2009 Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalists narrowed to three

    PRESQUE ISLE – Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development (LEAD) and Momentum Aroostook are narrowing their final decision in search of Aroostook County’s first annual most outstanding young entrepreneur. The contest to identify and name northern Maine’s 2009 Young Entrepreneur brought forth 14 nominations, submitted from all across The County. The top three finalists include: Matthew Bell, owner of Northeast Pellets, Ashland; Emily Smith, co-owner of Smiths’ Farm, Inc., Presque Isle; and Melanie Stewart, owner of MOJO’s Sports, Presque Isle. An outstanding Student Entrepreneur will also be selected from finalists Abby Small, co-owner of Small Steps Dance, Caribou; and Jeremiah Sjoberg, owner of Jeremiah Sjoberg Photography, Washburn.
    Prior to the announcement of the 2009 Young Entrepreneur of the Year, each of the finalists will display their business lines and make brief presentations at the joint annual meeting of Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP) and LEAD. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting beginning at 7:30 a.m. Friday, June 12, in the library and Edmunds Conference Center at Northern Maine Community College. Breakfast will be served, and the cost is $12 per person. Reservations should be made before June 5 by contacting Judy Dinsmore at 498-8736 or jdinsmore@nmdc.org.
    Participation certificates, an award of $500 for the 2009 Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and an award of $250 for the 2009 Student Entrepreneur, plus a three-credit-hour tuition certificate for the winning student to use at either Husson University, NMCC, University of Maine at Fort Kent, or the University of Maine at Presque Isle, will be presented at the meeting.
    A panel of six judges will select the 2009 final winner, one representing each of the sponsors. They include Virginia Joles, LEAD; Erica Quinn-Easter, Momentum Aroostook, and the supporting organizations represented by David Spooner, Husson University; Alan Punches, NMCC; Roger Roy, UMFK; and Clare Exner, UMPI. Fourteen applications were narrowed to three top finalists and two student honorees, following several 30-minute interviews and formal presentations.
    In February, during National Entrepreneurship Week, the call for applications went out and opened a search for individuals, age 16 through 40, who own, operate, or are involved in a partnership within northern Maine and who inspire others with their vision, leadership, and achievement. Nominations for the 2009 Young Entrepreneur of the Year were accepted across The County, resulting in six female and eight male candidates, ranging between the ages of 17 and 38 from Fort Kent to Houlton.
    In addition to the finalists, others nominated for the award were: Heidi Carter, owner and creative designer of Heidesign, Fort Kent; Troy Caverhill, owner of Northern Physical Therapy and Rehab Services, LLC, Presque Isle; Perry Charette, owner of Nashville Valley Farms, Portage; Serena Collins, owner of Ashland Diner, Ashland; Daniel Delucca, owner of Rental Center, Houlton; Torri Huston, owner of Creative Occasions, Presque Isle; Jared Ray Sirois, owner of Sirois Logging, Fort Kent; Andrew White, owner of A.K. White, Inc., Washburn; and Dale and Tim Wood, owners of Mapleton Oil Co.