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V O L . X X X I I N O. V I M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 6 28 O N T H E R E C O R D 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 As Mainebiz gets ready to celebrate 2026's Business Leaders of the Year for their accomplishments and contributions to Maine's economy, we checked in with some of last year's honorees to ask about their leadership advice for this year's winners. Their recommendations range from the practical to the inspirational, including insights Laura Reading of Developers Collaborative shared while in Japan training for a marathon. Lessons in leadership from the C-Suite 'Consistently showing up' Laura Reading, director of affordable housing at Developers Collaborative and 2025 Industry Leader honoree: "Marathon training might be having an outsized impact on my thoughts here, but I've been reflecting on the idea that while it's important to set outcome- based goals, I've found a greater sense of accomplishment by reflecting on who I've become in the process of reaching those goals. Consistently showing up, despite challenges and setbacks, and caring enough to continually improve from day to day makes a meaningful difference over time." Changing one's perspective Kevin Bunker, founder and principal of Developers Collaborative, 2025 Industry Leader honoree: "As my business has grown, I've had to continually grow in how I approach leadership. With a small startup company, leadership can and should be very personal. But as the company grows, the challenge I've found is that I think it's important to retain those essential foundational qualities of leadership. e growing needs of the business place as great an emphasis on structure and organizational excel- lence as on raw individual inspiration and esprit de corps." Humility and community engagement Jim Godbout, Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating Inc. Honored as 2025 Volunteer of the Year for leading the transformation of a former church in Biddeford into a community center for at-risk teens; it is a sec- ond location for My Place Teen Center, a Westbrook- based nonprofit: "Be humble, listen, surround yourself with good people and build commu- nity engagement." Integrity and empathy Deborah Bronk, president, CEO and senior research scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. Recognized as 2025 Innovator of the Year for expanding the East Boothbay laboratory's footprint with the Harold Alfond Center for Ocean Education and Innovation: "When the world feels uncertain, our principles should not. Lead with integrity. Demand excellence. Serve with empathy." Listening to and learning from others Rob Tod, founder of Allagash Brewing Co., Maine's largest brewer, based in Portland. Honored as Sustainability Leader of the Year in 2025: "As a business leader, I've found it's important to surround yourself with colleagues who are not only competent, but also genuinely passionate about the goals of the organization and the role Be humble, listen, surround yourself with good people and build community engagement. — Jim Godbout Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating Inc. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY P H O T O S / T I M G R E E N WAY Jim Godbout Laura Reading Kevin Bunker

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