From a field of 500, seven Maine family-owned businesses win awards
Photo / Courtesy, Institute for Family-Owned Business
Representatives from seven businesses were recognized for excellence in family involvement, business success, and commitment to employees, customers and community.
From apples to stadium seating, from propane to fencing, the seven recipients of the 24th Maine Family Business Awards come from diverse fields and places across Maine.
The nonprofit Institute for Family-Owned Business runs the competition and received 500 nominations this year. The recipients all met the common criteria of excellence in family involvement, business success, and commitment to employees, customers and community, according to a news release.
At an awards event Tuesday in Portland, the following winners were honored.
McDougal Orchards of Springvale received the Geiger Environmental Leadership Award, which honors companies that set the standard for sustainability. The land McDougal Orchards works has been cultivated by generations of the same family since 1776. As one judge pointed out, the business is as old as the nation. But McDougal continues to look forward, working to improve its environmental footprint by using biodiesel, planting native plants, finding natural ways to ward off pests and working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. It was also recognized for demonstrating “exemplary land stewardship.”
Hussey Seating Co. of North Berwick won the M&T Bank Innovation & Technology Award in recognition of development of new methods, ideas or products that solve a problem or improve significantly upon a previous solution to a problem. Since its first invention in 1835, Hussey has continued to innovate, with 20 patents dating back to the 1930s. It was recognized for “constantly pushing to create new seating concepts for stadiums, schools and churches.” In fact, 50% of all K-12 schools have Hussey’s seating somewhere in their buildings. The company has created numerous manufacturing jobs in Maine.
The Fishermen’s Net of Brunswick was presented with the Horch Roofing First Generation Award. The company is rooted in the founders’ experience as a fishmonger and cooking. They revived a Brunswick lobster stand to sell fresh seafood directly to Asian-American businesses. Within a few years, they had tripled sales across the board. Actions such as installing solar panels and allowing employees to attend culinary and business school while working are laying the groundwork for future generations.
Waltz & Sons Inc. of Buxton took home the Chalmers Insurance Group Customer Service Award, which seeks out a business that consistently exceeds customer expectations. Waltz was one of the first in the country to source renewable propane, according to the release. Last winter, the company delivered propane on time or early to all of its customers, and routinely worked with customers who were struggling financially to ensure they didn’t go without heat.
Bouchard Family Farm of Fort Kent won the Shep Lee Community Service Award, named for one of the founders of the institute. The award recognizes the way the Bouchard farm has served its Aroostook County community by preserving Acadian farming heritage, largely through reigniting interest in buckwheat — and creating agricultural jobs.
Main Line Fence of Cumberland received the Maddy Corson Small Business Award, presented by Volk Packaging Corp. The award goes to an exemplary business with fewer than 25 employees. The company was recognized for by its “small but mighty” presence in the community, having built and installed countless home fences, many highway guardrails and the chain-link fence on the Casco Bay Bridge. All employees are trained in fencing basics, fostering advancement potential.
R.J. Grondin & Sons of Gorham was named the Renys Large Business of the Year, designated for companies with more than 25 employees. According to judges, the company is distinguished by its teamwork. Grondin has been at the heart of major Maine infrastructure projects for decades, including pioneering wetland mitigation and widening Interstate 95. In over 60 years, the company has had zero lost-time injuries.
The awards were presented by the institute in partnership with the MEMIC Group. An independent panel of judges, facilitated by Joe Capozza III, president of Capozza Floor Covering Center, selected the winners from among 25 finalists.
The awards event marked the Institute for Family-Owned Business’s 30th anniversary and paid tribute to Maddy Corson, a champion of the IFOB, who died earlier this year.
Award sponsors included MEMIC, BerryDunn, Machias Savings Bank, Renys, Family Enterprise USA, Chalmers Insurance Group, the Breakwater Group at Morgan Stanley, Capozza Floor Covering Center/Old Port Specialty Tile Co., M&T Bank, Horch Roofing, Geiger, Lee Auto Malls, Skowhegan Savings, Oakhurst, Hammond Lumber Co., Burgess Advertising & Marketing, Bangor Savings Bank, Hussey Seating Co., Zachau Construction, Gorham Savings Bank, Volk Packaging Corp., Franklin Printing, Shipyard Brewing Co., Norway Savings Bank, Down East magazine, Cross Insurance, Camden National Bank, Amjambo Africa, AV Technik, Mainebiz, flyte new media and Maine Trust for Local News.
The Institute for Family-Owned Business is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting family-owned businesses, which represent about 80% of all businesses in Maine, through consulting, seminars, workshops and networking.
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