The Bottom Line

In late September 2019, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce launched its twice-monthly podcast, “The Bottom Line,” building upon our previous television cable program with the same name. The Bottom Line features a variety of guests and highlight the various priority areas of the Chamber and issues of importance to Maine’s business community and economy.

Airing at 10:00 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, each 30-minute episode of “The Bottom Line” podcast will livestream twice a month through Williams Broadcasting. In addition to being archived, “The Bottom Line” podcast can be heard on iTunes, iHeart Radio, Soundcloud, Stitcher Radio, Spotify and radio.com.

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Episode 91: Thursday, March 22, 2023
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Julia Munsey of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting discuss the latest news on the legislative session. The Chamber's Advocacy Team -- Linda Caprara, Ben Lucas, Simon West, and Peter Gore -- joined Julia and John to talk about their areas of focus.

Episode 90: Thursday, March 9, 2023
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting introduce the new president & CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Julia Munsey, to listeners.

Episode 89: Thursday, February 23, 2023
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting celebrate their final show together as co-hosts of The Bottom Line. Connors will officially retire from the Chamber at the beginning of March. In this episode, Connors and Williams discussed how Maine has changed over the course of Connors' near 30-year career at the helm of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Once a statewide television show, The Bottom Line was reinvented 4 years ago by Connors and Williams when it took its present form as a widely-distributed podcast.

Episode 88: Thursday, February 9, 2023
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting were pleased to welcome the Advocacy Team of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce to discuss the Chamber's Leadership Summit held at Sunday river on February 1st & 2nd. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Team consists of Linda Caprara, Ben Lucas, and Simon West.

Episode 87: Thursday, January 19, 2023
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting were pleased to welcome Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) in-studio for a conversation about his priorities for the 118th U.S. Congress, championing small businesses and the workforce, broadband and transportation investments, bipartisanship, and more.

Episode 86: Thursday, January 12, 2023
This week on the The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting welcome Jason Judd, Ph.D., Executive Director of Educate Maine, for a conversation on addressing Maine’s workforce needs through education and business partnerships, where businesses are active participants in education and training and experiential educational opportunities.

Episode 85: December 22, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Coleman Lapointe, Senior Strategic Specialist at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW), and Dr. Ryan Wallace, Economist and Director of the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Southern Maine, for a conversation about CBER’s recent independent evaluation, “The Impact of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works on the Maine Economy.” CBER found that BIW, one of Maine’s largest employers, supported more than $8.4 billion in total economic activity in Maine between 2017 and 2021. Tune-in to learn more about the findings; the extent of BIW’s contributions to Maine’s economy, communities, and people; and BIW’s success in helping to grow Maine’s workforce.

Episode 84: November 24, 2022
This week on a special Thanksgiving Day episode of The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Nate Wildes of Live + Work in Maine for a conversation on Live + Work’s efforts to increase awareness about the great career opportunities that exist in Maine, and promote the world-class quality of life Mainers enjoy.

Episode 83: November 10, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Erik Potholm, Managing Partner, SRCP Media, for a conversation on the midterm elections and what they mean for Maine and the country.

Episode 82: October 27, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Rachel Kerestes, Executive Director of Science is US, for a conversation on the importance of bolstering Maine’s STEM education and workforce and encouraging policymakers to reprioritize science and engineering.

Episode 81: October 13, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting will be joined by Cornerstone’s Matt Marks for a conversation on the Enough is Enough campaign urging Portland voters to reject all ballot questions this election.

Episode 80: September 22, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting will be joined by Maine State Chamber Government Relations Specialist Ben Lucas for a conversation on PFAS.

Episode 79: September 15, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting will be joined by Sheila Brennan Nee, director of the Maine Sports Commission (MSC), for a conversation on MSC’s mission to advance, elevate, and promote Maine as a four season sports destination, and the economic impact of sport events and sports tourism in Maine.

Episode 78: August 25, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Dana Totman, president and CEO of Avesta Housing, to discuss Maine's affordable housing shortage and his thoughts on possible solutions.

Episode 77: August 11, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Tony Cameron, chief executive officer of the Maine Tourism Association, to discuss the summer tourist season and look ahead to fall/winter in Maine.

Episode 76: July 28, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-host John Williams of Williams Broadcasting is joined by Richard Cantz, president and CEO of Goodwill Northern New England, and Steve Cox, owner of Service Master Fire and Water Restoration in Auburn - two of the show's sponsors.

Episode 75: July 14, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-host John Williams of Williams Broadcasting is joined by Dan Walsh, Dan Walsh, president and CEO of Norway Savings - one of the show's sponsors.

Episode 74: June 23, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Doug Whitney, president & CEO of WBRC Inc., and Rob Frank, WBRC’s senior principal and chief business development officer, to discuss the firm’s 120th anniversary and the innovations and qualities that got them there.

Episode 73: June 9, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by U.S. Senator Susan Collins, to discuss the U.S. economy, ongoing supply chain pressures, her advocacy on behalf of Maine’s lobster industry, and her recent trip to Poland to witness first-hand the situation in Ukraine.

Episode 72: May 26, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Noël Bonam, state director of AARP Maine, and Japhet Els, outreach director of AARP Maine, to discuss some of the issues around an older workforce, as Maine is the nation’s “oldest” state - what that means, the stresses it includes, and the impact on the business community and workplace culture.

Episode 71: May 12, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by U.S. Senator Angus King to discuss U.S. economic issues, supply chain pressures, cybersecurity concerns, and his recent trip to Poland to witness first-hand the situation in Ukraine. Sen. King serves on four oversight committees - Rules, Intelligence, Armed Services, and Energy and Natural Resources.

Episode 70: April 28, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy, president of the University of Maine and vice chancellor for research and innovation for the University of Maine System, to discuss the University’s recent R1 designation and what it means for Maine.

Episode 69: April 14, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Craig Larrabee, president and CEO of JMG, to discuss JMG's programs to work with Maine's public middle and high schools, community colleges, and university system to help students reach their fullest potential. JMG strengthens Maine's workforce and improves the economy by providing students with the guidance, skills and opportunities they need to succeed in their careers.

Episode 68: March 10, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Terry Shehata, Ph.D., director of the NASA Maine Space Grant Consortium and director of the Maine NASA EPSCoR Program, and Emily Dwinnells, director of the Maine Spaceport Initiative, to discuss the spaceport legislation and its role in the STEM workforce.

Episode 67: February 24, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by former State Senator, Hon. Louis Luchini, to discuss his new role as Region 1 Advocate in the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Episode 66: February 10, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Michelle Anderson, president of Junior Achievement of Maine to discuss Junior Achievement’s programs in Maine and its unique role as an economic catalyst.

Episode 65: January 27, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Andrew Butcher, the first President of the Maine Connectivity Authority, to discuss the role and mission of this new State entity charged with achieving universal availability of high-speed broadband in Maine.

Episode 64: January 13, 2022
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by State Economist Amanda Rector for a discussion about and reflections on 2021's economic standing and how the pandemic recovery is shaping predictions for 2022.

Episode 63: December 23, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by a very special visitor from the North Pole as they discuss the year in review and the holiday season.

Episode 62: December 9, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Matthew Lewis, President & CEO of HospitalityMaine to discuss the spending boom last summer fed largely by an influx of tourists to Maine. Summer spending at Maine hotels and restaurants surged to a record high in 2021 as the state’s service industry continued recovering from losses incurred in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic.

Episode 61: November 24, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Soni Reese and Holly Gurney to discuss efforts through Southern Maine Community College's Learning Center to assist English Language Learners navigate the college experience and be successful in the workforce.

Episode 60: November 11, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Matt Leonard, CEO of Military Talent Source, to discuss hiring practices for veterans as a solution to workforce shortages and employment needs.

Episode 59: October 28, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Peter Jamieson, economic development director for the Katahdin Region, to discuss the recent success stories in the Katahdin Region.

Episode 58: October 14, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Charles E. Hewett, Ph.D., executive director for the Initiative for Digital Engineering and Life Sciences (IDEALS), to discuss the Roux Institute’s efforts and importance to economy and its plans for development of the B&M campus.

Episode 57: September 23, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Kimberly A. Hamilton, Ph.D., president of FocusMaine, to discuss the organization's efforts to accelerate the creation of quality jobs in Maine by investing in three of the state’s globally competitive and high-growth fields — agriculture, aquaculture, and biopharmaceuticals — and by strengthening Maine’s workforce capacity.

Episode 56: September 9, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Tae Chong, director of multicultural markets and strategies for the Maine State Chamber, to discuss Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and their role in and impact on Maine's workforce and economy.

Episode 55: August 26, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-host John Williams of Williams Broadcasting catches up with Melissa Rock and Karen Hakala of Norway Savings to continue our series of conversations about business experiences through the pandemic and into the post-pandemic economy.

Episode 54: August 19, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting catch up with the Maine State Chamber's Advocacy Team - Peter Gore, Ben Gilman, and Linda Caprara - to update listeners now that the first legislative session has adjourned, highlighting the issues of importance to Maine's business community.

Episode 53: August 12, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-host John Williams of Williams Broadcasting is joined by Stan Bennet of The Bennet Radio Group to discuss his company's experiences through the pandemic, his acquisition of a new radio group during the pandemic, and moving forward, his impressions of the post-pandemic economy.

Episode 52: August 5, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-host John Williams of Williams Broadcasting is joined by Steve Cox of Service Master Restore and Rich Cantz of Goodwill of Northern New England to share their experiences through the pandemic and into the post-pandemic economy.

Episode 51: July 8, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Russell Walters of Northern Outdoors to discuss the Maine summer tourism season and what the forecast looks like this fall and winter.

Episode 50: June 24, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by the Maine State Chamber's Advocacy team - Peter Gore, Ben Gilman, and Linda Caprara - to discuss "the good, the bad, and the ugly" outcomes of the legislative session, highlighting the issues of importance to Maine's business community.

Episode 49: June 10, 2021
The Bottom Line podcast’s co-hosts – Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting – are joined by Simon West, administrator for the Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI), to discuss the organization's overall mission to conduct research, analysis, and reporting on economic issues in a nonpartisan, independent manner, as well as the development of MERI's legislative scorecard, which ranks state legislators based on their votes on key issues of importance to Maine’s business community.

Episode 48: May 27, 2021
The Bottom Line podcast’s co-hosts – Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting – are joined by Maine's Public Advocate, Barry Hobbins, to commemorate his upcoming retirement and reflect on his career of public service.

Episode 47: May 13, 2021
The Bottom Line podcast’s co-hosts – Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting – are joined by Andy Shepard, general manager and CEO of Saddleback, to discuss the ski mountain's revival, his reflections on the first season in operation, and a glimpse into what’s next for Saddleback development.

Episode 46: April 22, 2021
The Bottom Line podcast’s co-hosts – Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting – are joined by State Economist Amanda Rector for a discussion of state economic and workforce trends as Mainers work through the pandemic and into economic recovery. We’ll also hear more about the work of the Consensus Economic Forecasting Commission and the Revenue Forecasting Committee.

Episode 45: April 8, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by the Maine State Chamber’s advocacy team – Peter Gore, Ben Gilman, and Linda Caprara – to provide listeners with a legislative update on critical bills.

Episode 44: March 25, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Stephen W. Gove, executive director of the Maine Municipal Association, to discuss the impact of the pandemic on Maine’s municipalities.

Episode 43: March 11, 2021
On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Maine, The Bottom Line podcast's co-hosts, Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting, are joined by Commissioner Heather Johnson of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and Commissioner Laura Fortman of the Maine Department of Labor to discuss the challenges and opportunities the pandemic has presented in Maine during the past year.

Episode 42: February 25, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Beth Stickney, Esq., executive director of the Maine Business Immigration Coalition, to discuss The Maine Compact on Immigration, a bipartisan initiative by members of Maine’s business community and higher education institutions to promote immigration policies that will strengthen our economy and communities, attract and retain global talent, and bring new entrepreneurs, businesses and workers to our nation and state.

Episode 41: February 11, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Nate Wildes, executive director of Live+Work in Maine, to discuss Maine’s in-migration gains since March 2020, as well as a few of the organization's programs and projects targeted at attracting professionals to Maine.

Episode 40: January 28, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting were joined by the Maine State Chamber's Advocacy team - Peter Gore, Ben Gilman, and Linda Caprara - to discuss the upcoming legislative session and the issues of importance to Maine's business community.

Episode 39: January 14, 2021
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting were joined by Yellow Light Breen, President & CEO of Maine Development Foundation, to discuss the Measures of Growth report from the Maine Economic Growth Council.

Episode 38: December 17, 2020
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting were joined by Laurie Lachance, president of Thomas College and co-chair of the Governor’s Economic Recovery Committee, to discuss the Committee's recent Recommendations to Sustain and Grow Maine's Economy.

Episode 37: December 10, 2020
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting were joined by Hannah Pingree, director of the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, to discuss Maine’s Climate Action Plan.

Episode 36: November 26, 2020
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting were joined by Jason Judd, Ed.D., Executive Director of Educate Maine, to discuss his organization's recent Education Indicators for Maine 2020 report, and next week's Annual Education Symposium and Leadership Award Presentation.

Episode 35: November 12, 2020
This week on The Bottom Line podcast, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting were joined by the Maine State Chamber's Advocacy Team to discuss outcomes of the recent elections and its implications on both federal and state public policy as we anticipate the upcoming legislative session.

Episode 34: October 22, 2020
UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and Chancellor Dannel Malloy of the University of Maine System are this week’s special guests on The Bottom Line podcast. They will join The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss what the recent Alfond Foundation investment means for Maine and the role of a public university system (and a research university in particular) in helping accelerate Maine's economic recovery.

Episode 33: October 8, 2020
Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap will be this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. He will join The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the November 3 election, COVID-related safety measures, the state’s new absentee ballot tracking service, and ranked choice voting.

Episode 32: September 24, 2020
Commissioner Heather Johnson of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development was this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. She joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to update listeners on the State's recent expansion of the size and types of businesses and nonprofits eligible for business loans, on-going relief and recovery efforts at the state and federal levels, and Maine's economic standing on the national stage.

Episode 31: September 10, 2020
Commissioner Pender Makin of the Maine Department of Education was this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. She joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to revisit the department’s “Return to Classroom Instruction” plan and update listeners about how school’s fared as they welcomed back teachers and students.

Episode 30: August 27, 2020
Shanna Cox, president and CEO of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and Jen Webber of Webber Consulting LLC, were our special guests on The Bottom Line podcast. They joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss This is ME Counting on YOU!, a public awareness campaign launched by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with local and regional chambers throughout Maine. "This is ME Counting on You" encourages all Mainers and visitors to do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19 by following recommended health and safety guidelines, such as wearing a mask and gloves and practicing social distancing, in an effort to help make sure Maine businesses can operate safely and successfully for their employees and their customers and Maine’s economic recovery can succeed.

Episode 29: August 13, 2020
David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College System (MCCS), was our special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. He joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss MCCS' plans for providing safe, in-person training on campus for students that need hands-on instruction and robust remote learning for other students. In both scenarios, Maine’s community colleges are making sure students are getting critical training for the state’s workforce needs.

Episode 28: July 23, 2020
Carl Carlson and Steve Cox, owners of ServiceMaster of the Lakes Region, were this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. They joined The Bottom Line co-host John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the challenges of owning and sustaining a small business during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, while also providing essential services to homes and businesses throughout their area of coverage, while trying to maintain a functioning workforce.

Episode 27: July 9, 2020
Mark McInerney, director of the Center for Workforce Research and Information (CWRI) at the Maine Department of Labor, was this week's special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. He joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the work of the CWRI during the COVID-19 pandemic as it provides state and area labor market information to employers, job seekers, and others.

Episode 26: June 25, 2020
U.S. Senator Susan Collins was this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. She joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the Paycheck Protection Program she co-authored, as well as other federal programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the economy.

Episode 25: June 18, 2020
Commissioner Pender Makin of the Maine Department of Education was this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. She joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the delivery of education in Maine and the department’s recently-released draft “Return to Classroom Instruction” plan.

Episode 24: June 11, 2020
Dan Belyea, chief workforce development officer for the Maine Community College System, was this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. He joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the Hospitality Maine Covid19 Restaurant Readiness Course, a micro-credential certification created in conjunction with Eastern Maine Community College and designed to support the State of Maine’s Prevention Checklist for Restaurants. The course provides fundamental information needed to help keep employees safe and empower them to mentor and inform guests so they also follow the best practices.

Episode 23: June 4, 2020
Steve Hewins, president and CEO of Hospitality Maine, was this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. He joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on Maine’s tourism sector and their proposal for safely reopening that key part of the state’s economy.

Episode 22: May 28, 2020
Laurie Lachance, president of Thomas College, and Josh Broder, CEO of Tilson Tech, were this week’s special guests on The Bottom Line podcast. The co-chairs of the Governor's Economic Recovery Committee joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the committee's tasks in the months ahead. The committee is charged with engaging economic experts and industry representatives from across Maine to develop specific policy recommendations to stabilize the state’s economy and building a bridge to future prosperity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Episode 21: May 21, 2020
David Barber, business development specialist at Tyson Foods, was this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. Mr. Barber joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the company’s response to a COVID outbreak among workers in Tyson’s Barber Foods plant in Portland. The company’s commitment to their employees and their swift action, aided by Maine CDC, has set the standard for how to manage a workplace outbreak.

Episode 20: May 13, 2020
Kurt W. Adams, President & CEO of Summit Utilities, Inc., was this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. Mr. Adams joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss how an essential Maine business is operating safely during the COVID-19 environment.

Episode 19: May 7, 2020
Maine Governor Janet Mills is this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. Governor Mills will join The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss her gradual plan to Restart Maine’s Economy and the ways Maine businesses can prepare to open their doors.

Episode 18: April 30, 2020
Chancellor Dannel Malloy of the University of Maine System was this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. He joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on Maine public universities, the delivery of education in Maine, and the path forward for Maine's higher education community.

Episode 17: April 23, 2020
Kimberly Smith, Maine Department of Labor Deputy Commissioner, was this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. She joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on employers and employment in Maine, with a focus on unemployment insurance.

Episode 16: April 16, 2020
Matt Marks, CEO of the Associated General Contractors Maine, was this week’s special guest on The Bottom Line podcast. He joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the economic impact of COVID-19 on Maine’s construction industry.

Episode 15: April 9, 2020
Amy K. Bassett, district director of SBA’s Maine district office, was our special guest on today’s The Bottom Line podcast. She joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the latest developments and challenges businesses are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and accessing the programs available to businesses and individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic through the federal rescue package, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Episode 14: April 2, 2020
Sen. Angus King (I-ME) joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the latest developments and challenges businesses are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and programs available to businesses and individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic through the federal rescue package, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Episode 13: March 26, 2020
Your hosts John Williams and Dana Connors discussed the status of the critical issues facing Maine Businesses with Bruce Wagner, CEO of the Finance Authority of Maine. Together they will review loan programs FAME has available to eligible Maine businesses and individuals/employees who experience hardships due to COVID-19.

Episode 12: March 19, 2020
For the foreseeable future, Dana and John plan to produce a new episode of “The Bottom Line” EVERY THURSDAY at 10:00 a.m. to keep you informed about the developments regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Maine's people and businesses.

Episode 11: March 13, 2020
It's Friday the 13th, and we have information-packed show for you! Host John Williams and Dana Connors discuss the status of the critical issues still facing the 129th Maine Legislature as the session nears its end. We'll also discuss the recent COVID-19 recommendations from the Governor and the Maine CDC.

Episode 10: February 13, 2020
Chamber President Dana Connors and host John Williams are joined by Marty Grohman, executive director of the Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine (E2Tech), to discuss his experiences as an entrepreneur and a former legislator, as well as his uniquely-qualified work as executive director of E2Tech to elevate this important economic sector.

Episode 9: January 23, 2020
For this special extended episode, host John Williams and the Maine State Chamber's Advocacy Team - Peter Gore, Ben Gilman, Megan Diver, and Linda Caprara - discuss the wide range of critical issues facing the 129th Maine Legislature.

Episode 8b: January 9, 2020
In a special second segment, Chamber President Dana Connors and host John Williams are joined by DECD Commissioner Heather Johnson to discuss the State's recently-released strategic economic development plan.

Episode 8a: January 9, 2020
For the first half hour, Chamber President Dana Connors and host John Williams are joined by Patricia Weigle, president of Norway Savings Bank, and Dan Walsh, executive vice president of commercial lending, to discuss the history of the bank, how the bank impacts the business economy and the increasingly-important need for cybersecurity.

Episode 7: December 13, 2019
Chamber President Dana Connors and host John Williams are joined by MSCC staffers Angie Arno and Melanie Baillargeon to introduce listeners to the variety of ways the Maine State Chamber delivers its mission of increased awareness to our members, Maine businesses, various experts, opinion leaders, and policy makers.

Episode 6: December 12, 2019
Chamber President Dana Connors and host John Williams are joined by DOT Commissioner Bruce van Note to discuss the work of the Blue Ribbon Commission To Study and Recommend Funding Solutions for the State’s Transportation Systems.

Episode 5: November 14, 2019
Chamber President Dana Connors and host John Williams are joined by MEMIC’s Tony Payne to discuss the recent changes to Maine’s workers’ comp law, MEMIC’s recently-announced $22 million in dividend checks to Maine employers, and its new Safety Experts Podcast.

Episode 4: November 14, 2019
Chamber President Dana Connors is joined by Live and Work in Maine's Katie Shorey to discuss their second annual “Boomerang Weekend,” to be held over the Thanksgiving holiday. Boomerangs refers to the legions of Mainers who departed as young adults for education and professional opportunities elsewhere, and return later to work and raise families.

Episode 3: November 1, 2019
In this episode, Chamber President Dana Connors is joined by Linda Caprara, to discuss the significant role manufacturing plays in Maine economy and the Chamber's "Dream it. Do it." program to introduce young people to careers in manufacturing here in Maine.

Episode 2: October 11, 2019
In this episode, Chamber President Dana Connors is joined by Mark Ellis, membership specialist, to introduce listeners to the variety of ways we provide our members with access to networking events, best practices, and solid business contacts with issue experts, opinion leaders, and policy makers in a meaningful way.

Episode 1: September 30, 2019
In our inaugural episode, Chamber President Dana Connors and Executive Vice President Peter Gore introduce listeners to the overall work and priorities of the Maine State Chamber, with a focus on the Chamber’s advocacy efforts.