ROCKLAND — More than 400 people attended the Juice Conference 4.0 this past weekend, Nov 13-15. Taking a page out of other successful weekend events such as PopTech and Camden International Film Fest, this is the first year the Midcoast Magnet-produced event spanned over three days. The conference was designed to generate energy, to be a conductor for ideas and action, and to connect elements of the creative economy to spark growth and prosperity.

The conference drew many entrepreneurs, artists, and small and micro-businesses across Maine, which are vital to the state’s economy.

This year’s theme was all about inspiring trust and the various ways one can do that — not only in boosting one’s own confidence and intuition, but also in collaboration with other people and businesses.

Some of the highlights included keynote speakers Casey Gerald, co-founder and CEO of MBAs Across America, who told his own story about growing up without direction and, ironically, finding it on an extended road trip with other Harvard MBA grads as they worked collaboratively to invest in other entrepreneurs across America. There was also Gino Bona, an advertising professional who used his own brother’s success story in how a promotion for a chicken wing and beer joint went insanely viral on major news outlets. Kea Tessyman, COO and co-founder of Power Performance, was a local speaker who illustrated how giving all of your commitment and energy to people who need it, in fact, sparks a cycle, where the receiver eventually turns back into the giver. See our profile on Tessyman here.

The workshops varied this year from focusing on overcoming failure, powerful decision-making, communication styles, cultural commerce, intellectual property, food access and overcoming fear through improvisational techniques. Rachel Flehinger, a Portland performer, improv instructor and founder of her own company, InnerVision, used humor to illustrate how even the shyest introvert can be coaxed to shed layers and turn into a mooing cow. Want to know how? See our profile on Flehinger here.

Some of the coolest downtown businesses provided the meeting space for this year’s conference including The Speakeasy, Strand Theater, Fog Bar and Cafe and 3Crow. Whether it was intentional or not, just to be able to use many of these nighttime venues as dynamic spaces for conference workshops during the day dovetailed into the concept of one of Juice’s workshops called “Shared Space: Creating and Promoting Co-working Spaces.” In other words, it’s already there; why not multi-purpose it for special events like these, rather than build something like a hotel with conference space?

Nov. 14, a Friday, was the most jam-packed day, ending with a stellar PechaKucha at the Strand and an after-party with ‘90s tribute band Hello Newman at Trackside Station. The weekend was for the forward thinkers, the bold, energetic entrepreneurs. Earnest, not stuffy, dynamic without being pretentious—that’s the gist of this year’s Juice Conference 4.0.

To see a gallery of faces and places for the event visit: Juice Gallery

To learn more about Juice Conference visit: juiceconference.org

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com