Health Access Solutions was willing to do a webinar, we wanted to give it a go. The webinar is next from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11. You can sign up by emailing [email protected] or by clicking on the event listing on our website.

We should also note that the Members Helping Members series where members present workshops and education-based presentations is something that we will be doing much more of in 2026. Members interested in presenting on a topic should reach out to me.

WILL Power ‘Will You Rise and Shine’ Breakfast Series, Feb. 24

Our chamber is so excited to have WILL Power planning a series of events for 2026, starting with the launch of its breakfast speaker series, “Will You Rise and Shine.” WILL Power is our Women in Local Leadership team that launched in 2018 with programs to bring together and support business leaders in the area, but the momentum was stymied by the pandemic. It is now back, and we couldn’t be happier to start that momentum again.

This first workshop will be from 7:30-9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at The Brunswick Hotel. Titled “The Shift,” it is led by the incredible chamber member Cary Ouelette. The Shift is described as: ” … a powerful clarity-driven workshop designed for women who want more; more confidence, more alignment, and more results. You’ll start to uncover the hidden habits, beliefs, and patterns that have held you back and learn practical tools to step forward with intention in 2026.”

Beyond that, it is also a great networking opportunity for women in local leadership. The agenda is networking from 7:30-8 a.m., grab the breakfast buffet and find a seat at 8 a.m., and the presentation will end around 8:45 a.m. Registration can be done by getting the registration link from me via email, on our chamber website or on our chamber Facebook page. Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for non-chamber members.

Spring into internships

Much like we did in the fall (“we” being me and my colleague from the United Way of Mid Coast Maine, Maggie Cummings), we are going around to four area high schools this week and in the coming weeks to sign up students for paid internships through a grant we have. The program is called “Connecting to Tomorrow” and it’s a paid 20-hour or 40-hour internship.

If your business or organization would love to show a young intern what is so incredible about your field or industry, please email [email protected] and I can send you the registration form. We have been successful in matching dozens of students to opportunities so far this year with the goal of around two dozen more this spring.

Cory King is executive director of the Bath-Brunswick-Topsham Regional Chamber of Commerce.