Mainebiz

V O L . X X V I I I N O. V I M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 2 2 26 B Y R E N E E C O R D E S B Y R E N E E C O R D E S 2 0 0 5 H ONOR EE: Mary Allen Lindemann, co-founder (with Alan Spear) of Coffee By Design, was also honored as a Mainebiz Woman to Watch in 2019. Mainebiz: What advice would you give your younger self when you started your career? Mary Allen Lindemann: Be open to every opportunity presented to you. MB: What has the pandemic taught you about business leadership? MAL: Be honest with those around you that you don't have all the answers and that you, too, are afraid but you keep moving forward, trusting your gut and moral compass. MB: What is the biggest challenge or opportunity for Maine's economy this year? MAL: e biggest challenges pres- ent our biggest opportunities. Labor shortages and affordable housing are top of my list. Immigrants, our newest neighbors, are the solution to our workforce shortage. ey possess a strong work ethic, provide much needed skills, offer new perspectives and get the job done no matter what barriers there are. With regards to housing, we must make it possible for people to live in the community where they work. 2 0 1 5 H ONOR EE: Donna Dwyer is president and CEO of Westbrook-based nonprofit My Place Teen Center. Mainebiz: What advice would you give your younger self when you started your career? Donna Dwyer: Better listening ears! Exercise! MB: What has the pandemic taught you about business leadership? DD: Find a way — there's always a way. Exercise! MB: What is the biggest challenge or opportunity for Maine's economy this year? DD: Opportunity: Use the unprec- edented and massive amount of American Rescue Plan Act funding to do transformative good for people and for infrastructure. Challenge: For those who greatly benefited from the pandemic, please use your expanded wealth for good. 2 0 1 8 H ONOR EE: Joshua Broder is CEO of Tilson, a Portland-based network deployment and professional services firm with a national footprint. Mainebiz: What advice would you give your younger self when you started your career? Joshua Broder: Seek out mentors in your specific business who are way ahead of you so you can lift your eyes and think bigger, sooner. MB: What has the pandemic taught you about business leadership? JB: Despite it being an incredibly difficult moment for everyone, the pandemic vali- dates two of our core values — safety and composure, which were useful guiding principles as we made decisions to keep our team safe and our mission to build America's information infrastructure moving. Also, leadership communication directly with all employees is critical. MB: What is the biggest challenge or opportunity for Maine's economy this year? O N T H E R E C O R D F I L E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY F I L E P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F M Y P L A C E T E E N C E N T E R F I L E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY CGI welcomes Jennifer McCurry 207.730.7222 / cgibusinesssolutions.com 383 US Route One — Scarborough, ME 04074 As one of the largest employee benefits solutions agencies in New England, we are able to provide a wide array of unmatched solutions to our clients. Call one of our business solutions experts today. A smarter benefits strategy A groundbreaking innovation in self-insured benefits 97% Captive member retention rate 159 average enrolled employees per member 0 New lasers issued That's self-insurance done right. The health insurance industry wants you to choose between high costs and high risk. ParetoHealth created the largest health benefits captive in the nation to reduce your costs while capping your risk over multiple years. Mary Allen Lindemann Donna Dwyer Joshua Broder For those who greatly benefited from the pandemic, please use your expanded wealth for good. — Donna Dwyer My Place Teen Center As Mainebiz prepares to celebrate the 2022 Business Leaders of the Year, we caught up with six business and nonprofit leaders honored in previous years.

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