Hugh D Stevens

• Directed strategic initiatives serving as an interim and fractional CEO/CFO, guiding businesses through transformative growth and phases of significant change.
• Mentoring management, cultivating effective and ethical leadership skills and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
• Fostered partnerships with stakeholders to drive innovation and market expansion opportunities.
• Analyzed industry trends to inform strategic planning and competitive positioning within the market.
• Directed strategic initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and profitability.
• Evaluated emerging market trends and formulated strategies to assist client firms in restructuring financial operations during transitional phases.
• Directed complex negotiations with suppliers and vendors to secure advantageous contract terms.
• Implemented strategies to cultivate a strong organizational culture based on integrity, accountability, and teamwork, leading to improved staff retention rates.

As the Business Director of the University of Maine's Business and Law Clinic the Business Director is the Entrepreneur-in-Residence professional - both for the Clinic and for the University of Maine's Business School.

Facilitated the development of MBA students in BLC programs through comprehensive supervision, training, and constructive feedback on assignments and evaluations. Achieved successful course delivery on core business advisory skills for BLC students, incorporating additional business law topics to enhance learning. Contributed to the MBA program by offering courses on entrepreneurship and innovation, addressing the evolving needs of students and the community.

Leading initiatives within the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem in Maine by leveraging subject matter expertise. Continuing to act as a key entrepreneurial resource for faculty, staff, and alumni within the innovation resource center. Driving the creation of new entrepreneurial programs at the University of Maine that align with the needs of the University of Maine System and the state of Maine.

• Responsible for the creation and executive leadership of the Harvey E Najim Center after an initial gift of $3 million dollars over 2 years and a follow-on gift of $2 million on Jan 1, 2023.
• Managing the university's relationship with the Center's primary donor, Mr. Najim – shepherding all activities and demands that involve the donor and his large network.
• Establish the creative, entrepreneurial and innovative framework that permeates all the Center's strategies and goals as the center increasingly influences the way career service is designed and applied to cover the changing demand of the students we serve.
• Managing corporate, NGO, and civic relationships with those engaged with the center – relationships that provide opportunities for student engagements – programming as well as corporate sourced student project-based learning opportunities.
• Responsibility to initiate, advance, and collaborate with classroom to career (C2C) initiatives across the entire UTSA campus.
• Established key partnerships with local businesses to expand outreach opportunities and build relationships in the community.
• Maintained full fiscal responsibility.
• Directed all aspects of human resources including recruitment, hiring, training, onboarding, employee relations, compensation and benefits administration.

• Re-creating Najim Center as it was originally intended – both from the intent of the founding donor but also the University and creating a standalone on campus presence.
• Led strategic initiatives to enhance organizational effectiveness and community impact.
• Developed comprehensive programs addressing diverse community needs and fostering inclusivity.
• Navigated complex dynamics to restore and enhance relationship with donor Harvey Najim following university challenges.
• Achieved improved accessibility for all students by relocating center operations to provost's office. Fostered creative collaboration among students from various disciplines through innovative programming. Enhanced student engagement in projects by promoting inclusivity and interaction across diverse backgrounds.
• Supported university resource development by expanding center's role beyond business school. Introduced design thinking and 'design your life' concepts to assist students in defining post-graduate goals. Collaborated with university personnel to enhance presentations for student engagement.
• Assisted in designing programs that utilized graduate students and upper-class undergraduates as creators and designers. Supported the development of methods for delivering center programming. Fostered empowering experiences for students to engage with donors in a unique and interactive manner.
• Assisted in marketing and promoting center activities. Supported the creation of an innovative and entrepreneurial environment. Contributed to setting the mission. Aided in outreach and business development efforts. Managed projects to ensure timely completion.
• Directed executive leadership initiatives to establish long-term goals and objectives.

• As part of the School of Economics – responsible for the design, creation, and introduction of a Knowledge/Technology Transfer model intended to offer consultative support to a large segment of the largely ignored rural small business economy across Maine and beyond - assisting small to medium sized enterprises with organizational and operational support in recovering from natural and economic disasters during the mid-late 2000's.
• Directed all aspects of project management including planning, budgeting, staffing, scheduling, monitoring, and reporting.
• Assigned comprehensive responsibility for all aspects of the operation designed to fashion an innovative economic and community development framework where the University is positioned as the central partner and facilitator of economic development with a focus on assisting businesses, community and economic sustainability, business retention, and expansion involving a team of faculty, staff and competitively selected graduate assistants, and partnering with private sector management consultants.
• For the duration of the program millions of dollars in total revenues were directly impacted and stabilized as well as assisting client companies to create new revenue opportunities that lead to job opportunities across the state.
• Managed multiple projects simultaneously while staying within deadlines.