By MATT WICKENHEISER, Staff Writer
BOSTON - Ski Maine Association President
Megan Roberts strolled by the Green Monster at Fenway Park Wednesday, chatting
with top state officials about a possible $40 million investment at Saddleback
Mountain and the state's role in that project.
Nothing was signed, no promises were made, but Economic Development
Commissioner Jack Cashman and Conservation Commissioner Patrick K. McGowan now
plan on visiting the site. In between the social networking at an event related
to last week's Democratic National Convention, a bit of business moved
forward.
Social networking is an often invisible but crucial tool for corporate
executives one not taught in business school. Even more so at social
events that bring business executives and public officials together, such as
this Fenway Park party, one of a great many events sponsored by companies
interested in attracting the attention of convention attendees last week.
Sometimes topics, like the Saddleback deal, are discussed in the open,
however briefly, at such events. Other times, a conversation about golf or
someone's favorite vacation spot might open communication between people who
will be working together a month or two down the road.
"It's not who you are, it's who you know," said Cashman. "There's more deals
done on golf courses than in the board rooms."
Wednesday's event demonstrates the often-unseen connections that grease the
wheels of commerce: UBS Financial Services and PretiFlaherty sponsored the
event, along with the Democratic Governors' Association. UBS underwrites bonds
for several Maine state agencies; PretiFlaherty is UBS' legal counsel in the
state.
Harold Pachios, a Democrat Party activist and former worker in the
administration of President Lyndon Johnson, is a partner at PretiFlaherty; his
son, who works for the Red Sox in the premium sales area, met the chartered bus
in which the firm took guests to Fenway.
(PretiFlaherty also represents the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday
Telegram, but the only newspaper employees in attendance were a reporter and
photographer covering the event.)
Elsewhere in the city last week, companies hosted golf outings, city tours
and lavish parties at hot spots around Boston. Spending on the events came in
addition to the at least $39.5 million that companies, unions and others gave
local organizers directly for the convention one of the few remaining
methods under revised campaign-finance laws of donating substantial funds to the
party.
Business networking can happen anytime, anyplace, from a chance meeting at a
supermarket to regular events sponsored by groups like MESDA, the state's
software and information technology association.
However, Wednesday's marquee venue, what one guest called "The Church of
Baseball," served to draw more than 600 people involved in business and
politics.
PLAYING THE FIELD
PretiFlaherty brought 140 clients and
attorneys as guests. They roamed the outfield, swung bats and just relaxed with
food and drinks inside the Player's Club.
The chief executives of Portland's two hospitals, Vincent Conti of Maine
Medical Center and Eileen Skinner of Mercy Hospital, shared a seat down on the
bus. They chatted about the state of health care and issues facing Maine
hospitals, including the controversial Dirigo Health Plan.
Conti called the event a "low-impact time" to network with other business
leaders. Maine's a small enough state that most business leaders and politicians
know each other, said Conti, but a social meeting "solidifies that feeling."
"It really has a good foundation to start with in this state," he said later,
standing next to the Green Monster.
Skinner and Conti both said they brought no specific agenda to Fenway, but
both benefitted professionally from the outing. Skinner met a
Massachusetts-based health-care consultant who gave her some ideas on
reimbursement processes, and she also got some camping tips from McGowan.
"I'm planning a camping trip with my husband," said Skinner, a relative
newcomer to Maine, "and here's the guy that does reconnaissance on every camp
site, river and lake in Maine."
CHATTER OUT THERE
While most in attendance said they weren't
looking to buttonhole any one businessperson or politician, others had definite
goals for the day. Edward Paslawski, president and chief executive of Snap
Studios LLC in Portland, hoped to talk up his idea of setting up the city as a
video production center.
Gov. John E. Baldacci, a featured speaker at the event, had three issues he
personally planned to touch on:
Talk about Maine's finances with Andy Gurley, managing director of UBS'
Municipal Securities Group.
Discuss the privatization of Maine's liquor distribution systems with
executives of Pine State Trading, a partner in Maine Beverages, which will run
the systems.
Chat about the progress of the Dirigo Health reform law with health-care
executives like Skinner and Conti.
"Hopefully, the benefit will be we'll pick up some good ideas and
strategies," said Baldacci.
As the day wound up, Baldacci met at least one of the goals a
tete-a-tete with Gurley at a corner table.
PretiFlaherty partner Severin Beliveau, a well-connected Maine lobbyist, said
the Fenway party was a way to thank clients while giving them a chance to
network. It also afforded PretiFlaherty attorneys a way to connect with their
clients.
Any potential business deals to come out of the socializing could mean more
legal work for the firm down the road. Beliveau downplayed the business aspect
of the day.
"On the surface, you'd think they're putting deals together baloney,"
said Beliveau. "You don't discuss business here, but you solidify
relationships."
Anything transpiring at the event would be subtle, said Beliveau.
MITCHELL MAKES PITCH
Maine Congressman Tom Allen attended with
his wife, but suggested that he wasn't a particular target for businessmen.
"I think this is more an opportunity for businessmen to talk to other
businessmen, to be honest," said Allen, who then proceeded to chat with Rico
Petrocelli, a Red Sox shortstop and third baseman from 1963-1976 who played in
the 1965 and 1975 World Series.
Allen's chief of staff did bring over Maine Public Utilities Commission
Chairman Thomas Welch for a quick word, Allen said before moving away, and the
congressman agreed the two should sit down and talk at length about pending
telecommunications legislation sometime over the next few months.
"The business world is not much different from the rest of the world in terms
of relationships," Allen said. "Frankly, it's true of international
relationships, as well."
George Mitchell, a minority owner of the Red Sox and former majority leader
of the U.S. Senate, spoke briefly at the event.
He told the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram that sporting venues
are increasingly used to cement business relationships. Mitchell is chairman of
the board of The Walt Disney Co. and is on the boards of directors of FedEx and
Staples, as well as Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
Mitchell noted that FedEx sponsors the Orange Bowl. The field where
Washington's professional football team plays is known as the FedEx Field. FedEx
often invites customers to the college game or to Washington football games, he
said, to build relationships.
"Paradoxically, technological developments have enhanced communication, but
they've also made more important personal contact and the nurturing of
relationships," said Mitchell.
WINNING STRATEGY
Cashman said he and Baldacci would be back at
Fenway soon enough. Maine advertises its tourism offerings at Fenway's
scoreboard, and because of that, state administration gets use of a luxury box
for one game during the season.
Cashman, Baldacci and his family have invited executives from 14 companies
that they are trying to either woo to Maine or convince them to expand
operations, said Cashman.
"You just try to show them how much you want to do business with them," said
Cashman.
Staff Writer Matt Wickenheiser can be contacted at 791-6316 or at:
mwickenheiser@pressherald.com
