Friends, family, quiet time: What Maine movers and shakers are grateful for this Thanksgiving
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What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving? Mainebiz put the question to some of our 40 Under 40 honorees, and the answers were as eclectic as they are.
Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Mainebiz checked in with some of this year’s 40 Under 40 honorees to see what they’re thankful for. Appreciation for family, friends and Maine’s natural beauty all came up — along with a pearl of an oyster-themed love story.
“I absolutely love Thanksgiving — especially the food and the gatherings,” said Khadija El Barkaoui, the Moroccan-born co-founder of Coelle Travel, based in Portland. She aims to create immersive cultural experiences for travel and empower women in tourism.
After hosting a small holiday dinner at home on Tuesday with her husband, Jon, her plans for Thursday include lunch at her in-laws’ place, followed by a ‘Friendsgiving’ dinner later that night. For the meal, she plans to make stuffed dates and a favorite Moroccan dip made with eggplants and tomatoes.
“I’m deeply grateful to be surrounded by a loving and supportive community [and] I’m thankful for the chance to fully experience life, appreciating all the little moments it has to offer,” she says.
Family is also front of mind for Kayla Lewis, the Biddeford-based founder of Upward Consulting who participated in the BIPOC Women's Business Navigator program with El Barkaoui at the CEI Women's Business Center in Portland.
"I am thankful for my siblings and my loving husband," Lewis says. "They are my guiding stars."
Justin Chenette, senior director of public relations and advancement at Sweetser, will spend the holiday with his 98-year-old grandmother.
“I’m most thankful for family, both chosen and by blood,” he says. “Families take many forms, and it’s important to spend time with those you care about and who are there for you.”
At home in Maine
Several honorees are grateful for Maine's natural beauty.
“This year, I am so grateful to have seen a total solar eclipse, the northern lights, and had many other awe-inspiring outdoor adventures with friends and family and the students I work with,” says Hazel Stark, co-founder and CEO of the Maine Outdoor School in Ellsworth and a registered Maine guide.
"All these outdoor experiences remind me that no matter how tough things may seem at any given moment, ‘this, too, shall pass.' After fall comes winter and then spring again," she says.
Muhammad Humza Khan, founder and CEO of Inclusion Maine, expressed a similar sentiment as he plans his organization's February conference.
“I’m thankful for my family and the environment of Maine, with its clean water, air and resources," says Khan, a Pakistani native who grew up in Standish. "I've lived in parts of the world with significant climate challenges and while no place is without its challenges, Maine’s climate and environment are truly a blessing.”
Lisa Sturgeon, the founder of Getting Married in Maine LLC and an instructor at Husson University College of Business, says, “I am thankful for my husband and son, getting to work with wonderful clients and students, and the fact I get to call Maine home.”
Those who were at the Mainebiz 40 Under 40 event may remember Sturgeon’s unique red-carpet dance moves, which were choreographed by one of her students at Husson. The act included signing an autograph in diva-like flair from a fan who approached her from the audience.
Health and happy endings
Colleen Kavanagh, the founder and CEO of SoulBeing, is all about holistic wellness.
“This year, I am thankful for the friendships that sustain me through good times and bad, that remind me of my worth when I'm having trouble feeling worthy, and that embolden me to be my true, authentic self in every area of my life,” she says.
One of her favorite family traditions at Thanksgiving: “We each write what we are thankful for on slips of paper and put them in a jar,” she says. “After dinner, we take turns pulling slips and reading them, guessing who wrote each of them.”
Zack Frechette, president and CEO of United Insurance, plans to enjoy some quiet time over the holidays.
"We spend so much time working to create better futures for our families, our clients and our communities," he says. "It's nice to kick back and appreciate how far we’ve come."
Taylor Benay, director of marketing for digital health company Hexmodal, looks forward to a low-key holiday this year after a whirlwind few months of being engaged.
“Phillip planned the perfect proposal on a beautiful Island off the Maine coast,” she says of the August occasion. "Under the stars, looking out at the ocean and next to a campfire, Phillip asked me to marry him. It was a moment I’ll never forget."
Her fiancé proposed on Aug. 16, a Friday.
“The next day, our closest friends and family paddled over to join us for an engagement brunch on the island,” Benay says. “With them, they brought fresh oysters and shucked them onsite. It was simple, intimate, and uniquely Maine.”
For that pearl-of-a-lifetime moment, Benay is paying homage to the mighty mollusk this Thanksgiving.
“Such a small creature brings so much joy into our world,” she says. “This year, I’m thankful for oysters, their role in the ecosystem, the memories they create, and the people I get to share them with.”
With plans for a backyard wedding in the couple’s new home underway, Benay plans to savor an intimate Thanksgiving gathering with immediate family.
“I am looking forward to reflecting on the wonderful year and being thankful for starting our new family tradition,” she says.
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