Mainebiz

V O L . X X I X N O. X X I I I O C T O B E R 2 , 2 0 2 3 18 N E X T U P | 4 0 U N D E R 4 0 F O C U S Founder and captain of a Maine coast oyster farm Alicia Gaiero, 25 Founder and captain, Nauti Sisters Sea Farm and East Coast Aquaculture Consulting Significant professional accomplishment: Becoming an employer at the age of 24 at the same time as taking on a new role in a blue tech startup. Becoming an employer and an employee at the same time was exciting and overwhelm- ing and while my farm grows great oysters, it has truly been a vehicle to employ and empower other young women who aspire to work on the water. Being able to be a small piece of their journey and watching these women grow and overcome challenges has been one of the most inspiring things in my life. Passion project: I plan to travel to every continent and continue my work to achieve fluency in Spanish. Audacious goal: To hike to Mount Everest base camp. Favorite quote: "What you get by achieving your goals is not as impor- tant as what you become by achieving your goals." — Henry David Thoreau Influential book: "The Hungry Ocean," by Linda Greenlaw Favorite movies or TV shows: "Moonrise Kingdom," "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and "Below Deck" How do you recharge: Spending time with my close family and friends. Singing loudly with my sisters to our favorite songs like "Piano Man" and "Rhinestone Cowboy." Answering the call for a plumber Jessica Green, 34 Proprietor, Green Quality Plumbing & Heating Significant professional accomplish- ment: My reputation for quality work and exceptional attention to detail in addition to a great work ethic is what sets me apart. Passion project: I'm passion- ate about my succulent nursery and teaching the importance of caring for plants to my beautiful children. All of my plants started from one leaf. Audacious goal: Letting my endless drive take Green Quality Plumbing & Heating to its fullest potential. Favorite quote: "Be happy with what you have while working for what you want." — Helen Keller Influential book: "Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Pur- pose Every Day," by Jay Shetty Favorite movies and/or TV shows: "Freedom Writers" and "Stranger Things" Founding the bounty of Waldo County Colleen Hanlon-Smith, 37 Co-owner, Daybreak Growers Alliance Owner, Peak Season Produce Co-founder, Waldo County Bounty Significant professional accom- plishment: Committing two decades to the same goal and fail- ing better each year. In the last four years, establishing two viable busi- nesses and one nonprofit that support over 100 Maine farms and food businesses and create access to Maine grown foods for thou- sands of Mainers. Con- tinually striving to grow busi- nesses that are regenerative, not extractive. Daily grateful to have crafted a self-led exis- tence dedicated to pur- poseful work while liv- ing in rural Maine. Passion project: Slowly making a home out of the 200-year-old Cape I bought at auction eight years ago. Audacious goal: Being a kind and sane person. Favorite quote: "Happy the man who, dying, can / Place his hand on his heart and say: 'At least I didn't neglect to tell / The thrush how beautifully she sings.'" — Bernard O'Donoghue Influential books: "O Pioneers!," by Willa Cather; "East of Eden," by John Steinbeck; and "The Unsettling of America," by Wendell Berry Favorite movies/TV shows: Nothing noteworthy and plenty shameful! How do you recharge: Walks in the woods. Alone or with my dog. A business owner helping revitalize Skowhegan Sam Hight, 38 Dealer principal, Hight Family of Dealerships Significant professional accomplish- ment: Rejoining a community and being an active participant in the renaissance of Skowhegan as a business owner, vol- unteer, neighbor and phi- lanthropist. Since 2008, I have established five new businesses in Skow- hegan, joined multiple local boards, includ- ing Main Street Skow- hegan, the Skowhegan Regional Chamber of Com- merce, Redington Fair- view General Hospital and Skowhegan Sav- ings Bank; and supported hun- dreds of local initiatives supporting c h i l d r e n , schools, first responders, ski mountains, among many others. The suc- cess of our commu- nity is as important as the success of my busi- nesses — which has a reciprocal relationship. Oh, and being selected for Mainebiz's 40 Under 40, of course! Passion project: I have two: The Skowhegan Early Childhood Edu- cation Center. And the Madison afford- able rural rental housing project. Audacious goal: U.S. senator and/ or Maine governor — neither of which are on my current radar considering my work, life, and fam- ily balance and my immediate goals. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Alicia Gaiero founder and captain of Nauti Sisters Sea Farm and East Coast Aquaculture Consulting. PH OTO / TI M GR EENWAY Jessica Green, owner of Green Quality Plumbing & Heating, has no shortage of work these days. P R OV I D E D P H O T O Colleen Hanlon-Smith is involved in a range of food- production businesses in Waldo County. P ROV I D E D P H O T O Sam Hight is a dealer principal at the Hight Family of Dealerships in Skowhegan and has been active in the development of affordable housing. While my farm grows great oysters, it has truly been a vehicle to employ and empower other young women who aspire to work on the water. — Alicia Gaiero

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