Best Places to Work in Maine

B E S T P L A C E S TO W O R K 2 0 2 2 5 Letter from Best Companies Group 2 022 has proven to be a very im- portant year for all businesses in Maine and across the country. It's been challenging in many ways, from figuring how to make hybrid teams thrive to recreating the culture magic that was there pre-COVID. Despite these challenges, some com- panies—the best!—have prospered. This is why this year's "Best Places to Work in Maine" is one of the most impressive yet! We are Best Companies Group, the research firm that has helped honor amazing companies in Maine for 17 consecutive years. We are proud of this opportunity to celebrate all of you. Over the years we have seen the competition get more fierce, all while market dynamics keep making it harder to build a great business. But we know what you all know: winning with your people is crucial to winning at business. The people strategy and the business strategy go hand in hand. The best places to work, the companies we are honoring this year, have made people one of their competitive advantages. To find our "Best Places to Work in Maine" winners we go through a data-driven and exhaustive process. We survey the employees at each par- ticipating organization to ask them how they feel about every major work issue: leadership, communication, com- pensation, recognition, and growth. We also audit the programs and practices each organization has on the books. We look into their benefits, flexibility opportunities, and how they invest in their people. While the employee experience, which we gather from the employee survey, decides who makes it on the list, the programs and perks influence their rank. Every single company that won this year should be immensely proud of their achievement. It is a testament to your commitment to build a company where people feel respected, connected, and proud. Your participation and recognition as a "Best Place to Work in Maine" will help you stand out to top talent, make your current employees feel proud of working for you, and set you up for a brighter future. Thank you for being a part of this great community. Congratulations to all our winners! If you are interested in participat- ing next year, please go to www.Best- PlacesToWorkME.com. Registrations will open in January. See you there! - Jaime Raul Zepeda, Executive Vice President, Best Companies Group Your participation and recognition as a "Best Place to Work in Maine" will help you stand out to top talent, make your current employees feel proud of working for you, and set you up for a brighter future. FOR MOR E IN FO A N D TO R EG IS TER G O TO MA IN EBI Z .BI Z /N E X T U P22 S PONS OR ED BY Celebrate and network with the 2022 honorees Ocean Gateway, Portland November 9 / 5:00 — 7:00pm Join us for a special award reception recognizing 40 outstanding young leaders who are shaking up Maine's business community and leading us into the future. FOLLOW US @MBE VEN T S #MB40u40

• Cover