D
on joined Sea Bags as CEO in November of 2013
and since that time has led the company to qua-
druple sales while creating more than 130 jobs.
During this time the company has expanded to 25 stores
in 8 states while increasing its manufacturing space in
Maine from 2500 square feet to more than 15,000. Prior
to joining Sea Bags, Don spent twenty years at L.L.Bean
in a number of senior management roles, including as
Sr. Vice President, Creative and Direct Channel where he
was responsible for the legendary catalog and website.
Before L.L.Bean, Don worked for several management-
consulting firms in Boston and New York. Don currently
serves on the Board of Directors of Delta Dental Plans of
New England where he is also Chairman; and as Chairman
of the Standards Committee of the Customer Operations
Performance Center. Previously, he served on the Board of
Trustees for the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy
where he was also Treasurer, on the Board of Trustees for
Maine Audubon, the Board of Directors of the Children's
Theatre of Maine, and as a Senior Examiner for the Malcolm
Baldrige National Quality.
Don Oakes
Chairman & CEO of Sea Bags, Inc.
PA N E L I S T
1. Balance is the key to a happy life.
2. Never stop learning.
3. Ask for forgiveness rather than
permission.
4. Love what you do, do what you love.
5. Just because we can, doesn't mean
we should.
6. Perfect is the enemy of the good.
7. Integrity above all else—always.
8. Carpe Diem—in any language.
9. When the Universe is talking, listen!
10. Seek win/win and shared success.
