Finalists for 2026 Maine Family Business Awards Announced
Winners of the 2026 Maine Family Business Awards will be announced on Nov. 19. Shown here are last year’s honorees. Photo courtesy of Institute for Family Owned Business
PORTLAND, Maine — The Institute for Family-Owned Business (IFOB) has named 26 companies as finalists for the 26th annual Maine Family Business Awards. Seven award recipients will be announced live on Thursday, November 19, 2026.
The finalists represent a wide range of industries and communities across Maine. This year’s Maine Family Business Award finalists are:
•Autotronics, LLC
•Bissell Brothers Brewing
•Budget Document Technology
•Coastal Maine Popcorn
•Cormier’s Dog House
•Dirigo Ranch Feed & Seed
•Great Falls Construction
•Hammond Lumber Company
•Hebert Construction, LLC
•Hews Company, LLC
•Lafayette Hotels
•Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty
•MacDonald Pet Care dba Carden Kennels & Uncommon Dog
•Malone Commercial Brokers
•Octagon Cleaning + Restoration
•P&A Bookkeeping
•Pawsitive Play, LLC
•Planson International
•Polar Treat, LLC
•ProInfoNet
•Rosemont Market & Bakery
•The Anchor
•The Looney Moose Cafe
•Tibbetts Farm
•Tree of Life Chiropractic
• Wiggly Bridge Distillery
All family-owned businesses headquartered in Maine are eligible for consideration. For the purposes of the Maine Family Business Awards, a family business is one in which one owner either shares ownership or works in the business with at least one other family member, contemporaneously or over time, and has a commitment to the continuation of the enterprise.
The Maine Family Business Awards gala will take place Thursday, November 19, from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Brick South at Thompson’s Point in Portland, with a virtual attendance option. The evening will include heavy hors d’oeuvres, a showcase, networking and the live awards presentation. Amanda Hill, anchor for NEWS CENTER Maine, will return as host. It’s a celebration of Maine’s family-owned businesses and a chance to be together with people who understand what it means to be part of one.
The 2026 guest speakers are Kevin Zoeller, chief operating officer of VW Ventures, the Van Winkle family office, and Andrew Clark, a sixth-generation member of the Hillerich family, owners of Hillerich & Bradsby, makers of the Louisville Slugger baseball bat. Together, they will share perspectives on long-term stewardship, family governance and carrying a family enterprise into its next generation.
Awards to be presented include:
• Renys Large Business Award (25 or more employees)
• Chalmers Insurance Group Customer Service Award
• Androscoggin Bank First Generation Award
• M&T Bank Innovation & Technology Award
• Shep Lee Community Service Award
• Maddy Corson Small Business Award presented by Volk Packaging Corporation (fewer than 25 employees)
• Geiger Environmental Leadership Award
Each year since 2000, IFOB has recognized Maine-based family businesses that exemplify business success, positive business and family linkages, contributions to the community and industry, family participation, a strong work environment, communication and innovation. An independent judging panel selects the winners.
Tickets are $175 for in-person attendance, with tables to purchase and a free virtual ticket option too. Sponsorship opportunities, including showcase space during the networking reception, are also available. For more information or to register, click here.
Maine Family Business Awards (MFBA) sponsors include:
MEMIC, BerryDunn, Machias Savings Bank, Renys, Volk Packaging Corporation, Gifford’s Ice Cream, Androscoggin Bank, The Red Sox, Portland Sea Dogs, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Luke’s Lobster, Family Enterprise USA, Chalmers Insurance Group, Franklin Printing, EOS Worldwide with Laura McDowell, ReVision Energy, Geiger, Lee Auto Malls, Lebel & Harriman Retirement Advisors, Oakhurst, Bangor Savings Bank, Down East magazine, Camden National Bank, Zachau Construction, The Breakwater Group at Morgan Stanley, Capozza Floor Covering Center, Old Port Specialty Tile Co., Floorlife Solutions, Burgess Advertising & Marketing, Maine Community Bank, Hussey Seating, Norway Savings Bank, Hammond Lumber Company, M&T Bank, Cross Insurance, Av TechNik, Mainebiz, flyte new media, Maine Trust for Local News, and Townsquare Media.
Sponsored by Institute for Family-Owned Business
Now in its 32nd year, the Institute for Family-Owned Business (IFOB) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the success of family-owned businesses, which represent about 80 percent of all businesses in Maine. Through consulting, seminars, peer groups and networking, the Institute assists family-owned firms in meeting the unique managerial challenges associated with operating and sustaining a successful family enterprise. Additional information is available at fambusiness.org.
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