By Neha Sud '05

Bob Sargent, a veteran U.S. diplomat who has logged service from Belgium to Vietnam, firmly believes that people who attended Maine colleges will remain "Maine-minded" for life. And that could pay off for Maine businesses looking to expand to overseas markets.

That's the idea behind the organization Sargent now manages--the Maine International Networking Service (MINS).

Sponsored by the University of Maine, MINS works with local businesses that want to expand to foreign markets. Several of these companies are export-ready yet lack the financial resources and connections required to pursue overseas ventures. For a small fee, MINS puts these businesses in contact with Maine college or university alumni living abroad who have expressed an interest in advocating Maine ventures. "It is an extremely cost-effective international marketing tool," Sargent said. "It ensures that Maine companies have someone on the ground overseas."

Currently, the MINS database holds 350 alumni of Colby, the University of Maine, Bowdoin College, Husson College and the Maine Maritime Academy. Margaret Viens '77, Colby's director of alumni relations, said alumni have been contacted via letter explaining the purpose of the networking. Colby forwards responses to Sargent, who enters the information into a database.

In addition to alumni in business, teachers, choreographers, doctors and others also have responded positively to the general appeal. "People we contact don't have to be business-related," explained Viens. "Non-business people are also valuable to us as they have extensive connections in their community and can potentially help put Maine companies in touch with the right person."

Twenty-five successful connections have been established by MINS, according to Sargent.

Colby's involvement with MINS has already resulted in two major projects. The first Sargent refers to as a "wonderful Colby coincidence." Karen Marquardt '84, who lives in Brussels and works for the European Venture Capital Association, expressed interest in a MINS project involving the Portland-based Maine & Co. Upon reaching the office of Maine & Co, both Marquardt and Sargent were pleasantly surprised to see that the two people they were supposed to be meeting were also Colby alumni: Cathy Palmer Evers '90 and Todd Alexander '92.

Another venture is the establishment of a group that will work in Japan. The group was formed through the MINS-arranged meeting of five Maine college alumni (two of whom are Colby grads) and Richard Coyle, president of the Maine International Trading Center (MITC). Coyle says he is optimistic about the organization's role in furthering Maine trade abroad. "The advantage of working through MINS," he said, "is that they provide contacts that are predisposed to have an interest in Maine."

Viens describes Colby's involvement with MINS as being a "win-win situation" for both the state and the school: "It really is good publicity for Colby to get this goodwill for the state of Maine."

Despite the general optimism about MINS, the man in charge, Sargent, is not convinced. "We've demonstrated that there's a body of good will overseas with respect to Maine. We've demonstrated that Maine colleges are enthusiastic about the project. However, what we have not demonstrated to my satisfaction is that Maine companies are in a position to fully realize the potential of this resource."

Sargent's disappointment stems from the lack of response, not from international alumni but from Maine companies. "We have contacted a lot of companies that are members of the Maine International Trade Center," he said. "We're doing this cold calling to the fellow members of MITC. MINS is not a panacea, it's just an extremely cost-effective international marketing tool. But the response to the cold calling has not been very imaginative."