Articles

Jim Gerritsen | Former Owner of Wood Prairie Family Farm

As the owner of Wood Prairie Family Farm in Bridgewater for the past 40 years, Jim Gerritsen dedicated his life to organic farming and the politics that go along with it. His life’s work has been to realign our culture and the food it consumes by

David T. Flanagan | Director at the Harold Alfond Foundation, Director at MaineGeneral Medical Center, Director at Dead River, Inc., former President of the University of Southern Maine, former CEO of Central Maine Power Company & Kaye Flanagan | Chair of the Steering Committee for the Deborah Morton Society of the University of New England

David and Kaye Flanagan note that while civic engagement is declining around the country, Maine has maintained a strong sense of civic duty. Exemplifying the local work ethic, the Flanagans have made it their mission to contribute to the greater good. David has led several organizations that have

Ann Lee Hussey | Adviser to Rotary International Polioplus Committee, Rotary’s Representative on the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s Transition Management Group

Over her lifetime, Ann Lee Hussey has immunized tens of thousands of children all over the world against the poliovirus. In 1955 at the age of 17 months, Hussey contracted the poliovirus while growing up in South Berwick. During her childhood, a woman who read about her

Jess Knox | Director at Maine Accelerates Growth Initiative, Founder of Maine Startup and Create Week, and Cofounder and President of Venture Hall

Jess Knox came up with the idea for Maine Startup and Create Week (MSCW) in 2012, two years before he would eventually kick off the organization and event series. “Maine is a world-class place with all the raw materials to drive a high-impact startup movement, but we need

Andrea L. Irwin | Executive Director of Mabel Wadsworth Center

As executive director of Mabel Wadsworth Center, a feminist healthcare provider in Bangor, Andrea Irwin works to normalize abortion within the context of reproductive healthcare. Irwin has driven the center toward more inclusive policies that meet community needs; for example, the healthcare provider now treats men as well

David Edson | President and CEO of Sewall

David Edson began his career at Sewall in 1974 as a forest technician, later becoming executive vice president and eventually president and CEO. The engineering and forestry consulting company has served Maine clients since 1880 and now serves clients worldwide. In Maine, Sewall contributed to the establishment of

David Herring | Executive Director at Wolfe’s Neck Farm Foundation

Since 2012, David Herring has led the Wolfe’s Neck Farm Foundation and the organization’s 626-acre saltwater farm and educational resource center in Freeport. Wolfe’s Neck offers educational programs for children and families, including summer camps and a teen agriculture program through which teenagers can learn about sustainable farming while

Beth Shissler | President and COO at Sea Bags

Beth Shissler envisions her company, Sea Bags, as part of a revolution to bring fashion production back to Maine, which has a long history of cutting and sewing. Constructed from recycled sails, the nautical carryalls are designed and sewn at Custom House Wharf in Portland.