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Join the Institute for Family-Owned Business (IFOB) for the 2021 Maine Family Business Awards (hybrid in-person and remote option following the current CDC guidelines) and the largest fundraiser of the year.
Hosted by Erin Ovalle, founder of Maine Life Media. Now in its 21st year of recognizing family businesses with the awards, we present them in partnership with MEMIC. Since its inception, 97 businesses have been recognized for various categories of excellence.
One comment, may best capture the essence of the awards, and in many ways describes the Institute: “While applying for the awards, we discovered a lot about ourselves…and that alone made the effort worthwhile.”
The gala attracts family businesses large and small with an audience of over 500 (hybrid). The Maine Family Business Awards is a celebration that pays more than just recognition; it serves as a vehicle for networking and opening up all shades of possibilities for families seeking to grow their business.
Our 2021 Guest Speaker
Fred Forsley, founder, Shipyard Brewing Co.
Fred Forsley is a lifelong entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Shipyard Brewing Company, a national craft beer pioneer. He has started and been involved in many businesses, including real estate development, recycling, health care, hotels, direct response marketing and food and beverage companies. Shipyard and many of Fred’s other companies are family-owned businesses.
Our NEW 2021 Host!
Erin Ovalle, founder, Maine Life Media
Erin Ovalle is the founder of Maine Life Media and creator of MaineLife, This is Maine on NESN, Places and Spaces, Cheers from Maine and Dock & Dine TV Shows. Erin began her entrepreneurial journey after being a news broadcaster for 11 years covering communities in Illinois, Michigan, Florida and now Maine. Erin saw an opportunity to create a positive outlet during a time of turmoil in the traditional media. She seeks to uncover and promote the many hard-working people and special places in the state she is now proud to call home.
Our 2021 BerryDunn Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Harry Fraser, The H.G. Fraser Group
Harry was instrumental in the transition for the IFOB from being a part of the University of Southern Maine to becoming a separate nonprofit 501(c)(3). Harry, along with many others made giant contributions of labor and love, and oversaw the growth and development of the Institute. He has a passion for family-owned businesses and is a student of ESOP’S. He sits on the Board of Directors for a number of employee-owned and family-owned businesses. He is the past chair of IFOB and is currently on our Advisory Board.
He is President of The H.G. Fraser Group, LLC, a management consulting firm specializing in helping businesses move to the next level. Previously Harry held the positions of: CEO of Alcom, LLC, a premier trailer manufacturer headquartered in Winslow, ME; CEO of Johnny’s Selected Seeds, a 100% employee-owned company headquartered in Maine; CEO for Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers of Auburn, ME; Manufacturing Plant Manager of an $800M business segment of Digital Equipment Corporation in Augusta, ME.
NEW! National Service Award
Puritan Medical Products, Co.
For the IFOB's first National Service Award we recognize Puritan Medical Products CO. for the Herculean effort to meet the needs of Mainers, the U.S. and the World in this fight against COVID-19!
Puritan Medical Products Co., LLC, is a 102 year-old, family-owned American company known worldwide as the trusted manufacturer of single-use products for controlled environments, diagnostics, and specimen collection, environmental, forensics, and genetics, medical, and microbiology media industries.
Named Inc. Magazine’s “Company of the Year” in 2020, Puritan is North America’s largest manufacturer of COVID-19 testing swabs. As Bloomberg put it in a recent story, “The world’s future depends, at least in part, on Puritan.” Puritan, which is a family-owned business, is based in Guilford.
The awards celebrate the accomplishments of small and large businesses that exemplify the following criteria:
· Business success
· Positive business and family linkages
· Contributions to the community and industry
· Family participation
· Work environment
· Communication
· Innovative business practices or strategies
Awards are presented in seven categories and will be announced LIVE at the gala:
· Renys Large Business Award (25 or more employees)
· Chalmers Insurance Group Customer Service Award
· Holiday Inn By The Bay First Generation Award
· People’s United Bank Innovation & Technology Award
· Shep Lee Community Service Award
· Maddy Corson Small Business Award (fewer than 25 employees)
· Cumberland Crossing by OceanView Environmental Leadership Award
Click here to see a list of the 24 finalists and here for the semi-finalists. We will also recognize Harry Fraser for the BerryDunn Lifetime Achievement Award and Puritan Medical Products for the National Service Award.
Time Frame:
In-person: 5-6 p.m. Cocktail Reception / 6-8 p.m. Dinner and Show
Live-stream: 6ish - 8 p.m. Show (more details to follow)
We’ve put in the following protocols for the in-person event.
1. Temperature Checks
We will have temperature checks for all people coming to the event. People with elevated temperatures will not be allowed to attend. We will also ask people who have any symptoms of Covid-19 not to attend.
2. Masks
Masks are required for all attendees, except when eating, drinking, or speaking on stage. Masks will be available.
3. Air Filtration System
Holiday In by the Bay has upgraded to a hospital grade air filtration system.
4. Sanitizer
Stations & sanitizers at tables.
5. Optional Reduced Seating at Tables
Attendees will have the option of sitting at a table of 5 – 6 people instead of a table of 10. People will also have the option of sitting at a table of 10 with their own group. We will coordinate this with the attendees.
6. Tables Spread Further Apart
Dining tables will be spread further apart.
COVID-19 DISCLAIMER: Participation in IFOB events, including IFOB’s Maine Family Business Awards (MFBA), may expose you to COVID-19. Your decision to attend the event is made knowingly and voluntarily by you with full knowledge of this risk. Your participation or attendance at the event constitutes a waiver and release of liability on all parts of IFOB with respect to exposure of COVID-19. By participating in the event, you agree to follow current CDC and local health guidelines for the duration of the event, including the use of face masks. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the event. If you disagree with any of the above statements, we kindly request you reconsider your participation.
For tickets click on the "Register" button to the top left or contact the Institute office at 207.798.2667.
*We do not issue printed tickets. Please check in at the registration desk upon arrival to receive your name tag(s).
Attendees will receive a discounted rate for a single or double room at the Holiday Inn By The Bay. To receive that rate, you should mention that you are attending the IFOB event.
