The 2009 entreverge Award Winners

Atayne Inc:

Atayne designs and sells high performance athletic apparel that is made from trash and other recycled materials. The company is distinctly committed to inspiring environmental and social change by creating sustainable products that promote sports and active lifestyles. As a registered B Corporation, their ‘triple bottom line’ approach to business and high quality products has garnered them national recognition in several major publications and positioned them to emerge as a major player in the sustainable apparel industry. Their products are currently sold 39 states and 6 countries. www.atayne.com

Emilie Inc.

Emilie Inc. is a multifaceted wedding photography business founded and operated by Emilie Sommer. Emilie is a graduate of the prestigious Newhouse School of Photography at Syracuse University. Before moving to Maine to start here business in 2004 she worked as a photographer for USA Today in Washington DC. Since then the company has grown to team of six photography professionals and has served customers locally, nationally and internationally. Emilie Ink, a subsidiary company, designs and sells photo card templates. Emilie is an active contributor to a national wedding planning blog (www.weddingbeepro.com), created and manages an online forum for wedding photographers (www.newsweddingphotographers.com), is hosting a national workshop for wedding photographers in July 2009 and recently formed the Pink Initiative, a non-profit to support breast cancer research (www.pinkinitative.org). www.emilieinc.com

Pemaquid Communications

Pemaquid Communications is a web design studio based in Portland, Maine. The core business of the company is to provide web design, programming, search engine marketing and strategic consulting services to their clients. Rob Laundry, Pemaquid’s founder, is at the forefront the progressive ‘co-working’ movement in Southern Maine. Co-working is a work environment concept that brings together independent contractors on a project by project basis and leverages each participant’s particular skills and insight to complete a project. Rob has recently created a workspace in Portland that is solely dedicated to this concept. The result is a highly creative, fluid and productive work environment that has allowed Pemaquid to emerge as a distinctive company is the highly competitive web design marketplace. The high quality work produced by Pemaquid has landed several major customers including Camden National Corporation and Qakhurst Dairy. www.pemaquid.com

Turtle Love Committee

Turtle Love Committee is a forward thinking internet based wedding jewelry company that sells unconventional wedding and engagement rings. The company believes the value of a wedding or engagement ring should be based on the love and commitment it symbolizes, not the financial expense its represents. Turtle Love markets and sell wedding jewelry from local and national artisans that support their mission. Their willingness to defy the conventional has enabled them to achieve explosive growth since the company was founded in mid-2008. They are one of the first wedding jewelry retailers to exclusively focus on this market niche. Turtle Love’s foresight and the rapid market acceptance leaves the company well positioned for future growth. www.turtlelovecommittee.com

Topline Marketing

Topline Marketing is South Portland based marketing company that exclusively markets natural food and life products. They currently represent 20 different brands and product lines which are sold to retailers throughout the East Coast. Topline is distinctly committed to expanding the natural products industry in the North East and works promote the ideal to keep natural stores “natural”. The company is passionate about the products they market and believe the can effect positive change through their commitment to this rapidly growing niche. www.toplinemarketinginc.com

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Contact:

entreverge Communications Director Will Thomas

Phone (207) 523-0519

Email: will@tri-maine.com

www.entreverge.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

entreverge Director Johann Sabbath

Contact: entreverge Communications Director Will Thomas

Phone (207) 523-0519

Email: will@tri-maine.com

entreverge Awards Local Entrepreneurs at a Packed Port City Music Hall Celebration

Five local entrepreneurs receive the first-ever entreverge Awards in a packed celebration at the Port City Music Hall

PORTLAND, ME – June 25, 2009 – Five Portland-area entrepreneurs were honored with the inaugural entreverge Awards at a packed ceremony at the Port City Music Hall on Thursday evening, June 25. Over 300 local business leaders, notable entrepreneurs, and community supporters came together to celebrate emerging innovators’ contributions to the Maine business community.

Director Johann Sabbath announced the winning business leaders to an enthusiastic crowd. The Award Winners were: Emilie Inc. – a multifaceted wedding photography business; Topline Marketing – a leading natural foods and products marketing company; Atayne LLC – a high performance sportswear company whose clothes are made exclusively from recycled materials; Pemaquid Communications – a web design studio and local leader in the growing co-working movement; and Turtle Love Committee – an alternative wedding jewelry business focused on the growing niche of financially conscious consumers seeking alternative wedding jewelry options. (A detailed summary of winning companies is attached, and profiles of the winners can be also found on www.entreverge.com.)

Each of the five winning companies will receive a comprehensive package of in-kind business services and face-time with several Portland-based business leaders to support current successes and propel each business to the next level. Packages include pro-bono consultation, business services, and products volunteered by local artistic, finance, IT, legal, marketing, web experts.

Winners were selected from among 52 nominees based on a number of criteria, including coachability, impact, and scalable vision for their business and their commitment to a triple bottom line—the people, place, and prosperity of Maine.

Notable attendee and Portland City Councilor Dory Waxman said: “It is wonderful to see so much support for such an important initiative taking place in Portland. The winning entrepreneurs are very deserving, and entreverge’s vision to bring the business community of Maine together in such a unique way is remarkable.”

“Tonight’s event was a huge success,” said Sabbath. “From the turnout and the enthusiasm of the community, it is clear that there is great support for the upcoming entrepreneurial leaders of Portland.”

Live performances by The Jason Spooner Trio and Adam and the Waxmen closed out the evening’s celebration.

The entreverge Awards Party event was produced and direct by PROPEL, a group of young business leaders associated with the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, and sponsored by University of Maine Farmington, Swardlick Marking Group, Bangor Savings Bank, MaineBiz and WYCC.

For more information visit www.entreverge.com or contact Will Thomas at 207-523-0519.

About entreverge

entreverge is a new model of business organizing that leverages the leadership of greater Portland’s business community to build supportive relationships around local businesses–with a scalable vision and a long-term commitment to the people, place, and prosperity of Maine. It culminates in an exciting celebration and awards ceremony that recognizes and honors the spirit of entrepreneurship. www.entreverge.com

About PROPEL

PROPEL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for greater Portland’s young leaders, entrepreneurs, artists and professionals. Inspired by the REALIZE!Maine network, PROPEL was formed in 2006 as an affiliate of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce to promote and cultivate the next generation of business and community leaders. PROPEL is Portland’s premier young professionals networking group.

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Entreverge Public Relations:

Warehouse Creative

Portland, Maine

Contact: Amy VanHaren

651.303.8777

amy@urban-epic.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

entreverge Director Johann Sabbath

Contact: entreverge Communications Director Will Thomas

Phone (207) 523-0519

Email: will@tri-maine.com

Inaugural entreverge Awards Party to Recognize and Celebrate Portland Entrepreneurs

New entreverge Awards to recognize and celebrate entrepreneurship and innovation in the greater Portland-area business community

PORTLAND, ME – June 23, 2009 – On Thursday, June 25, the inaugural entreverge Awards Party will honor local entrepreneurs for their innovation and contributions to the Maine business community. Five award winners will be selected from the 52 local nominees and recognized at the evening celebration at the Port City Music Hall.

The entreverge Awards were created as a collaborative project to honor emerging entrepreneurs. entreverge is a nonprofit event that connects high-potential, emerging entrepreneurs in greater Portland with resources, relationships, and publicity to help grow their businesses. The Awards are an extension of PROPEL (Portland’s premier young professionals networking group), in partnership with the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce and numerous local businesses, business groups, nonprofits, and social networks.

The 52 entrepreneur nominees were obtained through outreach from PROPEL, the Chamber, and over 20 local organizations. They are diverse, and range from a web designer to a health care consulting firm, from a mead maker to a recycled clothing designer, and from a bakery to a sports social club. (A complete list of nominees is available at www.entreverge.com.)

Winners selected for the entreverge Awards were considered by PROPEL on a number of criteria, including coachability, impact, and scalable vision for their business and their commitment to a triple bottom line—the people, place, and prosperity of Maine. The five winners will receive face-time with Portland’s leading business figures and a package of pro-bono consultation, services, and products volunteered by local artistic, finance, IT, legal, marketing, web experts, and other business service providers.

“The unique design of entreverge has provided a vehicle for bringing together an exciting group of motivated individuals that otherwise might never have the opportunity to interact,” says entreverge director <!–[if supportFields]> CONTACT _Con-39D61BE42 \c \s \l <![endif]–>Johann Sabbath<!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. “We see this event as a means of developing strong business communities, by transcending generational/economic gaps and creating a shared sense of investment in the success of our emerging entrepreneurs and leaders.”

Doors at the Awards Party will open for a reception at 5:30 p.m. with catered hors d’oeuvres by Ian Hayward and a cash bar. The entreverge awards will be presented at 7:00 p.m., followed by live music performances by the Jason Spooner Band and Adam and the Waxmen. The party is open to the public, and tickets can be purchased in advance at www.entreverge.com or by calling the Portland Regional Chamber at 207-772-2811.

entreverge is made possible by sponsorship from Bangor Savings Bank, Swardlick Marketing Group, the University of Maine Farmington, Mainebiz, and WCYY.

For more information visit www.entreverge.com or contact Will Thomas at 207-523-0519.

About entreverge

entreverge is a new model of business organizing that leverages the leadership of greater Portland’s business community to build supportive relationships around local businesses–with a scalable vision and a long-term commitment to the people, place, and prosperity of Maine. It culminates in an exciting celebration and awards ceremony that recognizes and honors the spirit of entrepreneurship. www.entreverge.com

About PROPEL

PROPEL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for greater Portland’s young leaders, entrepreneurs, artists and professionals. Inspired by the REALIZE!Maine network, PROPEL was formed in 2006 as an affiliate of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce to promote and cultivate the next generation of business and community leaders. PROPEL is Portland’s premier young professionals networking group.

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Entreverge Public Relations:

Warehouse Creative

Portland, Maine

Contact: Amy VanHaren

651.303.8777

amy@urban-epic.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: entreverge Director Johann Sabbath

Phone (207) 807-7073 cell

Email: johann.sabbath@gmail.com

 

Portland, ME – Portland PROPEL unveiled entreverge, a bold new project to celebrate and support local entrepreneurs.

The inaugural entreverge Awards, a collaborative project led by PROPEL in partnership with the Portland Regional Chamber and numerous local businesses, business groups, non-profits, and social networks, will accelerate economic growth by connecting entrepreneurs and business innovators with resources and relationships within Portland’s local business community.

“The launch of entreverge comes at a time when the economy is starving for positive energy and when national trends toward innovation and entrepreneurship are amplifying louder than ever”, said Mike Carey, Chair of PROPEL and auctioneer with Tranzon Auction Properties.

Nominations for the entreverge Awards will be fielded at www.entreverge.com from May 5th to 31st.  Nominees will be considered by PROPEL on a number of criteria, including the nominees’ scalable vision for their business and their commitment to a triple bottom line—the people, place, and prosperity of Maine.

Five entreverge Award-winners will receive face time with Portland’s leading business figures and a package of pro bono consultation, services, and products volunteered by local artistic, finance, IT, legal, marketing, and web experts and other business service providers.

Dana Hutchins, owner of Image Works Internet Business Solutions, is one of the local business leaders who is volunteering consulting services to the winners.  “When I was approached about getting involved, “ remarked Dana, “I thought is was a great opportunity to give back to the business community and meet exciting new clients.”

“This is a critical time for collaboration and getting the resources of Portland’s business community behind its future leaders,” said Will Thomas, an entreverge organizer and founder of the Portland-based triathlon company Tri-Maine. 

The entreverge Awards will culminate with a celebration on Thursday evening, June 25th at Port City Music Hall in downtown Portland with live performances by Adam and the Waxmen and the Jason Spooner Band. Tickets can be purchased through the Portland Regional Chamber by calling 207-772-2811.

Recognizing the need to celebrate risk and innovation in today’s economic climate, PROPEL began planning entreverge this winter when approached by the University of Maine Farmington and Swardlick Marketing Group.  Six months later—after comprehensive feedback from many of Portland’s business leaders and social entrepreneurs—entreverge has arrived.

“I’ve spent the last few months meeting with business leaders and organizational heads throughout Greater Portland,” said entreverge Director Johann Sabbath, “trying to figure out the greatest potential value that PROPEL could bring to the community.  Organizing entreverge became the answer.”

Portland PROPEL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering leadership and education among Greater Portland’s young blue, white, green, and no-collar business community. In 2006, PROPEL was inspired by the Realize!Maine network and formed as an affiliate of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce.

entreverge is made possible by Premier Sponsors Bangor Savings Bank, Swardlick Marketing Group, and the University of Maine Farmington and Premier Media Sponsor Mainebiz.

 

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