We at Mainebiz recently honored our 2016 NEXT winners, 10 people who are changing the economy for the better. They were all deserving, innovating in interesting ways. Three of them could not be there, actually demonstrating how they are changing the Maine economy — Tom Adams was on a trade trip to Asia, Drew Lyman was preparing for a trade show, and Lucas St. Clair was on what could be considered a cross-country research trip.
We at Mainebiz recently honored our 2016 NEXT winners, 10 people who are changing the economy for the better.
The honorees were Elaine Abbott, city manager of Eastport; Tom Adams, founder, owner and CEO of Maine Coast; Brian Corcoran, founder and CEO of Shamrock Sports & Entertainment; Melik Peter Khoury, president of Unity College; Drew Lyman, president of Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding; Charlotte Mace, executive director of Biobased Maine; James McKenna, president of Redzone Wireless; Emily Smith, president of Smith's Farm, a sixth-generation operation; Lucas St. Clair, president of Eliotsville Plantation Inc.; and Sean Sullivan, executive director of the Maine Brewers' Guild and a co-founder of Buoy Local.
They were all deserving, innovating in interesting ways. Three of them could not be there, actually demonstrating how they are changing the Maine economy — Tom Adams was on a trade trip to Asia, Drew Lyman was preparing for a trade show, and Lucas St. Clair was on what could be considered a cross-country research trip.
As our publisher, Donna Brassard, said in her remarks at the reception, each person took something small, something we might take for granted, and made it something big.
They are entrepreneurs, though not necessarily confined by the parameters taught in MBA programs. Naysayers might tell someone going into boatbuilding, “Hey, that's cyclical. You'll lose your shirt.” Or someone going into the family farm, “Haven't you heard? Family farms are dying.” Or someone trying to offer broadband to rural areas of Maine: “How are you going to compete with [name the major player]?”
I wouldn't bet against this year's NEXT class.
If you want to meet a true Mainer, take the example of Elaine Abbott: Our NEXT reception was held in Falmouth. From Eastport, it was a solid four hours, especially in the driving rain the day of the reception. She was the first to arrive.
If you want to meet a true Maine entrepreneur, give him or her a seemingly impossible task and watch something get built out of nothing.
Heard on the street
Craft brewing continues to grow. At press time, Bunker Brewing Co. was preparing to move from 122 Anderson St., where it occupied a postage stamp with an adjoining mailbox, into 17 Westfield St., where it takes over 9,000 square feet in an industrial building … The highly selective “Top Gun” program is expanding to four locations for the upcoming competition. It will accept about 40 companies total. Applications, which can be completed at MCED.biz, are due Jan. 12th and the program launches Feb. 8 … The Maine Development Foundation is looking for a vice president for program impact to work closely with President and CEO Yellow Light Breen. A key part of the job will be developing future strategic initiatives. The pay range is high $70,000's to high $90,000's. Deadline for applications is Nov. 28.
