Mainebiz

V O L . X X I N O. X V I I A U G U S T 1 0 , 2 0 1 5 16 G ena Canning's phone rang. A frantic volun- teer was trying to keep pace with his biggest event of the year, Yarmouth Clam Festival, which attracts 100,000 people over three days. "He's saying, 'My pizza warmer is out of commis- sion. It's the middle of Clam Festival. Do you have one we can borrow?' is isn't even a customer, but within the hour our equipment technicians had located one and loaded it in my car. I'm driving it to Yarmouth. ese moments are common occurrences here at Pine State Trading because we want to steward a company that says, 'We're here to help you,'" says Canning, a managing partner at Pine State Trading Co. " e bigger you get and the more you can add technology, productivity models, trucks, equipment — all of that elevates our game. But at the end of the day when the phone rings, are we responsive? Our customers have choices and we want to be providing solutions to their needs." at's the kind of personal touch Pine State Trading prides itself on. e Gardiner-based company, founded in 1941 by Canning's grandfather, has built its repu- tation for being able to deliver for its 3,500-plus convenience store customers, who are in all six New England states plus part of upstate New York. Canning, who is one of four Mainebiz Women to Watch for 2015, balances leadership at Pine State Trading with roles as vice chair of Bangor Savings Bank, a recent board appointment to the Maine Health Management Coalition, volunteer work with the Gardiner Area Boys & Girls Clubs and Maine Cancer Center Foundation's "Tri for the Cure." Last year, she was named a "woman of distinction" by the Girls Scouts of Maine. She is a resident of Yarmouth. Canning is part of the third generation owner- operators of Pine State Trading, along with her brother Keith Canning and cousin, Nick Alberding, who is CEO. She grew up in Augusta, went to Hebron Academy and then onto American University in Washington, D.C. Growing up, she worked in the family business, often stocking the warehouse. Like many young Mainers, she had visions of a life out- side of the Pine Tree State. "I had a degree in communications and had no plans on working for my family," she says. The family business Her grandfather, Charles Canning Sr., lost his job and moved the family from Rhode Island in 1940. By 1941, he started supplying old-time "tobacco and candy" shops, the small-town stores in Maine, from his station wagon. Charles Sr. was joined by his sons Charlie and Jack in the 1950s and they saw opportunity in grow- ing their product off erings and territory. In 1952 they opened a malt beverage division and 1971 were able to add wine to the portfolio. "My father had a lot of vision. He could see the emergence of the convenience store market and he wanted to make sure Pine State was well-positioned to be a full-service supplier," she says. e Cannings built a leadership team and, by the late 1980s, started thinking about succession planning. Pine State Trading Co. 47 Market St., Gardiner Founded: 1941, by Charles Canning Sr. Managing partners: Nick Alberding, Gena Canning, Keith Canning Revenues: Would not disclose Employees: 1,050 Contact: 622-3741 www.pinestatetrading.com Gena Canning is a managing partner at Pine State Trading Co., which delivers products to more than 3,500 convenience stores. Pine State and its divisions have 1,050 employees, including 700 in Maine. Logistics plus B y P e t e r V a n A l l e n P H O T O / W I L L I A M T R E VA S K I S D I S T R I B U T I O N Gena Canning Managing partner Pine State Trading Co. C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 8 »

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