The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced its
2017 Maine Small Business Award winners recognizing outstanding small business
owners throughout the state. Leigh Kellis, founder of The Holy Donut in
Portland has been selected as SBA’s Maine Small Business Person of the Year.
The Holy Donut is a donut shop specializing in potato-based
donuts, with two locations in Portland and one in Scarborough. The business
also sells its donuts wholesale to Whole Foods and Coffee by Design. Ms. Kellis
was selected for this award based on the continued growth of her business and
the contributions she has made to the local community.
“Small Business Week provides SBA with the opportunity to
celebrate the achievements and successes of a number of deserving small
business owners,” said SBA’s Maine District Director, Amy K. Bassett. “The
story of Leigh Kellis and The Holy Donut perfectly illustrates the
entrepreneurial spirit and tenacity necessary to start and grow a thriving
business in Maine.”
Ms. Kellis will compete with the nation’s top small
businesses for the honor of National Small Business Person of the Year during
the SBA’s National Small Business Week celebration, April 30-May 1. The Winner
will be selected from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands, and Guam. The announcement will be made during an event in
Washington, D.C. on May 1st.
On Monday, May 15th, the Maine District Office of
the Small Business Administration will recognize Ms. Kellis and the other 2017
Maine Small Business Award recipients at a 4:00 p.m. reception and awards
presentation at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport. For additional information
about the reception please call 207-622-8551 or e-mail keith.lind@sba.gov.
Other award winners
to be recognized include:
Maine and New England Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year Joshua Broder Tilson Technology
Management, LLC of Portland
Maine Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Business of the Year Alison and Scott
Snell Wilson’s on Moosehead
Lake of Big Moose Township
Maine Small Business Exporter of the Year James Banfield Terra Speakers of
Brunswick
Maine Woman Owned Small Business of the Year Pamela Laskey Maine Foodie Tours of
Portland
Maine Young Entrepreneurs of the Year Devin McNeill and
Charles Friedman Flowfold of
Scarborough
Maine Home Based Business of the Year Justin and Alisa
Carney Afterlife Affections,
LLC of Washburn
Maine Minority Owned Small Business of the Year Naima Abdirhmon ARWO Learning Center,
LLC of Portland
Maine Micro-Enterprise of the Year Kate Beever Maine Music &
Health, LLC of Saco
Maine Financial Services Champion of the Year Ann Marie Swenson People’s United Bank
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