Can HMEF’s Education Strategy Pay Off for Maine’s Service Industry?

The state of Maine is preparing for continued demand to its hospitality industry, with tax data indicating it’s set to beat 2019’s $4 billion gross revenue record. Thought this is exciting for the industry at large, it also creates chokepoints in operations; Maine is surpassing gross revenue numbers with 13,000 less employees, according to the HospitalityMaine Education Foundation.

To make sure this growth isn’t squandered due to a lack of resources and operational capacity, the HMEF launched a training and career path program, Dirigo 2025, to support professionals looking to break into the service industry. This includes investments into culinary trade schools, on-the-job credits, and higher education certifications.

Sean Flynn, Chief Customer Officer at InStride, a continued education provider connecting businesses with flexible education paths, gave his insights on which of the channels HMEF is focusing on will be most useful for retaining and elevating service industry workers, and why.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Emergency department
How Predictive AI Is Helping Hospitals Anticipate Admissions and Optimize Emergency Department Throughput
December 24, 2025

Emergency departments across the U.S. are under unprecedented strain, with overcrowding, staffing shortages, and inpatient bed constraints converging into a throughput crisis. The American Hospital Association reports that hospital capacity and workforce growth have lagged, intensifying delays from arrival to disposition. At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence are moving from experimental to operational—raising…

Read More
Mission
Why Is the Mission of Benchmark So Important
December 23, 2025

As pharmaceutical innovation accelerates, the margin for error narrows, making quality assurance not just a regulatory necessity but a public good. Benchmark’s mission sits at the intersection of progress and protection—helping manufacturers stay aligned with FDA standards so life-saving therapies reach patients faster and safer. By keeping cleanrooms compliant and companies out of trouble, Benchmark…

Read More
Benchmark
What Is It Like for You to Be Part of the Benchmark Products Teams Now
December 23, 2025

Being part of the Benchmark Products team today means working at the intersection of precision manufacturing and deeply human collaboration, especially in the high-stakes world of cleanroom and sterility assurance solutions. As the organization grows, employees describe a culture that still feels familial—one where clear communication, personal accountability, and genuine care for customers drive…

Read More
Cleaning
Do Your Friends Ever Ask You For Cleaning Tips
December 23, 2025

In a media landscape increasingly shaped by privacy constraints, data clean rooms have emerged as a quiet but powerful way for brands to collaborate without exposing sensitive information, even if, as Will Sepsis quips, some partners would still prefer that “ignorance is bliss.” That tension—between curiosity and caution—captures the moment we’re in, where understanding…

Read More