Mainebiz

I N S I D E T H E N OT E B O O K W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 31 A U G U S T 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 T hirty-two years ago, as I was just getting started as a journalist, there's no way I could have imagined the value of staking my life and career to one place. It never crossed my mind that by staying rooted in Maine I'd have numer- ous opportunities to follow some stories over years and sometimes over decades. Whether it's the hopes and aspirations someone might have expressed to me years ago — or my awareness of a de n- ing moment of change or crisis that was successfully weathered — know- ing so many back-stories has certainly deepened my appreciation of just how important resilience and tenacity are to achieving one's hopes and dreams. at's especially true in the business world, as I was reminded in report- ing my June cover story "Building bridges," which highlights Brunswick- based composites manufacturer Harbor Technologies' e orts to gain a greater share of the huge transportation infra- structure market. A primary source for the story was Martin Grimnes, founder and president of the -year-old com- pany that happens to be located in the Brunswick Industrial Park right across the street from e Times Record, the daily newspaper that I worked at for more than years, including years as its managing editor. I've known Grimnes since the mid- s, when he was an early pioneer in Maine's emerging composites industry. He was a founding member of Maine Composites Alliance, an industry group that today counts more than mem- bers among its ranks. e company he created, Brunswick Technologies Inc., quickly became an industry leader in developing and manufacturing com- posite reinforcement fabrics made from glass, carbon and other bers. His company's proprietary manufacturing processes propelled BTI into an envi- able growth trajectory that had climbed to million in sales by the s. With rapid growth came the need for additional capital, and that's where Grimnes' life story encountered what's known in the storytelling profession as the "climax," a turning point often precipitated by an unexpected crisis. It seems fair to call the hostile takeover of the company in by a subsidiary of the French multinational Saint- Gobain exactly that. We all know it's not a given that our personal narratives will end in triumph. e outcome often depends a bit on luck, getting help from others and, probably the most important element, drawing upon one's inner strength and resolve. Grimnes regrouped and formed a new composites company in called Harbor Technologies Inc. He staked out piers, pilings, sea walls, bridge beams and marine camels as infrastructure markets that composites could compete in e ec- tively against conventional construc- tion materials such as pressure-treated lumber, concrete and steel. He's racked up a number of " rsts" — including the Knickerbocker Bridge in Boothbay, at feet the longest composite bridge installation in the world. " It's always a tall task coming into a very established industry with new technology, Grimnes told me when I interviewed him this spring at his Brunswick manufacturing site — in his words, " ey are not going to roll over and play dead for us." Not surprisingly, given that he's , some of his time and attention is focused on succession-planning, both for himself as CEO and the company in general. On both fronts I left feeling con- dent that when the time comes to pass the baton, he's got a solid execu- tive team in his son Erik, who's worked at Harbor Technologies since and is the company's general manager, and Bob Yurglich, the company's new CFO, a Colorado native with strong nancial and marketing skills. ey were bright, articulate and enthusiastic about grabbing a bigger share of the infrastructure market away from con- crete and steel. I left Harbor Technologies thinking how lucky they are to have a visionary pioneer like Martin Grimnes as a role model, and how lucky he is to have bright, capable young people like them who are willing a nd able to bring fresh energy to his life's work. Lessons from a Maine composites pioneer Nominate your candidate for the thirteenth annual Mainebiz Next List To make a Donation to the Next List Alumni Scholarship Fund through the Maine Community Foundation, visit mainecf.org and click on mainecf.org and click on mainecf.org Make a gift. Do you know someone who is: A true entrepreneur? A forward-thinking leader? A positive motivator for change? A problem-solver who takes a fresh approach? FOLLOW US @MBEVENTS #MBNextList15 PRESEN T ING SP ONSOR Nominations close on August 24 Visit mainebiz.biz/next for the nomination form. Mainebiz needs your help to recognize Maine's dynamic individuals who are trailblazers in their industry. To identify these business mavericks, we're opening the nomination process up to you! You tell us, who's Next? www.emeramaine.com Bringing Power to the People of Maine "I'm proud to be leading a "I'm proud to be leading a company that safely and company that safely and reliably delivers power to reliably delivers power to the people of Northern and the people of Northern and Eastern Maine. Our electric Eastern Maine. Our electric grid enables customer choice grid enables customer choice of clean and efficient energy of clean and efficient energy options, and moves renewable options, and moves renewable power across the region." power across the region." Meet Alan Richardson Meet Alan Richardson Meet Alan Richardson President & President & Chief Operating Officer Chief Operating Officer Emera Maine Emera Maine J M C , Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at @ . and @ J M .

• Cover