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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 J U N E 2 8 , 2 0 2 1 F O C U S FA M I LY - OW N E D B U S I N E S S Team Chalmers 'in lock step' In Bridgton at Chalmers Insurance Group, President Steve Cote says he "flew by the seat of his pants" in his first few months in that role. Cote, who joined the family-owned company as an account manager in 2000, held various leadership positions before his promotion to president in 2014, succeeding Bruce Chalmers. In part he was chosen for the job because Bruce's daughter, Dottie Chalmers Cutter, and nephew, Jim Chalmers, were not yet ready to lead the company, whose roots go back to 1857. e cousins — who graduated a year apart from Bowdoin College — have worked closely with Cote ever since, with Cutter leading operations and Chalmers overseeing sales. Both appre- ciate what Cote brings to the team. "ere are times when we need an outside perspective from someone who looks at things a little differently," Cutter says. "Steve provides that kind of objec- tivity and sound counsel." Similarly, Cote says, "We all focus on different aspects of the business, but on the core values and the core strategies we are in lock step," even at the end of a heated discussion about strategy or timing. "When we push away from the desk or sign off from a virtual meeting, we're very committed to the decision that we make." Cote describes his leadership role at Chalmers as a privilege, as some young family members — including Cutter's 10-year-old daughter — already imag- ine their future roles at the company. "It used to be that if you asked my daughter what she wants to be when she grows up, she'd say she wants to be an insurance agent just like her mom at Chalmers Insurance," Cutter says. "Now she says, 'I want to be the boss, Mom.'" R e n e e C o r d e s , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r, c a n b e r e a c h e d a t r c o r d e s @ m a i n e b i z . b i z a n d @ r s c o r d e s A Different Way of Looking at Things In business, you have a lot to keep your eye on. Sometimes In business, you have a lot to keep your eye on. Sometimes it's hard to see the opportunities and the risks clearly. it's hard to see the opportunities and the risks clearly. That's where Drummond Woodsum can help. We use a That's where Drummond Woodsum can help. We use a team approach – a small group of highly specialized attorneys team approach – a small group of highly specialized attorneys focused on helping your business see what's ahead before focused on helping your business see what's ahead before you take that next step. you take that next step. It's extremely efficient and cost-effective, and an excellent It's extremely efficient and cost-effective, and an excellent way to get the legal insight you need when you need it. way to get the legal insight you need when you need it. We practice law differently. Since 1965. dwmlaw.com dwmlaw.com | 800.727.1941 800.727.1941 There are times when we need an outside perspective from someone who looks at things a little differently. — Dottie Chalmers Cutter Chalmers Insurance Group

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