2019 Kenney Awards

PETER G. THOMPSON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

This award is named for community leader Peter G. Thompson. Like Peter, nominees in this category have been active leaders in the Kennebec Valley region for many years. These business/professional leaders have made a lasting impression on the business climate in our area.

John Fallona

2019 Winner

John Fallona

John Fallona gained his strong work ethic while working at a sandwich shop and balancing work, school, and sports. With degrees in Industrial Electricity and Business, John advanced in his career from a Dispatcher at Central Maine Power in 1964 to managing the ice storm of 1998 as Vice President of Operations to his retirement from CMP after 40 years in 2004. Upon his retirement, John purchased Ontarget Utility Services and grew the business from 30 to 300 employees and sold the business in 2018. Beyond the success of his professional career, John is also a leader and dedicated member of the Kennebec Valley community with a determination to give back to help others get a good start in life and make a difference.

LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

The Large Business of the Year recipient is a KV Chamber members that has been in business for at least 4 years and has 10 or more employees. Throughout its history in the Kennebec Valley, it has demonstrated revenue growth and job creation. This business is recognized for excellence in its industry through its innovation, unparalleled customer service, staff development, and marketing practices. Its impact on the Kennebec Valley is measured through its community involvement and economic impact.

2019 Winner

O'Connor Auto Park

When Randy Hutchins joined the O’Connor Auto Park team in 1992, it was a successful dealership in a modest building on Riverside Drive in Augusta. Since then, the company has seen much growth. Today, O’Connor offers sales, service, and parts for passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs, as well as medium and heavy-duty trucks and busses. The O’Connor campus covers almost sixty acres on Riverside Drive, with another facility in Portland. From roughly 140 employees in 1992, the team has grown to over 270 employees.

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

The Small Business of the Year recipient is a KV Chamber members that has been in business for at least 4 years and employs 9 or less people. Throughout its history in the Kennebec Valley, it has demonstrated revenue growth and job creation. This business is recognized for excellence in its industry through its innovation, unparalleled customer service, staff development, and marketing practices. Its impact on the Kennebec Valley is measured through its community involvement and economic impact.

2019 Winner

Clark Marine

Clark Marine’s journey has seen the business evolve from land to water. What started as a Buick Dealership founded in Gardiner in the 1940s, turned into a way to serve the Central Maine freshwater boaters in 1958. Today, Clark Marine is a freshwater recreational boat company located in Manchester, with two storage facilities located in Monmouth and Belgrade, that is focused on maximizing its customers’ time on the water and is dedicated to enhancing fresh-water boating in the Central Maine lakes region.

SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD

The Special Service Award is awarded to an individual or organization who has shown exemplary leadership in the previous two-year period and is recognized for long-term commitment to the community. This award is not given each year but rather when an individual or organization goes above and beyond for the community and is deserving of special recognition. For his efforts to bring the Great Race and his continuous leadership in and commitment to the Kennebec Valley, Peter Prescott is awarded the Special Service Award.

2019 Winner

Peter Prescott

Peter Prescott, Chief Executive Officer at Everett J Prescott, has helped grow his father’s company and the community since he joined EJP in 1959. After his father sold the company to Peter and two sons-in-law in 1978, EJP grew to over 300 employees and from three offices to over 30 locations. Peter believes that if everyone works together, there is no such thing as can’t, won’t, and will not. For Peter, a great example of this statement is the Great Race’s stop in Gardiner. After years of asking the Great Race to bring the route back to Maine and months of planning and coordinating, the Great Race’s Gardiner stop was a huge success for the area, attracting an estimated 7,000 attendees to downtown Gardiner with the city winning Best Overnight Stop.

PRESIDENT'S CHOICE AWARD

Nominees in this category are KV Chamber members that have been in business for at least two years. Their impact on the Kennebec Valley is evident through their revenue growth and job creation. They are leaders in their industry and maintain an exemplary business image in our community.

2019 Finalist

Gardiner Federal Credit Union

In 1953, Gardiner residents recognized a need for a local Credit Union, craving a community and member supported place for savings and loans. They have grown from a staff of one, serving a handful of members, to a staff of fifteen, serving over 5,000 members from the Kennebec and Lincoln counties, and the towns of Richmond and Palermo.

2019 WINNER

Maine Isshinryu Karate Academies

Founded in 1984 by father and son Richard Pushard Sr. and Rob Pushard, Maine Isshinryu Karate Academies, now better known as MIKA, has grown from a small 16 student club into seven locations, over 750 active members, 65 active Blackbelts, and a training regimen that includes MIKA FIT, MAT MAX, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu along with Isshinryu Karate and MIKA's Awesome After School and Summer Camp Programs.

2019 Finalist

Merrill's Detector Dogs

For nearly 125 years, Thomas College has been a major contributor to the workforce of Central Maine with 75% of graduates staying in Maine, with over half of those staying in the Kennebec Valley region. Thomas offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs ranging from business, entrepreneurship, and technology, to education, criminal justice, and psychology. Money Magazine recently ranked Thomas College 23^rd in the nation, for adding the most value to their degrees. Data reported by the New York Times ranks Thomas in the top 15% of all colleges and universities in the U.S. for upward mobility achieved by its graduates.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Nominees in this category are active in bettering the Kennebec Valley. They are recognized by their peers for their integrity and performance. Throughout their history, their track record of community leadership is evident.

2019 Finalist

First Amendment Museum

Located in the historic home of legendary publisher and First Amendment champion Guy P. Gannett in Augusta, the First Amendment Museum is creating exhibition spaces that show how Americans practice their First Amendment freedoms to give visitors an understanding of our fundamental rights. The museum has created programs to educate and inspire people to use their own voice to strengthen our democracy for our future as well as empower all Americans to live their freedoms every day.

2019 Finalist

The Harlow

The Harlow believes art is for everyone. Opened in 1963 by the Kennebec Valley Art Association, The Harlow is a membership based nonprofit organization that supports the artistic development of its member artists, both amateur and professional. Through countless exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and other special events, the Harlow ensures art is attainable to all and adds vibrancy to the community. As the Harlow continues to grow, it remains steadfast in its commitment and connection to the community, regularly partnering with nonprofits on projects and programs.

2019 WINNER

Viles Arboretum

With a 224 acre preserve, Viles Arboretum has six miles of trails, the second longest wetland boardwalk in Maine, twenty botanical collections from around the world, and Maine’s largest publicly accessible nature inspired sculpture exhibit. As an education and conservation centered nonprofit, Viles Arboretum’s mission is to introduce visitors to nature and to inspire all visitors with the fascinating and rich relationship all of us share with nature. The Arboretum provides and promotes nature based learning opportunities with a specific focus on interactive, creative, and hands-on learning and teaching.

CYNERGY YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AWARD

Nominees in this category are Kennebec Valley professionals between the ages of 21 and 40. For at least the past two years, they have shown exemplary leadership throughout our region. These individuals are recognized for their long term commitment to the betterment of the Kennebec Valley.

2019 WINNER

Craig Garofalo

Craig Garofalo’s work ethic and motivation to do a job well done all began with some wise words from his grandfather: “Don’t start something unless you intend to finish it.” Over the past 18 years, Craig has moved up through the ranks at Kennebec Savings Bank from summer teller to his position today as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Craig and his family chaired the United Way of Kennebec Valley’s 2015 fundraising campaign, and he is also involved with the Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency and the Maine Bankers Associations as well as local youth sports.

2019 Finalist

Jessilin Quint

Texas native Jessilin Quint, O.D., FAAO, is an optometrist and co-owner of Smart Eyecare Center. She moved to Maine three years ago in pursuit of joining a practice that is deeply committed to serving it’s local community. Jessilin is passionate about patient care and takes the time to treat every patient like family. As a local business owner, she feels being involved in the community is vital and has led her team at Smart Eyecare to participate in multiple community events. Jessilin speaks at local schools on the importance of eye care, lectures at national conferences, volunteers abroad, and is a member of the Cynergy Steering committee.

2019 Finalist

Courtney Yeager

Courtney Yeager’s passion for nonprofit work began when she was 11, volunteering at her local soup kitchen. What she didn’t know then was that her enjoyment of giving back and the ability to put a smile on someone else’s face would turn into a career. Courtney has truly found her dram job as the Director of Development and Marketing at United Way. There, she doesn’t have to choose among the different causes she is passionate about. Instead, she gets to work hard to support all of them. Through her career and volunteering, Courtney is working to build an ever more generous community that cares for its neighbors.