'Grateful for our neighbors': This Thanksgiving, here’s what Maine business leaders cherish most

Photo / Adobe Stock Mainebiz checked in with more than a dozen business and nonprofit leaders to find out what they're most thankful for this year.

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By Renee Cordes

With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, Mainebiz checked in with more than a dozen business and nonprofit leaders across the state to ask what they are most grateful for this year.

Though there were some common themes, their answers were as varied as Chef Snoopy’s whimsical dishes in “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” — a 1973 animated special whose message of friendship and generosity still rings true today.

File photo

Tae Chong

“As a board member of Good Shepherd Food Bank and executive director of Furniture Friends, I am grateful for our neighbors,” said Tae Chong.

“Mainers are incredibly generous and caring,” the nonprofit leader continued. “I see it in the thousands of volunteers and donors who give their time and resources to help the most vulnerable among us, whether it is with a food bank or furniture bank — the generosity is overwhelming. What I am more grateful for is that so many Mainers support one another without any fanfare or expect anything in return. We are lucky to call Maine home and blessed to have a great community we call the state of Maine.”

Here’s a cornucopia of reflections from other movers and shakers on the eve of the annual holiday devoted to gratitude.

Volunteers and community

File Photo / Tim Greenway

Michelle Anderson

Michelle Anderson, president and CEO, Junior Achievement of Maine: "As I reflect on this year, I’m deeply grateful for the incredible community of volunteers and partners who empower Maine’s young people with the skills and confidence to shape their futures. Their care and commitment remind me every day that collaboration and mentorship can change lives and open doors to possibilities they never imagined."

Gretchen Johnson, executive director, Center for Grieving Children: “I am profoundly grateful to be surrounded every day by people who lead with their hearts — staff, board and volunteers — who bring their full selves and create an environment of hope, compassion and belonging.”

File photo / Tim Greenway

Krystal Williams

Krystal Williams, founder of the Alpha Legal Foundation: “With so many in need, I’m grateful that Alpha Legal Foundation launched its AmeriCorps Legal Access Navigator program, which places trained non-lawyers in communities to help Mainers complete court and administrative forms, provide essential legal education and connect those who can’t afford attorneys with referrals for civil legal matters — an innovative, community-based model we’re expanding statewide and one that’s increasingly vital as Maine’s legal landscape continues to shift.”

Farmers and food

Heather Kerner, founder and CEO of the Good Crust, Canaan: “From seed to slice, farm to schools, we are grateful to the people that help to grow this healthy grain revival in Maine.”

Amber Lambke, co-founder and CEO, Maine Grains, Skowhegan: “I am grateful for the power of good food, grown close to home, to being people together to share love and laughter at the holidays.”

FILE PHOTO / TIM GREENWAY

Gina Mannarino

Gina Mannarino, CEO of Green Geans LLC: "I’m grateful for the trust farmers place in me. I know how much work, care and pride goes into growing and nurturing produce and having them hand it over for me to process is truly an honor. That relationship, that sense of acceptance, means so much to me and keeps me grounded in why this work matters.”

Business founders and mentors

Mark Ozimek, founder and principal, Ozimek Growth LLC, who provides marketing advice to emerging brands: “Thankful for the founders, mentors and collaborators who make this work meaningful and keep me learning."

Nancy Strojny, SCORE district director for Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont: “I am thankful for the generous commitment and wisdom of every mentor who dedicates their time to lift up aspiring entrepreneurs. This collective spirit of service embodies the best of SCORE, driving meaningful economic impact in Maine.”

Economic development and workforce

Keith Luke, economic development director, city of Augusta: “I’m thankful that in Augusta, ‘economic development’ isn’t just a plan on paper - it looks like new homes, new retailers and projects like Capitol Heights Plaza reshaping Maine’s capital city.”

File Photo / Jim Neuger

John Lewis

John Lewis, executive director, Manufacturers Association of Maine: “I’m grateful for those who proudly choose manufacturing as their career, pushing back against outdated perceptions and proving the value of skilled work.”

The broader business community

Meredith Strang Burgess, CEO of Burgess Advertising & Marketing: “Thankful for living in Maine, where business ethics and relationships still matter, and that I get to inspire and develop great creative with and for amazing people and businesses every day.”

Quincy Hentzel, president and CEO, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce: “This Thanksgiving, I am deeply grateful for our business community. Time and again, they show remarkable resilience, stepping up when it matters most, supporting their employees, lifting each other up and helping our neighbors in need. Their commitment to this region’s well-being is humbling and it’s an honor to work alongside leaders who care so deeply about the place we call home.”

Here at Mainebiz, we are grateful for the opportunity to tell the stories that matter and to all our subscribers for reading them. Happy Thanksgiving to all — and, like Snoopy and his Peanuts pals, be sure to enjoy some jelly beans, popcorn, pretzels and toast.

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