IDEXX founder to receive honorary degree from MECA

Photo / Tim Greenway David Shaw in his Prouts Neck Home in a 2015 file photo. Shaw will be the recipient of an honorary degree from the Maine College of Art as part of the college's 2016 graduation commencement on May 7.

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By Staff

The Maine College of Art has announced its commencement speaker and honorary degree recipients for its graduation ceremony at the State Theatre in Portland — and IDEXX and Black Point Group LLC founder David Shaw will be joined by Portland School of Art alum C. David Thomas in receiving an honorary degree from the Portland-based college of art.

Shaw founded the Westbrook-based IDEXX in 1983 and served as its CEO and chairman for nearly 20 years before leaving the animal health diagnostics and IT solutions company in 2002 to set up Black Point Group LLC in Portland as a vehicle to invest in other companies.

When Mainebiz spoke to Shaw in November of last year, he talked candidly about his early stint as an entrepreneur in Maine during the early years of IDEXX.

“This is sort of a story about being in Maine,” Shaw told Mainebiz. “It was important for me to get capital not from Maine, because I was worried about the syndrome in Maine where you're not thinking about being a global leader and you're not maybe thinking big enough and bold enough.”

Shaw’s fellow honorary degree recipient, C. David Thomas founded the Indochina Arts Partnership, which conducts cultural exchange programs between the United States and the countries of Southeast Asia. He also taught at Emmanuel College and Massachusetts College of Art, in addition to receiving numerous accolades and awards participating in 25 one-person shows across the country.

MECA’s 2016 commencement will take place on May 7 at 10 a.m. at the State Theatre in Portland. Ruby Lerner, president and executive director of Creative Capital, will deliver the keynote address at MECA’s commencement ceremony.

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