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September 21, 2025 2025 Giving Guide

Institute for Family-Owned Business

Catherine Wygant Fossett and Brooke Stewart - Engineer and Conductor

 

2026 Goals

The IFOB thrives on memberships, sponsorships, and volunteers. We aim to grow engagement statewide – not just with family business owners, but also their employees – while maintaining our 95% retention rate.

This year, we launched the Maine Futures Scholarship for graduating seniors from public, private, or homeschool backgrounds pursuing post-secondary education at Maine institutions. With over 40 impressive applicants, we awarded $2,500 to one student and $1,000 to another, renewable for up to four years. We wish we could support them all!

From networking events and peer groups to educational programs, golf instruction, our annual scramble and gala, plus a robust website featuring job boards, member directories, special offers, a portal, and podcasts – IFOB is a one-of-a-kind resource for Maine’s family businesses. We want more families and their teams to discover how we can help them connect, grow, and succeed.

Fundraising events/Opportunities

We host 40-plus events annually with hundreds of attendees – from our “How To” educational series and Chit Chat with Derek & Cat podcast, to the Maine Family Business Awards and trade show, New Year Party, National Family-Owned Business Day, Wine & 9 women’s golf clinics, and our 9- and 18-hole Golf Scramble. Peer groups include CEO Central, Women’s Leadership Forum, Next Gen Exec I, Next Wave, Working Parents, EOS Think Tank, and our newest initiative – the Maine Futures Scholarship.

Businesses and individuals can support IFOB by becoming members, sponsoring programs, donating, and attending events. Our funding comes entirely from those who value the vital role of family-owned businesses. Every dollar raised directly fuels this programming and helps us continue growing our impact and the economy.

Giving Opportunities

Our events foster prime networking, relationship-building, and education among those navigating the unique challenges and opportunities of family-owned businesses.

We offer two membership types:

1. Family Business Members – Two or more family members working in or owning a business with a shared long-term vision.

2. Associate Partners – Non-family service providers (e.g., banks, attorneys, coaches, and sole proprietors).

Members receive benefits like educational programs, directory and job listings, special offer promotions, company news, podcast features, and more.

Sponsorship opportunities include exposure in our Kindred Connector (bi-monthly e-newsletter with 3,500+ readers), awards program, website, and trade show. Our gala draws over 500 attendees and live stream viewers. We welcome creative in-kind contributions, donations, estate giving, and scholarship support – and invite all to nominate family-owned businesses each year.

Volunteer Opportunities

We are always looking for guest speakers who can share their educational wisdom with our audience or be a guest on our video podcast. We welcome ambassadors to usher in our guests at our events including our awards, New Year party, Scramble and Business After Hours. We have 21 board members and a few committees that help us with our mission.

At A Glance

Established: 1994 / Employees: 2 / Annual revenue: $304,991

Top funding sources

44% Sponsorship

31.5% Family Business Membership

15% Associate Partner Membership

9% Program revenue

0.5% Scholarship donations

Contact

PO Box 3364

Portland, ME 04104

(207) 798.2667

www.fambusiness.org

Chit Chat with Derek & Cat on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music

Awards/Accolades

Since 2000, the Institute for Family-Owned Business has awarded 129 Maine family businesses for large and small business, community service, customer service, innovation and technology, first generation, and environmental leadership. On Oct. 8, 2025, we’ll announce seven more winners live! Come join us!

Our Executive Director, Catherine Wygant Fossett, received a 2024 Mainebiz Women to Watch award. 

Mission Statement

We promote, support, and champion the success of family-owned businesses – the backbone of our economy – with education, networking, and other services.

Area served

Statewide with in-person events in Cumberland County and Zoom meetings throughout the rest of Maine. We are affiliated with the Family Business Alliance and share resources with 50 centers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Leadership

Catherine Wygant Fossett
Executive Director

Board Officers

Joe Capozza III, Chair, President, Capozza Floor Covering Center

Dottie Chalmers Cutter, Past Chair, 4th Generation Owner & COO, Chalmers Insurance Group

Deirdre Wadsworth, Vice Chair, President, Hardypond Construction

Jacques Santucci, Treasurer, President, Opus Consulting

Jeffrey Messer, Secretary, President/Owner, Messer Truck and Van

David R. Ciullo, HR Liaison, CEO, Career Management Associates (CMA)

Board Members

Mike Anderson, Broker, Malone Commercial Brokers

Gary Bergeron, Managing Director, The Breakwater Group at Morgan Stanley

Nick DiMatteo, Senior Vice President, Commercial Services Officer, Katahdin Trust

Jessica D’Ottavio, Commercial Credit Manager, TD Bank

Joshua Ellis, Vice President, Clark Insurance A Marsh & McLennan Agency Co.

Shae-Li Fendler, Director, Underwriting Analyst, MEMIC

Jon Levesque, President, The Computer Place, Inc.

Lucie Narukundo, Owner, Moriah Store

Neal Richard, Principal and COO, Richard Brothers Financial Advisors

Katie Rooks, Charitable and Community Relations Manager, M&T Bank

Christopher R. Smith, Partner, Verrill

Linda Varrell, Founder, Broadreach Public Relations

Christopher Wasileski, Independent Real Estate Consultant

Seth Webber, Principal, BerryDunn

Charlie Zachau, Director of Special Projects, Zachau Construction