BurrellesLuce reaches milestone
with boost from PI staff
125 years
PRESQUE ISLE — BurrellesLuce, one of Aroostook County’s largest employers, is observing its 125th anniversary this year. For the company, a longtime leader in its field, the milestone represents a hard-won achievement. For the many women and men who have worked for BurrellesLuce in Presque Isle since 1980, it is an achievement for which they deserve considerable credit.
BURRELLE’S CLIPPING SERVICE held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Presque Isle July 31, 1981 at the site of its current location at 130 Main St. next to the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center. BurrellesLuce is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, and attributes much of its success to the Presque Isle staff — many of which have been with the company since it first opened its doors in the Star City in 1980. Among those attending the ribbon-cutting were John Maple, general manager of the local branch; Robert C. Waggoner, partner; Fred Wynne, partner; Arthur Wynne Jr., partner; Gov. Joseph Brennan and his son, Joe; Greg Freeman, president of the Presque Isle Industrial Council; Mrs. Arthur Wynne, Burrelle’s sales manager; Mrs. John Maple, Dana Connors, Presque Isle city manager; Gene Conlogue, president of the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce; and Patsy Irving, executive director of the chamber.
From its founding in 1888 in New York City, BurrellesLuce, now headquartered in northern New Jersey, has paved the way for major innovations in the monitoring and analysis of media coverage accorded clients operating in a wide array of industries. BurrellesLuce searches for relevant mentions appearing in all media — online, web, blog, social, broadcast, cable and print; in fact, it is the only company in the United States that monitors the print media.
BurrellesLuce delivers stories to clients quickly and efficiently, and provides clients with data reports and charts highlighting key attributes of the coverage. Among the company’s most distinctive offerings is the customized analysis service it provides for clients seeking to understand the potential impact of their media coverage. BurrellesLuce also holds another important distinction — it is the only U.S. monitoring firm that fully complies with copyright law.
For the past 33 years, the Presque Isle operation has been a key contributor to the company’s success. BurrellesLuce moved here in 1980, starting out in a location under LaVerdiere’s Drug Store on Main Street and, a year later, moving to its current facility at 130 Main St. Much of the monitoring and editing activity, and all of the customized analysis, are performed in Presque Isle.
When the company opened its Presque Isle facility in 1980, the firm was known as Burrelle’s. The name was changed to BurrellesLuce in 2003, following the merger of Burrelle’s and Luce Press Clippings.
While the technology used in searching for relevant media coverage and delivering it to clients has changed dramatically since 1980, the common thread running through the years and decades — the thread that enables BurrellesLuce to continually stand out from its rivals — is the diligent, committed and knowledgeable effort put forth by the many women and men who have worked for the company in Presque Isle.
Folks like Linda Gagnon, Brenda Jenkins and Chris Peary. Gagnon, who lives in Presque Isle, is an alumna of the very first media reading class that BurrellesLuce conducted here, which got under way on June 23, 1980. Jenkins, a Caribou resident, and Peary, of Presque Isle, graduated from the second class, which started a few weeks later, on July 28. The three women are the only current employees whose tenure dates back to those initial two classes.
Reminiscing about how they reacted upon their introduction to media monitoring all those years ago, they remembered thinking, as Gagnon related, “People are actually going to buy this?” Peary recalled wondering, “Why would anyone want to know about sewage? And who cares about dried tomatoes?”
Yet, more than 32 years later, they each realize that the initial mixture of skepticism and curiosity fueled an ongoing drive to constantly hone their craft, which is a large part of the reason they are still with BurrellesLuce today.
All three say that the information they have absorbed through the years plays an integral role in their daily lives. From random information stored in their heads, to deep awareness of current events, to memorable mentions of clients past and present, these BurrellesLuce Presque Isle veterans often find themselves thinking, “Hey, I know that account!” when they spot a passing car, see a product advertisement or hear a news report. And they all still share their love of reading and the anticipation of learning something new each day.
Aptitude and attitude go a long way toward defining the people of BurrellesLuce, in Presque Isle and at the company’s other sites, as well. But beyond benefiting greatly from those positive qualities, BurrellesLuce clients reap the additional significant advantage of being served by the most experienced staff in the entire media monitoring and analysis field. Indeed, of the nearly 190 BurrellesLuce Presque Isle employees, 40 have been on the job at least 10 years, 31 have amassed at least 15 years, 24 have worked there at least 20 years, another 27 have observed silver anniversaries, and 11 have contributed to the success of the company and its clients for more than 30 years.
The constancy and stability that are clearly suggested by the employee-longevity numbers are also reflected in the high quality of the working relationships commonly found at BurrellesLuce in Presque Isle. The camaraderie and teamwork that exist in each department can be gleaned from the Employee of the Month announcements that have run in The Star-Herald and other publications the past four years. Honorees are chosen by colleagues, who, almost without exception, cite an honoree’s readiness to assist co-workers as a major reason for formally recognizing the person.
Knowledge. Skill. Dedication. Selflessness. These are the decidedly “old school” traits that have been instrumental in enabling BurrellesLuce to reach its 125th year. And they are traits that the company’s Presque Isle employees are sure to keep on prominent display in the years to come, as BurrellesLuce endeavors to remain at the forefront of its industry.
