For 60 years, JSM has flourished in a fast-paced industry. One of New England's largest sheet-fed printing operations, JSM’s goals of top customer service, technological innovation, and superior quality of product remain paramount. Owner Rick Tardiff keeps the family-owned business on the cutting edge of technology and plans to grow it soon from $31 million to $40 million in sales. With headquarters in Augusta and offices in Portland, Boston, Hartford and NYC, JSM does two-thirds of its business for clients outside Maine; employs 175 workers, uses wind-powered electricity, recycles 140 tons of waste paper a month. In 2011 JSM installed a first-in-the-world machine that prints 8-colors simultaneously on both sides of a 28” by 40” sheet – in one-quarter of a second!

At age 15 this bright Waterville native’s scientific white paper won him a visit to NASA’s Apollo 11 moon landing program to witness the launch. As a high school senior he was awarded a 4-year USAF Pilot Scholarship to attend Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. After years of creative genius and passionate hard work, Scott’s firm, now headquartered in Augusta, is the worldwide leader in the design, development and manufacture of highly sophisticated drive-by-wire vehicle controls, serving the needs of severely handicapped drivers. This successful inventor– under agreement with Boeing and other defense contractors – plans to adapt thousands of remote-controlled military vehicles for safety in war zones… and jobs in Maine.

For Peter it’s all about TEAM EJP. For 40 years his team concept and his team reality built this Gardiner-headquartered multi-state (9), multi-company (7) pipeline organization, now employing 300 team members. With 28 stores in six New England states, New York, Ohio and Indiana, technology-advanced EJP has mastered customer service and client satisfaction. Peter has long been one of the Kennebec Valley’s staunchest civic leaders and benefactors. He’s pleased with EJP’s leadership in the United Ways’ Day of Caring programs and in so many charities supporting kids. Until its collapse in 2011, Peter’s 40-year-old Ice Arena provided opportunity for area youth. In 2012 a new $5 million comprehensive arena rose from the rubble – thanks to Peter Prescott!

In 1986 Andy and his wife Sheree convinced a local bank to help mortgage an old Cobbossee Lake lodging property where they moved with their four children. With the facility being barely serviceable Andy asked Sheree “What do you know about motels?” Since then they’ve built Lakeside into a very successful “Home away from Home” for fishermen, families, boaters, legislators and others. Their warm personal touch prompts customers to think of the waterfront motel as “Andy and Sheree’s place.” Supporters of Special Olympics, they held their 23rd annual bass tournament last year and raised over $16,000 for Special Olympics Maine.

From Vermont farm boy to owner of one of Maine’s largest auto dealerships, Randy Hutchins learned hard work early. Honing skills of mechanics, leadership and entrepreneurship in high school, he attended USM then advanced steadily in the auto business, joining O’Connor in1992 and buying the dealership in 2005 at age 37. Despite the ‘08 recession, Randy stared down giant GM to permit him to efficiently combine four franchises under one roof (first in New England), and with his wife, Teresa, he built a state-of-the-art, 700-vehicle Capital showroom/complex in 2012. With two stores in Augusta and one in Portland, O’Connor sells and services five light franchises and five medium to heavy duty franchises plus buses – employing a workforce of 250 jobs.

At age 11, atop a milk crate, Laura Benedict served her first customer at her brother's restaurant. At 19, she purchased the Red Barn and has been hard at work ever since. In 2009, Laura began using Facebook to promote her restaurant with “snow-day trivia” and by sharing personal stories her customers could relate to. The Red Barn Facebook fans doubled every year, in turn increasing business. In late 2010, despite still suffering the economic downturn, Laura decided to show her appreciation to the community for its support by increasing her charitable giving efforts. Since then, she and The Red Barn have raised $400,000 for local community members and charitable causes, demonstrating that “it is always possible to give back.”

Providing caring support for survivors of domestic violence in Kennebec and Somerset counties is a round-the-clock challenge, says 7-year FVP Executive Director Deborah Shepherd, speaking of the work of 25 staff members plus 50 volunteers. Based in Augusta, FVP handles 4,000 calls a year, nearly 3,000 face to face visits with victims at its three outreach offices, and provides 5,000 bed nights of safety at its shelters. Shepherd stresses the need for abuse prevention programs pre-K through 12, as well as community awareness. FVP also works with businesses to help develop domestic violence workplace policies. Emergency preparedness is key for FVP when that next call could mean saving a life!

Augusta Trail Blazer! “Giveback” is a way of life for this hard-working attorney who rose to the top ranks of Maine’s largest law firm in Portland before shifting full attention to his home city in 2000. Mike committed his leadership and fundraising skills and his devotion to youth in helping build the new KV YMCA in 2006. In 2009 he founded Augusta Trails to support sport/recreation trails and facilities in Augusta’s Bond Brook preserve while also serving on boards of Rail Trail, Riverfront Improvement, Lithgow Library, Charter Commission, and Kennebec Land Trust. At work he does health care law at Kozak & Gayer. But it is Mike’s volunteer “giveback” to community that’s paying off big for Augusta.