Portland, MAINE (3/4/10) – Norman Patry’s journey from the desk of an investment office to a bicycle seat in coastal Maine is not just the story of a man who pursued – and caught – his dream. It’s also a tale of how one person’s vision can inspire others.

Patry’s business, Summer Feet, is celebrating its 10^th anniversary, in providing van-assisted bicycle tours, where all lodging, food and other logistics are handled for clients.

The business grew out Patry’s cross-country bicycle adventure, which he took as a break from his work with annuities and other financial instruments, even though he had not being on a bike for 13 years. Today, Summer Feet trips spur others to get out of their homes and, in many cases, onto bicycles for the first time in years.

“I hadn’t been on a bicycle outside for at least 16 years,” said Colleen Harwood, a nurse who lives in Bolton, Mass. “But two years ago, I decided to take a trip with Summer Feet to coastal Maine, as a way to get my husband away from his Blackberry and laptop.”

“A trip like that just does so much good for your psyche,” she said. “You let things go.”

The day after her return from the trip, Harwood bought a bicycle. She is now an avid cyclist who has twice completed 50-mile fundraising rides for charity. It also helped her reconnect with family, she said.

“This trip said to my husband and me that we really are still connected as a couple and can have fun together,” Harwood said. “I think it’s good for any relationship to do something like this.”

Summer Feet offers bicycle tours to some of the most stunningly beautiful locations in New England, Canada and New Zealand. Four new trips are planned for this summer. Two are geared for all cyclists:

• Quebec, where riders will take the Route Verte, which was first among the Top Ten Bike Routes selected by National Geographic Magazine. The trip includes Quebec City, as well as historic villages and beautiful natural features such as the spectacular Montmorency Falls.

• Cape Breton, which has been described by Bicycling Magazine as one of the best rides in North America. This trip includes Cape Breton Highlands National Park and incorporates the Scottish flavor to be found in this part of Nova Scotia.

Summer Feet’s other two new trips are being adapted to meet the needs of deaf people. These vacations will be led by experienced bicycle-trip guides who also are fluent in American Sign Language. The first of these trips will take place Aug. 27-29, in and around Acadia National Park, near Bar Harbor, Maine. The other will be Sept. 24-26 to the area around scenic Camden, Maine.

“It’s amazing how much I’ve learned doing this,” Patry said. “I love riding my bike, of course. That’s how I got started. But I also really enjoy the other part of the business — making sure clients have incredible, sometimes life-changing experiences.”

Andrea Schall took a Summer Feet trip to the Maine coast in 2006, even though she was not much of a bicyclist at the time.

“It was one of the best vacations I’ve ever been on. Norman and his guides totally understand what you need, and they take care of you,” said Schall, who lives in Los Angeles. “It actually got me into biking to the point where I bought a bicycle and bike all the time now.”

Summer Feet is different from many of the large tour operators, in its ability to find unique local experiences that higher-volume businesses miss. His trips to Camden, Maine, for example offer sunset dinner cruises on schooners.

“Summer Feet is very purposeful in how they run the trip to make sure that you have a wonderful experience,” said Tom Braun, a middle school teacher from Iowa who was an active bicyclist even before his first Summer Feet trip. “A lot of the places you stay are right on the water. The food is great. And you don’t carry a suitcase at any time in the trip, because they take care of all that for you.”

Patry began his cross-country trip by taking a book out of his local library and getting a map of Virginia through the Adventure Cycling Association. A few years later, he stopped working with finance in Massachusetts, so that he could move to Maine and start Summer Feet.

“The first year we had 11 clients, total,” Patry said. “Today, we help hundreds of people explore beautiful, new areas every year. Some of our clients bike all the time. But others really fall in love with bicycles on our trips, the same way that I did on that ride across America.”

Based in Portland, Maine, Summer Feet offers travelers assisted bicycle tours and the most-authentic experiences available of beautiful locations in Maine, Canada and New Zealand. Summer Feet has a decade of experience in providing van support, knowledgeable guides and logistics for memorable bicycle vacations. More information is available at www.summerfeet.net, via email to info@summerfeet.net, or by phone at 866-857-9544.

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“TSI’s new website showcases current projects and case studies of completed projects, highlighting the financial savings institutions and industrial clients have received by using alternative energy,” said Candi Huber, Project Manager. “The savings reports and statistics are astounding.”

Owner Bob Waller has over 30 years experience in the steam and power industry. Mr. Waller is often called in as a consultant by Architectural Engineers needing expertise on re-powering projects. One specific element of the website he is proud of is the “What Is?…” section, providing in-depth information on the types of alternative energies TSI deals with. “Not only are we in business to save people money on energy costs, but also to educate and inform,” says Mr. Waller.

TSI’s clients include clients include Tom’s of Maine, Bath Iron Works, Bates College, and UPS. They service locations in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.

About Thermal Systems, Inc.

Thermal Systems, Inc. (TSI) is an established design, procurement and construction management firm providing a wide range of services to Facility Managers, Plant Engineers and Plant Superintendents. Located in Scarborough, Maine, they offer single source responsibility for all types of energy and process applications.

About Hall Web Services
Hall Web Services of Portland, Maine partners with small to medium sized businesses to grow their businesses through the creation of a comprehensive web strategy. Hall’s services include web design and development, managed hosting, internet marketing, inbound marketing strategies and multimedia production.

For more information visit www.hallme.com/press.asp

As one of the ACOEL’s founders, Thaler has provided the group with organizational leadership as well as expertise on the legal dimensions of issues including greenhouse gases, alternative energy and climate change.  He is a senior member of Bernstein Shur’s energy, environmental, and litigation practice groups.

“This is a deserving honor for Jeff that truly speaks to his strong reputation and the respect he has earned in the legal community,” said Charles E. Miller, managing shareholder at Bernstein Shur.  “His strong reputation as an environmental and energy attorney will provide ACOEL with solid, credible leadership.”

Thaler is recognized by Best Lawyers in America as a leading figure in environmental and natural resources law, and by Chambers USA for his environmental and litigation practices.  He has taught environmental law at the University of Maine Law School, serves on the Boards of the Land for Maine’s Future, the Energy and Environmental Technology Council of Maine and is lead author of The Maine Environmental Law Handbook.  Thaler is a graduate of the Yale University School of Law and Williams College.

The American College of Environmental Lawyers
The American College of Environmental Lawyers is a professional association of lawyers distinguished by their experience and high standards in the practice of environmental law.  ACOEL members are dedicated to: maintaining and improving the ethical practice of environmental law; the administration of justice; and the development of environmental law at both the state and federal level.  More information can be found at http://www.acoel.org.

Bernstein Shur
Bernstein Shur is one northern New England’s largest multi-service law firms, with more than 100 attorneys in offices in Maine and New Hampshire.  Founded in 1915, the firm provides practical and innovative counsel in the areas of business law, litigation, and municipal law to clients throughout the region and around the world.  Bernstein Shur is Maine’s exclusive member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms. More information can be found at http://bernsteinshur.com.

CONTACT:

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Kristy Engel tries to live by her saying, “Do what you can, with what you’ve got, in the moment you’re given” through her medical work in La Romana, Dominican Republic and the surrounding sugarcane villages.

Spending time as a mission volunteer in Haiti helped Kristy to realize that God was calling her into medical mission. After completing nursing school, she returned to Haiti and worked in pediatrics at Good Samaritan Hospital in Limbé for eighteen months. Now she works with the Good Samaritan Hospital in La Romana, Dominican Republic, ministering to Haitians who are among the poorest in the country. She travels daily to batey (work camp) villages and barrios providing medical attention where so many have been unwilling or unable to offer these services.

“I find incredible joy and fulfillment in working with children,” says Kristy Engel, who uses her skills in nursing and education in medical ministry in the Dominican Republic.

Malnutrition, parasites and poor economic conditions make it difficult to provide appropriate care to the children she works with, but with the help of many American volunteers, she is able to meet some of their needs. She helps to coordinate the medical and volunteer teams that visit the Good Samaritan Hospital as well as mentor individuals or university students who seek international experiences.

Her two dogs, Kobe and Sasha, are also part of her ministry by being her “patients” as she demonstrates appropriate oral hygiene by brushing their teeth and talking about
caring for our bodies. “When I work with my dog, Kobe, to teach children proper hygiene by brushing his teeth, bathing him and brushing his coat,” she says, “most of the kids know his name better than my own!”

Kristy believes few people enter the field of medical ministry because of perceived hardship and often-volatile work environments. “Unfortunately, this means that many people around the world will suffer and die due to lack of medical treatment,” she says. “I have found that God has given me a greater sense of His purpose through nursing on the mission field.”  Kristy completed her Master’s in Nursing and her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program in 2009.

Kristy has been working in La Romana since 2000 and she speaks both Spanish and Haitian Creole fluently.

Kristy also leads many American work teams that minister to the needs in the Dominican Republic.

Kristy Engel’s Schedule:  Sept. 19 – 6:00 pm Potluck Supper with Kristy Speaking at 7:00 pm.  Sept. 20 – 9:00 am: Kristy will share with the children and youth. Sept. 20 – 10:15: Kristy will share in the morning worship service. Sept. 20 – 6:00 pm: Kristy will share in the evening worship service

Last year, Stanford secured $25.5 million in US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Funds for the revitalization of more than 78 housing properties in Stanford’s portfolio, including properties in Maine, Connecticut, Mississippi and Pennsylvania. The funds will help create hundreds of jobs in Maine because most of the contracts will be given to local individuals and vendors for the work that includes repairing/replacing roofs, making ADA upgrades to the parking lot and common areas, elevator system updates, replacing windows and repairing or replacing siding.

And where possible, the upgrades will be completed with hundreds of yards of carpets made from recycled materials and hundreds of gallons of Sherwin-Williams paint with the GreenSure® designation that are designed and manufactured to reduce environmental impact and meet or exceed the most stringent regulatory requirements.

“The residents are going to see big changes to their properties that will make them more comfortable and attractive,” said Rosa Scarcelli, owner and president of Stanford Management. “But they’ll be doubly pleased to know that we’re using materials that don’t harm the environment. And for a major upgrade like this where we’ll be using lots of paint and materials, it’s good to know that companies like Sherwin-Williams offer products that are eco-friendly and meet high performance standards as well.”

For example, Sherwin-Williams Harmony Interior Latex Coating has zero-VOCs (volatile organic compounds emitted by some products that have adverse health effects) and carries the company’s GreenSure® designation. It is also GreenGuard Indoor Air Quality Certified® and GreenGuard Certified for Children and Schools.

Furthermore the paint comes in containers made from plastic that is 100% recycled from post-consumer resin. The label contains 75% recovered fiber and 25% post-consumer waste, and is
printed using soy ink. The containers are manufactured at four plants around the US to lower the distance from plant to store.

“Sherwin-Williams leads the industry in the development of environmentally responsible products through our GreenSure® designation, which takes into consideration product performance and environmental factors,” said Steve Revnew of Sherwin Williams. “However, it is important to us that we offer products to our customers that are third-party tested and certified through the GreenGuard Environmental Institute. These GreenGuard certified products meet or exceed the most stringent green building specifications.”

“It is refreshing for us to work with a company like Stanford Management who understand the importance of using products that help protect the environment for future generations. Sherwin Williams is committed to providing the products, product knowledge and training to help ensure Stanford Management meets it’s goal of going green.” said Richard Alley of the Belfast Sherwin Williams.

About Stanford Management: Stanford Management is the largest woman owned affordable housing provider in the United States and one of the largest women owned companies in the state of Maine. It operates nearly 60 affordable housing facilities in Maine from Madawaska to Old Orchard Beach and provides housing for more than 5,000 families and individuals, as well as properties in three other states. In 2008, Affordable Housing Magazine named Stanford as one of the top 10 affordable housing providers in the country. Rosa Scarcelli, a native of Wilton, Maine, is owner and President. For more information see www.stanfordmanagement.com or go to http://pitch.pe/7464
For more information on Sherwin-Williams eco-friendly products, see www.swgreenspecs.com

CONTACT: For Stanford Management, Dennis Bailey, Savvy, Inc., 207-347-6077

Dedham Store Images on Flickr

YouTube – Dedham Grand Opening Promo

For Immediate Release

Contact Information:

Laurie Brooks

207.552.6016

lbrooks@llbean.com

L.L.Bean to Open Dedham Massachusetts Store July 24

L.L.Bean first to open at new Legacy Place

FREEPORT, ME. July 13, 2009—L.L.Bean, a leading retailer of quality outdoor equipment and apparel, will open its newest store at Legacy Place, Dedham, Massachusetts, 9AM, Friday, July 24. Everyone who loves the outdoors is invited to the three-day grand opening celebration that promises fun and adventure for the whole family.  L.L.Bean will give away gift cards – worth up to $500 – to the first 500 customers and signed Maine storybooks to the first 100 children when the doors open. Meet Mascots Wally The Green Monster Friday 8AM-10AM, and get a hug from L.L.Bear 11AM-3PM.  A 5,500 pound, 10 foot high replica of L.L.Bean’s iconic product – the Bean Boot – stands outside the store’s entrance to welcome customers.

Expert instructors from L.L.Bean’s Outdoor Discovery Schools will offer FREE kayaking and fly–casting classes all weekend 10AM-5PM. All visitors can also register-to-win a Family Kayak Package valued at $1,000. For a complete list of free activities throughout the weekend visit www.llbean.com/dedham. Witness an incredible and extremely rare taxidermy display of two giant Maine Moose engaged in a locked antler battle. This display entitled The Final Charge, State of Maine Locked Moose was developed in partnership with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and is one of three displays in all of North America.

 “Massachusetts offers abundant outdoor recreational opportunities and we want to make sure L.L.Bean customers are outfitted with the appropriate apparel, gear and knowledge for their next adventure,” said Ken Kacere, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Retail.  “With the opening of our third Massachusetts store, we can provide a broad range of recreational products and more hands on opportunities with our popular Outdoor Discovery Schools to serve our customers in and around the Dedham area.”

Bean’s new store is approximately 30,000 square feet and, as with all new L.L.Bean stores, built to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED standards.  The store incorporates environmentally friendly building materials and fixtures, and utilizes systems and technology to increase energy efficiency, thereby reducing the store’s environmental footprint.  It will employ approximately 150 people and offer a carefully selected assortment of high-quality outdoor apparel and gear including hiking, fly-fishing, kayaking, biking and camping products – all backed by L.L.Bean’s 100 percent satisfaction guarantee.

In celebration of the new store, L.L.Bean is donating $10,000 to the Massachusetts Audubon Society to fund youth environmental education programs at Blue Hills Reservation, near the Dedham store.

The Dedham store is L.L.Bean’s 13th retail store outside the state of Maine. Store address: 950 Providence Highway, Dedham, Massachusetts.  A complete list of L.L.Bean Retail Stores is available on its website http://www.llbean.com.

About L.L.Bean, Inc.

L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multi-channel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel.  Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe.  While its business has grown substantially, the company remains committed to the same honest principles upon which it was built – a focus on the customer, continuous product improvement and innovation, respect for people, preservation of the natural environment and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  The 220,000 sq. ft. Flagship campus of stores in Freeport, Maine is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than three million visitors each year.  L.L.Bean can be found worldwide on www.llbean.com. Join L.L.Bean on Facebook and Twitter.

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The Charlotte White Center is grateful to acknowledge the sponsorship of Newport Motorsports, along with G3 Boats, for the Maine Bass Championship Tournament.  The Maine Bass Championship Fishing Club will be hosting the four day event and donating all proceeds to the Charlotte White Center’s Children’s Programs.

Southern Qualifier          Saturday, July 18           Pleasant Pond                  Gardiner

Northern Qualifier          Sunday, August 2                  Sebec Lake                Dover-Foxcroft

Fish-Off (day one)         Saturday, August 22      Sebasticook Lake            Newport

Fish–Off (day two)         Sunday, August 23                Unity Pond                       Unity

All events start at 7am.

1^st place for the fish-off is $2000 guaranteed!

The Charlotte White Center is a social service and healthcare agency that serves children, adults and families with cognitive and intellectual disabilities and behavioral health challenges.  Through the hard work of highly trained staff, over eight hundred consumers are served every month through out central and eastern Maine.

For information about the fishing tournament or services provided by the Charlotte White Center, please call Erica Kimball at 207-947-1410 ext 120.

Zone Urban Epic Triathlon and Festival Bring Competition and Celebration to Downtown Portland

Over three hundred athletes set to race in the third year of the Zone Urban Epic Triathlon and Festival

Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
Portland, Maine

PORTLAND, ME – July 6, 2009 – The third annual Zone Urban Epic Triathlon and Festival will take place in downtown Portland on Saturday, July 18. Three hundred fifty athletes will gather at East End Beach at 8:30 a.m. to compete in the ½-mile swim, 13-mile bike, and 3.7-mile run event.

The enhanced 2009 Zone Urban Epic (ZUE) event will feature a new finish on the Maine State Pier with a prominent post-race festival that includes a Smuttynose Beer Garden, Mammut climbing wall, local food and retail vendors, and live music by the Jason Spooner Trio. The spectator-friendly festival is free and open to the public.

Racers will start at 8:30 a.m. at East End Beach with a ½-mile out-and-back swim in Casco Bay, followed by .5-mile run down the East End Trail to the main transition area located inside Portland Yacht Services at 58 Fore Street. Next, they will embark on a 13-mile bike course up to the Eastern Promenade and down to Baxter Boulevard, completing two loops along Back Cove before heading back to the TA along the same route. Athletes end with a 3.7-mile out-and-back run along the Eastern Promenade and a big finish on the Maine State Pier.

Also new in 2009, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine will present an Urban Epic Kids Race following the adult event. Kids ages 4-6 can compete in a 200-yard-dash Fun Run, and kids from 7-13 can fundraise and compete in an Aquarun (swim-run) race. Both races will finish on the Pier, where there will be a special family-oriented play and learn area. All proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Seventy percent of the athletes hail from Maine, while 30 percent will be traveling in from 14 states and Canada. Athletes compete both individually and in relay teams and range in ability from first-timers to seasoned pros. Mixed into the ZUE field of athletes will be competitors in the Epic Restaurant and Bar Challenge. In relay teams of three, local restaurant and bar establishments will face off for the title of “Most Epic Restaurant/Bar” in Portland.

The Zone Urban Epic will again focus on minimizing its environmental impact on the city and renewing certification as a sustainable athletic event through the Council for Responsible Sport. Bruce Rayner, the Chief Green Officer of Athletes for a Fit Planet and a local sustainable events coordinator, will oversee implementation of the race’s green initiatives; while Climate Counts, a nonprofit organization working toward reducing global warming, will provide a ZUE Green Team to sweep the post-race run course for trash.

Later Saturday night, athletes, spectators, and the general public are encouraged to attend the final Epic celebration of the evening: The Smuttynose Après Epic Party taking place at Novare Res at 5:30 p.m.

Volunteers are still needed for the event. To learn more or register, contact Erik Boucher at erik@tri-maine.com or 207-221-5420 x 4.

Important Road Closure Information: For the safety and consideration of athletes and volunteers, certain roads will be closed the morning of the race. Motorists should be advised of the following closures and times and plan travel accordingly:
-    6:30-10:30 a.m.
- Baxter Blvd. (both sides, from Preble Street Extension to Bates Street)
-    8:30-10:30 a.m.
- Fore Street (between Mountfort and Morning)
- Franklin Arterial (north-bound lanes ONLY, from Cumberland Ave. to     Marginal Way)
- Marginal Way (west-bound lanes ONLY, from Franklin Arterial to Preble Street Extension)
- Preble Street (cove side ONLY, from Marginal Way to Baxter Blvd.)
- Washington Avenue (between Madison and Eastern Prom.)
- Southbound 295 – Exit 8*
- Both Southbound and Northbound 295 – Exit 7*
* Access to and from 295 is available via Forest Avenue

Other roads affected but not closed include Walnut Street, Fox Street, Somerset Street, and the Eastern Prom. While bikers are on the roads – from 8:50-10:30 a.m. – motorists should expect delays and proceed with extreme caution. Police officers and volunteers will be managing the flow of traffic.

Parking for the event is available at municipal lots, with shuttles running from the Marginal Way Parking Lot and the County Courthouse Garage. Parking is also available at the new Ocean Gateway Garage on Fore Street for $10/day.

Title sponsor Zone Labs Inc. is a leading functional foods and nutraceutical company based out of Danvers, Massachusetts. Additional sponsorship support for the event is provided by Peak Performance Multisport, Orthopaedic Associates, Smuttynose Brewing Company, The Maine SWITCH & Mainetoday.com, The Landing Center for Healing Arts, Head Games Salon, Mammut, Sunday River, and Sugarloaf. The ZUE is a USA Triathlon sanctioned event.

Live results can be viewed on race day at www.urban-epic.com. For specific event details, Athletes to Watch interviews, or more information contact Amy VanHaren at 207-221-5420 x 5.

About Urban Epic:
Fusing a triathlon with a unique festival, the Urban Epic is a celebration of health, fitness, music, art, environmental sustainability, and the active way of life. Urban Epic events take place in vibrant city locations and draw in thousands of athletes and spectators looking to be a part of something innovative and exciting. Urban Epic combines athletic competition and urban culture into an unforgettable race and festival experience. The Zone Urban Epic is a Tri-Maine Productions event and one of two Urban Epic races. Following the ZUE, Urban Epic Boston will take place on August 16, 2009 on the shores of South Boston. Visit www.urban-epic.com to learn more.

About Tri-Maine:
Tri-Maine Productions is Maine’s premier multisport event management company. Providing high quality, competitive races in dynamic New England locations, Tri-Maine serves more than 3,000 athletes, 5,000 spectators, and 800 volunteers annually. Tri-Maine partners with first-rate local and national sponsors to provide an athletic experience like no other. Fusing arts, music, environmental consciousness, health, and community together with the active lifestyle, Tri-Maine delivers specialized events that transcend the traditional. Visit www.tri-maine.com for more information.

Contact:
Amy VanHaren, Marketing and PR
Urban Epic Events
207.221.5420 x 5 – Work
amy@urban-epic.com
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Bill Gabriel - New Territory Sales Manager for Distribution of Alternative Energy Products at Nelson & Small, Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:

Claire Connell
Nelson & Small, Inc.
212 Canco Road
Portland, ME 04104
207-775-5666
clairec@nelsonsmall.com

Portland, Maine — June 15, 2009 —  Maine native Bill Gabriel has joined Nelson & Small, Inc., as Territory Sales Manager for distribution of alternative-energy products.

Gabriel will be responsible for dealer sales of all alternative-energy and selected high-efficiency conventional-fuel product lines throughout Maine. Product lines include solar-thermal flat panel and vacuum tubes, solar-electric (PV), Southwest and Mariah wind power, and Econar geothermal heat pumps, as well as Ruud standby generators and certain high-efficiency heating and water-heating products.

Gabriel had previously served as Eastern Regional Sales Manager for Colorado’s Infloor Heating Systems, specializing in the sale of Thermomax evacuated-tube solar-heating systems.

Gabriel holds a Master Plumbing license, gas license, oil burner license, and is a Certified Solar Energy Installer. Gabriel owned and operated Gabriel Plumbing & Heating and Gabriel Associates, a general contracting business for more than 20 years. He also owned and operated Gabriel Oil and Propane.

Gabriel is also a nine-year veteran of the armed services, having spent three years on active duty in the Army and six years in the National Guard, with Bravo Company of the 133rd Engineer Battalion based in Westbrook, Maine.

He was born and raised in South Portland and now resides in New Gloucester. He and his partner, Klara, own Wilson Brook Farm where they raise and train Friesian horses.

Gabriel can be reached at Nelson & Small, Inc. at 207-775-5666.

Nelson & Small, Inc. is a 73-year-old family-owned Maine-based wholesale distributor that distributes products throughout New England and Eastern New York. The company headquarters facility and warehouse is located in Portland, Maine. Primary product lines include major household appliances, energy-efficient home-heating and water-heating products, alternative-energy products, and commercial-laundry equipment. For more information, visit www.NelsonSmall.com

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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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