News Releases

Maine's Family-Owned Businesses of the Year Announced

June 13 , 2007

Geiger Bros. of Lewiston, the nation's largest family-owned and managed promotional products distributor, and Morrison's Maine Course of Portland, a producer of specialty seafood products, have been named the 2007 recipients of the Gannett Family Business of the Year Awards at the eighth annual awards dinner, held Wednesday evening, June 13, in Freeport.

Geiger Bros. was named the winner in the large business category (50 or more employees), while Morrison's Maine Course won in the small business category. The Beachmere Inn of Ogunquit received the honorable mention. 

The annual awards ceremony is a program of the University of Southern Maine Institute for Family-Owned Business, a nonprofit organization established in 1995 to support family-owned businesses. The Gannett Family Business of the Year Awards were established in 1999 to recognize family businesses that demonstrate creativity in ensuring their company's vitality, while maintaining ties with their communities and stakeholders.

Geiger Bros, a fourth generation business founded in 1878, operates 15 divisional offices and is affiliated with over 500 independent sales representatives across the country.

The company is also an internationally recognized manufacturer of paper-based planners and organizers. It is also publisher of the Farmers' Almanac, published continuously since 1818.  The company moved to Lewiston in 1955.

Located on the waterfront in Portland, Morrison's Maine Course offers all-natural stews and chowders incorporating Maine seafood, dairy and produce. The first generation business offers specialty seafood products that are available nationwide through mail order, the Internet and at more than 500 stores in 23 states.

The company also operates a restaurant -- Morrison's Maine Chowder House -- in Freeport. Though a first generation business, the Morrison family has hauled lobster traps off the Maine coast for 100 years.
 
The Beachmere Inn, the 2007 honorable mention winner, is a third-generation business, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary.

In addition to the business of the year awards, two Maine companies received awards for outstanding community service.

Maine Machine Products of South Paris - a precision custom manufacturer of components and assemblies for high technology markets - was recognized for community service in the large business category.   Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley, which is being developed into a four-season resort serving Maine and New England, was recognized for outstanding community service in the small business category. 

Community and business leader Maddy Corson, former chair of Guy Gannett Communications and a member of USM's Institute for Family-Owned Business Advisory Board, established the awards.

A total of 19 businesses throughout the state were nominated and evaluated by a panel of judges. Nominees were required to demonstrate excellence in several areas, including business success, work environment, succession planning and community involvement.
Tom Chappell, who with his wife, Kate Chappell (USM class of 1983) founded Tom's of Maine, was keynote speaker of the event, which was held at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport.

For more information, visit http://www.usm.maine.edu/ifob or call Institute Director Tom Juenemann at 780-5935.

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