Peggy Lapointe Lord, her brother Normand, Jr. and their business partner, Dick Tarr are third generation owners and operators of this successful Augusta landmark family business started in 1947 by grandfather Wilfred and later run by his sons Roland and Normand. Hard work and dedicated service to their contractor clients and homeowners have helped this community-oriented business survive and thrive amid growing competition and tough times. This comprehensive lumber and building materials supplier now owns 10 buildings and operates stores in Augusta and Gardiner with an expert staff of 30 employees, "focused upon honesty and treating people like
they want to be treated," says Peggy.

President & CEO of MaineGeneral Medical Center, the region's largest private employer, this modest young engineer (Mass. Maritime) MBA (Thomas) also spent a year of intensive nuclear systems engineering studies and supervised nuclear testing for General Dynamics' subs in Groton, CT. He worked several years troubleshooting the nation's nuclear power plants before choosing in 1995 to settle his family in Maine. Chuck's leadership and management skills led to his CEO post where he helped create the successful Harold Alfond Cancer Care Center and is now planning a $300 million new regional hospital.

After 57 years of scissoring his way through some 350,000 haircuts this barber-entrepreneur-political pollster is cutting back. Adopted at birth and nurtured by teachers at Hallowell, Duke learned the trade, barbered in Hallowell for 10 years, and in 1964 opened Duke's Rotary Barber and Beauty Shop in Augusta, which became Maine's largest volume barber shop. And became the famous home of the unerringly accurate "Duke's Barber Poll," predicting outcomes of many elections such as Gov. James Longley in 1974. This barber of governors is a very proud family man and successful entrepreneur.

This Hallowell-based business has become one of New England’s top artists of the night sky. With decades of fireworks show experience, Steve Marson, who became sole owner of Central Maine Pyrotechnics in 2006, flew to China to begin a direct-purchase relationship with a manufacturer and doubled his shows from 100 to 220. "We're entertainers, painting the sky," says Marson, who choreographs all his "unique" shows. The firm builds elaborate aerial displays and set pieces for ground displays; and, with its staff of 40 licensed techs and 75 aides, guarantees client satisfaction and hosts many charity shows.

Since 1999, when NextEra Energy Resources (then FPL Energy) purchased Central Maine Power’s 22 hydroelectric stations (360 megawatts-MW) on the Kennebec, Androscoggin and Saco rivers along with Yarmouth’s Wyman Station (850 MW) and two gas turbines in So. Portland (40 MW), it has been Maine’s largest producer of renewable power. “NextEra’s hydroelectric fleet generated a record 1.9 billion kilowatt-hours in renewable electricity in 2008 and close to that amount in 2009 while building a new headquarters building in Hallowell, consolidating high-tech remote operations of plants,” according to Chad Clark, Business Director. With almost $1 billion invested in plants and improvements, NextEra employs 150 in Maine; pays $11.5 million in annual property taxes.

This 110-year-old telecommunications company continues its spirit of innovation with a burst of technological growth this century including being one of Maine's only facilities-based competitive providers of phone, Internet and long distance (2001), fiber-to-the-premise (also 2001) and a fiber optic superhighway stretching from Bangor-to-Boston (2009). More than just a technical innovator, Oxford Networks prides its culture above all else and is pleased to be named one of the Best Places to Work in Maine five years in a row. "With our powerful fiber optic network, Oxford has been a leader in meeting the huge bandwidth demands business and residential services," says President Craig Gunderson, who credits "an outstanding work force providing
superior customer service."

Begun in 1922 by a small group of men, this organization continues to promote Augusta's rich Franco-American heritage. Now with more than 900 men and women members, the Club manages a large and growing facility which has served club activities and community events for decades. Serving many charitable causes over the years, Calumet also manages a 40-year-old education foundation which has provided more than $1 million in scholarships and grants to local students – more than $42,000 last year. The Club, noted for its famous Festival de la Bastille, offers its elaborate banquet facilities for community events and recognizes non-Franco-Americans with its Outstanding Citizen awards.

Maine Development Foundation is a private, non-profit corporation created in 1978 with a broad mandate to promote the Maine economy. For over 30 years, MDF has worked to drive sustainable economic growth, stimulate new ideas, develop leaders, and provide common ground for solving problems in Maine. Under the leadership of Laurie Lachance, MDF continues to fulfill its mission through economic research and through its programs that include Leadership Maine, Maine Downtown Center, Maine Economic Growth Council, Maine Employers' Initiative, and Policy Leaders Academy.

This community supporter and banker has made a significant impression in the Augusta region in the past few years. A dedicated single dad, Corey, a Thomas College business grad, is credit administrator at Border Trust Company in the Capital's downtown and plans to become a commercial lender. Corey is past chair of CYNERGY, the Chamber's group of young professionals, is a member of the Chamber Board, a member of Augusta's Board of Zoning Appeals, a volunteer co-chair of the 33-year-old Whatever Family Festival and a graduate of the Chamber's Kennebec Leadership Institute.