Mainebiz

V O L . X X I X N O. V I M A R C H 2 0 , 2 0 2 3 30 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 O N T H E R E C O R D Don Oakes, Sea Bags CEO MB: Last year you mentioned plans to double output in the next few years. Is that still a goal, and if so, what steps have you taken to make that happen? DO: We are still working towards our plan of doubling our production out- put. To accomplish that, we have four components that we are addressing: Space, material, equipment and people. We made significant progress on three out of four last year by acquiring the warehouse in South Portland where we had been leasing and expanding our footprint significantly; increas- ing our sail acquisition staff that sources the used sails we need from all over the country; and purchasing additional manufacturing equipment involved in our cut and sew operations. However, we continued to struggle to find sufficient numbers of people to staff our manufacturing operations throughout 2022, and this is our big- gest constraint to growth. MB: What impact has expanding employee benefits had on hiring and retention? DO: Over the past few months, we have started to see a turnaround in hiring and have had more success at bringing on production folks in the last four to six weeks than at any other time. People comment that they are pleased to learn about the comprehen- sive and competitive benefits package we offer and have been quite delighted to learn about our new Diversity Day. ese benefits extend to our existing staff as well, and we certainly hope that offering competitive, ever-increasing benefits contributes to increased satis- faction and retention. Amber Lambke, Maine Grains co-founder and CEO MB: What's the grain price and supply situation this year, and what steps are you taking to grow your network of growers? AL: Raw material pricing for organic grains and dry beans are up this year as farmers face supply chain and fuel cost increases in their operations. ere is a plentiful supply of grains with good yields from recent sum- mers and farmers in the Northeast are scaling to meet growing demand for organic grains. e number of farms that we purchase from grows by one to two new farms each year. MB: Where are you at with the planned redevelopment of the property adjacent to Maine Grains, and what's next? AL: Due to skyrocketing construc- tion costs through COVID that have not come down, the redevelopment of the property adjacent to Maine Grains was broken into two phases, a Phase 1 building that meets Maine Grains immediate expansion needs, with a Phase 2 building that helps to solve the need for retail space and downtown housing. e Phase 1 building has been designed and we are working with firms in Maine that can help us build the right building at the right price. A problem that many rural communities face: New construction costs more than a build- ing will appraise for as soon as it is built. us, we are working hard now to fill financing gaps with grants and investor engagement so that we can break ground. Nathan Szanton, Szanton Co. president MB: What new projects are you most excited about, and why? NS: Two projects we're working on that I'm excited about are Dougherty Commons in Portland, and White Rock Terrace in Cumberland. Dougherty involves master planning a site right next to the Dougherty Fields Complex, between Douglass Don Oakes Amber Lambke A problem that many rural communities face: New construction costs more than a building will appraise for as soon as it is built. — Amber Lambke Maine Grains A year after Mainebiz honored five individuals as 2022 Business Leaders of the Year, we checked in to find out what they're up to now. Learn More | As a business leader, you know that the hardest climb isn't Denali or even Everest. It's the life-long leadership journey. But you don't have to go it alone. You can travel with an experienced guide who knows the lay of the land, and an elite team of peers who has your back. At Vistage, we call this living a "Life of Climb," and it's about showing up every day ready to be better and go further in your life. Vistage peer advisory groups represent a diverse community of industry leaders who are humble yet driven. Within each group, leaders have an opportunity to share expertise, challenge one another to think critically, and ultimately arrive at better decisions. Find out how some CEOs go further and higher. Contact Vistage Chair, George Casey 207-869-5491 | george.casey@vistagechair.com | vistage.com/chairs/george.casey P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY

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