Bangor Region Chamber Annual Report

2 | Friday | January 20, 2012 | Bangor Daily News

BANGOR REGION CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Public and operational changes mark success in 2011

BDN PHOTO BY DEBRA BELL

By John Porter, BRCC President The Chamber’s public achievements in 2011 – most notably spearheading the campaign to win approval of a new arena and convention center in Bangor – can easily overshadow the great strides we

made operationally over the year.

But, in fact, even as we labored on the advocacy and economic development fronts, we were continuing the work of making the Chamber a high functioning organization.

In 2010 a new management team took over the Chamber and last year every staff member of the organization was either newly hired or in a new role following a major reorganization. In 2011, there was far less change and turnover, and staff got a chance to settle into their new roles.

That “settling in” work was a theme for our internal workings in 2011. For instance, a new accounting system was put into place in late 2009 and 2010, while 2011 saw a refinement of our financial reporting and

budget management. We also integrated some new computer equipment and software in 2010 and put that to work in 2011.

This past year our programs – encompassing employee wellness, educatoremployer connections, leadership training and a young professionals network – had their first full year under new bylaws and staffing agreements, and those worked smoothly as evidenced by their renewal at the close of 2011 with only minor changes.

Our events in 2011 also followed formats put into place a year earlier, but generally they were larger, better promoted and more profitable than the year before.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, however. We were challenged on the membership devel-

INCOMING CHAIR MESSAGE

2012: “Our time is NOW”

By Dan Tremble In 2012, your Chamber will face many challenges as well as opportunities. We have a staff and Board of Directors in place ready to tackle the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities.

Whenever I talk with people around the State of Maine, they’re saying the same things: “Great things are happening in Bangor,” or “Bangor really seems to be on the move.” The fact of the matter is that it’s not just perception, but the result of a lot of hard work from talented people throughout the region.

Think about what we have going for us. While Lincoln and Millinocket aren’t part of the Greater Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce territory, the positive economic activities in those communities have a great impact on our region.

It was a countywide vote this past November that allowed table games for the recently renamed Hollywood Casino. This will help the revenue stream to the City of Bangor to pay for the fabulous new arena now under construction.

And speaking of the new arena, during the summer of 2011, the Chamber quickly vacated the building we had owned in Bass Park to make way for the construction. A new permanent home for the Chamber is one of our bigger challenges in 2012.

We also view this as an opportunity and look forward to working

BDN PHOTO BY DEBRA BELL

with the City of Bangor and others to find a suitable location where we can effectively carry out our mission “To promote and advance a vital, healthy business environment.”

While the Bangor Region has a rich history and many people talk about this region’s “heyday”, I believe our best days are ahead of us. We have world class businesses and institutions in this region that have laid a strong foundation on which we can build our future.

In 2012 we can credibly say,“Our time is now.”

However, to be successful, I believe we must work collaboratively and regionally. After all, economic development in any community in the region benefits our entire region. We live in one of the most desirable areas in the country where employers pitch our quality of life as much as

they do a salary to prospective employees.

The worst economy that most of us have ever seen has been tough on many of our members and many in our region in recent years. While the climb out has been and will be long and arduous, we don’t want to leave anyone behind.

We have, and will, continue to work with our members who are struggling as we believe we are only as strong as our weakest link.

Even against this adversity, we enter 2012 with aggressive goals to build our membership.

In 2012, the Greater Bangor Chamber of Commerce will continue to provide advocacy, information and networking opportunities to our members, and we’ll have a lot going on.

Now through April there are the monthly Saturday morning Hot Stove Sessions at Eastern Maine Community College, which have grown in popularity.

Our Early Bird Breakfasts, covering issues of the day, are also seeing larger crowds. In 2012, look for seminars to help employers and small businesses.

And of course, our monthly Business After Hours are a great networking opportunity, as are our Annual Dinner, new member orientations and the annual Chamber Challenge golf tournament.

I look forward to all the opportunities that come our way in 2012 and welcome the challenges as well. May 2012 exceed all your expectations and remember, “Now is our time.”

opment front. We did good job bringing in new members in 2011 – signing more than 90 by year’s end. And a generous new member sponsorship from FairPoint Communications was a big help with that.

But we lost about the same number of members that we gained, with most of our dropped members coming as a result of business closings or severe budget cutbacks in response to the tough economy.

And we were presented with a major operational challenge in 2011 that has yet to be resolved. As a result of our hard work winning voter approval of the new arena and convention center in Bass Park, we had to give up the building that we had owned there to make way for the project.

We are currently working with the city

of Bangor to identify and develop a new home, but that task is far from complete. In the meantime, the city has provided us quarters in a building on Maine Avenue under terms similar to those for our Bass Park location.

Looking ahead to 2012, settling the issue of our permanent home will loom large for us as an operational challenge.

And we’ve got to continue our good work attracting new members, but do a better job of explaining the incredible value of Chamber membership to our existing members.

But the Chamber is on a financially sound course, and we have succeeded in creating an organization capable of fulfilling its charge “to promote and enhance a vital, healthy business environment.”

OUTGOING CHAIR MESSAGE

Demystifying the Chamber

By Julia Munsey People often ask me, “What does the Chamber do exactly?” Or “What is the value in becoming a member of the Chamber?” And while my answer can take a while to explain all of the programs and initiatives that the Chamber engages in or the value that it can bring to a member business, the short answer for 2011 is the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce does a lot.

2011 has been a busy year of celebration and change at the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce. We kicked off the year with an award winning Annual Awards Dinner celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Chamber, moved into campaign mode with the successful ArenaYes! Campaign and concluded the year by moving the Chamber offices into a temporary home at 208 Maine Ave. as phase one of construction for the new arena began. 2011 proved to be a great opportunity to celebrate our industrious past and to embark on a bright new future.

That future includes a vision for our region that many of us already experience in our daily lives. A region that is rich in resources, that celebrates the arts, believes in and supports education at all levels, and a region that works together cooperatively to ensure that the opportunity for a good life is available to all. The Chamber is an active participant in supporting this vision for its members and for

all of us.

One thing that I learned as part of my research for the 100th anniversary of the Chamber and the story of the fire of 1911, is that the Chamber has served many different purposes in its 100 years. In 1911, the business community came together as the Bangor Chamber of Commerce to help each other and the city rebuild after the devastation that almost destroyed the city. The Chamber helped provide much needed leadership to a city intent on reinventing itself for the future.

Over the years, the Chamber has spearheaded advocacy initiatives, developed leadership programs, created workplace seminars and events and in short has responded to the needs of the community as it has grown and developed.

But it is not the “Chamber” that has done these things. The

“Chamber” is nothing without the members and volunteers who come together to give it meaning and purpose. The Chamber is us, we are the Chamber. And in 2011 that became evident once again.

Through the hard work of the Chamber board, staff and many volunteers we were able to celebrate our 100th anniversary, spearhead a successful new arena campaign, sign more than 90 new members, improve our existing programs and events, move to a new location, advocate for our members in Augusta, and support our other community partners, such as Eastern Maine Development Corporation, Bangor Region Development Allliance, Mobililze Eastern Maine, and the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau in their work.

Through disciplined financial decision making we were able to end the year on a positive financial note. None of this would have been possible without the leadership, passion and hard work of the people that make up the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce.

Looking forward, the Chamber will continue to act as a leader for the region in economic development advocacy, leadership training and support of our young professionals, business promotion and education activities, and in whatever role is necessary to make the Bangor region a great place to live, work and raise a family. It has been an honor to serve as Chair of the Board and I look forward to continuing the work.

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GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE REPORT

Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 Issues of Impact BRCC Mission: “To promote and advance a vital, healthy business environment”

An important part of fulfilling the Chamber’s mission “To promote and advance a vital, healthy business environment” involves advocating for public policy that will help our region prosper and grow.

Rather than react to what policy makers propose, the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce seeks to define its agenda and bring it forward.

“Issues of Impact” outlines the policies that the Chamber believes will most help its members. Drafted in the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee, the document was endorsed by the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Special thanks are due to the Governmental Affairs Committee and its chair, Rod Black, for their stewardship in creating this document, as well as those members of the Committee who helped to draft its various provisions. Also, as our 2012 Issues of Impact sponsor, we are grateful to the Rudman Winchell Law Firm for its support

HEALTHCARE

The cost of health care remains at the top of the list of concerns to members of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce. To that end, the Chamber supports: • Federal initiatives to aid small businesses and their employees in obtaining affordable comprehensive coverage; federal support for healthcare information technology infrastructure; and, federal policies that encourage providers to develop new healthcare delivery models that reduce costs and improve care.

• Careful monitoring by state officials of Maine’s new health insurance law (LD 1333), documenting its positive impact and addressing unintended negative consequences with urgency.

• Continued efforts by state officials to address unpaid MaineCare debt owed hospitals, which totals nearly $400 million dating back to 2009.

• Caution with regards to limiting MaineCare eligibility, making sure that these changes do not push more people to seek charity care and ultimately cause cost shifting and higher rates for private insurance coverage.

• Continued support of Healthy Maine Partnership public health initiatives and their further integration with institutions throughout Maine, including our schools, corporate wellness programs and government agencies.

• Aligning Maine’s health planning function with the goals of better health for our workers and more affordable health care.

• Undertaking the review of the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Hospital with the goal of maintaining critical mental health services to the community and minimizing the impact on our local economy.

ENERGY

The Chamber endorses an energy policy that makes paramount the goal of lowering the cost of power and fuel. With this as a priority, it also makes sense to pursue strategic investments in alternative energy. And policy makers should bear in mind that many, though not all, conservation initiatives can be the least expensive means for meeting our energy needs.

To that end, the Chamber supports: • Continued discussion of creating an energy corridor through Maine as well as exploring whether Canadian power can be a source of less-expensive energy for Maine.

• Development of natural gas supplies in the

Northeast United States and Eastern Canada.

• Regulatory reforms that lower transmission and delivery costs for business.

Research and development of offshore wind generation, bio-fuel manufacturing technologies and geothermal systems as well as the application of alternative energy in transportation.

• Development and deployment of energy conservation and efficiency techniques and strategies, including those of the Efficiency Maine Trust as well as policies that encourage business to upgrade old, inefficient boiler systems.

TAXES

The tax burden on Maine businesses is too high, and the tax structure here discourages growth. Despite this growing consensus, tax reform has been a difficult policy topic, mostly because structural changes always produce winners and losers and can therefore be intensely unpopular with some constituencies. But Maine cannot continue with an outdated and antigrowth system of taxation.

To that end, the Chamber supports: • No increase in, and ideally a reduction of, the overall tax burden for Maine people and businesses.

• Tax policies that encourage regionalization of local services.

• A lower income tax.

• Tax reform that will reduce the volatility of tax revenues.

• Continued scrutiny of state spending and the efficiency of government.

EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Educational opportunity and achievement are essential to the region’s economic health and quality of life. Without an educated workforce and diligent efforts to develop the pipeline of workers that businesses need to compete globally, the region cannot succeed.

To that end, the Chamber supports: • Better alignment of educational opportunities and private sector needs.

• Improved access to higher education through financial aid and by expanding transfer agreements between the Maine Community College System and four-year institutions.

• A detailed analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the University System, Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy, with the goal of finding structural efficiencies to ensure maximum value.

• A detailed analysis of the cost-effectiveness of K12 education systems in the state and an emphasis on “best practices” among Maine K-12 schools, particularly those identified as “high performing and efficient” by the state.

• Continued examination of recent public school consolidation efforts and the development of next steps in that process.

• Making expansion of early childhood education programs a funding priority.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT / COMMERCIALIZATION

The future of the Bangor Region’s economy is tied closely to investments in research, development and commercialization and should be advanced by productive public-private partnerships.

To that end, the Chamber supports:

• Maintaining the recently passed liberalization and expansion of the Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program.

• Execution of the state’s 2010 Science & Technology Action Plan calling for “an environment where science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship stimulate Maine’s economy” as well as the goal of R&D activity equaling three percent of gross state product by 2015.

• Adoption of a $50 million 2012-13 bond package that would further enhance Maine’s research & development/commercialization infrastructure.

• Sustaining and expanding by 10 percent over two years the successful Maine Economic Improvement Fund.

• Private sector support of research & development/commercialization with fixed, short-term (four to 16 weeks), paid, business learning experiences for qualified college and university students.

REGIONAL COLLABORATION

Regional collaboration offers the opportunity to use public, private and nonprofit resources more effectively, but Maine’s long tradition of local control places a high value on local-decision making. Still, the possibilities for regionalization remain tantalizing.

To that end, the Chamber supports: • A continued emphasis on regional, public-private economic development efforts, including the creation of a shared vision among those entities looking to grow the economy of the Bangor Region.

• Further collaboration among higher education institutions in our region.

• Cooperative efforts among regional health care providers to reduce overhead and further community wellness.

• Efforts by local governments to seek collaborations, affiliations, and where feasible, consolidation of services – even those services seen as the traditional province of municipalities.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is a key component of economic growth, and as such the Chamber supports making investments in our transportation infrastructural a priority.

To that end, the Chamber supports: • The permanent elimination of the 80,000pound truck weight limit on Maine Interstate highways. The lifting of the limit on a trial basis has been a clear success.

• The development of a major east-west transportation link through Maine.

• The development of the Sears Island cargo port and further development of the Port of Eastport.

• The expansion of air service to and from Bangor International Airport.

• The preservation and expansion of a commercial freight rail system in the region, including the system serving Aroostook County.

• Approval of a transportation bond package of not less than $50 million in 2012 to fund the above-mentioned priorities.

BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT

Broadband capacity is now a critical component to economic development and is emerging as a strength within the region. This technology holds the promise of eliminating geography as a concern with respect to our economic growth. Further, the industry mix here – research labs, factories, educational institutions and biomedical firms – is such that strong broadband connections are a necessity for the Bangor Region to be successful.

To that end, the Chamber supports: • Efforts to leverage our assets to bring “data centers” to our region.

• Economic development strategies that target companies with a high demand for bandwidth.

• Public policies and investments that will allow for greater penetration of high-speed broadband in our market, especially ultra-high-speed connections used by technology companies.

HOUSING

The Chamber regards housing as a critical social and economic issue directly affecting economic development. By encouraging the creation of affordable housing and by achieving higher home ownership rates, the community creates a more stable workforce and enhances quality of life. The Chamber also recognizes the problem of chronic homelessness to be a multi-faceted one involving issues of mental health and substance abuse as well as economic dislocation.

To that end, the Chamber supports: • Affordable housing initiatives from the Legislature and Maine State Housing Authority that focus on assistance for low-income families and first-time homebuyers.

• Review of land-use and other policies at the local and state level that contribute to high development costs.

• Banking regulations that support sound mortgage lending practices.

• Strategies that allow seniors to stay in their homes longer.

• A realistic and comprehensive strategy to combat chronic homelessness that addresses its many causes.

This Custom Publication was produced for the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce by the following Bangor Daily News staff: Cover Design: Bridgit Cayer Advertising: Linda Hayes Editorial: Debra Bell, David M. Fitzpatrick, Dale McGarrigle, Brian Swartz, and Chamber submissions Photography: Debra Bell, David M. Fitzpatrick, Brian Swartz, and Chamber submissions Layout: Debra Bell If you would like to be a part of the next Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce Annual Report, please call the Bangor Daily News Custom Publications Department: Linda Hayes (990-8136) or Nicole Stevens (990-8283).

Online at www.bangordailynews.com

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BRCC COMMITTEE REPORT

BRCC COMMITTEE REPORT

Membership Committee

By Betsy Vickery, Chair We had a busy and dynamic year in membership in 2011.

We signed more than 90 new members over the course of the year, but we also lost about as many. This is a reflection of the times. Many of our new members are startups, the kind of companies that will lead us out of the recession. While many of those who left us have struggled or gone out of business.

Kelly Enberg our membership director has been working closely with our Ambassadors group, headed up by Chris Olsen, our Membership Committee and several of our Chamber members. We have all been spearheading our “Grow with us” campaign: “Grow your business. Grow your influence. Grow your network. And grow our community.”

To help our membership grow we had the generous support of FairPoint Communications. Our Mem-

bership Drive was a success thanks to FairPoint’s sponsorship, which allowed us to offer a $100 discount on our new Chamber members’ firstyear dues.

Fifty Bangor-area businesses benefited from this program and it enhanced our overall membership numbers. We would like to take this opportunity to thank FairPoint Communications once again for their outstanding support of area businesses.

Looking ahead for 2012, our membership committee has formulated a strategy that includes recruitment efforts, retention programs and increased Chamber benefits for our members.

Overall, it has been an exciting year for the Membership Committee.

With our continued focus and the support of all our Chamber members we can ensure a great growth opportunity for all. Thank you committee members and all of you that supported this past years’ initiative.

Bangor Region Leadership Institute

By Trish Hansen, Chair I was asked to write 300 words about BRLI. That’s Bangor Region Leadership Institute, in case you’re not familiar. However, 300 words aren’t nearly enough to detail what happened in 2011 or to tell you what we hope to accomplish in 2012.

Instead, I’ll give you one word to describe the BRLI alumni: “family”. Maybe even better than family, because we almost never argue and are always fun to be around. Not saying your family isn’t. But I digress.

Nearly 300 students have graduated from the Institute since 1998. 24 more are currently in attendance. Yes, that’s a pretty large family with an incredible and, some might say, unusual bond. If I ever doubted the strength of that bond, it was reaffirmed this fall when we came together to help one of our own.

In June, we lost a dear friend and alum. As you may know, Gary Creaser died unexpectedly, leaving a wife, Emma (a BRLI graduate), and their daughter, Alex, with a house in need of some repairs. Upon the suggestion of some steering committee members, we put our heads, hearts, and hands together and

PHOTOS COURTESY BRLI

Photos from the day one of work on the Creaser home,

worked for several weeks to help renovate the house; not because we had to, but because we are family. Today, Emma and Alex are in a warm, comfortable house and, thankfully, have one less thing to worry about.

So, yes, we are a leadership institute, but we are so much more than what you may think that should entail. We are friends. We are business associates. We are leaders.

And, together, I don’t think there’s anything we couldn’t accomplish. I think that speaks volumes for BRLI and I’m proud to Chair the

steering committee and be part of such an awesome family.

Learn more about my family at: brliexperience.org.

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BRCC COMMITTEE REPORT

BRCC COMMITTEE REPORT

Building Bridges Program

By Vicki L. Rusbult, Chair

2011 was a year of transformation for Building Bridges. Soon to enter its 20th year, this program is designed to support interaction between educators and businesses around career paths and employment opportunities. Program participants are introduced to a sampling of businesses in this region, and each weekly session includes a review of the business and industry hiring trends, career paths, required skill sets, and education requirements. Educators are armed with information to help them inform their students about future employment in this region and how to better prepare for employment post-graduation.

In 2011, the class had a record 25 participants who visited businesses representing health care, arts & culture, energy, financial, education, economic development, engineering, manufacturing, and tourism. A total of 16 local organizations participated – thank you to all who shared their time, facility, and expertise!

In an effort to inject new life into the program, we reduced the number of sessions from 19 to 16. We quickly realized

that providing 19 visits for 4.5 CEUs was preferred by participants, and have returned to our original schedule for 2012.

The next series will begin on January 10th; registrations are now being accepted for the new year. Contact the Chamber at programs@bangorregion.org to sign up.

Finally, Building Bridges partnered with the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board and Mobilize Eastern Maine to present the first “Summit to Connect Education to Business in Eastern Maine.” Held on December 8th at Morgan Hill Event Center, this exciting event brought more than 90 participants from K12, higher education, and business together to discuss the state of Maine and future education/employment opportunities. The presenters included the Maine Commissioners of Education and Labor, higher education leaders, business leaders, and introduced innovative new education models being employed in this region. The next session in this series will be offered in Spring 2012.

Thank you to the members of the Building Bridges Steering Committee for donating their time and energy to this important program.

Wellness Council of Maine

By Rick Lyons, Chair The Wellness Council of Maine had a great year sustaining the growth of previous years. We currently have 117 members who span the state from Caribou to York, Machias to Fryeburg and points in between.

Our member businesses hail from 15 counties and employ over 65,000 employees.

The mission of the Wellness Council of Maine is to advance and promote good health among employees statewide so the business community can maintain productive workforces and thrive and prosper. WLCME consults with member organizations to promote best practices and improve their health promotion programs to improve the health of their workforce and their families. With health care costs at an all-time high, workplace health promotion is one way to improve productivity and work to lower costs.

2011 was a year of transition for the Wellness Council of Maine as we said goodbye to Jaime Laliberte who lead the organization from late 2008 until February and welcomed Willow Sherwood as the new Executive Director in late March. We thank

Jaime for her hard work to bring the organization to a new level of excellence. WLCME also said goodbye to Rita Bubar of Cianbro and Dan Dauphinee of Northeastern Log Homes who both dedicated close to a decade to the organization by serving on the Executive Committee and should be recognized as among the founding members of the organization. We are grateful for their years of service and dedication to improving the health of Maine’s workforce and economy.

Despite the transition, the organization made progress in 2011 by establishing a new Statewide Steering Committee which brings together leaders from around the state to help provide strategic direction to the organization and represent different regions in the state. WLCME welcomed 20 new members from around the state.

WLCME also recognized three Well Workplace Award Winners in 2011.

The Well Workplace Award recognizes businesses as America’s Healthiest Companies for offering outstanding programming to employees and improving the health of their workforce. Receiving Gold Well Workplace Awards in 2011 were Penobscot Community Health Care and Norway Savings Bank.

Receiving the Silver Well Workplace Award was Mount Desert Island Hospital.

In October, we held our Third Annual Workplace Wellness Leadership Symposium which featured Dr. David Hunnicutt of the Wellness Council of America among other state and local experts who shared their knowledge with 150 attendees from around the state. December marked the second year offering a half-day Small Business Conference which featured practical tips for small business owners and brought over 30 small business owners and small business interest groups together. Small businesses often struggle to offer wellness programs and this annual event seeks to break down some of the perceived barriers and show employers the many tools that are available to them.

We are looking forward to 2012 and the continued success of the organization and our member businesses. It is our belief that we can improve the health of Maine one business at a time and make our state one of the healthiest in the nation through collaboration and dedication to prevention. To see a full list of our partners and members or learn more about our program, please visit us at www.wellnesscouncilofmaine.org.

WBRC Architects • Engineers proudly congratulate Dr. Habib J. Dagher, P.E., as the recipient of the Catherine Lebowitz Award for Public Service

And we salute: Norbert X. Dowd Award: John Bragg, N.H. Bragg Business of the Year Award: Cross Insurance Agency Community Service Award: Bill Lucy and People’s United Bank Non-Profit of the Year Award: Maine Discovery Museum Arthur A. Comstock Professional Service Award: Nelson Durgin Bion and Dorain Foster Entrepreneurship Award: Sutherland Weston Fusion Flava (Future Leadership & Vision Award): Greendrinks

44 Central Street Bangor, Maine 04401 207-947-4511

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Scenes from 2011 Business After Hours Events

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BRCC COMMITTEE REPORT

Early Bird Breakfasts August: Fostering entrepreneurial youth in the Bangor region

The following is a brief recap of topics covered at Early Bird Breakfasts in 2011. The Early Bird Breakfast series was sponsored by Oxford Networks and the Business Revolution series was sponsored by Eaton Peabody.

February: Issues of Impact & Legislative Impact

The program included a discussion of our 2011 Issues of Impact, which outlined the Chamber’s public policy priorities for the year, followed by a talk by Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, on the legislative outlook for 2011.

March: The Maine State Budget

We heard views from both sides of the aisle, with cochair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Richard Rosen and House Minority Leader, Rep. Emily Cain, who gave their perspectives on the biennial budget process.

April: Arena Yes

A panel of experts explained why the May 4th vote was critical to the economic development of the region. Guests saw the revised architectural plans, learned about the financial impact and economic effect that the arena promises to deliver. Rick Bronson, Bangor City Councilor; Debbie Cyr, City of Bangor Finance Director and Mark Woodward, co-chair of Arena Yes, served on the panel.

May: Business Expo

A breakfast reception was held to kick off the Business Expo at the Civic Center.

June: The Great Fire of 1911

We learned about the devastating fire of 1911 at the Chamber’s Early Bird Breakfast. The guest speaker was Mike Pullen, a principal and architect in WBRC Architects/Engineer’s Bangor office.

July: Bigger than Bangor... Leveraging the Region as an Economic Asset

Guest speakers included: Vaughn Stinson, CEO of the Maine Tourism Association; Kerrie Tripp, executive director of the Greater Bangor CVB; and Matt Polstein, owner of the New England Outdoor Center.

They discussed how the Bangor region is being marketed across the country and around the world and how our marketability is growing.

We encouraged Chamber members to bring their kids to the breakfast to hear innovative ideas from our panelists, including: Kate Krukowski Gooding, Executive Director of Lemonade Day, Maine; Renee Kelly, Director of Economic Development Initiatives at the University of Maine, and Co-Director of the Foster Center for Student Innovation; and Devin, a 12-year-old founder and operator of Devin’s Famous Lemonade Stand on Grove Street in Bangor. The moderator was Deb Neuman, Deputy Commissioner of DECD.

September: Business Revolution Series, Part 1: LD1 - How will it affect Maine Businesses?

State and local business leaders discussed the reforms proposed by LD1, which was aimed at improving our business climate, encouraging job creation & retention and expanding opportunities for Maine people. Panelists included: Ben Gilman, Senior Government Affairs Specialist, Maine State Chamber; Carly McLain, Natural Resource Policy Advisor, State of Maine; and Steve Rich, President and CEO, WBRC.

October: Business Revolution Series, Part 2: Gaming and Economic Development Panelists were asked to speak about the real

impact that gaming has on regional economies. The panel included: Patrick Fleming, Executive Director, Maine Gambling Control Board; Todd Gabe, Professor of Economics, University of Maine; and Michael Aube, President and CEO, Eastern Maine Development Corp.

November: Business Revolution Series, Part 3: Higher Education

We presented the region’s top experts in higher education to help us learn first-hand about the role education institutions play in the Bangor economy.

The panel included: President Paul Ferguson, University of Maine; President Robert Clark, Husson University; President Lawrence Barrett, Eastern Maine Community College; President Allyson Hughes Handley, UMA-Bangor; and President Allen Stehle, Beal College.

December: Business Revolution Series, Part 4: Healthcare

Gordon Smith, Exec. Vice President of the Maine Medical Association; Steve Michaud, President, Maine Hospital Association; and William Whitmore, Regional VP of Underwriting, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine served as panelists to discuss state and national healthcare reform what the changes in policy mean for the business community.

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BRCC COMMITTEE REPORT

Events Committee Business After Hours

By Elizabeth Sutherland, Chair

Chamber Dinner

After the very successful Annual Awards Dinner in January of 2011, the Chamber created a regular Events Committee to help guide and plan the numerous events the Chamber puts on each year. The Chamber’s lengthy list of events is designed to help members and the community come together to network, grow professionally, and to honor the efforts of our community’s residents and businesses.

The committee started meeting in February with regular monthly meetings. The group established a small number of subcommittees, meeting on an ad-hoc basis, to help Chamber staff guide and plan specific scheduled events and overall had a highly successful inaugural year.

Annual and regular occasions all fell under the guidance of the newly established Events Committee. This past year the Events Committee members helped to create topnotch monthly Early Bird Breakfasts and Business After Hours. The Business Expo, held in May, sold out exhibit space and saw a larger attendance than ever before. The

2011 Annual Breakfast was the largest ever and the signature event, the Annual Awards Dinner, was a fantastic, sold-out celebration of the Chamber’s 100th Anniversary.

The Events Committee also received regular updates from the Chamber Golf Tournament Committee and provided support as necessary.

One-time events like the Nonprofit Board Boot Camp and other workshops and receptions were also offered support from the creative brains of the Events Committee members.

The 2011 events hosted by the Chamber were the best yet! Fundraising goals were met and attendance records were broken thanks to the tireless, energetic engagement of the entire committee, chamber staff, and dedicated interns. A special thanks to each member of the committee for helping shape the Chamber’s events and the role and goals of the Events Committee.

After such a positive first year, the Events Committee in partnership with staff is destined to continue the tradition of offering chamber members abundant opportunities for networking and business growth.

Business Expo

Golf Tournament

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BRCC COMMITTEE REPORT

Golf Committee

By Kelli Roy, Chair; Photos by Kelley Sayers The Chamber Golf Committee produced another outstanding tourney this year. Our committee has kept fun, timely, and economical at the forefront as we strategize each year. It is important during these tough economic times we keep our sponsorship fees reasonable and we keep gimmicks to a minimum. The gimmicks we choose help move play along faster. Golfers choose our tourney to support the Chamber’s program, membership, and because they can network and have a blast!

This year we went all out by branding our tourney, the Chamber Challenge. We also created the Chamber ‘GONG’, never been done around here. Only seven golfers hit the gong once for a gong-off. We also brought back the celebrity caddies and pimped out golf carts.

As I pass the torch to Cathy Maher, who has been an active committee member for several years and reflect over the past six years. I am proud of what we have accomplished with this Golf Tournament. Several tourneys’ have come and gone. We have only gotten better each year.

This would not be possible without the continued support of the volunteers and businesses, year after year. I know Cathy will do a superb job, she has the can-do attitude. If you would like to volunteer and be a committee member, be sure to contact the Cathy or the Chamber for more information.

12 | Friday | January 20, 2012 | Bangor Daily News

NORBERT X. DOWD AWARD

John Bragg of N.H. Bragg awarded Norbert X. Dowd award for 2011

By David M. Fitzpatrick Bangor Daily News

John Bragg, the recently retired president of N.H. Bragg, has been named the recipient of the prestigious Norbert X. Dowd Award.

“I was some surprised … certainly not expecting it, and very pleased,” Bragg said about learning of the award. “I’m very honored to think that my career with the business, and maintaining the family business as a strong corporate citizen, is recognized, as well as my decades of volunteerism in the community.”

The Bragg family’s community involvement goes back to the company’s beginnings, when Norris Hubbard Bragg came to Bangor from Dixmont in 1854 and partnered with Sumner Basford for a time as a blacksmith-supply shop. Bragg soon bought out Basford, and his sons eventually took the reins. The early 20th century saw the company begin selling auto parts; it would later get into welding, and today is a major industrial supplier. With John Bragg’s retirement, his cousin, Jon Eames,

PHOTO COURTESY JOHN BRAGG

John Bragg, a staple of the Bangor business community, is the 2011 winner of the Norbert X. Dowd award. has become the president, representing the sixth generation of the family to lead the 158-year-old company. All along, the family has been deeply connected to Bangor.

“The example I had set for me by my family for generations was to give back to the community,” Bragg said. “I enjoyed doing it, so I spent most of my professional career heavily involved in the community.”

In 1887, his great grandfather was (among many things) the mayor of Bangor, and was involved with establishing innovations such as electric streetlights and telephone service. Bragg’s grandfather was one of a group of five who developed a master plan for rebuilding after the Great Fire of 1911, looking at the disaster as an opportunity to build better and incorporate better fire control. And Bragg’s father was heavily involved in the community, including serving on the building committee for Bangor High School and one for the Bangor Auditorium.

John Bragg graduated from Colby College in Waterville in 1965 and entered the family business. The company’s philosophy was that to understand the business, you had to experience what the employees did — which meant starting at the bottom. Bragg did it all, but admits pushing papers in the office in those early years wasn’t very exciting. This was before the age of computers.

So he first got involved in the Bangor

Jaycees which, at the time, got young men involved in the community. He was involved with the Jaycees for years, working on many projects and even serving as its president.

“That distraction gave me a lot of challenge and leadership experience, which was fun,” Bragg said.

It was the beginning of a volunteer career that would see him serving countless organizations and causes in the Greater Bangor Area, among them The Acadia Hospital, Bangor Rotary Club, Mt. Hope Cemetery, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Maine Development Corporation, United Way, Husson University, and many more. He frequently served as president or board chair for many of them. Following a long-held fascination with politics, he even served on the Bangor City Council from 1989-1992, including a year as mayor. He also served two terms as a Penobscot County Commissioner from 1980 to 1988.

Bragg said that Bangor is an ideal city to welcome newcomers, and to provide citizens with plenty of organizations and opportunities for getting involved — because there’s always room for more volunteers.

“There’s so much need — whether it’s health-related issues or child care or early education or hunger or whatever,” Bragg said. “There’s always more need than we’re able to address. I think that there’s no limit to he amount of community activity and volunteerism that we need in the community.”

Now retired, Bragg will spend his winters in Florida and summers in Maine. But while most retirees wintering in Florida might be content to spend their days fishing and golfing, Bragg has found something else to keep him busy, and you can probably guess what it is. He’s already serving on a few boards in Florida, working to help his winter community however he can. And he’ll still remain active on boards in the Bangor area.

“You can’t just stop and kick back,” he said. “You can’t just disappear, and I definitely won’t. It’s not only an opportunity to meet people and stay engaged, but it’s fun.

I enjoy it.”

And while John Bragg may be enjoying his retirement in Florida this winter, there’s no question whether he’ll be here for the Chamber dinner.

“I certainly am,” he said. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

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Bangor Daily News | Friday | January 20, 2012 | 13

ARTHUR A. COMSTOCK PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AWARD

Nelson Durgin: Community service enhances the quality of life

By Brian Swartz

Custom Publications Editor The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce will present its 2011 Arthur A. Comstock Professional Award to the man who presented that same award — then called the Chairman’s Award — to Comstock in 2005.

“Arthur and I were old friends,” said 2011 award recipient Nelson Durgin, who chaired the Chamber’s Board of Directors seven years ago. “He was the person I looked to in our city as setting the standard for community service.”

According to a Chamber press release, the Comstock Award “is given to a community figure who has, over many years, contributed to the well-being of the Bangor region.” Since he arrived in Bangor 45 years ago, Durgin has been active in many organizations — and he urges other people to serve their communities, too.

“It’s very important for people to pay back to the community, to serve the people around them. Community service benefits everyone,” said Durgin, who retired as a Maine Air National Guard major general in 1995 and as the Phillips-Strickland House executive director in 2010. “We have a great little city here, an excellent quality of life: Community service

“We have a great little city here, an excellent quality of life: Community service enhances that quality of life.”

NELSON DURGIN, AWARD WINNER

enhances that quality of life.”

A 1960 graduate of Portland University (now the University of Southern Maine), Durgin was living in Belfast when he became the ANG controller at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor in September 1967. One day Gen. Phillip Tukey “called me into his office and said, ‘We support the United Way around here,’” Durgin recalled.

Tukey assigned him to the United Way’s Loaned Executive Program. “That was my first exposure to working with Cliff Eames. Through him and the United Way I met many people.”

The experience ignited in Durgin a community-service passion that “is in my genes,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed giving back to the community.”

Over the years, Durgin has served such organizations as the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce; the Katahdin Area Council, Boys Scouts of America; the Community Health & Counseling Center; the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce; Amicus; St. Joseph Healthcare; and Eastern Area Agency on Aging. He is an individual Chamber member.

According to Durgin, “people really do make a difference when they serve their communities.” He chaired the CHCS board during the 1980s’ efforts to close Bangor Mental Health Institute (now the Dorothea Dix Pavilion); local business leaders, medical professionals, and other volunteers “banded together to fight the effort,” Durgin recalled. “We were successful.

“Be a volunteer. Let people know you are interested,” he said. “You must know what your likes are, [what] your interests are. Find non-profits that lie in those areas of interest. There are many places to serve the community.”

Durgin and his wife, Carla, have been married for 50 years. Several years ago “we built a one-floor ‘retirement home’ in the Fairways, off Webster Avenue,” he said. Many young children live nearby; “we’re kind of the grandparents of the neighborhood,” Durgin said with a smile.

BDN PHOTO BY BRIAN SWARTZ

Nelson Durgin will receive the 2011 Arthur A. Comstock Professional Award from the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce.

2011 Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce Membership A: @WORK Personnel • 304 Stillwater

Avenue Furniture • A.A.A. Portable Toilets • A-1 Safe Storage • AAA Northern New England • AACom • AARP Maine • Acadia Auto Group, Inc. • Acadia Benefits, Inc. • Acadia Clinical Research • Acadia Hearing Center • Acadia Trust NA • Action Committee of 50 • Adams Real Estate • Adams Taxidermy, Inc. • Advantage Payroll Service • Advertising Specialists of Maine, Inc. • Affiliated Healthcare Systems • Affordable Home & Office Cleaning • Airgas Inc. • Airport News & Gifts • Al Benner Homes, Inc. • All Saints Catholic School • Allen Drucker, M.Ed PA

• Allenfarm Fence Company. Inc. • Allies Inc. • Alpaca Perfection by Peruvian Link • Amato’s • AME Management Group • Amedisys Home Health • American Folk Festival • American Heart Association • American Lung Association • American Red Cross - Pine Tree Chapter • American Red Cross Blood Services • Ames Associates • Anastasia International, Inc. • Andrew Landry, Esq. • Anglers Restaurant • Ann Marie’s Kitchen • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield • Anthony John’s • Antique Marketplace & Café • Applebee Enterprises Inc. • Arista Hospitality Consulting LLC • Assist2Sell 1st Choice Real-

ty • AT&T • Atlantic Defense Company • Atlantic Designs • Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce • Atlantica Group • Avalon Village • Awards Signage & Trophies • A-Z Payroll

B: B&D Fabrications by Design • Bacon

Printing Company • Bagel Central • Bair’s Driving School • Balance Hair & Body • Bangor Area Chapter, IAAP • Bangor Area Homeless Shelter • Bangor Area Recovery Network, Inc. • Bangor Area Staffing Solutions • Bangor Band • Bangor Bus Terminal • Bangor Christian School • Bangor Daily News • Bangor

Federal Credit Union • Bangor Floral Historic Church & Gift Emporium • Bangor Frameworks • Bangor Harbor Cruises • Bangor Housing Authority • Bangor Humane Society • Bangor Hydro-Electric Company • Bangor Insurance Group • Bangor Interpreting Agency • Bangor Int’l Airport • Bangor Letter Shop & Color Copy Center • Bangor Lodge of Elks • Bangor Mall • Bangor Millwork & Supply Inc. • Bangor Motor Inn & Conference Center • Bangor Motor Sports • Bangor Municipal Golf Course • Bangor Museum and Center for History • Bangor Natural Gas • Bangor Nursing & Rehab Center •

Bangor Pipe & Supply, Inc. • Bangor Plastic & Hand Surgery P.A. • Bangor Public Library • Bangor Publishing Company • Bangor Real Estate • Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce • Bangor Savings Bank: Bangor • Bangor Symphony Orchestra • Bangor Target Area Development Corp. • Bangor Tennis & Recreation • Bangor Theological Seminary • Bangor Tire Company • Bangor Travel Services • Bangor Truck Equipment • Bangor Water District • Bangor Wine & Cheese • Bangor Y • Bank of America • Bar Harbor

See Members, Page 15

14 | Friday | January 20, 2012 | Bangor Daily News

BION AND DORAIN FOSTER ENTREPRENURSHIP AWARD

Sutherland Weston team helps businesses grow and succeed

By Debra Bell

Custom Publications Writer

The dictionary defines “entrepreneur” as “a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.”

And the mark of an entrepreneur is felt outside of their clients; it’s felt in the whole community.

For that very reason, the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce has named Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications as the 2011 Recipient of the Bion and Dorain Foster Entrepreneurship Award.

“In spirit ‘entrepreneur’ describes what we are,” said Sutherland Weston partner Cary Weston. “[The day we received the news], we brought the crew in and talked about it. This is not something we strive for: to win awards. We build businesses and help others build business. But this is nice.”

In nearly a decade of being in business, Weston along with founding partner Elizabeth Sutherland, their business has helped

turn other entrepreneurs into success stories.

“What we really do is to help strategically build alliances,” Sutherland said.

“When we see a need, we help fill that need. It’s a concept we’ve adopted almost unconsciously. We see this award as being a community recognition of [those alliances] and that makes us feel good.”

And it’s not hard to see the impact of Sutherland Weston’s business in the community. Weston was recently elected Council Chair of the City of Bangor’s City Council. Employees from Sutherland Weston have been participants at fundraising events such as the Trek Across Maine and the Champion the Cure Challenge. They support an annual Christmas present drive by hosting and maintaining the Christmas is for Kids website.

According to Weston and Sutherland, the award from the Bangor Chamber is not theirs alone. The award is something the team won, not just the partners. “It’s 100 percent due to the passionate and committed employees we’re blessed to call the GreenTeam,” Sutherland said.

It is that passion and commitment that

BDN PHOTO BY DEBRA BELL

The “Green Team” takes a moment out of their busy day to smile for the camera. The team, used to working behind the scenes, now finds themselves being rewarded for years of hard work. (From left to right): Mandy Nadeau, Kristen Bell, Chris Michaud, Jillian Piehler, Cary Weston, Luke Labree, Elizabeth Sutherland, Ric Tyler, Josh Whinery, Chris Violette, Amanda Marie Anderson, and Pauline Higgins.

has positioned Sutherland Weston as a leader in the community and state.

According to the Chamber’s announcement, “Their willingness to share their resources with nonprofits is invaluable, which also allows the nonprofits to flourish

and support those they serve. They offer hours upon hours assisting nonprofits with websites, publications, fundraising, and best practice methods.”

One example cited by the Chamber was Sutherland Weston’s recent collaboration

with Community Health and Counseling Services. Another was their work with the Arena Yes campaign, which demonstrated “their ongoing commitment to the vitality of the business community.”

The reputation of Bion and Dorain Foster, the namesakes of the award, doesn’t escape their notice.

“Bion’s reach in the community is everlasting,” Weston said. “It’s certainly an honor to [receive this honor] named after a pillar of the community. For every thing we know that Bion has done, there are 10 things we haven’t heard about.”

According to Weston and Sutherland, Bangor is a community “built by design” by entrepreneurs of all generations. “Anyone can be successful in Bangor with hard work, determination and gumption,” Sutherland said. “This community attracts that type of business person. When we look at the names of the people who have won awards from the Chamber, it is the names of the people who have shaped the region.”

And the whole “GreenTeam” at Sutherland Weston are proud and honored to be part of that tradition of excellence.

Excellence is not an act but a habit. The things you do the most are the things you will do best. - Marva Collins

Congratulations

2012 Chamber Award Recipients

Norbert X. Dowd Award: John Bragg, N.H. Bragg Business of the Year: Cross Insurance Agency Catherine Lebowitz Award for Public Service: Habib Dagher Community Service Award: Bill Lucy and People’s United Bank Non-Profit of the Year: Maine Discovery Museum Arthur A. Comstock Professional Service Award: Nelson Durgin Bion and Dorain Foster Entrepreneurship Award: Sutherland Weston Fusion Flava (Future Leadership & Vision Award): Greendrinks BANGOR HYDRO ELECTRIC COMPANY PO BOX 932 • BANGOR, MAINE 04402 CUSTOMER SERVICE: (207) 947-2414 • (800) 499-6600 WWW.BANGORHYDRO.COM

Bangor Daily News | Friday | January 20, 2012 | 15

FUTUTRE LEADERSHIP AND VISION AWARD (FLAVA)

Bangor Greendrinks serves up networking, beverages for the eco-minded

By David M. Fitzpatrick Custom Publications Writer

Betsy Lundy understands the power of Bangor Greendrinks. In December 2010, she and her husband Zeth hosted a Greendrinks event at their monthold store, Central Street Farmhouse, in downtown Bangor.

“It was packed, and it was really festive,” she recalled of the event. “It was a great opportunity for us, because we were a new business.”

And in December 2011, the Lundys again hosted the event, this time in the wake of Bangor Greendrinks having just been named the recipient of the Fusion Leadership And Vision Award, or FLAVA. The place was packed, with many guests bringing children along. The Lundys served home-brewed beer, and visitors enjoyed refreshments to the tunes of a vinyl-spinning DJ. For Greendrinks board chair Rob Beal and communications director Christopher Rudolph, it marked yet another successful event for their Greendrinks organization.

“From the beginning, our mission has been to bring like minded people together to celebrate and raise awareness of small businesses in the Greater Bangor Area that are dedicated to sustainability,” said Beal.

“We’ve tapped into an invaluable resource in the Bangor region, which is our young families,” said Rudolph. “We’ve made [the Greendrinks events] very family-friendly and very family-oriented — which has given us a niche of amazingly talented, unheard people who wouldn’t normally have that opportunity to chime

Members Continued from Page 13 Chamber of Commerce • Bar Harbor Trust Services • Barresi Financial, Inc. • Batteries Plus • Beal College • Beatham, Bernier, Seekins & Colpritt CPAs • BeautiControl- A Mobile Spa • Beef-O-Brady’s • Bell Imaging & Design • Bella Hair Studio • Bennett’s Tire and Wheel • Bernatche Auto Body • BerryDunn • Best Body 4 You • Best Western White House Inn • Beth Gardner Insurance-State Farm • Better Business Bureau of Maine • Bet-

BDN PHOTO BY DAVID M. FITZPATRICK

Visitors socialize at the Bangor Greendrinks event at the Central Street Farmhouse in downtown Bangor on Dec. 13, 2011.

The group meets the second Tuesday of every month at different locations, with a focus on sustainability and small business in the region.

in on what’s going on in Bangor.”

Green Drinks was started in London in 1989 as an informal gathering of environmentally minded people.

Groups have since sprung up in cities worldwide, including over 400 in the U.S. The basic focus is sustainability, but in Bangor small businesses are center stage for the group, and in particular young people involved in business.

ter Homes and Gardens Real Estate - Town & Country • Between Friends, Inc. • Black Bear Inn Conference Center & Suites • Black Bear Medical North • Black Beards U.S.A. • Blue Cat 5 Productions • Blueberry Broadcasting/ WVOM • Body Graphics/ Permanent Makeup by Stephanie • Bonney Staffing Center • Books-A-Million • Bowman Constructors • Boyington Productivity Solutions, LLC • Branches, LLC • Brantner, Thibodeau & Associates • Brewer Eagles Club • Brewer Federal Credit Union • Brewer Physical Therapy & Spine Clinic • Brewer Rehab & Living Center • Brewer School Department • Brian Williams • Broadway Dairy Queen •

Johann Sabbath, formerly a Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce employee before relocating to New Zealand, founded the group after attending Portland Greendrinks events. Since May 2010, the events have been held on the second Tuesday of every month.

The meetings are relaxed and casual, much like BRCC Business After Hours events, but typically includes families. This enables more people to attend

Brogue Insurance & Financial Services • Bronson Audio Visual & Event Services • Brookings-Smith • Bruns Chiropractic Clinic • Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce • Bugaboo Creek • Burger King / Northcountry Management • By Us Company • Byer Manufacturing Co.

C: C.E.S., Inc. • Camden National Bank • Camp CaPella, Inc • Canteen Service Co. • Canyon Networks • Care and Comfort • Caron Signs • Carpenter Associates • Casco Bay Energy Company, LLC • Cashman Communications • Central Equipment Company & White Sign Div. • Central Maine Cleaning & Supplies • Cen-

because they’re not worried about finding sitters or being away from their kids.

The hours-long events draw about 100 people.

“That’s an amazing thing from something that came out of a couple people having some beers and talking,” said Rudolph.

“Especially for a new small business to get that many people in their doors to see what they’re offering,” added Beal. “That’s invaluable for them.”

Bangor Greendrinks is now rolling out a prerequisite that host businesses participate in a free selfassessment from Maine Businesses for Sustainability.

That assesses the business’ products, energy usage, and sustainability, as well as how it treats its employees — sort of a “prove it” opportunity, and a way for business owners to learn what they can do better.

The new year should be an exciting one, as Bangor Greendrinks moves forward with soaring popularity.

“We’ve been very fortunate,” said Rudolph. “And what the future holds for us — it’s limitless now because of people realizing what we bring to the table.”

Rudolph stressed that the Bangor Greendrinks is a collective partnership. “When I talk about going forward, I cannot stress enough the amazing people we have involved in this community,” he said. “We see this as an award for everyone who has ever attended our event. It really is a testament to the people of the Bangor Region.”

To learn more, find Bangor Greendrinks on Facebook.

tral Maine Moving & Storage • Central Maine Wireless, LLC • Central Payment Corp. • Central Security • Central Street Farmhouse • Challenger Learning Center • Changing Seasons Federal Credit Union • Chapel Hill Floral • Charles A. Civiello Jr. Optometrist • Charles Inn • Charlotte White Center • Chris Olsen • Cianbro Corporation • City of Bangor • City of Brewer • City of Old Town • Clear Channel Airports • CMC Technology Group • Coach House Restaurant • Coastal Enterprises Inc. • Coca Cola Bottling Plant • Coffee News USA, Inc. • Coffee Pause • Cole Land Transportation Museum • Collabric • Com - Nav, Inc. • Comfort Inn •

Commercial Delivery Systems • Commercial Screenprint & Embroidery Inc. • Commissioner David Cole • Communications Technologies Inc. • Community Care • Community Health & Counseling Services • Computer Essentials • Concentra Medical Centers • Concord Coachlines • Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Maine • Consumer Title • Context by Design • Coplon Associate Landscape Architecture and Planning • Country Inn At The Mall • Country Kennel • County of Penobscot • Courtyard by Marriott • CPA Solution, LLC • Creative Arts Center •

See Members, Page 16

16 | Friday | January 20, 2012 | Bangor Daily News

CATHERINE LEBOWITZ AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE

Dr. Habib Dagher: Advancing the economic power of Maine through wind

By Brian Swartz

Custom Publications Editor The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce will present Dr. Habib Dagher, Founding Director of the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, with its 2011 Catherine Lebowitz Award for Public Service. According to Chamber officials, Dagher is being honored for his work in advancing economic opportunity in the Bangor region.

A University of Maine professor of civil/structural engineering, Dagher heads the Advanced Structures & Composites, which has recently added a 37,000square-foot Offshore Wind Lab that is unique in its capacities for comprehensive development, manufacturing, and testing of large-scale wind industry components.

Researchers will be able to test wind turbine blades measuring up to 240 feet in length as well as test components in a simulated deepwater ocean environment when the Laboratory officially opens this year.

The Offshore Wind Laboratory complements and supports the Center’s focus on the development of offshore wind technologies. In 2009, the Center embarked on a multi-year, multi-million dollar project to develop composite offshore floating

Members Continued from Page 15 Creative Imaging Group, Inc. • Creative Print Services • Cross Insurance • Curran Homestead • Cuso Mortgage Corporation • Cutcliffe Consulting

D: D.C Rentals • DA Carson Carpentry

• Dahl-Chase Diagnostic Services • Daigle & Houghton • Dale Carnegie Training of Maine • Darling’s • Darling’s Agency • DaVinci Signs LLC • Dawson Insurance Agency • Days Inn • Day’s Jew-

BDN PHOTO BY BRIAN SWARTZ

University of Maine Professor Habib Dagher stands beside an onshore wind turbine inside the new 87,000-square-foot Offshore Wind Laboratory currently under construction at the UMaine campus. The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce will recognize Dagher’s work in advancing economic opportunity by presenting him with the 2011 Catherine Lebowitz Award for Public Service.

wind turbines and components for deployment 20 miles off the Maine coast; this project is targeted to produce 5,000 megawatts of electricity by the year 2030.

The University of Maine has received fundelers • Dead River Company-Bangor • Dead River Company-Brewer • Deb Dall Design • DeeEtte C. Bruns, Licensed Massage Therapist • Deighan Associates Inc. • Dennis Paper & Foodservice • Desperate Spaces • Dewey W. Martin, CPA • Dick Hogan Insurance Agency, Inc. • Dirigo Pines Retirement Community • Discovery House Bangor • DOC’s Place • Dogn’I Apparel • Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center • Dorsey Furniture • Down East Credit Union • Downeast Capital, Inc. • Downeast Magazine, Books & Online • Downtown Bangor Partnership • Duff & Associates • Dunnett Inc. • Dysart’s Restaurant

ing from the Maine Technology Asset Fund, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Economic Development Agency, the National Science Foundation, and others to provide technical expertise and leader-

E:

Eagle Crest, LLC d/b/a Riverview Motel • Eagle Financial Strategies • East Orrington Congregational Church • East Side Rehab. & Living Center • Eastern Area Agency on Aging • Eastern Maine Community College • Eastern Maine Counseling and Testing Services, Inc. • Eastern Maine Development Corporation • Eastern Maine Healthcare - Acadia Hospital • Eastern Maine Healthcare - EMMC • Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems • Eaton Peabody • Econo Lodge • Edward Jones Investments - Marcia S. Bean • Edwards, Faust & Smith, Certified Public Accountants • Elder Indpendence of Maine: A Division of Senior’s Plus • Electricity Maine

ship for this offshore wind energy development. This research and development is being carried out by the DeepCwind Consortium, a coalition of leading wind industry companies, academic institutions and nonprofits, led by Dagher and the Advanced Structures and Composites Center. Development of an offshore wind industry is projected to create thousands of new Maine jobs.

According to Dagher, other products tested and developed at the Advanced Structures & Composites Center have already led to job creation in Maine. One such product is the Bridge-in-a-Backpack, designed as a cost-effective alternative to traditional highway bridges that is manufactured and sold by Advanced Infrastructure Technologies, a Center spin-off company located in Orono.

Other products developed by the Center include ballistic protective panels and blast-resistant coated wood structures for the U.S. Army, composite retaining walls, and a high-speed composite boat for the U.S. Navy SEALS. Additionally, the Center has assisted nearly 100 Maine companies in the development and improvement of new composites products.

“I’m certainly humbled to receive the Catherine Lebowitz Award for Public Ser-

vice,” Dagher said. However, he believes the award should also go to “the hardworking team” at the Center focused on economic development in Maine.

“A lot of wonderful people work here in the lab. The entire team deserves this award,” Dagher explained. “Also, our team really couldn’t do it without the wonderful companies in Maine that we have worked with,” from AIT and Bath Iron Works to the Cianbro Corp., the James Sewall Co., the Huber Corp., and many other firms.

Dagher credited state officials for working diligently with businesses and UMaine to pursue economic development and job creation. Dagher also praised the members of the Maine congressional delegation.

“It’s all of us working together,” he said. “We’re trying to create jobs by pooling all our resources together. We have created a statewide team that should receive the credit for improving economic development not only in the Bangor region, but across the state.”

While the Advanced Structures & Composites Center has received other awards, the Chamber award “means so much more to us, coming from the Bangor area, being recognized by the Chamber,” Dagher said.

“It’s a major treat for us.”

• Elite Auto, Inc. • Ellen M. Leach Memorial Home Corporation • Ellis Commercial Management • Ellsworth American, Inc. Printing • Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce • EmbroidMe • EMHS: Rosscare • Employee Health Solutions • Epic Sports • Epstein Commercial Real Estate • Epstein Properties • ERA Dawson-Bradford Co., Realtors • ESOCO Orrington • Everborne Consulting Group, Inc. • Everett J. Prescott, Inc. • Evergreen Ink LLC • EyeMart Express • EZ To Use.com

And Children Together • Family Fun Bowling Center • Farrell, Rosenblatt & Russell • Farrington Financial Group • Feld Entertainment • FGS/CMT, Inc. • Fiddlehead Inn Vegetarian B&B • Fireside Inn & Suites • First Wind Energy, LLC • Fleming Appraisal & Associates • For Dogs Boutique, Training, Day Care and Grooming • Forest Society of Maine • Fort Knox Park Inn • Four Directions Development Corp. • Four Points by Sheraton Bangor Airport • Fox & Ginn Movers • Frank Webb’s Bath Center • Frank’s Bake Shop, Inc. • Freedom Xpress

F:

F.A. Peabody - Hampden Division • Fairfield Inn by Marriott • Fairmount Market • FairPoint Communications • Families

See Members, Page 18

Here’s To Another Great Year!

www.BHBT.com • 1-888-853-7100 Member FDIC |

Equal Housing Lender

Bangor Daily News | Friday | January 20, 2012 | 17

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Husson Hospitality students network while helping the community

By Debra Bell

“Something as simple as holding open doors provided good networking opportunities.”

CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS WRITER

Anyone who doubts that Maine youth aren’t invested in the community and its businesses obviously haven’t met the students in Husson University’s School of Hospitality Management.

For their efforts working with business, non-profits, and fundraising, the Husson University Hospitality Program will receive the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce’s Volunteer of the Year Award.

The program, spearheaded by Lee Speronis, Director of the School of Hospitality, Sport and Tourism and Husson University, has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years.

When Speronis — known as “Dr. S” by the students he works with — joined the staff of Husson University in the fall of 2007, there were about 12 students in the hospitality club. Now, Speronis works with over 100 students all focused on learning the traits of being a quality “host”.

The students involved in the Husson program span a vast array of disciplines. That’s because, he said, hospitality is part of every job in some way.

“Hospitality is customer and guest service,” he said. “It’s not just about food and beverage, although that’s a huge part of it.”

Students helped run fundraising events, provided

DR. LEE SPERONIS

PHOTO COURTESY BRCC

Two BRCC interns from the Husson Hospitality Program (far left) stand with Dr. Lee Speronis to accept recognition from Chamber President and CEO John Porter. Husson Hospitality students are the winners of the 2011 BRCC Volunteer of the Year Award. They will accept the official award on January 19 at the annual dinner.

catering and serving services to local business events, and recently awarded a $500 check to the Champion the Cure Challenge from funds raised throughout the year.

In fact, Husson Hospitality students can be found throughout the community. One outstanding example of their community partnership is the 2011 Chamber Dinner, held on January 19, 2011 at the Bangor Auditorium.

Husson Hospitality students were a “vital” part of the coordination of the Chamber’s 100th anniversary annual dinner. Students ran the coat check, assisted with the serving of the dinner, held doors for guests, and assisted Chamber officials in helping the event run smoothly.

“Something as simple as holding open doors provided [the students] with good networking opportunities,” Speronis said. “At Husson we believe in training and experiential learning. Businesses in Maine need to spend time to train employees; it takes time to train them absolutely, but it pays off in the end.”

18 | Friday | January 20, 2012 | Bangor Daily News

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

People’s United Bank recognized for ongoing community support

By Debra Bell CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS WRITER

Because of their dedication to the community, People’s United Bank has been awarded the Community Service Award by the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce.

According to Bill Lucy, President of People’s United Bank in the northern Maine market, receiving this award was not only a surprise, but an honor.

The tradition of community involvement is very much a part of the culture at People’s United Bank.

“We derive our living from the community, so it is only natural that we would want to give back,” Lucy said. “It’s part of the culture and heritage of our bank.

Couple that with the fact that we all live here, and being part of the community through volunteer efforts allows us to believe that we’re making a difference. We feel good about giving back; it’s part of our stewardship.”

Some of those volunteer and financial efforts have supported community causes such as the Dakin Pool rehabilitation, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Eastern Maine Medical Center’s CancerCare of Maine facility in Brewer, planting tulip bulbs for the Maine Cancer Foundation, serving dinner monthly at the

Members Continued from Page 16 Inc • Freightliner of Maine Inc. • Frost’s Garage, Inc. • Fusion Bangor

G: GAC Chemical Corp. • Garelick Farms

of Maine • Gass Horse Supply • Gateway Title of Maine, Inc. • Geaghan’s Restaurant & Pub • General Electric Co. • Gentiva Health Services • George Adams CPA, MBA • George Gonyar • Gerard Tassel • Getchell Agency, Inc. • Getchell Brothers, Inc. • Gifford’s Ice Cream • Gilbert & Greif, PA • Gilman Electrical Supply Co. • Girl Friday Errand & Shopping Service • Girl Scouts of Maine • Global Wealth and Wellness •

Hope House, and providing ongoing support “since day one” to the American Folk Festival, to name just a few.

According to Lynne Spooner, Growth Manager at People’s United Bank, “We always encourage our employees to get involved” in the community. Spooner noted that their 130 employees have, on average, given 500 hours to volunteer causes throughout the year.

“We try to support organizations [that] our employees are involved in,” Lucy said. A handful of those organizations include the American Heart Association, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Boy Scouts, Good Samaritan Agency, Bangor Region Leadership Institute, and a wide range of other non-profits. In addition to corporate giving by People’s United Bank, People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the bank has awarded more than $220,000 in grants to more than 25 non-profits in our market area, Lucy added.

But, according to Lucy and Spooner, it’s about more than just supporting groups financially. For instance, bank employees created a six-week financial curriculum and taught it to teen moms at the Good Samaritan Agency during a fall semester and again during a spring semester.

“It’s about using our professional skills to help the

Gold’s Gym • Good Samaritan Agency • Good Shepherd Food-Bank • Governor John Baldacci • Governor’s • Grace Evangelical College & Seminary • Gracy, Inc. DBA H&R Block • Granicrete of Maine • Granville Rental • Granville Stone • Great Skates Entertainment Center • Greater Bangor Association of Realtors • Greater Bangor Convention & Visitors Bureau • Greater Old Town Communities That Care • Green Acres Kennel Shop • Greeno Homes • Greenway Equipment Sales • Greenworks, Inc. • Gross, Minsky, & Mogul PA • Groth & Associates a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial • Ground Round • Gunn’s Sport Shop • GWI

H:

H.O. Bouchard, Inc. • Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bangor • Haley’s Tire

& Service Center • Hammond Lumber Company • Hammond Street Senior Center, Inc. • Hampden Business Association • Hampden Floral, Inc. • Hannaford • Hannaford Broadway • Harley Plumbing and Heating Plus • Harmon AutoGlass DBA Portland Glass • HarpWorks Writing Services • Haverlock, Estey & Curran, CPAs • HCP Computers • Headlight Audio Visual, Inc. • Healthcare Charities • HealthWORKS • Healy Chiropractic • Helen Munsey Home Decorator • Henry Associates Inc. DBA The Henry Bridal Boutique & Formal Wear • Hermon Meadow Golf Club • Hermon True Value • Hess Financial Group • Holden family Campground • Holiday Inn - Bangor • Hollywood Slots • Home Health & Hospice of St. Joseph • Home-Sweet-Home •

BDN PHOTO BY DEBRA BELL

According to People’s United Bank’s President Bill Lucy, giving back to the community the bank is a part of is intrinsic to being a good steward of the community. Pictured (left to right): Darlene Hawkes, Bill Lucy, Lynne Spooner.

community,” Spooner said. “It’s not just about writing a check.”

Above and beyond employees lending their expertise, it sometimes means People’s United’s giving of their facilities to help other non-profit groups. For instance, the parking lot at 201 Main Street in Bangor was often vacant during the summer Waterfront Concert Series concerts. An employee suggested allowing the Boy Scouts to handle paid parking in their lot during a particular concert. The bank agreed and the significant dollars raised during the concert remained with the Boy Scout troop.

“From CancerCare of Maine to Hope House to Boy Scouts, we don’t always make headlines for the things we do, but our employees’ volunteerism is what makes a big impact toward helping guide the community,” Lucy said. “It’s fun and gratifying to help others.

Our employees choose to make a difference by improving the quality of life for others through their volunteer efforts. And you can’t help but feel good about that.”

Hometown Newspapers LLC • Horton Properties • Hotel Equities • House Revivers Inc./Kelly Realty Management • Housing Foundation • Hughes Property Management • Husson University

I:

Infinity Federal Credit Union • Ink Blot • Innovative Solutions Now, LLC • InSphere Insurance Solutions • Instant Title Service • InsureHealth • Irving Oil

J:

J B Industrial Paint Co. • J M Paws Bookkeeping LLC • J.T. Hicks & Company, PA • Jackson Laboratory • Jeff’s Catering, Inc. • Jenkins Beach/Cottage & Boat Rentals • John Bapst Memorial High School • John Miller • John T. Cyr & Sons, Inc. • John W. Lefebvre • Johnson Florist & Gift Shop, Inc. • Johnstone Sup-

ply • Jolain’s Gourmet Catering • JT Trash Disposal Service • JWClark Dental Studio

K:

Kappa Mapping • Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce • Katahdin Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, Inc. • Katahdin Trust Company • Kelli Roy • Kelly Services • Ken Huhn • Kentucky Fried Chicken-Broadway • Kentucky Fried Chicken-Longview Drive • Key Bank N.A. • Kiley & Foley Funeral Service • Kindred Healthcare • Kinney Office System • Know Technology • Kosta’s Restaurant & Bar: Old Town • Kosta’s Restaurant & Bar: Brewer

L: Labor Ready • Lamey Wellehan • Lane Construction Corp. • Law Office of Joseph

See Members, Page 19

Bangor Daily News | Friday | January 20, 2012 | 19

NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR AWARD

Maine Discovery Museum challenges children, enriches community

By Dale MCGarrigle

keep kids around a little longer?”

Children who come to the museum are generally in kindergarten through fifth grade. Parker would like to develop pro-

grams and exhibits to draw children from birth to age 5 and also those in grades six through eight.

Parker hopes to accomplish this goal through a combination of exhibits, both permanent and temporary, and programs.

The use for about one third of the museum’s square footage has changed over the past 10 years. The most noticeable change is the Tradewinds exhibit on the second floor, which opened about three years ago. Parker explained that the exhibit illustrates Maine’s connection to the rest of the world, and includes a model of a cargo ship in Searsport, a floor map of the world, a chart showing different countries in the world and the products they import from Maine, and looks at life in Japan, Italy and Brazil.

The newest exhibit is Dino Dig, which opened last spring on the third floor. Dino Dig focuses on paleontology, and includes a dig pit in which children can search for buried fossils.

Also on the third floor, the Body Journey exhibit is being revamped, with an emphasis on childhood wellness. New components include a snowboard simula-

tor, a hang-gliding simulator and a nutrition pyramid.

The arts have been a presence at the museum throughout 2011. The former store area on the first floor became home to the Arts in the Heart of Downtown program, which featured a wood carver, a painter, a photographer, a textile artist, an illustrator and a charcoal artist. The program paid a stipend to the artist, and was in part funded by a pair of Quimby Family grants.

The museum also seeks to collaborate with other local arts groups, participating in the Downtown Art Walk and working with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra to renovate its Sounds Abound music exhibit.

Also its Children’s Village has been an integral part of the American Folk Festival.

Programs are the other part of the museum’s successful formula. Last year it teamed up with the University of Maine and Challenger Learning Center to participate in the Making Stuff nanotechnology education program, based on the publicTV series of the same name produced by WGBH of Boston.

The Maine Discovery Museum is one of four institutions nationally to receive a Ready

to Learn grant, to study early-childhood education, particularly in math and literacy.

“We’ll be taking surveys and talking to families, then providing data to the research company who is running the program,” Parker explained.

In a down economy, the museum has shrunk its staff, with more part-time than full-time workers.

“We’ve got a great group of volunteers and part-time staff who are passionate about working with the kids,” Parker said.

The museum has seen 650,000 visitors over the past decade, so it’s now in the midst of a capital campaign to raise $1.75 million.

“We’re trying to start an endowment,” Parker said. “Also we need to raise the money to clean up the museum, update it and keep it going.”

Parker is confident the capital campaign will work, because he knows the high esteem in which the community holds the Maine Discovery Museum.

“Uniformly, community members rave about the Discovery Museum,” Parker said. “The level of support in the area is tremendous.”

Management • Maine Audio Information and Reading Service • Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility • Maine Center for Integrated Rehab • Maine Community Foundation • Maine Contracting • Maine Cut • Maine Development Foundation • Maine Discovery Museum • Maine Distributors • Maine DOT • Maine Edge • Maine Energy Inc. • Maine Equipment & Party Rental • Maine Forest & Logging Museum at Leonard’s Mills • Maine Ground Developers, Inc. • Maine International Trade Center • Maine Mental Health Connections, Inc. • Maine Network for Health • Maine Public Broadcasting Network • Maine Salt Company • Maine Savings Federal Credit Union • Maine School Administrative District #22 • Maine Staffing Group • Maine State Chamber of

Commerce • Maine State Legislature • Maine Streaming Media • Maine Team Realty • Maine Traveling Chef • Maine Valve and Fitting Co. • Maine Veterans’ Home • Mainebiz • MAINE-Ly Titles Inc. • MainXPO, Inc. • Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine • Manna, Inc • Manpower • March of Dimes • Marit’s • Market Bistro • Marlene’s Uniform Shop • Marsh Property Management, LLC • Martes Inc. DBA City Park Grille • Martin & Gail Hipsky • Mary Cathcart • Mary Kay • Matheson Valley dba. Advantage Gases & Tools • McDonald’s Restaurants - Bega, Inc. • McDonald’s Restaurants / D & L Management Co. • Means Investment Co. Inc. • MEDspa of Vision Care of Maine • MERT Enterprises • Metlife • Mid-Coast Fine Antiques of Maine • Miguel’s Mexican

Restaurant • Milford Motel Suites on the River • Miller Drug • Millers Workshop • Mobile Marketing of Maine • Modern Pest Control • Modern Screenprint Inc. • Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce • Morgan Hill Events Center • Morgan Stanley Smith Barney • Morita’s School of Dance • Motel 6 • Mount Desert Spring Water • Muddy Rudder • Muscular Dystrophy Association • Mutual of Omaha • Myerowitz Chiropractic & Acupuncture Center

Equipment Consulting & Management • New England Health Search • New England Home Health Care • New England School of Communications • Nichols Investment Management • Nickerson & O’Day, Inc. • Nicole Interiors Home Staging • Norris, Inc. • North Country Rivers, Inc. • Northeast Bank • Northeast Facilities Management • Northeast Guide Service • Northeast Merchandising Corp. • Northeast Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates, P.A. • Northeastern Log Homes, Inc. • Norumbega Financial • Noyes Construction • Nurse Anesthesia of Maine, PLLC

CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS WRITER

By its very nature, a children’s museum is an ephemeral thing.

To remain successful, such a museum must continually evolve, not only to keep its current young patrons returning, but also to draw in new children, especially those younger or older than its regular clientele.

Throughout its decade of existence, the Maine Discovery Museum has been continually reinvented, while being integrated into the community it serves. For its efforts, the museum, located in the historic Freese’s building at 74 Main St., has been named the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year.

One obvious change was at the top. Niles Parker, formerly of the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport, took over as executive director in December, 2010, following the decade-long tenure of Andrea Stark.

Parker’s biggest challenge: “How do we extend the experience opportunities to

Members Continued from Page 18 M. Baldacci • Liberty Mutual • Lighthouse Web Solutions • Lindsco Equipment • Links Online Solutions • Literacy Volunteers of Bangor • LL Bean • Longhorn Steak House • Louis Silver Construction Company • Loving Touch In-Home Care • Lucerne Inn • Luna Bar & Grill

M:

M. Ray Bradford Jr. Esq. PA • Machias Savings Bank • MacMillan Apartments • Magazines, Inc. • Magic With Alan • Maine Aero Services • Maine Air Museum/Maine Aviation Historical Society • Maine Air National Guard • Maine Asset

PHOTO COURTESY MAINE DISCOVERY MUSEUM

A young visitor learns about “fishing” at one of the Maine Discovery Museum’s interactive exhibits.

N:

N.H. Bragg & Sons • N.S. Giles Foundations Inc. • National Able Network • National Multiple Sclerosis Society • Nautel, Inc. • Nelson Durgin • Neurology Associates of Eastern Maine, P.A. • New England Communications • New England

O:

Oak Grove Spring Water Co., Inc. • Oce Canon • OHI • OMG Events • One

See Members, Page 22

20 | Friday | January 20, 2012 | Bangor Daily News

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD

2011 Business of the Year goes to Bangor staple: Cross Insurance

By David M. Fitzpatrick

PHOTO BY TERRY FARREN

Bangor Daily News

At 58 years in business in 2012, with 29 branches in three states and clients that include the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox, Cross Insurance has been named the 2012 Business of the Year.

In the 1940s, Woodrow Cross trained for military service and received his company’s highest rifle-range score. After traveling for six weeks on a troop ship, he waded ashore at Papua, New Guinea, where he received two battle stars for the New Guinea and Luzon campaigns in World War II. Cross returned to Maine to start a family and ran a country store in Bradford for several years. He moved to Bangor in 1954, unsure what he’d do. Following a suggestion that he might find success in insurance, he started Cross Insurance out of his home on West Broadway, seeing customers by day and doing paperwork in the evening at his dining-room table (and later a dedicated desk). In 1963 purchased his first agency, hired an employee, and

Woodrow Cross, 95, the founder of Cross Insurance 58 years ago, with his family. At left is his son Brent; at right is his son Royce; behind is Royce’s son Jonathan.

moved downtown to the Coe Building on the coincidentally named Cross Street.

He’d later move to the old Merchants Bank building and then to Key Plaza.

The company’s real growth began in 1993 when it acquired Fenderson Insurance, along with its elegant building on the Gilman Road in Bangor. And along with Fenderson came its Calais and Eastport branches; an earlier Bangor-area acquisition had added a Lincoln branch, but the

Fenderson buy saw great extension for the company.

Over its life, Cross Insurance purchased about 100 small agencies, spreading first across Maine and then beyond. The acquisition of a Portland-area agency in the early 2000s included a Conway, N.H. branch; later, buying a New Hampshire company added a Massachusetts branch. The expansion continued.

“We would have been just as aggressive

in Maine during the 2000s, but it just wasn’t available,” said Royce Cross, the founder’s son. “We’ve followed the opportunity, and that’s where the opportunity’s gone.”

Cross Insurance rarely pursued sales; the sales found them, with other companies contacting with selling offers. Along the way with this slow, steady, and careful growth, the company’s team grew in number and strength. Today, with nearly 500 employees in three states, there’s virtually no type of insurance the company doesn’t handle, and no New England industry in which it’s not involved — even pro sports.

A few years ago, after a long process, Cross Insurance won the contract to provide insurance for the New England Patriots. Thanks in part to the solid reputation of Cross Insurance, and good words from Patriots owner Robert Kraft, in 2011 the Boston Red Sox called Cross Insurance.

The company will insure the Red Sox in 2012.

Cross said there’s a certain appeal behind his company that the Patriots and Red Sox like: The company is big, but small enough to be accessible. The top folks at

those teams can directly connect with Cross Insurance executives — something they’d never get at big, national companies.

Whether a pro-sports team, a business, or a homeowner, insurance is complex, and people need professionals to properly advise them. Cross said that since people place a lot of trust in their insurance professionals, having a sense of responsibility for their clients is vital.

“My father has said to me many times that you can spend money on advertising, but there’s no better advertisement than taking care of a customer,” Cross said.

That’s good advice from a man who built his business from his dining-room table 58 years ago. At 95, Woodrow Cross still comes to work every day at 7 a.m. and works all day at the company he founded 58 years ago. So will he ever retire?

“He told me a while ago that he’s planning on working until he’s 100, and then he’s going to re-assess the situation,” said Cross. “I expect that he’ll probably work until he’s 100, and decide he wants to stay a while longer.”

Bangor Daily News | Friday | January 20, 2012 | 21

Grow your business with BRCC As a Chamber member you’ll have visibility and credibility in the community and access to resources that will help you expand and manage your business.

We can enhance your marketing through our communication channels, provide practical how-to information through seminars and programs and give you access to shared purchasing, including our ChamberBlue health insurance.

Grow your network The Chamber offers the best opportunities in the region to meet new customers, future employees and trusted suppliers. Our Business After Hours, Early Bird Breakfasts, the Business Expo, golf tournament, awards dinner and other events put you in touch with the region’s business elite. And being an active Chamber member, serving on committees or volunteering, will enhance your reputation in the community.

Grow your influence Your Chamber takes seriously its mission to influence public policy on behalf of the region’s businesses. Our recent success in helping to win approval of a new arena for Bangor is but one example. We work tirelessly for sensible regulations, fair taxes and smart public investments that allow our economy to grow.

Grow our community Your Chamber membership supports programs that serve young professionals, build leadership capacity, bring educators and business people together and promote employee wellness. More importantly, by being a part of the Chamber, you are signaling your support for a more vibrant and sustainable community, something your colleagues and customers will recognize the minute they learn you are a member.

22 | Friday | January 20, 2012 | Bangor Daily News

Members

Continued from Page 19

Steel Recycling • Organized Solutions • Oriental Jade Restaurant & Sampan Grill • OTT Communications • Overhead Door Company of Bangor, Inc. • Oxford Networks

P:

Paddy Murphy’s • PAGEmployment, Inc. • Panda Garden Restaurant • Papa John’s Pizza • Paper-n-Clay • Paradis & Foster Event Management • Parker K. Bailey & Sons • Parkside Children’s Learning Center • Pat’s Pizza • Paul Bunyan Campground • PBC Consulting, LLC • Pemberton Swift, Inc. • Pen Co. Contracting • PenBay Computer Systems, Inc. • Penobscot Cleaning Services, Inc. • Penobscot Community Health Center, Inc. • Penobscot County Federal Credit Union • Penobscot Eye Care • Penobscot Home Performance • Penobscot Job Corps Academy • Penobscot Nation • Penobscot Nation Boys & Girls Club • Penobscot Temperature Controls, Inc. • Penobscot Theatre Company • Penobscot Valley Country Club • Penobscot Veterinary Services • Penquis • People’s United Bank • Pepsi Bottling Group • PHD Consulting, Inc. • Phillips-Strickland House/Boyd Place • Phoenix Employment &

Rehabilitation Services • Pike Industries • Pine Tree Physical Therapy • Pine Tree Waste Inc. / Casella Waste Systems, Inc. • Pinnacle IT • Pleasant Hill Campground, LLC • Plisga & Day Land Surveyors • Pottle’s Transportation Inc. • Premier Home Care • Prentiss & Carlisle Inc. • Primary Residential Mortgage • Pro-Realty • Prudential Northeast Properties • Pulse Marketing LLC • Pumpkin Patch RV Resort

Q:

Qualey Granite & Quartz • Quality Jewelers • Quality Tire & Service Center, Inc. • Quinn Agency • Quirk Auto Group

R: R.H. Foster Energy, L.L.C. • Ramada

Inn • RBC Wealth Management • RE/MAX Advantage Realty Group • Realty of Maine • Records Management Center • Residential Mortgage Services • Results Physical & Occupational Therapy • ReVision Heat LLC • Richard P. Hawkins • Richard S. Cattelle, Inc. • Richard Whitmore Logging • Richardson, Whitman, Large, & Badger • Riverside Inn • RM Flagg • Robinson Ballet Company • Rock Church of Greater Bangor • Ronald McDonald House of Bangor, Inc. • Roof Systems of Maine • Roy & Associates, CPAs PA • RT Ziegler Financial Services • Rudman & Winchell, LLC

S:

S.W. Cole Engineering Inc. • Saint John Board of Trade • Saliba’s Rug Sales, Inc. • Sam’s Club • Sandollar Spa & Pool • Sandra A. Morin, Acct. • Sargent Corporation • Sargent, Tyler & West • Schoppee Dairy, LLC • SCORE Bangor • Scotts LawnService • Sea Dog Brewing Co. • Seaboard Federal Credit Union • Seacoast Security • Sebasticook Valley Healthcare • Securitas Security Services, USA • Senator Richard Rosen • Senior League World Series • ServiceMaster Contract Services • SERVPRO of Bangor/Ellsworth • Seven Islands Land Company • Sewall Company • SGC Engineering LLC • Shaw House • Sheridan Corporation • Sherwin Williams • Showcase Homes of Maine Inc • Sierra Communications Inc. • Sign Services Inc. • Skelton Law Office • Sleep Well, Inc. • Smart EyeCare Center • Snowman Printing & Stamps • Specialty Sweets • Spectacular Event Center • Spectrum Medical Group, PA • Sports Arena • Sprague’s Nursery • Springborn Staffing • Spruce Run Association • SST Aero Services • St. Joseph Healthcare • Stagecoach Express Catering • Standard Electric Co. • Starboard Leadership Consulting • Stucco Lodge • Sullivan Tire • Sunbury Village • Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications • Sweet Stuff Fine Chocolates & Confections

• Sweetest Thing • Swish Maintenance

T:

Target Marketing Maine • Tastefully Simple • TBA Inc • TC Hafford Basement Systems • TD Bank - Exchange St. • TD Bank - Union St. • TD Bank - Wilson St. • TDS Telecom • Tender Lawn Care • Terelar Advertising Productions, LLC • Thornton Construction • Tim Horton’s- Brewer • Tim Horton’s- Main St. Bangor • Tim Horton’s- Odlin Rd. • Time Warner Cable • Town of Bradley • Town of Carmel • Town of Eddington • Town of Glenburn • Town of Hampden • Town of Hermon • Town of Holden • Town of Kenduskeag • Town of Milford • Town of Newburgh • Town of Orono • Town of Orrington • Town of Veazie • Town of Winterport • Tractor Supply Company • Trade Winds Car Wash • Transco Business Technologies • Tuesday Forum • Tuffy Bear Discount Furniture

U:

U.S. Cellular • U.S. Congressman Michael H. Michaud • U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe • U.S. Senator Susan Collins • UBS Financial Services Inc. • UniFirst Corporation • Union Office Interiors • Union Street Athletics • United Bank Card • United Cerebral Palsy of Maine • United Insurance- Whitehouse Agency • United Technologies Center • United Way of Eastern Maine • Universal

Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce Staff

Detailing • University Credit Union • University Inn/Academic Suites • University of Maine • University of Maine Alumni Assn.

• University of Maine Augusta at Bangor • University of Maine Foundation • University of Maine System • UPS Store

V:

Vacationland Inn • Vafiades, Brountas & Kominsky, LLP • VanceGray Wealth Management, Inc • Varney Agency • Verizon Wireless • Verizon Wireless: Stillwater Ave • Verso Paper • Volunteers of America NNE • Voyager Networks of New England

W:

W. Tom Sawyer Jr. • W.B. Mason • W.C. Weatherbee & Sons, Inc. • W.S. Emerson Co. Inc. • WABI-TV • Wallace Tent & Party Rental • Wal-Mart: Bangor • Wal-Mart: Brewer • Ward Green Group • Waste Management of Maine • Watch Me Shine Preschool • Waterfront Concert Series • WBRC Architects/Engineers • Weathervane Factory • Webber Energy Fuels • Webber Supply, Inc. • Weber MT, Inc. • Wellman Paving Inc. • Wellness Council of Maine • Wells Fargo Advisors • Wells Fargo Home Mortgage • Wellspring, Inc. • Westgate Manor • Whittens 2-Way Service • Willey Law Offices • Willis of Northern New England • Wilson’s Lawn Service, Snow Plowing • Windswept Gardens LLC • Wings For Children & Families, Inc • Winterport Boot Shop • Winterport Winery • Wireless Zone (Verizon Wireless) • Wireless Zone- Bangor Mall • Wiseman Spaulding Design, Inc.-Antiquity Tile • WKIT / WZON - The Zone Corporation • WLBZ2 • Women, Work & Community • Woodard & Curran • Woodlands Assisted Living of Brewer • Woods of Maine, Inc. • WQCB/WBZN/WEZQ/WWMJ/WDEA • WVII-TV 7/ Fox 22

Y:

YMCA of Old Town and Orono • Yoshi: Japanese Restaurant

Z: Zavaleta, Inc.

Member list as of January 2, 2012

John Porter

President and CEO

Karen Cole

Executive Vice President

Kelly Enberg

Director of Membership Development

Marcia Baker

Administrative Assistant

Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce Contact Information Address:

208 Maine Avenue Bangor, Maine 04401

Phone:

(207) 947-0307

Email:

admin@bangorregion.com

Website:

www.bangorregion.com

Martha Talbot Bookkeeper

Willow Sherwood

Director of Wellness Council of Maine

Matt McLaughlin

Director of Program Development and Member Value

Gabbee

Office Mascot

Find us on Facebook

Bangor Daily News, Friday | January 20, 2012 | 23

Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee 2012 Dan Tremble, Chair

John Porter

Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce President and CEO

Julia Munsey

Oxford Networks Past Chair

Jane Irving

Fairmount Market/Ground Round

Bangor Savings Bank Chair-elect

John Simpson

Betsy Vickery

Consultant Business Action Cmte. Chair

W.S. Emerson Membership Cmte. Chair

Andy Sturgeon Sewell Co. Treasurer

Dennis Marble

Greater Bangor Area Homeless Shelter Governmental Affairs Cmte.

Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, 2012

Rich Armstrong

Michael Ballesteros

Renee Kelly

Jerry Livengood

Snowman Printing

University of Maine

Eastern Maine Community College

Bangor Natural Gas

Rod Black

Mary Brooks

R.T. Ziegler Financial Services

Courtyard by Marriott

Cathy Mahar

Steve Rich

Camden National Bank

WBRC A/E

Concentra

Northeastern Log Homes

Dan Dauphinee

James Gerety

Lee Speronis

Suzanne Spruce

Marion Syversen

Susan Chaar

Husson University

EMHS

Bangor Mall

Syversen Financial Services

Andy Hamilton Eaton Peabody

24 | Friday | January 20, 2012 | Bangor Daily News

 Charles Bragg & John Bragg at New Storefront, Perry Road - 1966 John W. Bragg  Counter Crew On Broad Street - 1939

 Original Storefront, Broad Street - 1875

JOHN W. BRAGG Recipient of the

It’s an honor to salute an individual whose 46 years of leadership and stewardship have guided N.H. Bragg into celebrating our 158 year milestone!

Norbert X. Dowd Award Best Wishes From Everyone At

92 Perry Road • Bangor, ME 04401 207-947-8611 or 1-877-642-7244 Shop Online at www.nhbragg.com