The Day That Changed Everything

After sharing the stories of more than 60 days that changed everything for Maine business and nonprofit leaders, podcast interviewers Andrea Tetzlaff and Renee Cordes wrap up the season – and the series – by reflecting on some lessons and insights that resonated most with them. All episodes are archived on the Mainebiz website and various platforms.

Ben Barringer had worked in construction and insurance for years when he was offered an opportunity as a sales rep with Rainbow International- a fire, water, and smoke remediation company. After seeing initial success, Ben decided to pursue purchasing the Maine franchise of Rainbow and became a business owner- at 28 years old. Hear from Ben about what it was like to take on that responsibility at a young age and how that sometimes worked in his favor, and sometimes against him

Lucas Myers worked in the seafood industry for years before joining forces with two partners to launch SoPo Seafood in March 2020 as a wholesale business. When COVID shut everything down, the company pivoted to online retail sales while putting plans for a bricks-and-mortar market on the back burner until the perfect spot became available, in South Portland's Knightville neighborhood. Lucas shares the backstory of how the business started and quickly shifted gears, and how it has evolved.

When the Supreme Court ruled that NCAA athletes could get paid for their name, image and likeness, Greg Glynn saw an opportunity to lend his expertise and start a sports marketing company. Greg talks about how preparing young athletes to think about their personal brand sets them up for business success, how mental health factors in, and the challenges he's faced launching a new business venture in an evolving legal landscape. 

Katie Krall grew up with baseball and got turned on to the sport's analytical side by Michael Lewis's book “Moneyball.” Today, she's using her analytical skills as the development coach for the Portland Sea Dogs, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Katie talks about how she got into coaching, what she learned during her time working at Google and breaking baseball's glass ceiling as the Sea Dogs' first female development coach.

Diane Kibbin has spent her career in health care. She had been in the director of operations role for three months in 2020 when OceanView at Falmouth, a senior residential living facility, experienced one of the first COVID outbreaks in Maine. Diane had to work quickly with all of her teams to ensure they were communicating with the Maine CDC, implementing recommendations, and continuing to keep their at-risk population safe. Diane shares what it was like to face the unknown without a manual, how she had faith in her team to execute their plan, and what she learned from this highly unusual experience

Brothers Van and Sumit Sharma grew up in Portland and in the Indian restaurant business. In 2020 after returning to Maine from England and Australia, they helped out at Bombay Mahal, their parents' restaurant in Brunswick. It was while working there they brewed up an idea for an Indian beer brand to complement the curry dishes they grew up with – and joined forces with craft-beer guru Alan Pugsley to launch Rupee Beer in October 2021.

Donato Tramuto faced many challenges early in life including hearing loss, bullying, and the loss of a family member. As a serial entrepreneur, he traveled all over the US. After friends were in town in September of 2001, he missed a flight that they were all supposed to be on- United flight 175 ended up being hijacked and flown into the 2nd World Trade Center.  Donato is very candid about how devastating losing his friends was and how he turned that sorrow into a foundation that supports young people who have overcome trying circumstances.

Tim Dentry, the son of a nurse and grandson of a country doctor, has spent much of his career overseas focusing on improving health care in places including Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. An unexpected opportunity led the Maryland native back to the U.S. in late 2016 to take a job with Northern Light Health, first as chief operating officer and then as president and CEO since April 2020.

Eileen Horner bought onesixtyfive, the former Brunswick Inn, in 2009, when she and her husband moved to Maine from West Virginia. After making it through a tough 2020 with Covid, Eileen had actually put The Brunswick Inn up for sale and was planning on moving on in her career.  Then in March of 2021, there was a devastating fire that destroyed much of the main building of the inn- Eileen had to make some hard choices and decide if she was going to keep the property, and if so, what rebuilding would look like. Today I'm talking with Eileen about what those decisions were like for her and how she was able to build the inn of her dreams.

Michael Weaver grew up in Alaska before joining the military for a career that would eventually bring him to Maine where he met his wife, Nichole, who grew up in western Maine.  Their careers took them to Washington, D.C.,, and to curb homesickness they would watch television that reminded them of home, such as “Alaska: The Last Frontier.” The show inspired them to start a bison farm in the foothills of western Maine and learn all about the challenges and rewards of raising bison on their family farm.

Trevor Maxwell had been telling stories for years, first as a journalist and later through his PR company, Maxwell Media. When Trevor was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer, he was battling severe depression. He looked for support, only to realize people –  men specifically– struggled in asking for help or sharing their needs. Trevor talks with us today about starting Man Up to Cancer to show that seeking support and asking for help is the ‘tough' or ‘manly' thing to do. He'll also talk about how he's setting Man Up to Cancer up for long-term success and why the wolf-pack mentality is so important to the company.

Martin Beavers is a self-taught cook who started a food business out of his home before joining Portland's Fork Food Lab. Later when a space opened up at the Maine Mall Food Court in South Portland, he jumped at the chance to stake a claim. The New York City native shares the story of Soul Food Paradise's early success and his unexpected route to Maine's biggest shopping mall. 

After a career in risk management, Brian Elowe switched gears when he became CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine in March 2020. Brian talks about the path that led him to move to Maine and his transition to the nonprofit world, and what it was like to succeed a longtime leader at the start of the pandemic

The terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, forever changed the world – in a matter of minutes. The horrific series of events began in places including Portland International Jetport, where two men departed for Boston before joining others and hijacking American Airlines Flight 11. Paul Bradbury, Airport Director of the Jetport, talks about that day, and what he and his team did and felt as the tragedy unfolded.

In December 2020 when Ryan Fecteau was elected Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, the Democrat was both the youngest person in that role in the United States and the first openly gay Speaker of the Maine House. The 29-year-old revisits some of his life's milestones and his path into politics

When Chase Morrill, Ryan Eldridge and the rest of their carpentry crew were first approached about doing a cabin-makeover reality-TV show, they weren't sure what to expect. Several seasons later, the duo takes us behind the scenes of how “Maine Cabin Masters” started and what it's been like to become famous.

Reconnecting with her Indian roots turned Cherie Scott into an entrepreneur who started a food blog, podcast and a line of simmer sauces called Mumbai to Maine sold online and at specialty stores throughout Maine. The Boothbay resident talks about her multicultural background and the story behind Maine's first Indian-inspired culinary brand.

More than a decade ago just after Amanda Rand had given birth to her third child, an unexpected health scare shook her world. Amanda takes us back to the day she had a stroke and how that affected her life and approach to business leadership at Portland wealth management firm Spinnaker Trust, as well as her involvement with the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women initiative.

Tyler Ferguson was a laborer with PM Construction when he realized there might be an opportunity for the company to expand into firestopping. When Tyler got a meeting with the company's CEO to pitch his idea, he came prepared with research and examples of how the industry was lacking. Tyler talks with us about that pitch, the CEO who gave him a chance, and how he grew his idea into a new company.

Patrick Breeding was a biomedical engineering student at the University of Maine when he discovered something unique with his co-founder Amber Boutiette, special proteins called glycoproteins that are found in lobsters. Patrick speaks to Mainebiz about a defining moment that inspired him to launch Marin Skincare, and help make a significant difference in people's lives.

Saddleback Mountain is a popular ski resort in Maine, and is vital to the economy of the Rangeley region.  When the resort closed in 2015, it was devastating to both skiers who loved the glade friendly mountain and to the region that relied on the resort. After years of will they/wont they, the mountain secured investment and reopened with Andy Shepard at the helm.  Andy talks to Mainebiz about the challenges of reopening a resort that had been closed for 5 years, the major investments that had to be made, and what it meant to the Rangeley region to have their mountain back.

Kim Block was a successful journalist- she worked for over three decades with WGME 13 News in Portland bringing stories to our homes every night. In January of 2019, Kim slipped on a patch of ice resulting in a traumatic brain injury. After a year of trying to “get better,” Kim realized that she was going to have to walk away from the career she loved. Kim talks with us about coming to terms with walking away from the newsroom, her continued recovery, and how she stays involved with the stories that made her a part of the Maine community for so many years.

Scott Gillespie is a fitness industry veteran and owner of Saco Sport & Fitness that he opened in 1983. Running the club has had its challenges, starting with a fire early on that destroyed the facility he then rebuilt from scratch. Fast forward to 2020, when the pandemic forced a business-model rethink in one of the hardest-hit industries during COVID. Hear from Scott how Saco Sport & Fitness adapted with virtual classes and new outdoor equipment.

After Bill Benson left the U.S. Army to start a new life in Maine with his family, there were many changes to navigate — including the ups and downs of running a small business with his wife before he joined Portland-based nonprofit Boots2Roots as program director. Bill, who became the group's executive director in early 2020, talks about his transition to civilian life and how Boots2Roots helps returning military members hit the ground running in Maine.

Mainebiz podcast interviewers Alison Nason, Renee Cordes and Andrea Tetzlaff reflect on what they learned from business and nonprofit leaders this year. Some common themes include: the human side of leadership; planning, risk and perseverance; and strategic approaches to business.  

Diane Atwood was a health reporter in television news for years- and found her passion in telling people's stories. She started blogging and podcasting which allowed her to continue bringing important stories to her followers, however when Diane attended a conference in 2018 on loneliness and aging in rural America her focus shifted to telling the stories of older Mainers- and learned some surprising lessons along the way. Andrea Tetzlaff talks with Diane about why that conference had such an impact on her, and why it is so important to document these stories.

When Amy VanHaren was a new mom with a full-time job, breastfeeding posed challenges from finding places to pump while travelling, to packaging and sending breast milk home. During one trip, an emotional call with her sister sparked a thought about providing support to other breastfeeding parents. Amy reflects on the lightbulb moment that led her to launch an app called pumpspotting, and how her Kittery-based startup is evolving.

United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan when he was critically injured by a roadside IED. He is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries. As he worked towards recovery, Travis and his wife Kelsey started the Travis Mills Foundation to send care packages overseas. Travis talks with Andrea Tetzlaff about his recovery, what the foundation turned into, and how he lives by his motto, “‘Never give up, never quit.”

Kay Aikin and the late Caryl Johnson, founders of a startup that designs intelligent technology for electrical grids, were romantic and business partners until Caryl's death from cancer in November 2019. Kay talks about how she carried on after her loss and stepped down as CEO for another role, the book she's writing in tribute to Caryl, and where she sees the company and her professional future longer-term.

Kai Adams was in Colorado in school for geology and working at a brewery when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Kai returned to Maine for post-treatment rest, which eventually resulted in his meeting future business partners Tim Haines and Brad Monarch — thus Sebago Brewing was born. Kai talks about how Sebago Brewing came about, how he feels about Maine's craft boom, and how investing in Maine is at the heart of what Sebago is all about.

ShipRight Solutions started as an order fulfillment company for direct marketing organizations. When it partnered with Wayfair in 2017, the business grew exponentially, and owners Drew Graham and Todd Flaherty had to scale the business quickly and learn from a few bumps along the way.

When Carolyn Delaney launched Journey magazine in March 2019 to amplify hope for Mainers in recovery from addiction, it also marked a new chapter for her after a career in IT consulting—and her own sobriety journey that began on Feb. 12, 1993. Carolyn shares how she started a publication that aims to change the conversation around addiction and how it is evolving.

When Nisha Dearborn moved to Maine with her family, she left the world of big consumer brands to start a niche skin-care company called Fresh Chemistry. After an unexpected opportunity to showcase the products on the QVC home-shopping channel, viewers responded in a big way, and sales of Fresh Chemistry products took off. Hear from Nisha about how her TV appearance influenced her startup journey.

Erin Flett started her design company in her basement before moving into an old textile mill in Biddeford and then her current location in Gorham.  Erin's profile was raised when she garnered the attention of high profile brands like L.L. Bean and Anthropologie who wanted to partner with her and when she won the highly coveted Greenlight Maine competition. Hear from Erin about how those high profile partnerships affected her business.

In early 2021 at the start of the vaccine rollout, the property development team at The Downs in Scarborough stepped up to transform a former harness-racing grandstand into a high-volume vaccination clinic for MaineHealth. They accomplished that in under three weeks amid ongoing construction at The Downs, a mixed-use development spread out over 525 acres. Hear business partners and childhood friends Bill Risbara and Peter Michaud talk with Mainebiz writer Renee Cordes about what it took to build a clinic quickly to get Mainers vaccinated. See the time-lapse video of the grandstand transformation HERE

Amy Bouchard had been making whoopie pies since childhood when she decided to try selling them.  With no business experience and armed with the local phone book, she started making the rounds to see who would be interested in buying her sweet treats.  Within a few years Amy was getting some pretty impressive national attention including coverage by the Oprah Show, Good Morning America, and Associated Press.  Mainebiz Director of Sales Andrea Tetzlaff talks with Wicked Whoopie Owner Amy Bouchard about what she learned from all of this national attention and how saying no to opportunity isn't always bad.

When a catastrophic bicycle accident rendered IDEXX CEO Jonathan Ayers quadriplegic, he was forced to leave the company he led for 17 years. Devoting himself to wild-cat conservation has given the former business leader new purpose in life, both through a foundation he and his wife established before his accident and a New York-based nonprofit called Panthera. Ayers talks to Mainebiz writer Renee Cordes about what motivates his philanthropy and how it's also therapy for the self-proclaimed “cat guy.”

The Holy Donut is a Portland-based maker and seller of fresh Maine potato donuts at its own retail shops. When it partnered with Hannaford Supermarkets during the pandemic it had to quickly shift gears and craft a distribution system for grocery-store shelves without sacrificing product quality. Hear co-owner and CEO Jeff Buckwalter talk to Mainebiz journalist Renee Cordes about how the company navigated these challenges to find a winning recipe with Hannaford.

As the landscape of higher education was shifting, Unity College President Melik Peter Khoury had planned to move the school to a hybrid model of in-person and remote classes. But the pandemic changed everything and put those plans into overdrive. What's more, Unity had to deal with an FBI investigation of an employee who later was convicted of embezzlement. Hear Dr. Khoury talk about how he and his team brought Unity College through these days that changed everything.

Brian Corcoran and his team at Shamrock Sports & Entertainment worked hard to bring the PGA Korn Ferry Tour to Maine in the summer of 2020.  When it became clear that large scale events like this weren't going to happen in 2020, everything changed.  Hear how Brian and his team felt about cancelling the 2020 event, and what they've done in preparation of the rescheduled 2021 Live + Work in Maine Open to ensure it is successful and has a positive economic impact in Maine.

Emma Tiedemann moved from Lexington to Maine to become the next voice of the Portland Sea Dogs.  On her first day of work, she was sent home to work remotely amid COVID-19 and ended up having her first season in Portland cancelled.  Hear how she connected with her new co-workers and continued to stay engaged with the fan base- without having met any of them!

What is it like to leave an established career at an international investment bank to start an independent wealth management firm?  Mainebiz Senior Writer interviews Great Diamond Partners Founding Partner & CEO Steve Tenney.

How does the purchase of a vacant diner create an unexpected career for a serial entrepreneur?  Mainebiz Senior Writer Maureen Milliken talks with Farmington Diner owner Rachel Jackson

How does a winning team that has just been acquired by a national franchise face shutting down its entire season?  Mainebiz Publisher Donna Brassard talks with  Maine Red Claws President Dajuan Eubanks.  

How do you operate a working waterfront when the breakwater collapses in the middle of the night?  Mainebiz Publisher Donna Brassard talks with Eastport Port Authority Executive Director Chris Gardner.   See the video referenced in the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdR9AivM7Xk

How did a business operations expert make her way back to Maine to lead one of the state's largest craft brewers? Mainebiz Senior Writer Renee Cordes talks with Baxter Brewing President Jenn Lever.  

How starting a company during COVID required one startup to shift the entire business plan.  Mainebiz Senior Writer Renee Cordes talks with Actual Foods Founder Steffy Amondi.

What was it like to be the first woman to step into the CEO role of a 115 year old law firm?  Mainebiz Publisher Donna Brassard talks with Bernstein Shur CEO Joan Fortin.

How does a non-family member take the reins of a sixth generation family-owned business? Senior Writer Renee Cordes talks with Hussey Seating President and CEO Gary Merrill.

How did a niche textile manufacturer quickly shift from making wallets to protective face shields to help their community? Mainebiz Senior Writer Renee Cordes talks with Flowfold CEO and Co-founder Devin McNeill