Upcoming Events

May 21, 2026 – 8:30 – 10:00 am
Buffet Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 am
Program: 9:00-10:00 am

Location: 
McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center
35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

About the Event:

With high construction costs, every square foot matters in the battle to produce affordable housing. This presentation will introduce the building code requirements currently in effect in several U.S. jurisdictions, their intended application to address life-safety risks, and how they enable the creation of more cost-efficient buildings, such as single-egress stair (SES) buildings. Small, single-egress stair (SES) buildings up to six stories are currently a hot topic in the housing industry. Housing advocates and community leaders are advocating for them as a solution to build more affordable housing. Other entities, often including fire officials, have concerns that these SES buildings are not as safe and may compromise occupants’ and firefighters’ safety.  Simpson Gumpertz & Heger’s Associate Principal Joshua Greene’s presentation will address key life-safety considerations for residential buildings and how they can be used to maximize housing. Questions and discussion during the presentation are encouraged.

Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by May 14. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend, or who cancels after May 14.

Prices increase by $10 after May 14.

Josh Greene is an Associate Principal in the fire protection engineering practice of Simpson Gumpertz & Heger in Waltham, MA. Josh is a licensed professional engineer in nine states, including Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont and Rhode Island. He has over twenty-seven years of experience in building and fire code consulting, fire protection system design, smoke control analyses, and system commissioning and construction administration services.  Josh specializes in assessing unique and challenging designs and employing performance-based concepts for alternative solutions to prescriptive code requirements. He is active in numerous professional organizations, including leadership roles in technical committees and working groups for the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association.

Thank you to our Breakfast Series Sponsor:

June 4, 2026 – 8:30 – 10:00 am
Buffet Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 am
Program: 9:00-10:00 am

Location:
Hollywood Casino
500 Main Street, Bangor, ME

About the Event:

Understanding Maine’s Economy: Statewide Drivers and Local Impact 

Join MEREDA for a data-driven breakfast conversation on Maine’s economic outlook, with a focused lens on the Greater Bangor region. This panel will bring together leaders in economic development, finance, healthcare, and higher education to explore the forces shaping Maine’s economy — and what they mean for Bangor’s future.

The discussion will open with a statewide economic snapshot, highlighting key trends in workforce, population, industry growth, and investment. Panelists will then connect those trends to regional impacts, including business expansion, housing demand, healthcare employment, and commercial development in the Bangor area.

A central theme of the conversation will be workforce and talent — from recruitment and retention challenges to education-to-employment pipelines and cross-sector collaboration. Panelists will also examine economic development and investment, including access to capital, infrastructure readiness, and Bangor’s role as a regional hub for healthcare, education, and commerce.

Attendees will gain insight into how statewide economic conditions intersect with local opportunities, and how collaboration across sectors can support sustainable growth for Bangor and communities throughout Maine.

Confirmed Speakers:  Peter DelGreco, Maine & Co., Amanda Rector, Maine State Economist, Guy Hudson, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northern Light Health, Tony McKim, President and CEO of The First N.A, and Jason Harkins, Maine Business School, as the moderator.

Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by May 28. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend, or who cancels after May 28.  Prices increase by $10 after May 28.

Interested in participating in this event as a sponsor?
Contact us today or view the sponsorship benefits here.

September 17, 2026 – 8:30 – 10:00 am
Buffet Breakfast: 8:30-9:00 am
Program: 9:00-10:00 am

Location: 
McGoldrick Career & Student Success Center
35 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

About the Event:
Details Coming Soon!

Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by September 10. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend, or who cancels after September 10.

Prices increase by $10 after September 10.

Thank you to our Breakfast Series Sponsor: