SCORE Maine names 2021 business award winners
File photo / Fred Field
Corinne Watson, owner and co-founder of Tiny Homes of Maine in Houlton, is among 11 SCORE Maine Business Award winners for 2021.
A Houlton-based maker of tiny homes and a veteran-owned craft brewery in Freeport are among this year's SCORE Maine Business Award winners, the organization announced Thursday afternoon.
A luncheon that had been scheduled in South Portland for next week was cancelled because of COVID safety concerns, so winners will accept their awards from their SCORE mentors.
A social media campaign is also planned for next week to coincide with the National Small Business Week, which includes a three-day virtual summit around the theme "Getting Back on Track: Resources to Build Back Better."
Nancy Strojny, a long-time SCORE mentor and assistant director of SCORE Maine, said the awards "are a testament to the innovation, diligence and dedication of small business's owners."
She added that the 2021 winners persevered through the pandemic with "grit, diligence and hard work," and told Mainebiz that normally 140 people attend the annual luncheon. The awards were sponsored by Maine Technology Institute, whom Strojny thanked for its continued support.
The successful manufacturing business award went to Tiny Homes of Maine founder Corinne Watson, a 2020 Mainebiz Next list honoree, while Brad and Nancy Nadeau of Stars & Stripes Brewing in Freeport were honored as in the veteran-owned business category.
Josh Kim and Matteo Cugno were recognized with the MTI SaaS Innovation Award for the Cubby, a Waterville-based online marketplace for art created by college students. The Cubby also took home Maine Center for Entrepreneurs' Top Gun Showcase award in April, along with $25,000 in prize money.
Kim told Mainebiz in July that the Cubby aims to scale up by partnering with social media influencers on TikTok and Instagram; using public relations to build wider name recognition; and looking at partnerships with other companies and brands.
Full list of winners
The full list of SCORE Maine 2021 Business Award winners is as follows.
- MTI SaaS Innovation Award: Josh Kim and Matteo Cugno, the Cubby
- Encore Entrepreneur: Steve Quatrucci, founder of Monte's Fine Foods, Portland
- Nonprofit: Kristen Cappy, executive director of I'm Your Neighbor Books, Portland
- Woman-Owned Business: Rebecca Mangin, founder of Hookmore Leaders, Winthrop
- Green Small Business: Ben and Emily Davis, OpBOX, Nobleboro (Mainebiz Next List honorees in 2018)
- Young Entrepreneur: Janene Oleaga, founder of Oleaga Law LLC, Portland
- Innovative Manufacturing Business: Corinne Watson, Tiny Homes of Maine, Houlton
- Veteran Owned Business: Brad and Nancy Nadeau, Stars & Stripes Brewing, Freeport
- Agriculture: Samantha and Matt Manson, Blackie's Farm, Auburn
- Home-Based Business: Christine Goodrich, The Last Cow, Bowdoinham
- Hospitality Business: Kitty and Duncan Winship, Papoose Pond Family Campground, Waterford
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