Newspaper surpasses 12-year anniversary in community

Whoever said newspapers are dead probably hasn’t looked at a recent edition of The Windham Eagle newspaper.

The newspaper was created by Kelly and Niels Mank and celebrated its 12th anniversary on March 1. With an emphasis on delivering positive and solutions-based news for the communities of Windham and Raymond, the Manks continue to believe their work is essential and remains of benefit to residents.

The first edition of The Windham Eagle newspaper was
published March 1, 2013 and 12 years later the newspaper
is still relevant in the Windham and Raymond communities
and helping local businesses to succeed.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

Its popularity remains strong, as evidenced by the Windham Community Survey last fall which resulted in The Windham Eagle being the top source for community news for town residents with 62.39 percent of survey respondents citing the newspaper as the place they go for news, beating the Town of Windham’s website, Facebook, email and text notifications, Windham Town Hall, television, radio and Instagram.

Based in Windham at 585 Roosevelt Trail, the newspaper publishes 51 weekly editions every year along with a popular Summer Guide for the Sebago Lakes Region and serves as the host for the annual Eagle Choice Awards recognizing top local businesses every summer.

“When we launched the first edition of The Windham Eagle on March 1, 2013, we felt there was a need for a community publication here to tell positive stories about our local residents,” Kelly Mank said. “There are so many negative things about this community that are publicized elsewhere but we feel that having a newspaper that emphasizes positive achievements and solutions-based news is a must for this community and has led to its ongoing success.”

As other weekly community newspapers dwindle in size and experience trouble selling advertisements, The Windham Eagle’s support from advertisers and local businesses is encouraging. In 2024, The Windham Eagle produced 116 more pages than it did in 2023 and advertising sales also set records.

“Unlike most other publications, we are very a small staff. We do not have a large team of employees, but we manage to put out more pages on a weekly basis than any other single newspaper in the state of Maine, and I am proud of our work,” said Melissa Carter, Advertising Director and Designer for The Windham Eagle. “Readers may not realize that 100 percent of the newspaper’s revenue comes from supporting advertisers, which is why we ask all our readers to support the local businesses they see in the newspaper. I appreciate the relationships I have built over the years. My advertisers trust me, and that's a huge honor. ”

She said she is passionate about working with local businesses, new and old, to help them market and brand themselves so they can grow and succeed. As both the advertising director for the newspaper and its designer, Carter says that she can deliver a level of service and expertise not found with other publications.

“Being able to get creative and come up with ideas to contribute to their overall success is challenging and rewarding,” she said. “I am not your average ‘salesperson.’ I went to school for graphic design and that is where much of my passion lies.”

Carter said that The Windham Eagle is the only publication in the area that is direct mailed to every home and business in Windham and Raymond, making it an invaluable resource to the community.

"I have been working in the newspaper business for over 20 years and I believe in what I do because I have seen first-hand the results that consistent branding does for local businesses and for event advertising," Carter said.

Lisa DiBiase, a broker and the owner of Landing Real Estate in Windham, said having an outlet like The Windham Eagle has been invaluable for her company.

“This platform has served as a powerful channel through which we can reach our target audience and effectively communicate our brand message,” DiBiase said. “The Windham Eagle provides us with a local presence, allowing us to connect directly with members of our community. This localized approach is crucial for a real estate agency like ours, as building trust and rapport within the community is essential for attracting clients and closing deals.”

She said The Windham Eagle enhances Landing Real Estate’s credibility and visibility among potential clients.

“When individuals see our name and listings regularly in a reputable local publication, it reinforces the perception that we are a reliable and reputable real estate agency worthy of their consideration,” DiBiase said. “The Windham Eagle serves as a positive and reliable source of information for community events, news, and developments. By being present in such a publication, we not only promote our business but also demonstrate our commitment to staying informed and engaged with the local community. The Windham Eagle has provided us with a platform to effectively promote our business, showcase our listings and agents, and engage with the community. It has been instrumental in driving awareness, generating leads, and ultimately contributing to the success and growth of Landing Real Estate.”

Linda Manchester, the owner of The Good Life Market and Swift River Coffee Roasters in Raymond, says the newspaper has been a huge supporter of her businesses since they first opened, publishing feature stories about them to let the community know what and who we were, and consistently coming up with creative and beautiful content for their advertising.

“The personal connection we’ve had with the staff at the paper has been amazing, it feels like they are truly in our corner, wanting to see us succeed,” Manchester said. “It’s meaningful that The Windham Eagle gives back to the community by doing fundraising ads, and highlighting the achievements of local people, organizations, and businesses. The fact that the paper shows up in every mailbox gives readers an effortless connection to each other, to the community, and to a simpler time, and reminds us that we’re all still here for each other. I love working with your paper, because I know and love this region, and I truly believe The Windham Eagle does, too.”

Chris McDonald, the owner of Windham Powersports, says he’s a believer in what The Windham Eagle newspaper does for his business.

“You can have the best product in the world and if no one knows about it, it won’t sell,” McDonald said. “The Windham Eagle has helped me get my brand out to their huge local audience. Customer service is key in business and Melissa at The Windham Eagle has provided top-notch service for me and my business. She has offered unique and creative advertising on a weekly basis for nearly a decade. Melissa and The Windham Eagle are like having an ace up your sleeve, helping you win with sales and customer relationships. Thank you to Melissa, and The Windham Eagle, for all you’ve done for Windham Powersports over the years.”

Managing Editor Ed Pierce became the third editor to lead The Windham Eagle when he joined the staff in May 2020, following Michelle Libby and Lorraine Glowczak in that role.

Pierce will surpass the 50-year milestone in his career in journalism in May and says working for The Windham Eagle is reminiscent of his early days as a reporter for a community newspaper in New Mexico.

“I’ve worked for large daily newspapers and some smaller weekly papers, and I truly enjoy telling stories that might not be published anywhere else,” he said. “Being a veteran myself, I especially like writing about our local veterans and other human-interest articles.”

He said that because the newspaper’s policy is not to cover crime or politics as those issues are covered by other media entities, it allows the newspaper space to tell other stories that wouldn’t otherwise be published.

“The other aspect of the newspaper I love is when we sponsor advertising initiatives specifically intended to raise funds for local nonprofits and various charitable activities,” Pierce said. “That happens a lot and it truly benefits local nonprofit organizations who are in need of a little help.”

The newspaper’s annual Eagle Choice Awards, where readers cast votes for their favorite and most trusted businesses in the region, remains as popular now as when it started in 2015. Last summer’s Eagle Choice Awards celebration held at Erik’s Church in Windham drew its largest crowd ever and votes cast online set an all-time record.

Kelly Mank said she’s pleased that residents like the newspaper and accept its positive and solutions-based focus.

“Many people were skeptical at first that such a newspaper could be sustainable,” she said. “They told us that newspapers across America are dying, and that positive news isn’t real news and couldn’t work. We wanted to create a publication that all ages could find something of interest in, and that would contain positive articles focused on the communities of Windham and Raymond.”

She thanks the communities for supporting The Windham Eagle newspaper through the years.

“The newspaper’s success did not come easy or without debt and sacrifice, however, it has proven to be a positive tool and resource for our towns, schools, families, non-profits, and businesses,”
she said. <

Local roots for BNI® Maine good for business by Lorraine Glowczak

Kelly and Niels Mank speak at an annual success training 

Most business owners and professionals would agree that the growth and success of their company is due, in large part, through their connections with others. Raymond residents and local business owners, Kelly and Niels Mank, have no doubts that their business successes are a direct result of networking with other professionals. For them, it was their active involvement in BNI®, an international membership-based business networking and marketing organization.

In fact, when Kelly joined BNI® Maine in 2006, Mank’s photography business grew by 100% for the next two years. This was followed by the growth of their printing company (Time4Printing) and the addition of the vehicle wrapping and commercial signage division (Time4Wrapz). Their businesses continue to grow exponentially.

It is for this reason the Manks recently purchased and became Executive Directors of BNI® Maine. The purpose of this acquisition is not just to gain another business venture, but more as a mission to help others succeed as they have.

“I attribute our professional and personal successes to our involvement with BNI®,” Kelly stated. “It now feels like a calling for me to help other small businesses succeed and assist people to meet their personal and professional goals. That’s the main reason why Niels and I decided to purchase BNI® Maine. Additionally, we also wish to grow our management and leadership skills.”

Cherri Crockett, Vice President of BNI® – Successful Business Partners in Norway agrees with Kelly’s self-assessment. “Kelly and Niels are so family and community oriented, THIS is their calling and their ticket to helping the rest of us grow.”

The concept of BNI® began in January 1985 in California by Dr. Ivan Misner who was looking for ways to increase clients for his personal consulting business. With the help of a few friends and associates, Misner created the first network gathering. Within a year, 20 BNI® chapters were established throughout California. Moving forward 33 years, one can find 8,500 BNI® chapters world-wide with 20 chapters and 450 members in Maine. Windham has one chapter and a new chapter is forming.

According to the website, the mission of BNI® is to help members increase their business through a structured, positive and professional referral marketing program that enables companies to develop long-term, meaningful relationships with quality business professionals. This occurs through weekly meetings and exclusive resources.

There our many core values that members of BNI® promote and these include the commitment to life-long learning, having a positive attitude, attending weekly meetings and taking accountability. But one core value that builds long-term success was explained by Dr. Misner in a recent interview.

“BNI®’s principle core value is ‘Givers Gain®’,” Misner began. “The idea is that if you help others by sending business their way, they’ll do the same for you. This is a concept that is predicated on building relationships, not focusing on transactions. One of the most important things I’ve discovered over the last 33 years is that networking is more about farming than it is about hunting.  It is about building long term meaningful relationships with other business professionals.”

With the ‘Givers Gain®” value by which BNI® members adhere, many professionals throughout Maine have also seen significant increase and growth in their businesses.

Michael Eric Berube, President of Profit Partners chapter stated that in eight years, he has reached a level of success that keeps him busy today and is ready to pay it forward.

“In 2010 I was working part time at a camera store for $12 per hour and trying to shoot weddings and portraits on the weekends in the attempt to feed my family of four,” he began. “With the great recession in full swing and advent of digital cameras, every mom and uncle with a DLSR decided to become a 'wedding photographer' and significantly cut into the market for my moderate price point. I was invited to be a substitute for a Graphics Designer at Profit Partners BNI® Chapter and seeing the positive energy of cooperative relationships in the room I went to the hall, called my dad and borrowed the money I needed to apply and I put in an application. My application was accepted and within a month of membership I received my first large referral and was able to pay my dad back for my first year of membership. Shortly after this, Ridge York, our Realtor in the Chapter introduced me to Real Estate Photography and helped set me up in the business. By 2013, I was so busy with my new business model that I had to quit the part time job and stopped photographing anything but Real Estate. Today, I routinely work with 4 subcontractors just to keep up with the work. Life is good. In 2017, I volunteered to be on the Ambassador and Director Team to be able to hopefully Pay Forward the help I received and to help others in turn achieve the same.”

David Brady of Kane Insurance who is a member of the BNI® Business Partners Chapter in Westbrook stated that in just two years of joining BNI®, he had experienced a significant financial growth. “Through contacts and referrals, I went from $60,000 profit in my first year to $100,000 in the second year.”

The professional growth that BNI® members experience also transform into their personal lives, helping to reach individual dreams and goals.

Mary Emerson, Office Manager of Time4Printing, stated that she cannot say enough about how BNI® has impacted her life. “Every Friday after I leave my weekly meeting I feel so truly happy and energized. Just very ready to take on the day. Everyone is so like-minded and truly wants to see each other’s businesses prosper. Plus, everyone is so positive and optimistic that it is infectious. BNI® has also really helped me strengthen my relationships with friends and family! Every member in the group trains you to listen for key things that could lead to possible referrals.  I love how my friends and family know they can come to me when they are looking for a trusted business professional."

But despite all the successes BNI® members experience, both Kelly and Niels admit that this organization is not necessarily for everyone. “If you are in a profession where you are a solo-prenuer and/or sole proprietor who intentionally wants to remain in that capacity, a BNI® membership is probably not the best fit for you,” Niels explained. “However, if you are reaching for a growth plan that would include increasing staff and/or number of company vehicles, then BNI® can help you reach your business goals.”

Both Kelly and Niels have an excitement for life, business and helping others succeed. Their enthusiasm shows and is catching. BNI® members state-wide and beyond are looking forward to their leadership.

“Their passion for business shows in their daily work, not only with their businesses, but with their children and community,” stated Crockett. “I love that they are teaching their children the value of smart business and commitment to seeing a project through. THIS is exactly how the rest of us will benefit from their new roles, sharing their values and having the integrity to see the rest of us to succeed, in a way that works for Maine businesses.”

Misner, too, is excited by Maine’s future. “I helped to launch the operation in Maine several decades ago and it has been exciting to see its growth there over the years. I have the utmost faith in the Mank’s to continue to serve the BNI® members and the general business community throughout Maine.”

For more information about BNI®, visit the website at www.BNImaine.com or call 207-894-7200.