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V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 2 5 From the Editor T his year, Mainebiz launched the Outstanding Women in Business awards program, building on the longtime Women to Watch program. Outstanding Women in Business tweaks the formula a bit, allowing for a bit more leeway in the roles played in business, offering recognition to people who don't fit into the traditional CEO or executive director roles. But make no mistake, the program is very much indebted to the original format and meaning. Mainebiz started the Women to Watch program in 2009 to put the spotlight on women leaders who were showing remarkable leadership and vision. e program was started by two people who had a lasting impact at Mainebiz: longtime Publisher Donna Brassard, who retired in 2021, and Carol Coultas, who was editor for six years, until 2014. e way they tell the story, it was a simple prem- ise: Flipping through the pages of Mainebiz, they asked, "Where are all the women leaders?" Mainebiz has subsequently honored more than 75 women business leaders. From time to time, someone will ask, "Is this still valid? Do we need this award in 2025?" As an institution, our answer has always been "yes." As long as there is a pay gap between men and women, as long as men are more common in CEO roles, as long as women are a minority on corporate boards, we feel the award is valid. So, in this issue we introduce you to the latest class of honorees: seven women from the business, nonprofit, economic development and scientific fields. Congrats to all! Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Mainebiz offers the latest business news in the Daily Report and the Real Estate Insider newsletters. Here is the top content from July 21 to Aug. 5. 1. Portland waterfront restaurant set to reopen with new crew and fresh look 2. Portland at a crossroads: Downtown safety tensions taking a toll on small businesses, real estate 3. $3M golf learning center is being teed up in Freeport 4. Hammond Lumber to acquire Ware-Butler, expanding retail and manufacturing footprint 5. Plans to develop a hotel in Portland's Fidelity Trust building moving forward 6. Made in Maine: The side hustle that became a dream 7. In Aroostook County, $3M renovation of R&D farm could speed potato innovations 8. Portland IT firm Tilson sues former client for $200M in unpaid bills amid Chapter 11 restructuring 9. Mass timber expands building options in Maine 10. In Aroostook County, $3M renovation of R&D farm could speed potato innovations P H O T O / P E T E R VA N A L L E N 1 Mainebiz introduces 7 Outstanding Women in Business We're attorneys. But we're people first. Meet Helen. She guides start-ups throughout their business life-cycle: from assisting founders with company formation and navigating rounds of financing to negotiating exits, and everything in between. bernsteinshur.com Helen Sterling Coburn Shareholder Outstanding Women in Business builds on Women to Watch legacy

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