Maine Icons is excited to be putting a spotlight on some of Maine’s best and brightest entrepreneurs and professionals. And summer is a great time to update you on what a few of these amazing folks are up to lately. Let’s take a look…
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Sean Sullivan helped set a new standard for Maine’s burgeoning craft beer industry with the successful launch of the first-ever Maine Beer Box in June. During our interview with him earlier this year, Sean made his goals clear.
“I have two goals for Maine’s brewing industry: First, we’re going to make Maine the number one destination in the country for craft beer. And I mean number one – not California, not Colorado – Maine should stand alone…Second, we are going to make craft beer a model for Maine’s next economy,” stated Sullivan.
The Maine Beer Box is a custom-made shipping container featuring 78 taps and filled with Maine craft beer from 40 breweries around the state. This trip to Iceland is the first in a multi-year effort to expose the state’s brewing industry to international markets.
The success of the Maine Beer Box at the BjorFestival in Iceland demonstrates Sean’s commitment to his vision for Maine. Thank you, Sean! Learn more on the Maine Brewers Guild website.
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Jess Knox continued his efforts to energize Maine’s startup community by holding the fifth annual Maine Startup & Create Week in June.
Last summer during our interview, Knox said he believes Maine needs to work on attracting people from out of state and stop discouraging people from taking risks. He likes to describe Maine as a garden with rocky soil. “It’s hard for any seeds to grow in rocky soil,” he explained, “but if you cultivate and nurture the soil, any seed will grow. We need to develop awesome soil.”
Maine Startup & Create Week is designed to be a reflection and gathering of the emergent energy from entrepreneurs looking to establish their brand here in Maine. It is about growing enterprise and changing culture in the region. The focus is on redefining the conventional wisdom of what an economic center looks like, and what can be achieved outside of major metropolitan areas. The event features speakers from around the world, networking events and learning opportunities. Thank you, Jess!
Make sure to follow Maine Icons on Facebook and Linkedin as we will be sharing more updates on the entrepreneurial work and achievements of our previous Icons. And of course, keep an eye out for brand new profiles featuring those who continue to move Maine forward.