Marita Fairfield

Marita Fairfield’s professional career has been guided by a mission of helping others access and understand technology, specifically online resources. Before accepting the position of Program Director for the National Digital Equity Center at AETC, she owned PowerUp Business Solutions, LLC, a consulting and training firm she started in 2014 to help small businesses use online technology to grow their businesses. She became a Certified Solution Partner for Constant Contact as well as a Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks Online to meet a demonstrated need in her Midcoast Maine business community.

Prior to starting PowerUp, Ms. Fairfield was a Program Director and Business Counselor for nearly 12 years for an SBA-funded Women’s Business Center Program at CEI in Wiscasset, Maine. In this position, she was known throughout the state of Maine for her expertise with website development and marketing. She delivered training both in person and online specifically targeted for rural entrepreneurs.

Ms. Fairfield became known nationally for developing one of the first programs of online business training for rural entrepreneurs. In 2007 she was selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a presenter for the SBA National Technology Leadership Conference.

Prior to her tenure at CEI, Marita’s professional background was concentrated in the field of survey and market research. She telecommuted from her home in Wiscasset Maine as the Market Research Director for Rastar Digital Media/AutoSource Marketing. Prior to that, she owned a successful market and survey research firm, Lighthouse Research, Inc., which she sold to the principals of AutoSource. Throughout her professional career she has taught college level courses at the University of Utah, the University of Maine, Augusta, and the University of Machias.

Ms. Fairfield’s educational background includes an MS. In Social Psychology from the University of Utah and a B.A. in Psychology from Dartmouth College. Her home and office are in Wiscasset, Maine.