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Ruth Feldman is the Women’s Business Center Northeast Program Director / Business Advisor at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), a Maine-based community development financial institution with a mission to build just, vibrant and climate-resilient futures for people and communities in Maine and rural regions by integrating finance, business expertise and policy solutions in ways that make the economy work more equitably. Ruth participates in the Down East Innovation network (DEIN), a group of service partners addressing innovative responses that can enhance the quality of life, business and community in Downeast Maine.  

As CEI Women’s Business Center advisor in the Northeast, Ruth provides one-on-one small business advising for women who want to design, launch, grow, or move on from a business. She works with entrepreneurs to synthesize their thoughts, determine feasibility, and seek funding when appropriate. Ruth also provides workshops and facilitates learning groups that address traditional business topics and practices, in non-traditional ways.

Ruth brings a diverse background in the for-profit world, mostly in the culinary field as well as social entrepreneurial endeavors. From the non-profit world, she brings her consulting and facilitation skills that have been honed through her Peace Corps volunteer experience in the former Soviet Union (as a small business advisor), her Fullbright Scholar tenure in the Czech Republic (Non-Profit Capacity Building), and through many opportunities domestically in urban and rural community development projects. She weaves many of these lessons learned and experiences together when meeting WBC clients where they are and helping them to develop their path forward.

Education:

• Hampshire College, BA
• New England Culinary School, Diplome Culinaire
• Harvard Kenndy School of Government, MPA