Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

Login

Login to your account

Due to our new system upgrade, we are requesting all existing users to update their password.
Create a new password

Email

Password

Remember me

Please wait...

Forgot your password ?

Don't have an account? Register
Register
Subscribe

March 18, 2024 Edition

2024 Business Leaders of the Year

Mainebiz is proud to present the 2024 Mainebiz Business Leaders of the Year. We think you'll be fascinated to learn about these 12 remarkable individuals. As you'll see, they span the state and come from a diverse range of industries, including the nonprofit sector. From entrepreneurs to educators, from people who are beginning their careers to people who are retired, this year's class is an impressive bunch.

Business Leaders of the Year

Business Leaders of the Year
Business Leaders: At UMaine, Joan Ferrini-Mundy has been an advocate for STEM education

Peter Van Allen
Business Leaders of the Year

Business Leaders of the Year
Business Leaders: At TimberHP, Joshua Henry, Matthew O'Malia drive change in a legacy industry

William Hall
Business Leaders of the Year

Business Leaders of the Year
Business Leaders: Grandy Organics owner Aaron Anker has big plans for the specialty food brand

Renee Cordes
Business Leaders of the Year

Business Leaders of the Year
Business Leaders: Jonathan and Catherine Culley haven’t shied from developing housing in Portland

Peter Van Allen

Business Leaders of the Year

Business Leaders of the Year
Business Leaders: Tanbark, led by Melissa LaCasse, produces sustainable packaging

Alexis Wells

A 2024 Business Leader of the Year, Melissa LaCasse, secured $3.2 million in pre-seed funding and used her skills in distribution, business development and strategic planning to position Tanbark for success.
Business Leaders of the Year

Business Leaders of the Year
Business Leaders: Bill Seretta leads Fork Food Lab’s expansion, driving Maine’s food sector

Laurie Schreiber

Under the direction of this 2024 Business Leader of the Year, the food business incubator and shared manufacturing and processing facility, moved to a large facility and is on track to enroll 100 members by June.
Business Leaders of the Year

Business Leaders of the Year
Business Leaders: Muhidin Libah is cultivating farms, a nonprofit and Maine's Somali Bantu community

William Hall

The Breaking Barriers Award goes to a 2024 Business Leader of the Year who helped grow the Somali Bantu Community Association from a seedling group to a thriving collaboration of New American farmers.
Business Leaders of the Year

Business Leaders of the Year
Business Leaders: The Ecology School’s Drew Dumsch transforms environmental learning

Laurie Schreiber

Among the 2024 Business Leaders of the Year is the leader of the Ecology School, a nonprofit environmental living and learning center in Saco. Drew Dumsch has been directing the school through a transformation mode.
Business Leaders of the Year

Business Leaders of the Year
Business Leaders: Finding Our Voices volunteer Mary Lou Smith helps fellow abuse survivors speak

Renee Cordes

The first-ever Mainebiz Volunteer of the Year, one of the 2024 Business Leaders of the Year, is a shining light to fellow survivors of domestic abuse through her work with Finding Our Voices, a grassroots nonprofit based in Camden.
Business Leaders of the Year

Business Leaders of the Year
Business Leaders: At the Center for Grieving Children, Anne Heros has helped generations

Alexis Wells

For over 20 years, Anne Heros — the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient among the 2024 Business Leaders of the Year — was the center’s executive director, guiding local and national grief services.
On the Record: Maine Law enrollment ‘steady and growing,’ dean says, Fort Kent clinic thriving

Renee Cordes

Leigh Saufley, dean of the University of Maine School of Law, offers an update on enrollment at the state's only law school, this year's graduating class and the school's Rural Practice Clinic in Fort Kent that opened in early 2023.
Ask ACE

Ask ACE
Ask ACE: How do we increase company value so ESOP shareholders benefit?

Priscilla Hansen Mahoney, Blazing Trails Coaching

Employee Stock Ownership Plans have become increasingly popular among Maine businesses. Now ACE columnist Priscilla Hansen Mahoney offers some suggestions about how ESOPs can maximize returns for shareholders.
A Look Back: Maine’s business mix in 1994 ranged from defense industry to ‘funky secondhand shops’

Peter Van Allen

For its 30th anniversary, Mainebiz looks back at the business climate in 1994, including some businesses that have grown since then.
Letter from the Editor

Letter from the Editor
From the Editor: Quotes from the 2024 Mainebiz Business Leaders of the Year

Peter Van Allen

Some of the best quotes from the 2024 Mainebiz Business Leaders of the Year.
In Short

In Short
Newsworthy people and performances for March 18, 2024

A roundup of new hires, promotions and achievements at Maine's businesses, nonprofits, professional services firms and health care institutions.

Today's Poll

Poll Description

In this day and age, we are attached to our smart phones. Everything is on this little device.

Unbelievably, there are some people that still don't have iPhones, Androids, email, computers or tablets. They're not on social media.

Recently, actor Christopher Walken said he had no cell phone. In an interview, the Oscar winner said cell phones were like watches because, "if you need one, somebody else has got it."

Walken isn't the only celebrity or CEO who avoids technology. Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, was famous for not being technologically attached to the world. Warren Buffett has said in interviews he still uses a flip phone.

241 Votes
3 Comments

More Information

The Giving Guide

The Giving Guide helps nonprofits have the opportunity to showcase and differentiate their organizations so that businesses better understand how they can contribute to a nonprofit’s mission and work.

Learn More

Work for ME

Work for ME is a workforce development tool to help Maine’s employers target Maine’s emerging workforce. Work for ME highlights each industry, its impact on Maine’s economy, the jobs available to entry-level workers, the training and education needed to get a career started.

Learn More

Groundbreaking Maine

Whether you’re a developer, financer, architect, or industry enthusiast, Groundbreaking Maine is crafted to be your go-to source for valuable insights in Maine’s real estate and construction community.

Coming June 2025

Learn more

Processing Your Payment

Event Info

Award Honorees

Topics

Regions

Biweekly Issues

Special Editions

Event Info

Award Honorees

2024 Business Leaders of the Year

Business Leaders: At UMaine, Joan Ferrini-Mundy has been an advocate for STEM education

Business Leaders: At TimberHP, Joshua Henry, Matthew O'Malia drive change in a legacy industry

Business Leaders: Grandy Organics owner Aaron Anker has big plans for the specialty food brand

Business Leaders: Jonathan and Catherine Culley haven’t shied from developing housing in Portland

Business Leaders: Tanbark, led by Melissa LaCasse, produces sustainable packaging

Business Leaders: Bill Seretta leads Fork Food Lab’s expansion, driving Maine’s food sector

Business Leaders: Muhidin Libah is cultivating farms, a nonprofit and Maine's Somali Bantu community

Business Leaders: The Ecology School’s Drew Dumsch transforms environmental learning

Business Leaders: Finding Our Voices volunteer Mary Lou Smith helps fellow abuse survivors speak

Business Leaders: At the Center for Grieving Children, Anne Heros has helped generations

On the Record: Maine Law enrollment ‘steady and growing,’ dean says, Fort Kent clinic thriving

Ask ACE: How do we increase company value so ESOP shareholders benefit?

A Look Back: Maine’s business mix in 1994 ranged from defense industry to ‘funky secondhand shops’

From the Editor: Quotes from the 2024 Mainebiz Business Leaders of the Year