Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 2 5 process that will help us to continue doing what we do best — processing, packing and selling premium-quality seafood — while we position the com- pany for long-term success, potentially under a new owner." e company is represented by Portland-based Bernstein Shur as legal counsel and Corporate Finance Associates as investment bank- ing merger and acquisition advisor. Portland Chamber warns of downtown 'crisis' Sounding the alarm about a "crisis" in Portland's Congress Street corridor and Arts District, the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce is circulating an online petition demanding that the city take steps to make the area cleaner and safer. e petition, addressed to Mayor Mark Dion and City Council members ahead of two regularly scheduled meet- ings on July 14, demands "swift, coordi- nated action to restore safety, cleanliness and vitality" for the well-being of all those who live, work and spend time in downtown. "is critical part of our city is facing significant challenges — pub- lic drug use, unsanitary conditions and disorderly behavior that put people at risk, strain small businesses and erode trust in the health of our public spaces," the petition notes. e chamber emailed it to members along with a photo of dis- carded drug needles and other trash on the ground. At least 450 people signed the petition, according to Quincy Hentzel, the chamber's president and CEO. N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N Farm to Neighbor Maine in Portland said it was awarded a $99,000 New England Food Vision Prize by the Henry P. Kendall Foundation recognizing the nonprofit's work, Growing Collaborative Menu and Crop Planning with Maine School Nutrition Directors and Farmers, which aims to enhance regional food sourcing by Maine's K-12 cafeterias. Portland-based nonprofit Cultivating Community will serve as the fiscal sponsor for the award. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery said it entered into an Educational Partnership Agreement with Sanford Regional Technical Center to present opportunities for shipyard employees and faculty to promote and encourage students' interest in science, technology, engineering and math as well as trades' skills development to students at eight area high schools in York County. Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland raised a record-breaking $475,000 benefiting Gary's House, a Mercy program that provides no or low- cost accommodations to families and loved ones of patients receiving medical care in greater Portland, during the 30th annual Bush Family Golf Classic. The town of Gorham announced the launch of its 2025 Capital Expenditure Matching Grant Program. The competitive grant program offers up to $12,000 in matching funds to eligible businesses and farms for a single, non-recurring capital purchase that will help drive expansion, increase production, or enhance market reach. The deadline to apply is July 31. Freeport Veterinary Hospital has changed its name to CareVet of Freeport. Portland Downtown, a nonprofit down- town improvement district, moved to 87 Center St. in Portland. Insulation mill to exit Chapter 11 TimberHP, a Madison-based maker of wood-fiber insulation, said it has exited — uncontested — Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with a strengthened balance sheet and long- term growth plan. e company, led by CEO and co-founder Matthew O'Malia, filed for bankruptcy protec- tion in March to restructure its debt. Upon exiting reorganization, the company has officially dropped the GO Lab Inc. name and reincorpo- rated as TimberHP Inc. "e change of legal name symbolizes an exciting fresh start for the company, with a strategy that calls for rapid execu- tion across key areas of TimberHP operations," the comp;any said in a press release. e company is based in Madison, in a former paper mill that co-founders O'Malia and Joshua Henry bought in 2018 to produce an environmentally friendly type of insu- lation that had been used in Europe for 20 years. New management for Lewiston arena e new management group for the Lewiston Colisée, a 67,000-square- foot sports, entertainment and trade show arena at 190 Birch St., said it will revitalize and "elevate" the facility. Mill Town Sports and Entertainment, which is based in Amesbury, Mass., said it views the facility as an economic catalyst for the community. e Colisée had been on the market since last year, listed by SVN the Masiello Group for $6.2 million. Now the facility "is under a short-term leasehold agreement with Mill Town Sports and Entertainment LLC with the intent to finalize a pur- chase of the property," Marc Brunelle, a senior commercial real estate advisor with SVN Masiello, told Mainebiz. C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y F r a n c i s E b e r l e , P r i c e A s s o c i a t e s The Association for Consulting Expertise (ACE) is a nonprofit association of independent consultants who value "success through collaboration." The public is welcome to attend its regular meetings to share best practices and engage with industry experts. For more information go to www.consultexpertise.com. Q: With the current uncertainty, what do employees want from their leaders to be focused and engaged in their work? ACE advises: Finding the right people, products and services to sustain and grow an organization is an ongoing challenge. Today's rapidly shifting generational workplace dynamics shaped by economic pressures, constant communication and information overload add to the complexity. If not addressed, these conditions can drive employee disengagement. A 2024 Gallup survey revealed that only 31% of U.S. employees are engaged at work, the lowest level in a decade. Several factors illustrate this decline: Role clarity: Just 46% of employees clearly understand what's expected of them, down from 56% in 2020. Perceived care: Only 39% feel someone at work cares about them, a drop from 47%. Development support: A mere 30% strongly agree that someone encourages their growth, compared to 36% in 2020. The decline is most pronounced among employees under 35, particularly Gen Z. Manager engagement has also dropped to 31%, matching the overall rate. Yet managers are critical to engagement — accounting for 70% of team engagement variance. Unfortunately, many are promoted based on technical skills rather than leadership, and only 44% receive formal training. What can leaders do and address what employ- ees want? Coach and author Erica Keswin suggest three key connections: Connect to purpose: Help employees see how their work sup- ports the company's mission. Connect to people: Foster collaboration and community with projects for teams so employees feel part of something bigger than individual tasks. Connect to self: Support employees in uncovering self- awareness and how they want to grow — revealing talents that can benefit the organization. Lastly as reported by Gallup in 2025, 56% of employees want leaders who demonstrate hope, 33% want leaders they can trust, and 12% who have stability. By creating these connections and conditions, leaders will demonstrate hope, strengthen engagement, morale, and per- formance across their teams. What actions will you take? ACE board member Francis Eberle, of Price Associates, is a leadership and organizational advisor, speaker and author. He can be reached at francis@price-associates.com

• Cover