by Susan Baracco
We at Maine Icons are excited to continue our work highlighting the leaders, innovators and rising stars in the world of Maine business. Our quarterly updates bring you news about the Icons and their good work here in Maine. Let’s take a look at what a few of these amazing folks are up to…
Help Maine Icons Grow!
Emerging Maine Icon, Kelly Brewer, Director of Engineering at Tilson Technology Management, was named to the Engineering News-Record (ENR) 2018 Top Young Professionals list. ENR is a print and digital magazine providing engineering and construction news, analysis, commentary and data for the construction industry. ENR reports on the top design firms, architects and engineers, and the top construction companies as well as projects in the United States and around the world.
As ENR’s announcement explains, “The awards program honors individuals who have built extraordinary industry portfolios in just a few short years. In addition, many donate significant amounts of time and expertise to serve their communities. The winners will be profiled more in depth in the May print edition of ENR New England print edition.” Congratulations, Kelly!
Emerging Maine Icon, Ned Swain, president of Local Muscle Movers, is proud to have once again helped make the Robert Burns 10K Road Race happen on Sunday, January 28th. This year marks the third year of the event. The race attracted 110 runners and it proved to be a very fast field. The big win from this modest event was the more than $2,000 raised for the Westbrook High School Alternative Education program. As Ned explains on their Facebook page, “Thank you all for helping me put on a serious competitive road race in Westbrook and support equal opportunity education through the High School Alt Ed program.”
Maine Icon, Brian Corcoran, CEO and founder of Shamrock Sports & Entertainment, is hoping to score big again this year as he looks to bring the America East Conference women’s basketball tournament back to Maine. According to a recent article in the Press Herald, “nearly 5,000 fans attended the three sessions of the tournament last year and tournament officials are hoping to increase that this year when the America East tournament returns to the Cross Insurance Arena on March 3 and 4 with its quarterfinals and semifinals.”
Corcoran believes the success of this tournament in Portland is predicated in part by the support of the business community as well as the fans — especially ones of the University of Maine Women’s Basketball Program. The Black Bears will look to capture the conference crown as they will enter the tournament as the number one seed. Best of luck to Brian and Shamrock Sports for a second successful year of women’s tournament action here in Maine.
Maine Icon, Heather Blease, CEO of SaviLinx, continues to garner recognition for her business success. Most recently, she was featured in this Innovation & Tech Today article about her entrepreneurial comeback. Heather is keeping busy contributing advice for startups to Foundr Magazine, and recently detailed her story to Inc. Blease was given the Growth Master Award by the US Women’s Chamber of Commerce. In her words, that caused her to “step back and [feel] very humbled and grateful for the recognition.”