2024 Maine Small Business Person of the Year
Matthew Polstein New England Outdoor Center
“Our annual awards are the time to recognize
how many amazing businesses have made Maine their home, make iconic Maine products, and impact communities across the state.”
— Diane Sturgeon, District Director for Maine U.S. Small Business Administration
2024 Award Winner
MAINE SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR:
MATTHEW POLSTEIN NEW ENGLAND OUTDOOR CENTER
NOMINATED BY JUSTIN JAMISON, SVP, COMMERCIAL SERVICES OFFICER, KATAHDIN TRUST COMPANY
WHILE PEOPLE FROM AWAY might only see Maine as the place to visit the coast and get a lobster roll, Mainers and fellow New Englanders know that our state also has some of the best outdoor activities just a short drive inland. Matt Polstein certainly knew that and built a business out of his passion for Maine’s woods and waters. Matt became a registered Maine Guide in 1981 and established his white-water rafting company in the small town of The Forks along the Kennebec River.
Through Matt’s successful management, the company moved downstream to Caratunk and proved to be a huge success, to the point where the Caratunk Post Office needed to expand in order to handle the mail related to his business. By 1995, the business had grown so much that Matt decided to expand and add a second property on Millinocket Lake with cabin rentals and land for recreation.
WITH ALL OF THESE EXPANSIONS AND THE INCREASE IN REVENUE THAT CAME WITH THEM, NEOC HAS NOW BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN THE KATAHDIN REGION, WITH 28 YEAR ROUND EMPLOYEES AND UP TO 64 ADDITIONAL PART TIME AND SEASONAL EMPLOYEES IN ONE OF THE MOST RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.
Over the years, the Millinocket property grew, and Matt decided to sell the original Caratunk business to focus on building a comprehensive outdoor recreation business on Millinocket Lake in the shadow of Mount Katahdin. In 2005, Matt purchased 1,400 acres of land to build a year round activity center, and once that project was completed, he started looking for more opportunities to grow. Unfortunately, by the time New England Outdoor Center was ready to expand again, the 2008 financial
crisis had struck, and the expansion had to be put on hold. Just as the local economy was starting to recover, and tourists were coming to experience all the outdoor activities Maine has to offer, the Covid pandemic radically disrupted every business based on tourism. Thankfully, with the help of Katahdin Trust Company, NEOC was able to secure Paycheck Protection Program loans to keep their extensive staff on the payroll and ensure that they could last until the 2021 season.
Now that the disruption of the pandemic has largely ended, Matt has been able to start implementing all of the plans he had put on hold since 2008. With a 7a loan from Katahdin Trust in 2021, New England Outdoor Center added a year-round event center, catering to destination weddings, conventions, and other celebrations in the area. By the end of 2023, NEOC had also added an activity center to facilitate a broader range of outdoor activities, as well as a microbrewery and wood-fired pizzeria to cater to NEOC’s guests. With all of these expansions and the increase in revenue that came with them, NEOC has now become one of the largest employers in the Katahdin region, with 28 year round employees and up to 64 additional part time and seasonal employees in one of the most rural parts of the state.
As a true advocate of his community and region, Matt serves and has served on numerous committees and supports organizations active in Maine’s rural communities. These range from serving on the Millinocket Town Council, to serving on the Board of the recently established Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine Community Foundation, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation, and the Abbe Museum to name just a few. In recognition of New England Outdoor Center’s incredible success, and Matthew Polstein’s advocacy of the entire Katahdin region’s small businesses, the SBA is proud to name him as Maine’s Small Business Person of the Year for 2024.
MAINE VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: SHORE SHOP GIFTS, LLC KENDRA CHUBBUCK
NOMINATED BY RUTH FELDMAN, WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER
IT’S CLEAR THAT as retail businesses have become consolidated in large companies that small businesses have difficulty competing, that’s even more so for businesses based in rural areas, and especially on Maine’s island communities where it takes a 45 minute trip by mailboat to get to the mainland. However, Kendra Chubbuck has been able to build a successful business on Isle au Haut by focusing on the things that make Maine’s coast unique and a draw for tourists looking to get away from their stressful lives in large cities across the country.
Prior to moving to Isle au Haut, Kendra had built up an extensive resume with experience that would serve her well as a business owner. Among the positions she held were serving as an administrative specialist at Bath Iron Works, overseeing workforce issues at one of Maine’s largest employers, at CEI working on workforce, housing, and lending issues, and in HR at The Portland Newspapers and WGME, building her media connections. After leaving CEI and moving to the island, Kendra decided that she would leverage her experience and launch Shore Shop Gifts with advice from her Women’s Business Center advisor. With this guidance, she was able to build a business around a sense of place, focusing on local, unique products that would appeal to tourists and locals alike.
WITH THIS ATTITUDE OF CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT, KENDRA CAN ROTATE HER INVENTORY SO THAT SHE WILL ALWAYS HAVE PRODUCTS THAT WILL APPEAL TO HER SMALL TOWN AND NEVER GET STALE.
Continuously looking for new opportunities and ways to improve her business, Kendra pursued classes from the SBA’s Veteran Wise training, the Island Institute’s Island Sustainability and Leadership Excellence (ISLE) program, and workshops from the WBC and other SBA Resource Partners. With this attitude of constant adjustment, Kendra can rotate her inventory so that she will always have products that will appeal to her small town and never get stale and find ways to expand her market. By including social media marketing, and offering year round shipping, even though the store is only open during the summer season and by appointment in the off season, Kendra can maintain a profitable business that supports herself and her many local suppliers.
Outside of her business, Kendra has taken on a necessary leadership role in one of the state’s smallest and most isolated communities. After seeing the necessity of improving emergency medical services on the island, Kendra helped to get one defibrillator installed at the Town Hall to improve outcomes before patients could get to the mainland. She also serves as town clerk, notary public, Dedimus Justice, co-chair of the Maine Island Coalition, and supports the many organizations like the local library, church, and Isle au Haut Community Development that make her island such a special place to visit and live.
Because of Kendra’s significant effort to build a successful small business that supports other Maine entrepreneurs, and her support of Isle au Haut and all of Maine’s island communities, the SBA is pleased to name Shore Shop Gifts, LLC as the 2024 Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year for Maine.
WOMAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:
SARAH MORNEAULT AND LINDSEY LEVESQUE, OWNERS TILLER & RYE
NOMINATED BY ANN MCALHANY, SBDC
2024 Award Winner
OPENING A GROCERY STORE may seem like a relatively straightforward path to business ownership, but with Tiller & Rye there is much more to it. Owners Sarah and Lindsey came from very different backgrounds, and met while working at a local restaurant. Over the course of their time working together, they combined Lindsey’s knowledge of food systems and Sarah’s business knowledge from her classes at the University of Maine to form the basis for Tiller & Rye. Envisioned as a local hub for locally sourced food and as a support for small farmers, Tiller & Rye became more developed and eventually opened in 2015 with the help of the Small Business Development Center and SBA backed financing from CEI.
Since opening its doors, Tiller & Rye has quickly become a staple of its community. Now known as the place to go for organic foods, coffee, deli products, and even books by Maine authors, the store has grown to an incredible degree. While they have stayed at the same location, the business has now fully occupied the building, quadrupling the size of the retail space over the past 8 years. Because of the commitment Sarah and Lindsey have to their customers and community, even
ENVISIONED AS A HUB FOR LOCALLY SOURCED FOOD AND AS A SUPPORT FOR SMALL FARMERS... TILLER & RYE HAS QUICKLY BECOME A STAPLE OF ITS COMMUNITY.
with the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic they were able to adapt and continue their plans to grow. Working with the Bangor Region Chamber and the City of Brewer to identify resources and stay up on the best guidance, Tiller & Rye was able to adjust their practices and keep their doors open.
With all of the success that Tiller & Rye has experienced, Sarah and Lindsey feel that it’s important to commit to their mission of a true local business by supporting their community. Despite not being as large as the national and regional retailers, they try to never say no to a request for donations, always working on a way that they can support people locally. This has taken the form of sponsorships for local youth sports teams, a giving tree for local families during the holidays, gift bags and other goodies for charity raffles, and donation boxes for the local food pantry at the front of the store. Sarah and Lindsey also focus on their community by keeping their advertising dollars as local as they can, and implementing waste policies that see any food waste sent to local farms for compost and animal feed.
Adding to the impressive growth and success seen by Tiller & Rye, both Sarah and Lindsey have had two children in the years since opening their doors. Both have been able to find the time and energy to raise their families while continuing to build their business, demonstrating that with the right business partner and the support of a community, small businesses can grow and compete with larger retailers. Because of their incredible success and their commitment to their community and other Maine based businesses, the SBA is pleased to name Tiller & Rye as the 2024 Woman Owned Small Business of the Year.
2024 Award Winner
MAINE HOME-BASED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: STUDIO CHOO11 KIRANTEE SANGSAP LAUFIK, OWNER
NOMINATED BY GRACE MO PHILLIPS, WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER
WHILE MANY OF the headline grabbing businesses tend to be large manufacturers and bring massive numbers of jobs into a town, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of small businesses here in Maine are home based entrepreneurs following a personal passion. This is certainly the case with Kirantee Sangsap and her jewelry design business, Studio Choo11, that has been operating out of her Scarborough home since 2020.
Originally from Thailand, Kirantee graduated with a degree in fashion design from Bangkok University. When she came to Maine with her husband in 2019, she brought her knowledge of design and held onto that background. After working as a waitress in a local Thai restaurant and at a local textile manufacturer for two years, Kirantee decided she had saved up enough to start her own business. She purchased the tools and materials she would need to start making jewelry at home, with the hope that it could eventually become a full time profession. By working with the Women’s Business Center
and obtaining the business insights that could help her achieve that goal, Kirantee was able to make the leap into full time entrepreneurship before too long.
Demonstrating an enthusiasm for her business that few could match, Kirantee was able to secure a spot in the competitive New England Made Show’s IDEA Pavilion. This program is reserved for female artisan small businesses that have demonstrated an ability to scale their business up to a regional market. This opportunity led to 19 new wholesale accounts, which meant a significant increase in sales and more people seeing Kirantee’s amazing designs. Even with this growth in wholesale accounts across New England, Studio Choo11’s jewelry is also sold at a number of local venues, ranging from as small as craft fairs throughout the year, to locations like Freeport Market which features Maine-Made products for Freeport’s many visitors. Online sales have allowed Kirantee to start selling to customers across the country, and even adding three wholesale accounts in other countries.
As she and her husband have become more settled in their new home in Maine, Kirantee has begun getting involved as a mentor for others in similar positions. She has spoken at Women Standing Together, which works to build community for women across Maine, A Company of Girls, which builds community for girls through the arts, and recently began volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Through these organizations, Kirantee can share her story and experiences, demonstrating to younger generations that by following your passion and working toward your dream, you can achieve success.
As a classic example of a successful home based entrepreneur, and especially as a new Mainer who has adapted to a new environment and culture as she built her business, Kirantee Sangsap represents the best of Maine’s smallest businesses. The SBA is pleased to name Studio Choo11 as the 2024 Home Based Business of the Year for Maine.
MAINE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR: CANDACE
NOMINATED BY BRANDON MCDONALD, SBDC
2024 Award Winner
AROOSTOOK COUNTY HAS been shaped by its family owned farms, and over the years the importance of preserving the farming traditions has become clear. At a time when many farms are being sold off to large companies or solar companies, W.E. Family Farms (under the business name W&E Events and Rentals) has been able to sustain itself well. Starting the business in 2019, Candace Edgecomb brought a new entrepreneurial spirit and energy to an industry that has not typically seen leadership from women, much less young women.
Bringing experience and knowledge on tractor and large vehicle repair to the farm she runs with her husband Chris, Candace started looking for ways to ensure the business could survive the challenges faced by all Aroostook County farms. She reached
AFTER MEETING WITH HER ADVISOR, CANDACE SAW THAT THERE WAS A GAP IN THE MARKET FOR EVENT PLANNERS AND VENUES NORTH OF BANGOR. AFTER A BIT OF PLANNING, SHE STARTED THE AFFILIATED BUSINESS
W.E. EVENTS, HANDLING EVENT PLANNING AND HOSTING WEDDINGS AT THE FARM DURING THE OFF SEASON.
out to the Small Business Development Center and connected with a business mentor to start planning ways to diversify her revenue. After meeting with her advisor, Candace saw that there was a gap in the market for event planners and venues north of Bangor. After a bit of planning, she started the affiliated business W.E. Events, handling event planning and hosting weddings at the farm during the off season. She also joined the USDA Pollinator program to increase the presence of native bee-friendly plants on the farm and secure support from the Federal program that would add to the financial viability of the farm.
As the farm has secured its financial stability and grown its revenue over the years of Candace’s management, community involvement has become a focus for W.E. Family Farm. After the loss of many community events in the area, Candace committed to creating a Haunted Woods Walk for families to participate in during the Halloween season, and has plans to launch a botanical garden project that would benefit her community as well. She has also worked with other local farmers to develop flexible payment options for hay or use of her equipment, allowing them to barter with their own products if they need to.
As a young leader in a crucial industry in Northern Maine, and one who is committed to supporting her community and other small farmers, Candace has secured her place among Maine’s farming industry. Because of her efforts to preserve small farms in Aroostook County, the SBA is pleased to name Candace Edgecomb as the 2024 Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Maine.
SMALL BUSINESS MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR: THE GOOD CRUST HEATHER KERNER
NOMINATED BY SARAH GUERETTE, CEI 2024 Award Winner
STARTING A BUSINESS at any time is an incredible challenge and a courageous act, starting a business in 2020 in the midst of the Covid pandemic even more so. That was the case for Heather Kerner with her business, The Good Crust, making pizza dough from 100% Maine grown grains. Having come from the field of occupational therapy, where she’d had a 27 year long career, Heather wanted to include her experience and desire to provide opportunities for others as she started up her business.
Prior to launching The Good Crust, Heather participated in the Women’s Business Center’s Propellor program, designed to help women entrepreneurs gain the skills and connections they would need to succeed and grow their businesses. The connection to the WBC and its host organization CEI proved to be incredibly influential, providing Heather with a WBC Business Advisor and information about the SBA backed lending programs at CEI, which helped her purchase the current location and start growing. With an active partnership with the nearby Maine Grains, Heather was able to source locally grown ingredients for her pizza dough and take advantage of the Maine grown brand as she started making sales and growing her business.
HEATHER PARTICIPATED IN THE WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER’S PROPELLOR PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO HELP WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS GAIN THE SKILLS AND CONNECTIONS THEY WOULD NEED TO SUCCEED AND GROW.
Since launching in 2020, The Good Crust has grown to fully occupy its 1,200 square foot facility, has purchased over 150,000 pounds of Maine grown grains, and currently employs 4 full time and 15 part time employees, with a focus on individuals with challenges like autism, cerebral palsy, and those going through addiction recovery that might make it difficult for them to find employment elsewhere. This expansion was possible thanks to the incredible growth in The Good Crust’s sales, nearly doubling between 2021 and 2022, as well as funds received from competitions like Greenlight Maine, CEI’s Tastemakers, and The Big Gig. Amid the growth in sales and employees, Heather has also been planning to expand her product line into dry pizza dough mix, using guidance from the University of Maine to ensure efficiency and quality of the product.
As may have been apparent from Heather’s hiring processes, she does not focus solely on profits, but being a supportive member of her community. The Good Crust lives up to this by hosting a hub of the Winslow Community Food Cupboard, allowing hundreds of people to access resources every month. She also supports numerous community programs, including after school baking classes and cooperative extension events, and providing pizza dough and kits to nonprofits to sell as fundraisers. Outside of her business, Heather continues to work as an occupational therapist in the RSU 18 school district and serves as Vice President of the board for Lake George Regional Park.
Because of the incredible growth of her business, and her continued commitment to her community through purchasing local, hiring disadvantaged individuals, and giving back to numerous organizations locally, the SBA is pleased to name The Good Crust, owned by Heather Kerner, as the 2024 Small Business Manufacturer of the Year for Maine.
2024 Award Winner
MINORITY-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:
MAIZ NIKY DWIN WATLER AMARIS AND MARTHA LEONARD, OWNERS
NOMINATED BY GRACE MO-PHILLIPS, WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER
WHILE MAINE MIGHT not jump out as the place to find good Colombian food, Maiz and its owners Niky Amaris and Martha Leonard are proving that assumption wrong. The couple met ten years ago in Cartagena, Colombia, and in 2017 they decided to bring their shared love of Colombian food and culture back to Martha’s home state of Maine. Starting out in the Public Market House incubator space in Portland with a small investment, they have been seeing gradual growth and expansion in the past few years. With the help of CEI’s Women’s Business Center, Maiz was able to move into its own brick and mortar location in Portland within two years of first starting up. Even with the disruption of the Covid pandemic and the dramatic impact on the restaurant industry, Niky and Martha were able to keep growing Maiz. Thanks to their effective man-
IF MAINTAINING AND GROWING A RESTAURANT BY 30% A YEAR IN THE SHADOW OF THE COVID PANDEMIC WASN’T IMPRESSIVE ENOUGH, THE WAY THAT MAIZ HAS STOOD BY ITS VALUES MAKES THAT GROWTH EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE.
agement and the assistance of an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Maiz was not only able to stay open, but continue investing in growth and support of their community. With demand for their delicious arepas and empanadas continuing to grow, Niky and Martha decided to open a second location in Brunswick in 2022, as well as participating in five farmers’ markets spread from Scarborough to Boothbay. The expansion into farmers’ markets reflects the efforts Niky and Martha have made to local and fresh ingredients, with locally grown corn ground in-house, and with future plans to grow their own corn for the restaurant.
If maintaining and growing a restaurant by 30% a year in the shadow of the Covid pandemic wasn’t impressive enough, the way that Maiz has stood by its values makes that growth even more impressive. Even in 2020, during possibly the most stressful time to own a restaurant, Maiz partnered with the Portland Public Schools to provide culturally appropriate groceries to students and their families during a time when students couldn’t rely on school lunches. In 2023, Maiz repeated this support when many Maine schools were closed following the tragic shooting in Lewiston and many people were sheltering in place. Beyond these efforts, Maiz also contributed $1 from the sale of each specialty cocktail in 2023 to the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, recognizing the role that the organization has played in assisting many of their employees as they made their way to Maine from around the world.
With a constantly growing platform for the diversity of the new Mainer community, and a delicious introduction to Colombian culture for established Mainers, Maiz has quickly become a staple of the vibrant Portland food scene. In recognition of their rapid growth and incredible support of communities across Southern Maine, the SBA is happy to name Maiz as the Maine and New England Minority Owned Small Business of the Year for 2024.
MAINE MICROENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR: GRAZE, LLC KATE HALL, OWNER
NOMINATED BY NANCY STROJNY, SCORE
2024 Award Winner
HEARING THE PHRASE “Maine made” or “Maine grown” tends to evoke a sense of wholesome, quality products that are good for you. Kate Hall’s business, Graze, lives up to that reputation easily. Originally operating as a microgreen farm that supplied local restaurants and chefs back in 2017, it didn’t take long for opportunities to present themselves. At home, Kate had been juicing her microgreens and wheatgrass to help address symptoms associated with an autoimmune disease, and found that the results were great. With that in mind, she decided to branch out into healthy juices with no more than four ingredients each, in addition to microgreens.
With help from her SCORE mentor, Kate started producing her juices and selling them at farmers’ markets in 2018, and they were such a hit that she had to plan for a brick and mortar location. Within a year Graze had opened a standalone shop in Belfast that was a hit and was able to operate successfully until the disruption of the Covid pandemic forced it to close. Thankfully, Kate wasn’t someone who would let this setback discourage her from pursuing the goals she had set for herself and her business. Shortly after the closure, she began working on a revamp of the infrastructure on her farm so she could continue to produce and bottle juice on site. By 2021 she was able to relaunch Graze, with more of a focus on wholesale accounts rather than individual
sales. Under this model she was able to secure 45 accounts and bring on 4 employees. The growth did bring some added challenges to Graze that needed to be overcome. The Maine Department of Agriculture required the scaled up business to apply further food safety measures, as products were being shipped greater distances and needed to withstand longer times without refrigeration. To face this challenge, Kate and her father worked together with direction from Cornell University, the University of Maine and equipment engineers worldwide to develop ultraviolet transmission methods of pasteurization, which would preserve the nutritional content of her products, while inactivating the DNA replication of harmful pathogens. Now, with this system in place, Graze is poised for further growth, with plans to add a larger walk-in cold storage, increase distribution with Crown O’Maine and hire up to 4 full time and 5 seasonal employees in the next year.
Going from a small microgreen farm to a thriving and innovative juice business, Graze has demonstrated that some of the best ideas can come from the smallest of businesses. Kate has shown herself to be a leader in her industry and in her community, and for these reasons the SBA is pleased to name Graze, LLC as the 2024 MicroEnterprise of the Year for Maine.
2024 Award Winner
MAINE SMALL BUSINESS EXPORTER OF THE YEAR:
BELLE COVE, LLC GRACE PHILLIPS, OWNER
NOMINATED BY ZEYNEP TURK, MAINE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER
IF THERE IS ONE Maine product that is instantly recognizable as ours nationwide and around the world, it’s lobsters, and that makes them integral to Maine’s coastal economy. When Grace Phillips moved to Maine 16 years ago after she received her MBA with a focus on international trade, she saw the potential that the iconic Maine product had in the global market. However, it would not be until 2014 that she took advantage of the opportunity presented by Maine’s seafood industry, launching Belle Cove as an exporter of lobster and other seafood.
With a focus on international markets, Grace took full advantage of programs and opportunities to grow her sales. She was able to use State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) funding to pursue new customers and implement strategies to grow, including a website in both English and Traditional Chinese. Since most of Grace’s custom-
WHEN GRACE PHILLIPS MOVED TO MAINE 16 YEARS AGO AFTER SHE RECEIVED HER MBA WITH A FOCUS ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE, SHE SAW THE POTENTIAL THAT THE ICONIC MAINE PRODUCT HAD IN THE GLOBAL MARKET. HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT BE UNTIL 2014 THAT SHE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED BY MAINE’S SEAFOOD INDUSTRY, LAUNCHING BELLE COVE AS AN EXPORTER OF LOBSTER AND OTHER SEAFOOD.
works with SCORE and Prosperity Maine to mentor other business owners as they start to grow and export.
Because of Grace’s effective use of exporting programs to grow, the consistent growth Belle Cove has seen since its launch in 2014, and Grace’s incredible support of her fellow entrepreneurs in Maine, the SBA is pleased to name Belle Cove, LLC as the 2024 Small Business Exporter of the Year for Maine.
ers are based in Asia, this move proved incredibly useful and helped her connect with a wider customer base. Using Paycheck Protection Program funding in 2020 to make it through the disruption of the Covid pandemic, and an Export Express loan in 2021 to recover and grow her business even more. Currently selling to customers in 6 countries, Grace works with the Maine International Trade Center to attend international trade shows and the Export Import Bank to reduce the risks associated with export financing.
As a successful business owner and exporter, Grace has shared her experience and insight with fellow business owners across the state. In her role with the Women’s Business Center, Grace assists businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in Southern Maine, with a special focus on new Mainers and exporters. Her insight has helped many of these businesses get off the ground and achieve their goals, and for those coming from other countries, helping them realize their version of the American Dream. If the support she provides through the WBC wasn’t enough, Grace also
