The goal of the conference is to stimulate thinking and planning which will influence the way communities and individuals can work together toward prosperity. John Fitzsimmons, president of the Maine Technical College System, will deliver the keynote address. Ernesto Sirolli of Sirolli Institute International will discuss the use of social technologies that he developed to spark economic development at the grassroots level.

Dr. Fitzsimmons has held the post of president of the Maine Technical College System since 1990. Under his leadership, the seven college system has played a significant role in enhancing educational opportunities for Maine adults and careerbound high school students and advancing technical education. A strong advocate for workforce quality efforts in Maine, he created the Maine Quality Centers program in 1995. This program is an economic development initiative designed to help new or expanding businesses in Maine grow by offering customized education and training at no cost to the business. Dr. Fitzsimmons is a member of numerous boards, including the New England Board of Higher Education, New England Council, International Advisory Board of Governors for the Center for Career Development, and is one of two educators in the country to have served on the National Governor's Association School-to-Work Roundtable.

The Sirolli Institute International Enterprise Facilitation TM Incorporated is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit Corporation registered in the USA. Its affiliate Sirolli Institute Canada Ltd. is a NonProfit Corporation registered in Canada. The Sirolli Institute and its affiliate were formed to promote and implement the social technologies developed by Dr. Sirolli that spark economic development at the grassroots level. The Sirolli Institute vision most simply stated is "Passion at Work." The Sirolli Institute believes that human nature is intrinsically good and that the fulfillment of individual talents, through work, leads to an improvement not only of individual lives but of the quality of communities and society as a whole. Further, they believe that a truly successful individual is one who is doing beautifully whatever it is they love doing.

The conference is one of several events celebrating Penquis CAP's 35th anniversary. For a brochure and registration form, call 973-3612.