Welcome, Lisa Liberatore

Bangor Target Area Development Corp. is pleased to welcome Lisa Liberatore as Director of the UpStart Center for Entrepreneurship, our Orono incubator. Lisa is a powerhouse of the business and startup community. A longtime entrepreneur, she has founded Baxter Tea Company and Lisa’s Legit Burritos in Gardiner. With Jason Harkins, she co-founded Scratchpad Accelerator in Bangor, as well as the co-working space CoVort, which laid the foundation for what has grown into Rize CoWorking and Collaboration, owned by Ashleigh Briggs.

Lisa Liberatore, Director of the UpStart Center for Entrepreneurship

That’s not nearly all. She is the co-founder of real estate ventures and an experienced property manager. She is the author of The Power of Transparency and mother of a 13-year-old son, Dorian, also an award-winning youth volunteer and entrepreneur. She currently serves as Program Manager/Entrepreneur in Residence for BTADC’s subsidiary 501(c)(3) nonprofit UpStart Maine, Inc., whose mission is to connect “entrepreneurs, innovators and dreamers” with each other and the resources to grow into thriving businesses. UpStart Maine runs events such as Blitz, Top Gun Bangor Region, training sessions for early entrepreneurs, and business showcases.

Lisa’s recent appointment to the Maine Small Business and Entrepreneurship Commission shows statewide recognition of her broad role and connections to startup businesses. The Commission, located within the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, evaluates and coordinates programs for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Lisa assumes the incubator’s property and tenant management duties previously held by longtime executive manager Rod McKay. Rod, who has served in every possible role at the incubator since its establishment 25 years ago, will continue to manage the incubator’s finances.

Welcome, Lisa! We are pleased and incredibly lucky to have you on board.