Mainebiz

V O L . X X I I I N O. V I M A R C H 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 22 starting Wicked Joe, sales jumped 25% in 2016 to a record $5 million. Including Bard, the total was $6 million. e sales milestone capped a busy year that included getting certifi ed by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association for being 100% organic. It also gained the seal of approval from the non-profi t B Lab organization for meeting rigorous social and environ- mental performance, accountability and sustainability standards, one of only four in Maine to attain B Corp status. And in February, Bard Coff ee received a "2017 Good Food Award," given to food and drink makers who have demonstrated a commitment to help build a tasty, authentic and responsible food system. Bob Garver gives all the credit to the employees, 25 at Wicked Joe and 12 at Bard Coff ee. "We're nothing without our employ- ees," he says. "I'm really proud and I think our companies are remarkable in their own ways. We couldn't be great unless there were great people in Maine. Mainers are independent, they're hard-working, they're crafts- men and they have integrity, all of the things we care about, and part of why Carmen and I moved here." Early connections Coff ee played a role in both Garvers' lives before it became their business. Bob, a West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran, fondly recalls his time in Turkey, doing business with people over coff ee and chai. "I was a bit impatient the fi rst time," he admits, "but the next time I went I blocked out a lot of time. We built relationships that transcended work." Later, when he left the service, he thought about opening a brewpub before deciding on coff ee. "I didn't want to tell my grandma that I owned a bar," he says. Carmen, who like Bob is 54, traces her connection to coff ee back to when she worked as a clinical psychologist, special- izing in HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and chronic and mental illness. "Sharing many cups of coff ee with patients was frequently an opportu- nity to break down barriers," she says. "I later moved to Mexico, only to discover a love for the Latin culture and its people, while also enjoying lots of coff ee. Coff ee, therefore, was often the common thread that connected me to the people and cultures I adore, while fulfi lling the need for human connection and compassion." "At Wicked Joe and Bard Coff ee," she adds, "we make many connections and meet many people over coff ee and are privileged and humbled by our rela- tionships with the farmers who grow our www.bhbt.com • 888-853-7100 As a business owner, you have spent a lifetime serving customers and providing a livelihood for your employees. Now you want to retire but see the company you built continue. It is an important community asset and you feel a responsibility to your employees. Transitioning the business to the right owner is essential. You have one chance to get it right. Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has advised many business owners on the financial aspects of transitioning their business to the next owner, using a variety of financing strategies. Together we can do this. Start the conversation today. From business owner to retiree » C O N T I N U E D F RO M PA G E 2 0

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