PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — On the evening of Thursday, Jan. 25, the large dining room of the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center was filled with more than 100 Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce members who came out to celebrate the individuals and businesses that made a difference in the community in 2017.
After enjoying a dinner served by the kitchen staff at the Inn and Convention Center and music by special guest Heath Bartley, officials from the Chamber of Commerce, Presque Isle Rotary Club, Presque Isle Elks Lodge and the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club presented six annual awards: the President’s Award, Citizen of the Year, Economic Impact Business of the Year, Community Support Business of the Year, and two Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Past Chamber president Shawn Lahey presented the President’s Award to Karen Gonya, a former Chamber board member who continues to serve on the public relations committee. Lahey and the board recognized Gonya for her commitment to the chamber and willingness to lend her help toward projects long before she was a board member.
Though Gonya declined to speak, State Representative Trey Stewart read a passage given to him by fellow Maine senators in Augusta. He announced that for every award recipient he would read sentiments that the senators wrote on their behalf.
“We are honored to recognize Karen Gonya for her countless behind-the-scenes efforts to ensure that the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce meets the needs of northern Maine citizens,” Stewart read.
Presque Isle Rotary Club President Amanda Pooler-Hall presented the Citizen of the Year Award to Gina LeBlanc-Eggert. LeBlanc-Eggert was nominated by the Rotary Club because of her dedication as a board member to several area nonprofits and businesses such as the Central Aroostook Association Board of Directors and the Northern Maine Community College Foundation.
In addition to her active role in her community, LeBlanc-Eggert works in Emera Maine’s Customer Service Department and has made many trips to Guatemala over the past five years. In fall 2017, she enlisted fellow Rotarians to help build a water filtration system for the country’s poorest citizens.
“No one can accomplish anything by themselves and it was all of you who stood by my side to make all of this happen,” LeBlanc-Eggert said. “Thank you for all that you do to make this County the great place it is.”
Presenters also recognized two family-owned businesses that have long histories of giving back to those they serve in Aroostook County.
Smith Farms of Presque Isle received the Economic Impact Business of the Year Award from Chamber President Floyd Rockholt, who explained the rich backstory behind the six-generation business.
“In 1859, Oliver Carpenter Smith cleared land and built the first frame house in Mars Hill. His son Edgar Smith became the first Smith to farm commercially and in 1915 the family became the first in this region to grow all-certified seed potatoes,” Rockholt said.
The 1980s marked Smith Farm’s first foray into broccoli production and by the 1990s the family had expanded their acreage into Westfield, Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield and Limestone and added cauliflower as one of their main crops. Today, sixth-generation cousins Emily Smith and Zachary Smith have joined their fathers Lance Smith and Greg Smith and grandfather Herschel Smith in producing crops that are shipped throughout the country and internationally.
“The generations before us built a solid foundation that allowed us to expand and build an even greater company for the next generation of farmers,” Emily Smith said, as she accepted the award with Zachary Smith and Herschel Smith beside her. “Our work is defined by the exceptional people who live in Aroostook County who have helped us.”
The Community Support Business of the Year Award was given to Rob and Martha Frank, owners of Big Cheese Pizza in Presque Isle and Caribou, and their family for contributing their food services to community events such as Relay for Life and the Northern Maine Fair, donating to nonprofits such as local food pantries and allowing their restaurants to be used as locations for community fundraisers.
“We love doing what we can to give back to our community, so thank you to everyone that has helped us over the years,” Martha Frank said.
The evening concluded with the presentation of two Lifetime Achievement Awards to longtime Presque Isle residents Larry Park and Larry Clark. Based on the number of nominations, chamber members chose to honor two individuals who have made numerous contributions to Aroostook County.
Park’s grandfather, Rev. George Park, established the university as Aroostook State Normal School in 1903. Park is a former potato farmer and woodlot owner who served on the Central Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District for 30 years and won numerous awards for his farming and land conservation efforts, including the SWCD Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1973 and the organization’s Forest Landowner of the Year in 2003.
Clark earned the recognition for his extensive work with the Presque Isle Industrial Council, for which he served as executive director for 48 years beginning in 1968. Presenter Sharon Campbell of the Presque Isle Rotary Club described Clark as someone who is a “builder of trust, understanding and relationships” who used his expertise to create better business and economic development opportunities for Presque Isle.
“When I started at the Industrial Council I was 24 years old and I had thought that I would be there maybe three to five years before I found something else that I liked doing,” Clark said. “Well, I guess I didn’t find anything else to move onto. It has been a privilege for me to serve this community and this County and tonight is about everyone who has made our successes possible.”
Staff Photos/Melissa Lizotte
