Turn AI into ROI: Six Weeks to Smarter Business Growth

Join the Maine Center for a 6-week hybrid certificate course helping Maine small and scaling businesses harness AI for growth. Learn to build AI agents and workflows, integrate them into operations, and create multi-year financial strategies that align technical tools with long-term business goals.

Who Should Enroll?

  • Maine small business owners and startup founders seeking practical AI skills
  • Managers or team leads responsible for operations, sales, or strategic growth planning
  • Entrepreneurs who want both hands-on technical know-how and financial forecasting expertise

No prior AI experience is needed—this course is about practical application, not programming.

Why Choose This Program?

  • Unique blend of AI implementation training with advanced financial planning
  • Practical, hands-on experience with proven tools and real-world use cases
  • Graduate with an actionable 90-day AI plan plus 5-year investment roadmap

Course Overview

Topics: AI basics, transformation frameworks, ROI considerations

Activities: Map AI opportunities in your own business, discuss adoption strategies

Topics: Agent design, integrations, automation potential

Activities: Hands-on creation of an AI agent for a real business task

Topics: AI strategy alignment, ROI forecasting, financial modeling

Activities: Build a 5-year financial model for one AI opportunity; draft business case

Topics: Workflow design, automation platforms, scaling considerations

Activities: Create a multi-step AI workflow integrated with existing tools; tie it to cost/benefit projections

Topics: Scaling economics, portfolio modeling, investor-ready proposals

Activities: Develop a transformation budget plan; workshop resource allocation strategies

Topics: AI for sales (leads, engagement, forecasting) and operations (automation, optimization)

Activities: Build and present a 90-day implementation action plan showing ROI impact

Program Details

  • Format: 100% Online – Live* on Zoom featuring instruction and hands-on exercises
  • Duration: Six weeks
  • Session Meeting Dates and Times:
    • Tuesday, October 14, 1:00-2:30PM
    • Tuesday, October 21, 1:00-2:30PM
    • Tuesday, October 28, 1:00-2:30PM
    • Tuesday, November 4, 1:00-2:30PM
    • Wednesday, November 12, 1:00-2:30PM (rescheduled due to Veterans Day)
    • Tuesday, November 18, 1:00-2:30PM
  • Office Hours:
    • Thursday, October 16, 4:00–5:00 PM
    • Thursday, October 30, 4:00–5:00 PM
    • Thursday, November 13, 4:00–5:00 PM
  • Cost: $599
  • Earn a Certificate of Achievement Recognizing Your AI Expertise

*While live participation is strongly encouraged, all Zoom sessions will be recorded and made available for participants unable to attend in real time.

Please note that in preparation for the exercises and assignments you will do during the course, we recommend that participants have access to a paid version of a large language model, such as ChatGPT Plus or Gemini Pro. The paid versions of these platforms offer more advanced capabilities, better reasoning, and improved performance for the tools and workflows we will be exploring together.

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About The Instructors

Ryan Low, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Strategic AI Integration

Ryan Low serves as the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Strategic AI Integration & Treasurer for the University of Maine System, where he oversees financial operations, resource management, and administrative functions across the system’s seven universities. With a focus on fiscal responsibility, operational efficiency, and the strategic use of AI, he works to ensure the system remains financially sustainable while supporting its mission of accessible, high-quality education for Maine’s students.

Ryan has extensive experience in public administration, higher education finance, and AI integration. He is an active voice in discussions on the role of AI in higher education, presenting at events such as the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) in Boston and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in Chicago. He is a member of Governor Janet Mills’ Maine Artificial Intelligence Task Force and co-chairs the UMS AI Task Force, helping to guide responsible AI adoption within the university system. Additionally, he is a member of the Generative AI Network for Accreditation and Higher Education (GAIN-AHEAD), an HLC-convened group focused on AI applications in accreditation, institutional operations, and policy development.

Chris Reuter is VP of Marketing at CloudQuery and Co-Founder & Principal at Trailmix Labs, an AI consultancy. He has built marketing organizations across startups from seed through Series C, after seven years at IBM in roles spanning finance, pricing, and sales. Chris has implemented AI tooling across diverse industries, written on machine learning and AI, and advises companies on AI strategy.

Based in Maine, he is also an active angel investor and member of the Backwoods Capital collective. Outside of work, Chris enjoys woodworking, hiking, and travel, and spending time with his wife and son.