A Group Photo of Winners at the 25th Annual Awards at Ocean Gateway, Portland Late This Afternoon.  At Far left is James Dowd, President of Portland Development Corporation.

James Dowd, President of the Portland Developmet Corporation at the 25th Annual Awards Celebration at Ocean Gateway.  He is  VP of Finance at Preble Street..

This year’s 25th annual business awards seemed especially festive.  Maybe that’s what a four year pandemic hiatus will do. Or maybe it’s because the recipients of the awards were so deserving  of  recognition for their accomplishments  – or maybe a combination of the two!  The event was hosted by the Portland Development Corporation, James Dowd, President, an all volunteer entity.

Winning the award for Portland Development Corporation Client of the year is the Portland Food Co-op, 290 Congress Street.  In 2011, the Co-op was approved for a loan and grant by the PDC.  This endorsement was instrumental in the Co-ops ability to gain further support and financing.  “We were a rag tag bunch back then,” said John Crane, General Manager of the Co-op at today’s award celebration.  “There are plenty of grocery stores in the area.  But we have a mission.  One is to provide quality benefits for our employees and treat them with respect.  We never thought we’d be at $7 million with 40 staff members today.”  Crane is third from right in the above photograph.

Accepting the Small Business of the Year award was Annie Simpson, CEO of Bangs Island Mussels.  She said that while the focus of the company has been to grow the finest mussels and kelp using only environmentally sustainacble methods,…. Bangs became a better company when it started focusing on its people as well.  The company has received national recognition having been featured in Martha Stewart Living, The New York Times and The Boston Globe, among others.  She quipped that she is looking forward to seeing Bangs Mussels on the Bissel Brothers menu in the near future.  Simpson is the fourth from the left in the above photo.

Mayor Kate Snyder awarded the Business of the Year award to Peter Bissell of Bissell Brothers.  The company was created in November 2011 by brothers Noah and Peter Bissell.  It combined Noah’s homebrewing passion with Peter’s interest and experience in entrepreneurship and marketing.  As Peter pointed out in his acceptance remarks, it was ten years ago that they sold their first keg of The Substance Ale at The Thirsty Pig, (on Exchange Street).  That’s where they had worked during the company’s inception.  That actual ten year anniversary comes on December 7th.  “We believed it was  different than anything else available at the time, in taste, drinking experience, and presentation.  It seemed we at least got that part right, because the beer quickly took off and developed a regional fan base.  Within a few months our tasting room opened, putting us in the hospitality industry and not just beverage manufacturing.”  He added that without a doubt, the most important asset of this company is the staff that has been hired over the years and largely remains with the company today. Peter Bissell is the third from the left in the above photo.

The Economic Development Achievement award was given to the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM) located at Thompson’s Point.  Accepting the award was Julie Butcher Pezzino its Executive Director.  She said that the roots of the Museum “run deep in the history of Portland, tracing back to 1923 when the Theatre side of our organization was founded by a dedicated group of women from the Junior League of Portland.  In 1976, the Children’s Museum was also founded by the Junior League.”  Despite the COVID pandemic, attendance at the Thonmpson’s Point facility has doubled year after year, with over 220,000 visitors in 2022 compared to just over 127,000 in 2021 when the Museum moved to Thompson’s Point.    Before its relocation CMTM’s Free Street location was the tenth-largest visitor attraction in the State of Maine, annually serving over 106,000 visitors from every state in the country and over 30 different nations according to the PDC brochure.  Pezzino is the fourth from the right in the above photo.

Roger Poitras, DHA, and Chief Executive Officer, of Intermed, accepted the Legacy Award on behalf of this physician-owned medical group.  Founded in 1993, it specializes in cardiology, dermatology, Mohs surgery, Obstertrics and Gynecology and Sports Medicine.  Ancillary services are also availale at their Marginal Way location. The practice now serves about 110,000 patients that is over 8% of Maine’s population.  It also has partnerships and affiliations with a wide range of eduational institutions, including but not limited toTufts University School of Medicine.  Mr. Poitras said today:  “We remain steadfast with our mission and humbled by the 110,000 patients that have entrusted their health to our team of physicians, clinicians and support staff.”  He added:  “We extend our gratitude for this award and our ongoing commitment to provide accessible, reliable and affordable patient-centered care to the greater Portland community.”  He is the second from the right in the above photo.

Mr. Dowd wrapped up the 25th Annual Business Awards by asking those attending the celebration at Ocean Gateway to stay or become “invested in our community.”  Mr. Dowd gave this blogger a copy of his remarks, but this blogger misplaced them before arriving at her destination on Munjoy Hill!

For more background information on the event and Portland Food Co-op specifically, please visit post herein dated November 13, 2023.