On Wednesday, March 24, Colby College will offer its 48th annual program for leaders in the Maine workplace-the 1999 Colby Institute for Leadership. This year's theme is "Participating in the New Economy," and the program will present workshops designed to help Maine business people advance their companies and careers. Keynote speakers are Nicholas Perna of Hartford, Conn., chief economist of the Fleet Financial Group, and Steven B. Wiley of Littletown, Penn., president of The Wiley Group.

The institute will include workshops for small businesses as well as for larger companies' employees from all levels of management. The program runs from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Colby's campus in Waterville. Participants need to register in advance to attend the institute. For information, businesses or individuals should contact Colby's Office of Special Programs at 872-3386. The deadline for registration is March 19, but space is limited so signing up early is recommended.

Perna, a respected analyst of the national and New England economies, will speak on "Maine's Economic Outlook" at 8:50 a.m. in the first general session. Wiley's presentation at 3:45 p.m. is titled "The Human Side of Performance."

Participants may select two from among nine other workshops being offered by successful business executives and consultants. Activities include Governor Angus King's presentation of Maine's 1999 Governor's Awards for Business Excellence at the luncheon.

The Leadership Institute emphasizes practical information that participants can use in their own workplaces, according to Joan Sanzenbacher, Colby's director of special programs and one of the institute's organizers.

Workshops this year include:

The Power of Your Brand, John Coleman, President of ViA Inc., Portland.

Educating Your Workforce, Matt Ernest, Director of Training and Development, Guilford Industries, Guilford.

Electric Competition 2000: Effects and Opportunities for Maine Businesses, David Flanagan, President and CEO, CMP Group, Inc., Augusta.

The GE Way, Steve Graebert, Senior VP and COO, Irving Tanning, Hartland.

Connecting Through Communication, Deborah Hildebrandt, Consultant, Decker Communications, Inc., San Francisco.

Survive and Thrive in the Fast Lane, Prism Consulting Group, LLC, Debbie Farrell and Rona Weinstein, Principals, Stamford, Conn.

It's Not Where We Are-It's What We Know, Joel B. Russ, President, Maine Science & Technology Foundation, Augusta.

Is the Web Working for Maine Businesses? Betsy Tipper, Women's Business Counselor, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., Augusta.

Participants register for two of the nine workshop sessions and also attend both keynote addresses. Registration, lunch and an afternoon reception are included in the $165 fee, and four or more participants from the same organization are eligible for a group discount.