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P R O F I L E 2007
Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
PERFORMANCE AUTO ACCESSORIES
How it all began....
In 1951, Walter C. Sylvester opened a store in Lewiston, Maine that repaired AM radios as well as an exciting new household invention-- television sets. He called his store Radio City. Walter maintained and grew the business over the next twenty years. In 1971, the store moved to the corner of Main and Lincoln Streets in Lewiston. Radio City continued to work on AM radios, as well as the new technology of FM radio and 8-track tape players. As the '70s got underway, the business was increasingly run by Walter Sylvester's son, Steve. Radio City had created a strong base of support among car dealers in the area. The years progressed, and the business grew. Under Steve Sylvester, Radio City moved to a brand new, custom designed building in 1978. At about the same time, the company expanded to Bangor and opened its first branch location. And in the early '80s, Maine heard that now-famous jingle for the first time: "Radio City... Turn Us On!" By the end of the '80s, Radio City was moving forward full throttle. 1992 saw the opening of the Auburn location. In 1995, Radio City opened in Manchester, Maine. In 1998, the Lewiston and Auburn locations combined to become one store, and that store moved to a brand new, 5,000 square foot location in Auburn. At this point, the car-audio business that had made Radio City famous in Maine and New
Hampshire simply wasn't enough to continue growing the company. As the '90s began and then drew to a close, the store had expanded its product lines drastically to now include truck accessories, Import performance parts, mobile video, remote starters, and GPS navigation systems. With five locations and dozens of product lines, Radio City expanded their wholesale business to become the New England distributor for products made by Metra, Terk Antennas, Kicker, K-40, Tsunami, Vizulogic, PIE, Kenwood, Bazooka, Rosen, HushMat, RT Subboxes and Orion. And as the century officially changed over, it was only right and proper that Radio City should be at the forefront of the most important thing to happen to radio since FM-- satellite radio. In 2002, having completed half a century of continuous, family owned business, Radio City's corporate office left the building where the long time Lewiston retail store had been. Headquarters moved just up the street to the Apple Road... brand new, state-of-the-art offices and a new warehouse. It all started in a little shop in Lewiston, repairing AM radios and TVs. No one could have imagined how exciting those first fifty years would be. We can only imagine what the NEXT half century will be like...!
Services
We not only sell this stuff... we love it! And we know it better than almost anyone else. We're the Pioneer National Warrantee station for home and car audio electronics. Here's a run-down on what we offer for services at Radio City.
Wholesale Services Many people don't realize that we are one of the largest wholesale distributors of car electronics in New England. We represent Kicker, Metra, Terk, Tsunami, Kenwood, Vizualogic, DEI, PIE, Rosen, Sirius, XM, Orion, Magellan,Tomtom, Hushmat, Parrot, Pioneer, RT Subboxes, Soundgate and Batcap. Pictured left to right: Nate Merrill, Warehouse Manager and Daryl Bledsoe, Shipper/Receiver.
Car and Home Audio Repair “It doesn't work. It spits the disc out at me. It won't turn on.” Whatever the symptom... we can probably fix it. Our in-house technicians have years and years of experience working with everything from AM/FM car stereo tuners to the 6 CD changer in your living room. We’re the only Pioneer Plasma TV Warrantee Station in Maine. Pictured Hank Marschall, Repair Technician.
Product Installation We'll install your new CD player into your car... we'll get that in-dash GPS navigation system up and running... we'll fire up your satellite radio tuner. Our installers are top notch and ready to rock and roll for you. Pictured Brian Hodgman Installer
LEWISTON HEADQUARTERS Apple Road 782-2085 fax
AUBURN
1009 Center Street 783-9555
BANGOR
499 Hammond St. 942-5664
MANCHESTER
884 Western Ave., Rt. 202 626-3180
www.radiocityturnuson.com
BRUNSWICK
14 Thomas Point Rd. 725-2747
P R O F I L E 2007
Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
turn us on! Parrot™
Parrot Hands-Free ® Bluetooth Car Kits ™
Nobody knows more about mobile electronics than Radio City.
Whether it’s car audio, video, remote starters, or navigation systems, Radio City is Maine’s first choice for quality products and outstanding service. You can count on Radio City for the biggest names, the most well-trained staff of technicians, and always the coolest new products. Now, Radio City can actually make you a safer driver, with the new Parrot Hands Free Bluetooth car kits.
Talk on the phone without taking your
hands off the wheel. Be able to easily hear your call over the road noise. And keep your phone fully charged. Plus, the new Parrot Hands Free Bluetooth car kits come with handy features like caller ID, call waiting, voice tag speed dialing, and more. In many states, hands free cellular phone use is the law. Be prepared.
And be safe.
With four locations in Maine,
there's a Radio City nearby to serve all of your mobile audio and video needs. Stop by Radio City in Auburn, Brunswick, Bangor, or in Manchester, Maine - just outside of Augusta. Always online at RadioCityTurnUsOn.com.
Meet Our Teams ® Stephen Sylvester President
Jennifer Parsons
General Manager
Paul Brimigion Network Administrator
Nate Merrill Warehouse Manager
Hank Marschall
Repair Technician
Steve Coleman
Repair Technician
LEWISTON HEADQUARTERS
Daryl Bledsoe Shipper/ Receiver
Apple Road • 782-2085 fax
www.radiocityturnuson.com
Mike Michaud Manager
John Ryan
Christian Dillion Brian Hodgman
Brian Boivin Installer
Asst. Manager
Manager
MANCHESTER
Asst. Manager
Jason Greer Sales
Shane Caron Installer
Kyle Brooks Installer
Chris Norris Installer
AUBURN
884 Western Ave.,Rt. 202 626-3180
1009 Center Street • 783-9555
www.radiocityturnuson.com
Don Jamison Manager
Gerry Cote
Asst. Manager
Andy Medeiros Installer
BRUNSWICK
14 Thomas Point Rd. • 725-2747
Dave Noyes Installer
Steve Bushey Manager
Randy Nadeau Asst. Manager
BANGOR
499 Hammond St. • 942-5664
PERFORMANCE AUTO ACCESSORIES
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P R O F I L E 2007
Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
P R O F I L E 2007
Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
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Landscape equipment at Reggie’s Sales and Service BY DAVE SARGENT Freelance Writer
B
ig, brighter and better in so many ways, and it’s all making a difference at Reggie’s Sales and Service in Auburn. About a year ago, Reggie Emery, Jr., completed a major expansion and showroom upgrade at 1334 Minot Avenue. The positive results of that project have been evident in the past few months, Emery said. “We have introduced some new lines of equipment,” Emery noted. He now sells Simplicity snowblowers, tractors and Snapper yard and garden equipment. “Simplicity is a high-end product that can’t be bought in the box stores.” The larger Simplicity yard and garden tractors are designed for mowing several acres, throwing and moving lots of snow, garden tilling and other tough earth-moving jobs. Some models come with four-wheel drive. Emery said he also has recently added a licensed arborist to his staff. Mike Morin, a well-known local professional arborist, has joined Reggie’s, and he will be able to help homeowners with tree work they want to do, as well as assist Emery in developing the business’ line of arborist supplies. “We also have taken on a line of home-site propane-powered generators.” Emery explained that the expansion of the business this past year has proved to be the right move. “We were pretty cramped here for quite a few years,” he said. Opportunities for more business in the Portland area have opened up, and he expects to add new customers from that part of the state. Service remains the key to the popularity of Reggie’s Sales and Service. “Nobody can touch us, ser-
Come see us at the
vice-wise,” Emery said. “If we can’t fix it, it’s not fixable.” The business at Reggie’s Sales and Service is aimed at landscape equipment. Emery does not sell or do repair work on snowmobiles, ATVs or boat motors. “Our commercial customers need to have their equipment out and working,” Emery said, “but that’s also true of our residential customers who have to get their yard and garden work done around busy family schedules.” It was nearly 20 years ago when Reggie Emery, Sr., started the business. When he reached retirement age about nine years ago, he sold the business to his son and the business is now run by Reggie Emery, Jr., and his wife Cathy. The elder Emery, who has has been selling and repairing small
engines and equipment for about 50 years, is well-known to many longtime customers. He still comes in to work on a volunteer basis, applying his expertise to some special repair challenges. “When we did the expansion, we picked his workbench up on a forklift in one piece and placed it in the new shop area,” the younger Reggie said. The new showroom at Reggie’s is a great place to check out different Stihl chain saw features at a large wall display. “We have become the largest retail chain saw dealer in the state,” Emery said. Reggie’s also carries Husqvarna residential mowers, Mantis tillers and major hand-held equipment from Stihl, Echo, Husqvarna and Jonsered. They also carry parts for Briggs and Stratton, Tecumseh, Honda and Kohler engines.
Reggie’s Sales and Service at 1334 Minot Ave., Auburn, has been owned and operated by Reggie Emery, Jr., at the showroom counter above, and his wife Cathy for nine years, carrying on the business founded by his father nearly 20 years ago.
Reggie’s Sales and Service 1334 Minot Avenue Auburn 783-0558 Reggie’s Sales and Service has added two new lines of power products – Simplicity and Snapper. This yard and garden tractor made by Simplicity is on display in the showroom.
Auburn/Lewiston Airport
45 White Hangar Drive, Unit 300, Auburn, ME 04210
(off Hotel Road)
CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY
“NEW CAR” FEEL, but is a
SOUND INVESTMENT
Gift Certificates available
Leo’s Custom Upholstery BY M ICHAEL BOURGOIN
I
Freelance Writer
n today’s mass-produced world, true craftsmanship is hard to find. The ability to create has been replaced by off the shelf products. In this type of world, it is rare to find someone dedicated and talented, someone who still knows the meaning of artisanship. Luckily for us, there exist three such people. At Leo’s Custom Upholstery, Leo, Paul and Linda Beaudin have been providing a level of craftsmanship and expertise that is almost unheard of. Located at the Auburn Lewiston Airport for the past year, Leo’s Custom Upholstery continues its 20 year history in building convertible tops, boat tops, motorcycle seats and custom interiors for boats, airplanes, sleighs, buggies, and all makes of cars. They are one of the few places that have the ability to take on so many different types of upholstery work. When it comes to a vehicle’s interior, Leo’s can do everything from refurbishing to custom interiors to building an interior that looks showroom new. One of Leo’s major areas of business is the restoration of classic automobiles. They’ve done everything from a
Seat before.
Seat after.
prices start at
Come give it a try!
$45 for a { hour
Flight Instruction
LEARN TO FLY HERE!
24 Hour Fuel Facility • Hangaring • Service • Tie Downs
Specializing in Custom Interiors for STREET RODS • ANTIQUES & AIRCRAFT visit us at www.silverwingsaviation.net
1931 Pierce Arrow to 1970s era muscle cars. “If I can see it, I can build it.” Leo has put those words to use over the years. In a recent restoration, they were asked to recreate a stock interior for a 1940s vintage auto. Unfortunately, the interior was completely gone. What would have been a setback for others didn’t deter the staff at Leo’s. Leo watched old movies to find the car and the interior. It was from these black and white films that he was able to recreate the perfect interior. The quality workmanship at Leo’s has not gone unnoticed. Their work has been featured in several major automotive magazines and they were featured in a recent episode of Made in Maine. Over the years, Leo’s Custom Upholstery has done work on the national and international scale. Recently, a customer from Texas shipped an entire Mustang interior for rework. Leo’s handiwork can also be seen as far away as Australia. They did the interior on a 1932 Cadillac that was subsequently sold and shipped to a museum in Australia. Another part of the business has been the refurbishing of aircraft interiors. Thanks to a partnership with Silver Wings Aviation, Leo’s Custom Upholstery can do repairs on site. All of the materials used by Leo’s meet all current FAA rules and regulations regarding aircraft interiors. If you want the best upholstery work at reasonable prices, head on over to Leo’s Custom Upholstery at White Hangar Drive in Auburn. Whether you want to restore an interior to its former look or you’re creating a fullblown custom street rod, make Leo’s Custom Upholstery your first stop. There, you can get a free estimate and checkout stacks of photos of past projects. Make Leo’s your first stop. Chances are, it will be the only stop you have to make. While you’re there, make sure to say hi to Moses, the company mascot.
“If we can’t fix it, it’s not fixable.”
Want to Fly?
782-3822
Reupholstering your interior not only creates that
A wide variety of Stihl chainsaws are displayed in the new showroom at Reggie’s Sales and Service in Auburn.
T NEW A INGS W R E V SIL • Hertz Rent A Car Agent • C.A.T.S. Testing Center
45 White Hangar Drive, Auburn
Discovery Flights - Scenic Flights - Photo Flights
Silver Wings Aviation BY M ICHAEL BOURGOIN
L
Freelance Writer
ocated at the Auburn Lewiston Airport, Silver Wings Aviation operates as a Fixed Base Operator, or FBO. Operating under the philosophy of outstanding service at a great price, Silver Wings offers a wide range of services for aircraft owners, pilots and those who want to become pilots. Silver Wings provides fuel, maintenance and storage facilities for both local and transient aircraft. Silver Wings offers full, selfservice, and bulk fuel discounts. Silver Wings has the lowest fuel prices of most FBOs and is consistently one of the most economical places to purchase aircraft fuel in New England. Silver Wings has space for long term and overnight parking of aircraft with tie down facilities and a spacious hangar. Silver Wings also operates a maintenance facility that can service everything from small single engine planes like a Cessna 150 all the way up to the Gulf Stream IV corporate jet, as well as rotary wing aircraft. The fully certified technicians at Silver Wings handle everything from routine maintenance to complete aircraft overhauls. Silver Wings offers
Maurice Roundy, Senior Instructor
207-782-7070 • Fax: 207-782-7025
a comprehensive maintenance schedule designed to keep your aircraft in top shape and they perform all required FAA inspections. Perhaps the biggest thing that sets Silver wings apart from other FBOs is their dedication to service. For VIP passengers, Silver Wings provides them with access to ground transportation and accommodations at a local hotel. If you’re just passing through and want a taste of Maine to take back with you, Silver Wings will deliver fresh Maine lobsters right to your plane. For flight crews and transient pilots, Silver Wings offers a wide variety of amenities. Among these are computerized flight planning, weather information, a WiFi network for laptops, sleeping facilities, showers, washer and dryer, and a fully appointed lounge. Silver Wings has complimentary transportation to local restaurants available to flight crews. Have you ever watched a plane flying overhead and wished you could do that? At Silver Wings, you can. They offer ground school instruction using the Jeppesen training curriculum, which is recognized as one of the best in the industry. Throughout the flight training, the student is paired with the same instructor for each flight to ensure continuity in training. Silver Wings offers an FAA certified flight simulator so that students can practice flying and help develop their skills. Flight instruction is done in a Cessna 150. The Cessna 150’s handling characteristics makes it an ideal plane for pilot training. In fact, it would probably be safe to say that more people have learned to fly in a Cessna 150 than in any other aircraft. Once you get a private pilot’s certificate, Silver Wings has a fleet of rental aircraft from the Cessna 150 to the more powerful Piper Arrow III so you don’t need to purchase your own aircraft, you can rent one when you want to get away from it all.
For the best fuel prices, complete maintenance facilities, and flight instruction contact Silver Wings Aviation at 207-782-7070 or visit them on the Web at
www.silverwingsaviation.net.
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P R O F I L E 2007
Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
Little Dan’s: SMOKIN’! Little Dan's Barbeque Grill is one of the MOST UNIQUE CATERING SERVICES in the Lewiston/Auburn area. Consider our services for your next special event. We handle everything from planning and prepping,to setup and clean-up. Call us to find out why we are considered one of the BEST CATERING SERVICES available in the area!
BY RICH LIVINGSTON
I
Freelance Writer
n their restaurant or in your own backyard, it’s all about the barbecue: authentic, mouth watering, wood fired, pit smoked barbecue. From dinner for two, to a catered affair serving nearly 3,000, the succulent splendors of real, traditional BBQ has come to L-A at Little Dan’s. From early in the morning, those passing the restaurant at 757 Main Street in Lewiston, opposite Marden’s, will notice smoke billowing from the pit smoker just outside the building, where apple, oak and maple woods slowly turn to coals and smoke a variety of meats all day long. A blend of seasonings, spices and secret ingredients, along with slow, patient smoking, produces the distinctive characteristics of this genuine southern delicacy. People from all over L-A have delighted in the discovery of this new culinary experience since the cozy 88-seat restaurant relocated to Lewiston from Monmouth in September 2006. The menu certainly features barbecue favorites – pulled pork, chicken, brisket, smoked sausage and, of course, ribs; with all the fixin’s including secret sauce and homemade corn bread; in sandwiches, dinners, or in bulk; to eat-in or carry out – but there are always other items on the menu, both everyday and specials, always including steak, fish and burgers. Recent Lenten specials included shrimp and crab jambalaya, grilled salmon and crab cakes. But, the fastest growing element of the Little Dan’s experience is catering. Weddings, and baby showers, reunions and company picnics, are part of Little Dan’s repertoire, of course, but also such special events as a gathering of the Friends of the Maine State Museum, with a 1786 period theme, for food, costumes and ambiance. There was also a recent wedding celebrated with a medieval
Catering for Special Events theme, and Little Dan’s entertained more than 2,600 people at an open house at a nearby Harley Davidson dealership. Little Dan’s has provided full catering services as far from home as Moosehead and The Forks, handling everything from planning and prep, to set-up and clean-up, and including full beverage service, as well. “We always go to the North Atlantic Blues Festival (in Rockland), too,” laughs owner Dan Coyne, “but we always sell out and have to head home early. Each year, we bring more food with us, but it never seems to be enough.” Little Dan’s restaurant menu features “feasts” for between two and six people, and everything on the restaurant menu is also available for catering (including jambalaya, gumbo, and Little Dan’s award-winning chili). Delectable loose meats, whole smoked chickens, even whole roasted pigs can be prepared for any occasion, for any number of people, at any venue. In addition to the popular BBQ favorites, Little Dan’s also provides gourmet catering including such options as tequila lime shrimp or grilled shrimp with red pepper dipping sauce; chilled roast sirloin with horseradish cream, or proscuitto and fresh mozzarella stuffed chicken with basil pommodoro sauce. The special occasion is not complete without a scrumptious selection of desserts, too, including chocolate dipped strawberries, pistachio mousse with lady fingers and cherries, or peanut butter pie. Dan and Erica are happy to help you build your own menu, too, with whatever you like. From a casual evening out to a memorable special event, Little Dan’s provides a truly unique gastronomical experience in the great southern tradition, all moderately priced. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
• Anniversaries • Baby Showers • Birthday Parties • Engagements • Fund Raisers
• Graduations • Holiday Parties • Meetings • Picnics • Weddings
Custom Catering Little Dan's BBQ & Grill offers Custom Catering in addition to our famous BBQ Catering & our elegant Gourmet Catering. All items on our restaurant menu are available for Custom Catering including:
Award Winning Chili • Gumbo • Chimichanga Smoked Sweet Sausage • Tenderloin Tips
BBQ Catering Pig Roast Whole Roasted Pig ~ Potato Salad ~ Cole Slaw ~ BBQ Beans ~ Corn Bread ~ Sauces
Ribs & Chicken BBQ Ribs ~ BBQ Chickens ~ Potato Salad ~ Cole Slaw ~ BBQ Beans ~ Corn Bread ~ Sauces
Loosemeat Feast Selection of Pulled Pork,Pulled Chicken & Beef Brisket ~ Sandwich Rolls Potato Salad ~ Cole Slaw ~ BBQ Beans ~ Corn Bread ~ Sauces
Gourmet Catering Here is a small sampling of what we offer. We can do almost anything upon request!
Appetizers
Tequila Lime Shrimp Skewers • Crabmeat Phyllo Cups Lemon Tarragon Chicken Skewers with Dipping Sauce • Boursin Stuffed Mushrooms
Entrees
Chilled Roast Sirloin w/ Horseradish Cream Prosciutto • Fresh Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken with Basil Pommodoro Sauce Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Red Pepper Dipping Sauce Plus... Accompaniments,Salads and Desserts
LITTLE DAN’S BBQ & Grill “We Bring The Pleasures of Southern BBQ to Maine.”
757 Main Street, Lewiston Tue-Thu 11-8,Fri-Sat 11-9,Sun 11-7
333-3227 Take-Out Available
Wood Fired Pit Smoked BBQ
P R O F I L E 2007
Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
B7
ALL FLOORING ON SALE!
Many styles on sale Starting at -
29 patterns to choose from, starting at
.89 sq. ft.
2 1/4” Red Oak
3.59 sq. ft.
$
1.22 sq. ft. Prize Giveaway!
$
$
Other Sizes Available
Come Register to Win $500 L.L. Bean Gift Certificate! ENTRY COUPON Name __________________________________ Street __________________________________
22 Colors starting at
1.69 sq. ft.
$
PATENTED TECHNOLOGY
Starting at
1.59 sq. ft.
$
City, State, ZIP __________________________ _______________________________________ Phone _________________________________
HURRY!! SALE ENDS APRIL 30 !! NO Interest NO Payment til January 2008 .. to qualified buyers No purchase necessary. See store for details. Drawing will be held April 30, 2007
Owner Installation Available!
1445 Lisbon Street Lewiston, ME 783-7662
Robert’s House: Full of appliances, furniture and family BY RICH LIVINGSTON Freelance Writer
R
obert’s House, the homey appliance and furniture store on outer Lisbon Road just beyond the turnpike overpass, was literally Bob’s House: built and operated by Bob and Sylvia Langlais, who thought they were retiring when they sold the business to Peter and Serrene Gagnon nearly a year ago. Peter was known to a generation of Robert’s customers as the delivery boy who started working for Bob and Sylvia when he was still in his teens. Peter had always dreamt of owning the business, which has been described as one of L-A’s best kept secrets. Two years ago, Peter and Serrene bought the venerable Gediman’s appliance store, a mainstay in the Bath community since 1928, and just last year Bob and Sylvia were ready for them to take over Robert’s as well. But, Bob and Sylvia stayed on, offering advice and friendship – and occasional instore assistance, such as when the recent Home Show at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee conflicted with an event that impacted the Bath store, and the Gagnons needed extra people-power.
Peter & Serrene Gagnon also own GEDIMAN’S, an appliance store which offers sales & service, at: 67 Center Street Bath, Maine 04530 443-4711
Serrene Gagnon and Molly
Robert’s remains a family business, both among staff and customers. Only nine people cover both the Lewiston and Bath stores, including sons Justin and Jacob, sister Debbie and nephews. And that’s enough to enable both Robert’s and Gediman’s to handle all their own deliveries, set-ups, installations and, especially, service. Both stores feature a wide assortment of “name brands, from people you trust.” “It really is all about people,” Serrene explains. “This is a customer-driven business, and we really try to get to know our customers as individuals. That’s the fun part of what we do, and we learn something new every day.” The family atmosphere is enhanced when visitors to the stores are often greeted by Molly, Serrene’s year-old, very friendly Jack Russell Terrier. “She’s part of the family, too,” adds Serrene. While Robert’s House carries a large selection of furniture and bedding, 80% of its business is appliances, and the Gagnon family is justly proud of their service ethic. “It’s not just about selling an appliance,” Serrene says, “but also about making sure it does what it’s supposed to do, that it works well and that customers are happy throughout the life of that appliance.” Robert’s and Gediman’s belong to a large wholesale buying group that ensures that their pricing is competitive with anybody in the business, and both stores are served by a sizable warehouse in downtown Lewiston which helps expedite deliveries and replenish inventories.
Robert’s House has furniture, too!
Nearly 40% of Robert’s House business is in the commercial market, working with contractors, landlords, and realtors. Robert’s House has installed appliances as far from its Lisbon Road location as Sunday River, Sugarloaf and Boothbay Harbor.
The large signpost, photo below, is a familiar sight to travelers on Lisbon St.
Robert’s House
With brands including GE Monogram, Bosch, Viking, Frigidaire, Whirlpool, Miele, Maytag, Wolf, Vent-a-hood and Fisher & Paykel, Robert’s House can fill any appliance need, whether for a basic washer, a professional quality stove, or anything in between. With so much commercial experience, the family of Robert’s House and Gediman’s can help you rebuild an entire kitchen, replace older appliances with more energyefficient, and often more exciting, modern ones. They are also specialists in equipping new homes just under construction. Service, selection and dedicated attention from an extension of your own family: that’s what Robert’s House is all about. The Gagnons want to invite everyone to stop by for a visit, not just to discover the best kept secret in the business, but so that they can get to know you, too. And they want everyone to be watching for the upcoming celebration of their first anniversary at the helm of the Lewiston store, which they expect their predecessors will be commemorating right along with them. It is, after all, a family thing.
Select the right home laundry equipment for you!
Rte. 196, 1822 Lisbon St. Lewiston • 786-5555 Mon.-Fri. 9 to 5:30 Sat. 9 to 4
Great dishwashers to choose from!
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P R O F I L E 2007
Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
Bisson Transportation “Service you can Trust from People who Care.” BY M ICHAEL BOURGOIN Freelance Writer
S
ince 1919, Bisson Moving and Storage Company has been providing transportation solutions to Maine families and businesses. From the very beginning, the company has brought innovation to the forefront, always looking for new and better ways to serve their customers. Today is no different. Bisson Transportation, the most recent addition to the Bisson family of companies, is reaching out to a new market while providing the same high quality service and innovation that all Bisson customers have come to expect. Capitalizing on their trucking expertise and their ability to solve complex logistical challenges, Bisson Transportation is the fastest growing part of the Bisson family of companies. Bisson Transportation, together with its sister companies Bisson Moving and Storage Company and BissonI&R Commercial Services, is the one-stopshop for all your transportation, warehousing and relocation needs. Bisson handles everything from household and office relocations to office furniture design and installation, to records retention and management to yard services, heavy duty truck repair to long distance freight hauling and brokerage, to warehousing and inventory management to local distribution services. Moving, tracking and maintaining large box trailers requires considerable skill, as well as technological and organizational resources. Having employees and equipment dedicated to moving, inspecting, maintaining and keeping track of these trailers can create a drain on any company’s resources. Because of their extensive knowledge and experience, the staff at Bisson Transportation handles all of these tasks with ease. In fact, Bisson Transportation is in charge of on-site yard management operations for Maine’s three largest paper mills. As part of its yard management services, Bisson Transportation employees located at customer facilities move spotted trailers as needed so that customers can load and ship as efficiently as possible. Bisson also handles most of the clerical work associated with the loading of these trailers and keeps a real-time trailer inventory so that customers know exactly what trailers are available, what condition they are in and where they are at all times. Trailers, like all other equipment, need to be inspected and occasionally repaired.
Keeping up with repairs and making sure that all their equipment measures up to Department of Transportation regulations can be overwhelming for many companies. This is another area where Bisson Transportation excels. With 88 years of experience behind them and some of the best mechanics in the business, Bisson Transportation can efficiently diagnose and repair any trailer problem they encounter. Bisson Transportation also coordinates and streamlines warehousing and distribution networks for its customers – a service called “logistics management.” Floor space is often at a premium for manufacturers so they look to outside warehouses for additional space to store both inventory and finished goods. Unfortunately, many warehouses only store items, while transporting the goods to and from the warehouse is left to the customer. Bisson Transportation is different from most warehouse companies in that its customers have only one warehouse and one carrier to deal with – and they are both the same company. Customers no longer have the headaches of trying to schedule deliveries, coordinating with different trucking companies, hoping that the supplies get to them in time and that their product reaches their customers on time. With Bisson Transportation, product is carefully stored in Bisson’s warehouse pending shipment on Bisson trucks. The staff at Bisson Transportation works with its customers to coordinate delivery schedules and, if necessary, arrange for emergency deliveries.
In 2006, Bisson had over 6 million miles driven, 6,300 loads delivered, a 99% on time delivery rate and a claims ratio of less than 1⁄2 of 1%.
Bisson Transportation is accomplishing all of this, and more, from its new facility in the Lewiston Industrial Park. Located in a 40,000 square foot facility, Bisson Transportation is a leader in using state of the art technology to track inventory and shipments. When looking at areas in which to expand, Lewiston emerged as one of the pre-
Glen Frost and Mark Hammond mier locations. Good railroad access, a central location, as well as an energetic Economic Growth Council, Lewiston makes sense. Since its inception, Bisson Transportation’s Lewiston facility has exceeded all expectations with its phenomenal growth. Already, Bisson is looking to expand its current warehouse capacity and has announced that it is leasing a new, state-ofthe-art heavy duty truck maintenance facility in Auburn. To keep up with all its growth, Bisson Transportation has invested heavily in new equipment. Currently, Bisson Transportation uses 53-foot air ride trailers with the average age of the trailers being less than three years old. All Bisson trailers have moisture proof floors to help protect products.
What has Bisson Transportation’s investment in people and equipment produced? In 2006, Bisson had over 6 million miles driven, 6,300 loads delivered, a 99% on time delivery rate, and a claims ratio of less than 1⁄2 of 1%. All of this while earning the DOT’s highest safety rating. Bisson Transportation offers more than yard service, delivery and warehousing. They deliver peace of mind. No longer do manufacturers have to worry where their product is or when it’s going to arrive. One call to Bisson does it all. They live up to their promise: “Service you can
Trust from People who Care.”
To haul these trailers, Bisson Transportation predominantly utilizes owner-operators – independent businessmen and women who own their own tractors and take their truck driving responsibilities very seriously. But not just anyone with a truck can “lease on” to Bisson. Bisson Transportation has a strict leaseon policy which ensures that only the best are chosen to haul Bisson trailers. A minimum of three years over-the-road driving experience is required with most drivers having an average of 10 years experience.
For more information, call Mark Hammond at 800-370-7992 or visit www.bissontransportation.com.
Back left to right: Barbara Spinney, Denise Senecal, Mark Hammond, Denise Guerrette, Glen Frost, Kathie McCann, Maureen Donovan, Sharon Harren, Ernest Martin; Kneeling is Greg Ashton.
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Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
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Agren Appliance nears three decades in business BY DAVE SARGENT Freelance Writer
“Service – historically, that has been our bedrock,” says Paul Baribault, marketing manager at Agren Appliance.
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ince its beginnings in Auburn nearly 30 years ago, Agren Appliance has built a solid reputation for bringing quality products to Maine people, and keeping them running at top performance long after the sale. Now, in addition to top-of-the-line kitchen appliances and expert kitchen design, Agren Appliance has added high-definition televisions to its offerings. NEW TV SHOWROOM “We have updated and expanded our TV area and we make it clear that our services include free home delivery, as well as setup, once we get there,” Baribault states. “People don’t have to fiddle with cables, hook-ups and program menus – all those things that are confusing to a lot of people. “We have seasoned sales staff and they will talk people through all that they need to know. We are basically a one-stop HDTV shop,” he notes, “and our partnership with Time Warner allows us to send people home with an HD converter box and three months of discounted Time Warner HD service as a further option.” A variety of HDTV sets are on display at the Auburn showroom at 40 Minot Avenue. The pictures they show are direct live-broadcast transmissions just as they would come into a home, Baribault explains. They are not the DVD pictures usually shown in department store display lines. The new HDTV expansion was put in place several months ago. “The response was immediate,” Baribault says, noting that, in addition to Christmas sales, there also was a surge in purchases during the NFL Playoffs and before the Super Bowl. He says older customers who once were more comfortable shopping for traditional TV sets “have now become half the clientele for the bigger sets because we walk them through the purchase, deliver it to their homes and set it up before we leave – taking away those headaches has made all the difference.”
EXTRAS SET AGREN APART Baribault points out that Agren also provides many appliance items that often are sold as extras by other stores, such as electrical cords for ranges or hoses for washers. “We’ll install the ice makers in refrigerators at no cost beyond their purchase, too, and we’ll convert dryer or refrigerator doors from right to left hand pull at no charge,” he notes. Kitchen design is another service provided in Auburn under the expertise of Kevin Doughty, who has been with Agren for about 10 years. The Agren designs feature the beautiful Merillat cabinets showcased at the Auburn store. Agren offers all the top kitchen appliance brands, and they have the most showcase kitchens of any appliance retailer in the state. Successful teamwork among its employees add to Agren’s customers shopping experience. Doug Bartlett is the general manager at the Auburn store, and Steve Pomerleau is the manager for the in-store Parts and Service department. Sales associates in Auburn include John St. Pierre and Howard Dwyer. WORKHORSES FROM THE PAST If there’s any doubt that Agren Appliance places a high priority on long life for its products, there is a very interesting display just inside the front entrance of the Auburn store. Over the years, Agren has accumulated an assortment of vintage home appliances, some of which still work after many years. They include a 1926 Maytag washer, a 1934 GE washer and an old refrigerator and range. Some of these are sometimes seen on stage at The Public Theatre during plays set in those eras. Right next to the mini-museum is Agren’s current line-up of state-of-the-art washers and dryers. The showroom floor also features the newest kitchen appliances from makers such as Maytag, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, Amana, Bosch, Dacor, Fisher and Paykel, Jenn-Air, Kitchenaid, Miele, Subzero, Thermador, Viking and Wolf. The Brunswick store features Maine’s only AGA kitchen range – the always-on “British Cooker” known and valued by serious cooks throughout the world. “We are the exclusive AGA dealer for the state,” Baribault states. “It’s been claimed that when people buy an AGA, they’ve purchased a range for life.”
A new line of HDTVs is now featured at Agren Appliance stores. Here, Kevin Doughty shows some of the models, which display live broadcast pictures just as a customer would receive in a home. FIVE STORE LOCATIONS Agren Appliance has five locations. In addition to the main store and office in Auburn, there are stores in South Paris, Brunswick, South Portland and Waldoboro. Baribault explains that plans are in the works for another location to be opened before long, an effort spearheaded by Jason Agren, a younger member of the founding family, who has recently come on board in the past year as the director of business development. Changes to provide more services and products to its customers are not limited to one location. The South Portland and South Paris stores also now have new, live broadcast HDTV showrooms, and the Auburn and South Paris locations last year began carrying the TEMPUR-Pedic line of beds. In addition to its free delivery, Agren Appliance offers free removal of old appliances and televisions (and mattresses and box springs for its TEMPUR-Pedic customers).
A HISTORY OF SERVICE The importance of service is a lesson learned over the three decades since Agren Appliance began with just a rotary phone and a repair truck in 1969. Don and Doug Agren are the two brothers who started the firm – basically as a repair business at the time.
Steve Pomerleau is service manager at Agren Appliance in Auburn.
Baribault says, “After a span of years, the decision was made to get into the retail part of the business as well, and the first showroom was established on Turner Street in Auburn in 1978.” Agren now has eight repair trucks among its five locations, as well as six delivery trucks. The company services communities from the southern tip of Maine up north through the Rangeley Lakes area and to the mid-coast region. “We’re the only independent appliance dealer in Maine that is in the top 100 in the country,” Baribault says, “and it’s the service we promise after the sale that has helped us establish and maintain that position. A recent survey done by a popular radio station showed that Maine people specifically associate us – by name – with service by a 27-percentage point margin over the country’s largest seller of appliances.” LARGEST INDEPENDENT IN STATE Baribault notes Agren has grown to become the largest independent service provider in the state, as well as the largest independent appliance retailer. As Agren Appliance nears three decades of being in business, Baribault describes the company as currently in its most active period of growth. “We want to move toward a broader presence throughout the state, not just South Central Maine,” Baribault says, “and we just want to continue getting better at everything we do and provide the very best service we can. We want to keep building on that sure foundation that was set almost 30 years ago.”
Agren Appliance You can get a taste of kitchens from the past just inside the entrance of Agren Appliance’s Auburn store. This minimuseum features several vintage kitchen appliances and other items.
40 Minot Ave. Auburn
The large Agren Appliance building with its spacious parking area at 40 Minot Avenue, Auburn, has been a familiar sight near the downtown area for many years. Agren Appliance was founded nearly 30 years ago in Auburn.
Call us:
784-0235 Visit us:
Mon.- Fri. 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
TEMPUR-Pedic beds are now sold at the Auburn and South Paris stores of Agren Appliance.
Agren is the exclusive southern Maine dealer of USA-made Dacor appliances, and features the largest number of kitchen showrooms in the state. There is a full line-up of kitchen appliances for customers to see at Agren Appliance in Auburn, and at its other locations in South Paris, Brunswick, South Portland and Waldoboro.
Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. www.agrenappliance.com
Some of the kitchen appliances at Agren Appliance in Auburn are set up for hands-on cooking. Paul Baribault, marketing manager, is a frequent in-store chef for what has become a Wednesday tradition of lunch he prepares at this range for staff and any customers who are in the store.
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Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
Northeast Charter & Tour prominent in passenger transportation industry BY DAVE SARGENT Freelance Writer
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ortheast Charter & Tour Company continues to experience growth says president and owner Scott A. Riccio. Since the company’s establishment in L-A eight years ago, the company has achieved its growth through building client relationships by providing superior motorcoach service operated by professionals drivers. With eight modern full-size buses and half a dozen smaller vehicles, Northeast has a prominent place in Maine’s passenger transportation industry. The company’s fleet is constantly on the road throughout New England, eastern Canada and the mid-Atlantic coast. It may be a charter trip to a Red Sox game or a tour to Washington, D.C. or New York City. It may be short-haul bus transportation for kids at a summer camp or for hundreds of cruise passengers from Portland or Bar Harbor. Airport trips provided by Northeast Charter & Tour Co., Inc., can be personal – and reasonably priced – door-to-door service to get a family to and from Logan, Manchester, N.H., or Portland Jetport. It could even include that necessary stop for bread and milk on the return trip. Such airport service can save the expense of gas and multi-day parking, and eliminate the stress of driving – all at about the same cost while you leave your car at home. Northeast Charter & Tour Co., Inc., is making a significant contribution to the state’s economy, Ric-
Near Le Château Frontenac, the spectacular hotel that towers above old Quebec City. cio points out. The company’s vehicles roll up about 650,000 miles a year and they move as many as 125,000 passengers. Many of those passengers include people arriving on cruise ships, Riccio noted. It was that kind of opportunity that marked Northeast’s beginnings about eight years ago. Riccio said he started with one van and a trailer. He brought international skiers to Maine ski areas. It evolved into a transport service for Sunday River Ski Resort guests to and from Boston’s Logan Airport, Manchester, N.H., Airport and Portland International Jetport. Service to international travelers is still a big part of his business. More and more cruise ships are making Portland and Bar Harbor a port-of-call from June to October,
Scott Riccio demonstrates the DVD and video tape players that are provided on his buses.
and it takes from five to 30 buses to move some 700 to 2,500 passengers from each ship to Maine sites such as L.L. Bean’s in Freeport or Acadia National Park. Northeast’s buses are always among them. For the past six years, Northeast has been the official transportation provider for the Portland Seadogs baseball team. Wes Perkins has been their driver for those six years, and the team included him to receive one of their 2006 Eastern League championship rings. Northeast also has moved the Lewiston MAINEiacs hockey team for its far-flung schedule of games in the Northeast and Canada over the past four years. “Our priority is to focus on service,” Riccio said. With a variety of vehicles, he can meet all kinds of charter and tour
All the vehicles have clean and attractive interiors.
needs. The larger vehicles seat 56 passengers. Wheelchair lifts can be provided and there’s on-board DVD and video tape equipment.For smaller groups, there are a couple of mini-buses, as well as sedan and SUV service. “Charters make up about 85 percent of our business,” Riccio said. That may be for a non-profit organization, a school, or a group headed for a reunion. It might be a local school going to Boston for the day or a seniors group that has made plans to visit Washington, D.C. Day trips for summer camp children visiting Maine is also a major part of Riccio’s charter work each summer. “They keep us very busy,” he said. Corporate charter business, such as executive and employee functions and shuttle service, is also growing. About 10 percent of the company’s business is devoted to tours, and Northeast offers year-round choices of trips that appeal to many people. These include popular weekend trips to Foxwoods Casino, sightseeing excursions to Quebec City or to the Big Apple or the nation’s capitol. There are about 80 scheduled tours for the public every year with convenient pick-up points in Lewiston and Auburn and other towns. In-
formation about the tours is on the Web site at www.northeastchartert our.com. Riccio said he has an absolute no-smoking policy for the whole fleet. “We drive 45-foot billboards down the road,” Riccio said, and he believes it’s important to be a good ambassador for his company, his state and his community. The vehicles are based at the firm’s Goddard Road facility in Lewiston where they receive full wash jobs after every trip, as well as the best mechanical maintenance. Twice a year, the buses get a major “fine clean” treatment where we pull the buses out of service for two days and go through them front to back. This achieves the “new bus” effect for passengers. The company recently passed a strict U.S. Department of Transportation audit and it’s approved for military transportation by the Department of Defense. Northeast Charter & Tour Co. has 30 drivers, six of whom are full-time. There are a couple of wash-and-clean employees, two mechanics, a full-time dispatcher, safety director, and two employees in the tour department. “We are growing within our community and serving people within a 100-mile radius of L-A,” Riccio said.
Northeast Charter & Tour 235 Goddard Road Lewiston, Maine 784-3159
www.northeastchartertour.com
Foliage tours bring the wonders of New England’s autumn woodlands to thousands of travelers aboard Northeast Charter & Tour Company buses.
One of the Northeast Charter & Tour Company buses at Bar Harbor, a popular Maine destination.
Downeast Networks: I.T. for the rest of us BY RICH LIVINGSTON
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Freelance Writer
center that provides services to low income patients. DNI, through their partnerships with Cisco and Microsoft, discovered grant programs and charity licensing that enabled the medical center to upgrade its entire technology infrastructure and saved the facility more than $90,000 in the process. “We are licensed re-sellers for the hardware and software they needed.” Pratt explains, “By funding the upgrades through these programs, we eliminated the commission we would have otherwise earned on those sales. But, it was worth it – there was no other way this important community resource could have afforded to do what needed to be done.” From routine maintenance and upgrading, to solving critical problems, DNI is a virtually unique service in the L-A area, providing the smallest users with the kind of expertise and immediate attention previously only available to the big guys. With lots of people contemplating conversion to the new Windows ® Vista operating system, this may be the perfect time to call in the specialists. “We can roll out and automate the conversion process for multiple computers,” according to Pratt. “This can eliminate errors and shorten the conversion process. Your network is back on line much more quickly.” “Most people should be concentrating on their core business,” says McLean, “and not worrying about technology. All they should have to do with their computers is use them. We make sure they can. We handle the technology so our clients can focus on their own business.”
egardless of how we earn a living or what we do for recreation, our lives are increasingly driven by Information Technology. Yet, few of us really understand how it works. Most of us don’t even speak the rather unique language. Those of us who work in large enterprises that drive hundreds of computers will often have access to IT professionals – either on-staff or outsourced – who not only speak geek, but who understand how to make IT relevant to the real world in which the rest of us live. Until recently, the rest of us have had to struggle with less information and fewer skills available to us. The newest solution is provided by Downeast Networks Inc., of Lewiston, an independent outsourced set of IT professionals who are dedicated to helping the rest of us, those small to mid-sized businesses that need assistance with their networks. Although Downeast Networks also works with larger organizations, their specialty is smaller offices – healthcare, law firms, credit unions and banks, accountants, engineers, wholesalers. “We’ve all worked for larger organizations, either in-house, outsourced, or both,” reports co-founder Joel McLean. “In fact,” he adds, “we have about 50 years combined experience among us. But, we recognized a vacant niche – no one has been serving smaller groups. It may be less profitable for consultants, but the SMB market is the fastest growing population Downeast Networks Inc. of companies needing IT services. We’ve been able to apply much of what we’ve learned with 214 Russell Street enterprise customers to the issues faced by Lewiston, Maine smaller establishments.” “Our job,” says co-founder Mike Pratt, “is 221-3291 to understand our clients’ business so we can use technology to help them become more efficient and more competitive. Many people who are not technically savvy overlook keeping their systems updated in a timely manner,” he added. Many DNI customers originated with some sort of crisis that needed immediate attention, reports McLean, but then evolved into retainer relationships. “We provide same-day or next-day service to our retainer clients,” McLean explains, “plus we have remote access to 90% of our clients’ networks, so we can often fix problems without ever having to leave our own offices.” Serving the area from Portland to Augusta, DNI is deeply committed to the greater L-A community. One recent example was work they did for DFD Russell Medical Cen- Michael Pratt, Devon Delano, Debbie McLean, ter, in Leeds, a federally qualified health Derek New, Joel McLean
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Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
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Goodman Wiper & Paper is Central Maine’s new leader for paper & janitorial products systems, and convenience,” Ken said. “We think this is the kind of company that people still prefer to do business with.” or a company that’s nearly 70 “We have been in the recycling business years old, it’s surprising that since 1938,” Ken said. The business was foundmany new customers are just ed that year at 120 Mill Street in Auburn, recently discovering that Goodman Wiper and it has been there ever since. Ken said too & Paper has the products and services they many people still connect the business with need. Those products include a full range of industrial products. paper towels and toilet tissue, dispensing sys“The emphasis has actually gone 180 detems, cleaning chemicals and other items that grees,” Ken said. The company began by makjust about every business or office – large or ing and supplying commercial wiping cloths. small – uses daily. It was a scrap business that also dealt with Goodman Wiper & Paper has become metal. Now, 50 percent of the business is paper Maine’s leader in textile and paper wipers products, cleaning supplies and related goods and towels. This includes a growing list of enfor offices and restaurants. vironmentally-friendly products. According “We get to know our customers. We set up to Ken and Steve Goodman, brothers who are dispensing systems that can be restocked with now the third generation guiding this local non-proprietary products, so the customer business, the firm now serves all kinds of cusisn’t stuck with one expensive brand. A lot tomers including offices and restaurants. of times, we’ll actually switch brands to get a They can help the small businesses and ofcustomer a better deal and more flexibility,” fices that often send someone to the nearby Ken explained. “big box” to replenish all the company closet The firm originated as the Wilfred Gooditems. They can assist bigger concerns that man Co. when the company’s familiar logo are sometimes locked into buying specific featured Good-n-Clean wiping cloths. Fire debrands for paper product dispensers. stroyed the first building in 1962, but the famAnd there’s no minimum order for delivily rebuilt on the same site and they have been ery service. “We can give customers complete there ever since. choices of products, flexibility in dispenser Wilfred Goodman died in 1948. The business continued under the guidance of Joel and Shirley Goodman, and it’s now run by their sons Ken and Steve, although their father is still president. By the 1960s, the company’s principal product had become textile wipers. Cloth was converted to wipers at the Auburn facility, and a great deal of that activity still goes on. Starting in the early 1990s, there was a gradual shift from the commercial wiper trade to paper products and janitorial supplies, Ken said. That followed the peThe company’s two cloth cutters make fast work of riod when industrial activity turning recycled cloth into the right size for wiping in Maine was on the decline, cloth, one of the firm’s original products. On the left is and Goodman Wiper & Paper Cecile Boulette and Ronda James is at the right. needed to change. “We simply needed to find BY DAVE SARGENT
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Freelance Writer
our niche and settle in with it,” Ken said. It was natural that the niche would be found in the service sector of the economy, because that’s what had replaced the industrial base in L-A. Goodman Wiper & Paper has 10 employees, including the family members who run it. Ken and Steve Goodman credit the long-time service and dedication of their employees with the company’s continued success. Cecile Boulette and Ronda James are full time cloth cutters who carry on an important phase of the business that reaches back to The crew at Goodman Wiper & Paper consists of, left to the early days. Boulette and right, owners Ken and Steve Goodman; Debora Boucher, James also handle some of office manager; Cecile Boulette, cloth cutter; Bob Ecker, the packaging. warehouse manager; Ronda James, cloth cutter; and Randy Martin drives the Randy Martin, delivery driver. delivery vehicle, and he’s company’s direction to serve a wide range the one who keeps cusof L-A area customers. Goodman Wiper tomers throughout the area promptly sup& Paper can be reached by phone at 784plied with paper and chemical goods. “Randy 5779, toll free at 1-800-439-9473 or online at knows his products and his customers,” Ken www.goodmanwiper.com. said. Martin has been on the job through the recent years of growth. Bob Ecker, who has been with the firm l7 years – longer than anyone except the family members – is the warehouse manager with a complete knowledge of the company’s distribution activities. Debora Boucher is office manager and she also handles the accounting duties. It’s her friendly and helpful voice that Goodman Wiper & Paper greets callers on the phone, and her cheerful in-person warmth that welcomes customers who may come to the Mill Street facility. Ken is general manager and he takes care of sales and purchasing. That keeps him busy out in the field and in the office. Steve is plant manager, so he is out in the plant more often. He also handles purchasing. It’s a division of duties that has evolved comfortable and naturally. www.goodmanwiper.com Both Ken and Steve are in sync on the
120 Mill St. Auburn, Maine 784-5779 800-439-WIPE
Collette Monuments: Craftsmanship and compassion BY M ARIE ROSSITER Freelance Writer
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amily has many meanings for the people of Collette Monuments in Lewiston. The success of Collette Monuments is a combination of how one family has taken the passion, skill and dedication from one generation to another and applied that to personal, compassionate service for families looking to memorialize a loved one, occasion or location. The secret to Collette’s success is simply following the golden rule: they treat their customers the way they would want to be treated—with courteous, patient service combined with a talented, loyal and ambitious staff. The entire company is based on the values and skills of its founder, Roland Collette. From his start
in the monument business in 1946, when he worked for other area monument companies, through the time when he and his wife, Jeanne, opened their own company in 1971, Roland took great pride in making the business about people, as well as product. Personal service has always been the cornerstone to Collette Monuments’ practice. All work is done inhouse to ensure a top-quality product, from carving the stone to placing the monument when it is completed. Families return to Collette Monuments time and time again because the staff takes the time to really work with their customers, both on a personal and professional level. Keeping these family values going is now in the hands of Roland and Jeanne’s sons: Marc, Donald and Bruce, and their grandsons Luc and John. And, while times have changed in the monument business—from technology to big busi-
ness-type companies entering the market—the Collette sons stay faithful to their father’s vision of craftsmanship and compassion. Marc and his wife, Judy, do computer and special project design, and Marc also does fine hand work and sales. Donald is the stone shop foreman who also works in computer design and in-house sales. Bruce tackles office administration, scheduling, human resources and a large portion of special project sales and designs. The Collette brothers work closely with many municipalities and veterans groups, as well as doing a significant portion of the work in Maine’s veteran cemeteries. Although their values are grounded firmly in tradition, Collette Monuments knows how to use technology to better serve their customers. The Collettes recently acquired a state-of-the-art laser-powered etching machine that creates memorial masterpieces. nything from landscapes to portraits can be etched on granite, marble and a number of other materials. As a result, Collette Monuments can now create custom designs that could only be imagined before— and now last forever. Each member of the Collette Monuments team is an integral part of the business’ success. Adding information to existing stones in the cemetery is completed by John Sheehy, who is a second-generation stone cutter. Memorialists Steve Grover, William Soucy and Tom Simpson use their meticulous attention to detail to make a finished product that outshines all the rest. Lee Flowers, Collette’s resident artist, is a master with computer design. In charge of inhouse sales are Carolyn Burke, who has been in the monument business since 1955, and Hugh LeMaster, who uses his experience as a funeral director to help families with the many decisions that come with a monument design and purchase. From their start almost 35 years ago through today, Collette Monuments has embraced “old-
Korean War Monument in Buxton, Maine dedicated November 11, 2006
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Lewiston Veterans Memorial in Veterans Memorial Park, Lewiston fashioned values” and cutting-edge technology to become what many see as the predominant monument company within the state. Everyone in the business knows that their reputation is a key element to their success and continue to focus on providing the best service possible to their customers. Collette Monuments has carved a solid and respected reputation from their artistic work with stone and their ability to relate to the people who walk through their door.
Collette Monuments 1053 Sabattus Street Lewiston, Maine 04243
207-783-2118
www.collettemonuments.com
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Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
Healey & Associates can help meet your financial challenges with strategic services BY M ICHAEL BOURGOIN Freelance Writer
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ince 1982, Healey & Associates has been providing financial services to both businesses and individuals. With services including employee benefits, retirement planning, and individual financial services, Healey & Associates stands out in the financial planning industry. The financial planning industry is an ever changing and increasingly complex field. To stand out in this industry is an impressive achievement. To stand out and have been in the business for over a quarter of a century is even more remarkable.
Mark Anthoine, Matt Arbo Healey & Associates’ success can be attributed to hard work and a philosophy that puts the customer first. As part of this philosophy, Healey & Associates works to provide individual, personalized solutions to meet their clients’ needs. Currently, Healey & Associates handles over $200 million in assets, manages over 300 employee benefit clients, and serves over
2,000 individual financial service clients throughout New England. This success would not be possible without dedication to their clients. Principals Mark Anthoine, Investment Advisor Representative, and Matt Arbo have been with Healey & Associates since 1987 and 1999, respectively. Together, they formed a team focused on offering the best financial planning services available. Unlike other financial service providers who offer off-the-shelf solutions to their clients’ needs, Healey & Associates listens to their clients. They know that each client is unique and each has different needs. The team at Healey & Associates takes the time to get to know each client. Healey & Associates can help tailor a plan to suit a client’s needs. For their commercial clients, Healey & Associates offers a wide range of employee benefit management solutions. Attracting and keeping quality employees often hinges on a company’s benefits plan. But, with the seemingly endless choices available, employers are sometimes overwhelmed. Every client is different; the company that employs 20 people has different needs than the company that employs 200. Finding the right plan takes knowledge and experience. With years of experience behind them, the professionals at Healey & Associates believe they can design a benefit plan that will fit the needs of the client. As part of their corporate service, Healey can also help design a retirement plan as part of an employer’s benefit package. Together with their clients, the professionals at Healey will determine the best retirement plan for the client. The Healey staff can help choose the right 401(k) plan as well as a host of other financial plans that best suit the client.
Healey & Associates Portland staff, left to right, front: Vladimir Varbanov; Laura Cyr; Amy Thacker; Melissa Aguirre; Mark Anthoine; Chris Joy; Back: Joan Cotsifas; Josh Chase, Investment Advisor Representative; Henry Bindbeutel; Charlene Lowe; Matt Arbo; Lou Taliento.
Healey & Associates Auburn staff, left to right: Amy Harren; Wendy Oglesby; Deb Turcottte; Wendy Levesque; Karen Labbe; Mark Anthoine; Suzanne Norton; Lynne Arnold, Registered Representative; Chrissy Cowan. Healey & Associates brings the same dedication to personalized solutions to their individual financial service clients as they do to their corporate clients. Healey & Associates will work with a client to help develop a financial plan that will protect the client’s hard-earned income through retirement and beyond. It is never too early to think about retirement planning. No one can predict what the future will bring, but with a financial plan, retirement does not have to be filled with anxiety and uncertainty. The team at Healey & Associates will work with the client to determine their needs and goals. From this, they will create a management plan to help meet these goals. Healey & Associates also helps their clients to plan for unexpected events. No one plans on an injury or illness but they do occur. One major accident or debilitating injury can wipe out an entire lifetime of earnings and assets in an instant. Here too, Healey & Associates develops personalized plans to help clients to better meet the challenges of a situation such as this. Healey & Associates offers a wide variety of financial plans that extend beyond retirement. Estate planning is a subject that some people find uncomfortable to discuss. To plan one’s estate is to acknowledge one’s mortality. Because of this discomfort, many people have not taken adequate steps to protect what they spent their lifetime earning. Unfortunately, this lack of planning can result in losses of your assets. Healey & Associates can help clients to preserve what they have earned and saved so that the client can pass on their legacy in the manner they choose.
Mark Anthoine and Matt Arbo, along with the rest of the professionals at Healey & Associates, offer themselves as a unique solution. In an industry that offers one size fits all solutions, they offer personalized service. Your needs and goals are unique. Shouldn’t your financial service planner be unique too? You need a firm that is willing to listen to you and that will offer a solution that is as unique as you are. Healey & Associates will do their best to help you find the financial well-being you deserve.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS / RETIREMENT PLANNING / INSURANCE
86 Main Street, Auburn, Maine 04212 T: 207.784.1535 / F: 207.777.5208 10 Free Street, Portland, Maine 04112 T: 207.775.6177 / F: 207.775.5688 Advisory Services offered through Investment Advisors, a division of ProEquities, Inc., a registered investment advisor. Securities offered through ProEquities, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, member NASD & SIPC, (800) 288-3035. Healey & Associates is independent of ProEquities, Inc.
Rain Forest Restaurant: A hidden gem Served with coleslaw, fries and a beverage for only $8.95, it’s a bargain. ocated at 750 Main Great meals are essential, but Street in Monthere’s another thing that resmouth, at the site taurants need – great desserts. of the former Rhonda’s Grill, In keeping with this, the Rain the Rain Forest Restaurant is Forest offers the Monkey Snowone of the area’s hidden gems. ball. A signature dish for them, Started in May 2006 by local the complete recipe is a closely businessman Richard Davis guarded secret. But Chavez did and Kyle Chavez, the Rain Forreveal that it’s ice cream, Kahest has been seeing tremendous lua, and several other goodies growth over the past year. mixed together. It’s a dish you Richard Davis and Kyle Chavez Davis, a local businessman definitely want to save room for originally from the Winthrop when you go. Or, better yet, orarea, had relocated to Florida. der it first. You won’t be disappointed. Having been involved in different businesses over The Rain Forest is a great place to visit during the the years, he wanted a new challenge. Davis decided winter but it’s the summer time when things really it was time to move back to Maine. So after six years start happening. In the summer, the Rain Forest ofin Florida, he, along with co-owner Chavez, decided fers live music on Fridays and Saturdays. to make the move to Maine. For Davis, it was a homeAlso during the summer, guests at the Rain Forest coming. For Chavez, it was the start of a new advenRestaurant are treated to special visitors. Through ture. connections with York Animal Kingdom, guests at the Both have had experience in the restaurant trade, Rain Forest Restaurant can dine with wild animals. working in various establishments in the South. They Experienced trainers will bring the animals to Monbrought with them the knowledge necessary to cremouth and display them at the Rain Forest. You don’t ate one of the area’s best casual dining experiences. In get that experience every day. They are also currentkeeping with the tropical name, the walls are adorned ly working in conjunction with radio station WABK with photos and paintings of jungle cats. 104.3 on an upcoming benefit for the Monmouth MuWith a staff of 16, the Rain Forest offers breakfast, seum. lunch and dinner, seven days a week. The menu offers The Rain Forest Restaurant books parties and gatha wide variety of choices with good prices and ample erings. They can accommodate small to large parties portions. Breakfast customers can find all their faand are perfect for holiday parties, retirement parties, vorites, while lunch and dinner customers can choose social gatherings or anytime you have a large group of from an array of appetizers, seafood, poultry and steak people. dishes. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, be sure to The Rain Forest also serves homemade soups and stop at the Rain Forest Restaurant at 750 Main Street chili on their lunch and dinner menus. In addition to in Monmouth for one of the best dining experienctheir wine list, the Rain Forest Restaurant offers an es around. You’ll be glad you did. But whatever you impressive selection of domeshave for your meal, leave room for dessert. That alone tic, imported, and microbrews is worth the trip. for the beer connoisseurs out there. Be sure to join them for Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. for special prices on appetizers and drinks. The staff at Rain Forest concentrates on offering great food at great prices. In addition to their regular menu, the Rain Forest Restaurant offers an all Jessica Jones you can eat fish fry every Friday. BY M ICHAEL BOURGOIN Freelance Writer
L
aka JJ
Rain Forest Restaurant 750 Main Street Monmouth, Maine 933-3777
P R O F I L E 2007
Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
B13
Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce
Chamber lobby and donor pillar BY M ARIE ROSSITER Freelance Writer
A
s the Lewiston-Auburn area continues to experience rapid growth, the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce keeps in step with the area’s business needs. The Chamber’s capacity to serve its members has grown tremendously with its recent move into the Business Service Center at 415 Lisbon Street. “Our growth is a symbol of how business has changed over the past decade,” says Chamber President Chip Morrison. With over 1,255 current members, and more signing up all the time, the Chamber has more than doubled its size since 1995. The majority of the Chamber’s members are large and small businesses within Androscoggin County, but non-profit agencies and local governments are also included among its members. Morrison attributes the sharp rise in membership to “the energy and accomplishments of the organization and its many volunteers.” A staff of between four and five people works at the Chamber on a regular basis, but there are also 300 to 400 volunteers who participate in the Chamber’s work. Many of these volunteers serve on committees or act as local “ambassadors” for Chamber and community events around Lewiston and Auburn.
The main goal of the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce is to find out what its members need to create or maintain a successful business in the L-A area. “When a member walks through our door, it’s our job to find the right connections for them,” Morrison explains. “Whether it’s someone in need of a marketing plan for a new business or someone wanting more information about the various service organizations in the area, the Chamber does whatever it can to find what they need.” It’s this individual attention that Morrison hopes will help new businesses find their niche and thrive in the community. The relocation to the first floor of the Business Service Center will give the Chamber the chance to offer additional opportunities for businesses and social organizations to connect. “We have a conference room that is well-equipped for member and community needs. There is a kitchen, restrooms and some great technology available in the space,” says Morrison. “We also plan to have the space accessible during the evening hours, after the Chamber is closed.” As a result, the hope is that the Chamber conference room will become a central meeting location for other community groups, as well as current Chamber members. More importantly, the new location will allow the Chamber to provide more in-house services than ever before. “There just wasn’t the space at the old location,” Morrison
Chamber office shares. “But, now we can easily accommodate meetings, off-site trainings or staff meetings for our members.” With more flexibility and room to host meetings, Morrison expects the Chamber to be an even more active and vital part of the local business community. Beyond the Chamber’s new location, the staff hosts many other events throughout the area. One of the Chamber’s most effective and popular events is their monthly breakfast. “Almost every one of these sell out,” says Morrison. The Chamber hosts them on the 2nd Thursday of every month, except when there’s a holiday. The breakfast location rotates through different Lewiston-Auburn venues including the Hilton Garden Inn, the Ramada Inn, Martindale Country Club and Lost Valley. There is also an annual breakfast at Bates College in conjunction with the Business to Business Trade Show. Hundreds of members get together at these breakfasts to network and share their ideas about the business community. “It is our premiere event,” Morrison reiterates.
Chamber conference room
The success of the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce is exciting for Morrison and the rest of the Chamber staff. It means that the business community is thriving and the Chamber is providing
the support and resources necessary to ensure that this trend continues. For Morrison, the reason for this success is simple: “We
succeed when our members succeed.”
Visit, call or write the Chamber at:
415 Lisbon Street, PO Box 59 Lewiston, Maine 04243
207-783-2249 www.androscoggincounty.com
B14
P R O F I L E 2007
Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Saturday, April 14, 2007
New Lo cation Now O p en Corn 88 YEARS OF TRADITION JUST GOT BETTER
er Main & Charles So. ParSt., is
Our Location May Have Changed, Our Inventory May Be Bigger and Access To Our Store May Be Better, But Our Appreciation of Our Customers Will Remain An Ongoing Tradition.
TURNER 299 AUBURN ROAD 225-2525
We’re the Problem Solvers Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:30-6:00, Sat. 7:30-4:00; Sun. 8:30-3:00 AUBURN 410 Center St. 783-1366
SO. PARIS
Corner of Main & Charles Streets
743-8960
MATT BRACKETT STORE MANAGER and LONG -TIME NORWAY RESIDENT
NO. CONWAY, NH Rt. 302, Redsions 368-5988 NEWPORT 12 Progress Park South 368-4329 TURNER 299 AUBURN ROAD 225-2525
WINTHROP 30D Summer St. 377-2614 PORTLAND 64 Auburn St. 797-3151 BRIDGTON 13 Portland Road 647-2383 MIDDLEBURY, VT. Rt. 7 South 388-3139 JAY 230 Main St. 897-3333
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