2009 Annual Awards Winners

These businesses and organizations, and the people who provide leadership for them, have a profound effect upon the business environment and the economy in the Capital Area and beyond. They all contribute significantly to the quality of life enjoyed in the Kennebec Valley.

Business of the Year

Longfellow’s Greenhouses
Scott and Sandra Longfellow
Maine’s largest ornamental greenhouse operation employs up to 90 people “producing pleasure” for customers throughout the state. Owners Scott and Sandra Longfellow and their team grow hundreds of thousands of plants (30,000 poinsettias, 50,000 geraniums, 20,000 hanging baskets and much more) at the Manchester site where he and his parents began the year-round business in 1976. “While our basic mission is to raise crops in greenhouses to sell, we now have lots of supplies that blend in to make us more complete for our customers,” says Scott. Now at 24 large greenhouses, three devoted to retail sales space, Longfellow’s plans to continue growing and guaranteeing customer satisfaction, beautifying Maine.

Business Person of the Year

Bill Purington
Maine Drilling & Blasting
When you handle nearly 40 million pounds of explosives a year, it pays to be careful. William Purington of Maine Drilling and Blasting – very carefully – has grown a small Gardiner family business into the Northeast’s largest explosives operation, employing a “business family” of some 400 people. Applying modern technology, strong business principals, a healthy family environment and an ability to maintain cultures and values, Bill Purington has professionalized this company with operations throughout New England and New York. This soft spoken, respected community leader sets the bar high with his mission: “Always Higher Standards for Safety and Service.” Maine Drilling & Blasting gets better, and he raises the bar yet again.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Katy Perry
PFG NorthCenter (retired)
Katy Perry of Hallowell says, “My passion in life is people. I’m nosy and love to engage people in discussions.” Not a surprise then that her friends in her city honored this 88-year-old woman last summer as “Citizen of the Year” during Old Hallowell Day. Katy was a school teacher and a radio talk show host before serving 20 years with the Maine Department of Human Services. After retirement in 1983 this mother of four – widowed in 1981 – joined the Peace Corps for two years in Belize, teaching PR. An avid writer since youth, Katy produced a local TV show “Our Towns” during the 1990’s, has written for several publications and authored nine books. She loved her many summers on Prince Edward Island and enjoyed her own “pre-demise celebration” in 2007.

President's Awards

Isamax Snacks
Amy Bouchard
Gardiner’s Amy Bouchard didn’t set out to be the Queen of Whoopies when she left her job at Bath Iron Works 15 years ago to be with her children. She hoped to “jar” about $12 a week selling some “perfected” whoopie pies in local stores so she could buy a bicycle. Simply said, she was overwhelmed by demand for her “Wicked Whoopies,” first by TV star Oprah Winfrey and later by an AP worldwide feature, TV’s QVC and locally, WCSH’s 207 series. “Extremely hard work, devotion to perfection and some extraordinary media attention” have catapulted Amy and her team from a few dozen pies a week to some 50,000 a week at her Gardiner bakery. Always smiling, Amy claims there are at least 10 smiles in every wicked whoopie. Thanks to the Internet, she’s sending smiles around the globe.

The Woodlands
Lon Walters
Since age 10 as a “resident” at a Hallowell Nursing Home, which his parents owned, Lon’s had inside experience in elder care. Later, with a Master’s Degree in Community Development, he returned to Maine to buy two small assisted living facilities. After operating facilities in both Maine and Florida from 1985 to 1996, he developed Woodlands Assisted Living Facility in Waterville. Brewer’s Woodlands came next and in 2006, Hallowell’s Woodlands. His facilities now include more than 300 units for residential care, Alzheimer’s care and assisted living with a new Alzheimer’s facility in Rockland opening in 2009. Lon recently rebuilt Slate’s Restaurant building, remodeled the building housing Joyce’s restaurant in Hallowell and purchased the old Augusta YMCA for redevelopment.

Oakes & Parkhurst Glass
Richard and Janet Parkhurst
Since 1978 Richard and Janet Parkhurst, former educators, have educated themselves in their glass business, now based in Manchester, Waterville and Farmington. Dick, a true entrepreneur, left teaching first to start the business. “Our first real break came at the Common Ground Fair. We were asked to produce, ultimately thousands, of glass panels for a weatherization program.” Janet joined as business manager in 1981. During a trip to Germany Dick added vinyl windows and began “cooking” insulated glass; later he manufactured bullet resistant windows now used in police stations or embassies in 22 countries. O&P’s 25-employee team has “glazed” 53 Rite Aids, 20 McDonalds, Bates, Bowdoin and Colby and more – O&P’s mission: “exceed customer expectations”

Community Service Awards

Kennebec River Rail Trail
Augusta-Hallowell-Farmingdale-Gardiner
Good health, alternative commute, awesome beauty of the mighty Kennebec and just downright friendly people-greeting-people are some of the outcomes of the recently completed 6.5 mile river trail along the railroad tracks from Gardiner to Augusta. For more than a decade, engineers Lionel Cayer (right above) and Andy Hendrickson helped design and complete the $4.5 million project for walkers and bikers with a large number of community volunteers. Used locally for walkers/joggers, bikers and wheelchair users, the Trail is also a destination attraction for visitors to the Capital region. A healthy suggestion: take a hike along the Kennebec!

Augusta Boys & Girls Club for Teens
Kathi Wall
In 2000 this psychiatric nurse turned her skills to opening “The Edge” an after school teen center on Water Street to give kids some positive options for social, recreation, health and study interests. Affiliated with Spurwink, ABGC serves more than 300 students supported by a team of professionals. Recently winning a $1.2 million Century Learning Grant, ABGC will also address needs of failing K-12 students in Augusta schools. Kathi Wall’s key services for teens include (1) computers and technology support, (2) health and fitness training, (3) jobs and career development support and (4) arts programs ranging from studio space to break dance, pottery class, car design and sound studio work.

Young Professional Award

Walter McKee, Esq.
Lipman, Katz & McKee, P.A.
Walter F. McKee, Esq. moved to a Maine farm at age 4 and learned solid lessons in hard work. These days he’s at his law office, Lipman, Katz & McKee, at 3:15 am, takes a break at 5 to do a five-mile run and returns at 6 for a busy day defending clients, litigating and serving his community. An accomplished mountain climber, Walter enjoys his tasks as a young, successful lawyer. The 1993 Maine Law School grad returned to the Capital area in 1995. He’s represented thousands, tried 100+ jury trials including many headline cases. He also plays violin with his two daughters and with the Augusta Symphony. A Maine Trial Lawyers board member, he also serves on the state Ethics Commission, is president of the Pineland Suzuki School, does a monthly TV show on law and loves getting home to his family.