20 Maine leaders offer New Year's resolutions for 2022

Photo / Courtesy Pixabay What’s your New Year’s business resolution for 2022? Mainebiz put that question to representatives of Maine businesses and nonprofits across the state.

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By Renee Cordes

From fighting racism to helping entrepreneurs reach their full potential, Maine businesses and nonprofit groups plan take on a lot in 2022. In no particular order, here's what Maine movers and shakers from Portland to Presque Isle told Mainebiz they resolve to do this year.

Nick Rimsa, owner of Tortoise Labs in Waterville: “Help 100 Mainers bring their ideas to life.”

File photo / Tim Greenway

Krystal Williams, founder of Providentia Group and the nonprofit Alpha Legal Foundation

Krystal Williams, attorney, entrepreneur, founder of Providentia Group and Alpha Legal Foundation and a 2021 Mainebiz Woman to Watch: “Advance our collective ability to address the deep-seated inequities caused by institutional racism in Maine's business and legal professions."

Ebenezer Akakpo, Ghana-born industrial designer in Portland and founder of Akakpo Design Group LLC: "Build on my success in Maine and expand nationally."

Nathan Szanton, Szanton Co. president: "Ensure team members are supported in ways they most need it."

File photo / Tim Greenway

Fortunat Mueller, president and co-founder of ReVision Energy

Jennifer Hutchins, executive director, Maine Association of Nonprofits: “Inspire Maine nonprofits to pursue more resilient, equitable communities.”

Laurie Lachance, president, Thomas College: "Distinguish Thomas as the college for unparalleled career development and ROI — guaranteed!"

Fortunat Mueller, ReVision Energy president and co-founder: "Reconnect with people. Optimize systems. Maximize impact."

Liz Cotter Schlax, United Way of Southern Maine president and CEO and a 2019 Mainebiz Woman to Watch, shared her resolution along with the hashtag #HopefulForSouthernMaine: "Leading Thrive 2027. Driving impact across York and Cumberland Counties.” She also said she hopes for a 2022 “that truly enables us to feel these difficult times are behind us."

File photo / Jim Neuger

GWI President and COO Kerem Durdag

Kerem Durdag, broadband industry executive and founder and managing partner of the Indus Fund microloan program for immigrants: "To do good I am capable of with good people."

Steven Tenney, founding partner and CEO, Great Diamond Partners: “Use my unique abilities to connect community to opportunity.”

Unnar Helgi Danielsson, Icelandic food entrepreneur behind the Thor’s Skyr brand: “‘Skyr’ will be Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year 2022.”

Adam Nyhan, attorney, Perkins Thompson law firm: "Get out of the building more. Literally and figuratively."

Bryan Thompson sitting in a conference room.

File photo / Jim Neuger

Bryan Thompson, owner and CEO of Thompson Financial Group

Bryan Thompson, owner and CEO of Presque Isle-based Thompson Financial Group: "Thompson Financial Group is looking forward to building deeper relationships with our clients and starting new ones in 2022."

Brian Harris and Owen McCarthy, co-founders of MedRthythms, shared this joint resolution on behalf of their Portland-based digital health startup: “We look forward to continuing to build a mission-driven, impactful organization in Maine that provides meaningful and sustainable jobs for its employees and changes the lives of the patients we serve. 2022 will bring a growing team, additional partnerships and progress toward bringing our flagship product to market. "

File photo / provided

Donna Cassese chairs the SCORE Bangor chapter.

Donna Cassese, SCORE Bangor chapter chair: "To help entrepreneurs spend more time working on their business vs. in their business. Examples include updating your business plan and developing an exit strategy."

Dana Doran, executive director, Professional Logging Contractors of Maine: "To fight for better markets and improved compensation for Maine loggers and truckers."

Ezekiel Callanan, managing partner of Portland-based boutique law firm Opticliff Law: "To continue to improve the client experience through the refinement of our internal and external systems."

Julene Gervais, "Greenlight Maine" TV pitch-contest producer and host: "To view each obstacle as a challenge that can be overcome."

Andrew Silsby, president and CEO, Kennebec Savings Bank: "I resolve to have the bank meet employees where they are at with remote work.”

Martin Grohman, executive director, E2Tech: "Really dig in to provide a safe space to debate the most contentious issues, like electric transmission, net energy billing, aquaculture, offshore wind and PFAS."

Two more for good measure

Here are a couple more resolutions that came in after the original article was posted.

Tom Rainey, executive director, Maine Center for Entrepreneurs: "Leverage established partnerships to expand programs to serve more entrepreneurs."

Dinah Minot, Creative Portland executive director: "Our goal is to continue promoting and hiring local artists."