Maine Center for Entrepreneurs and partners announce the 2024 Top Gun Class

11 months ago

The Maine Center for Entrepreneurs (MCE) along with its partners, the Lewiston  Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College, and the Northern Maine Development Commission announced the 38  businesses selected for the Top Gun 2024 Class. Beginning in 2009 with 12 companies, the Top Gun Program has proudly worked with over 340 Maine entrepreneurs across the state to launch and grow  their startups.

The competitive selection process included completing an online application and pitching their  business at an interview. Over the course of the 15-week program, staff and mentors will guide  participants through the “hands-on” training and group learning exercises taught by subject matter  experts in finance, business and marketing. 

MCE is pleased to announce this year’s group of Top Gun businesses and entrepreneurs: 

Ellsworth: AFR – Benjamin Pyles, Farm & Fish – Kate Pilotte, Salt Air Properties LLC – Amanda Look.

Houlton: Automated Waste and Recycling, Inc. – Charles J Amara, Caribou Painting Company – James Dempsey, Chapped Hide – Suzanne Belle Hiltz, LYFT – Jack Westfall, The Maine Bean & Tea – PattiJo Thompson, WAVED Medical LLC – Kendra Batchelder 

Lewiston/Auburn: Alchemize Coach – Christine O’Connell, DeltaCom Coffee – John Nelson, Garden Bevy – Sarah Chadburn, Glendarragh Farm Lavender – Lorie Costigan, MAC’s Gourmet Popcorn – Erika Moore, Nor’Easter Oyster Co. – Sean Corcoran, Sovereign Women’s Wellness LLC – Shea Donovan, Upta Maine – Shaun Hadlock

Machias: Pen & Cob Farm – Katherine Swann, Rime Farm – Lisa Dereszewski, Sew Fetch Dog Co – Caissie Roberts, Nautical Farms – Morgan-Lea Fogg 

Portland: Balanced Card Sorts – Anush Hansen, BlackTravel Maine – Lisa Jones, Bonsie Skin to Skin Babywear – Anna Turcotte, Climate Resources Group – Sam Milton, Go Natural English – Gabrielle Wallace, Kili Organics – Juliana Tebbetts, Lifted Blends – Devon Lathrop, Marcel Selemani – Marcel Selemani, Squad 10 Medical Fitness Center – Sarah Spencer, The Pain Changer® – Katie Wrigley, Vitalo Health – Mike R Mfashingabo, WOWSpace Design – James Leslie 

Waterville: AIM Academy Inc. – Derek Session, Concepta Jones – Concepta Jones, Scrap Dogs Compost – Davis Saltonstall, Watermelon Pie – Kachina Miller, Watts Works – Nick Watts 

“The 2024 group of Top Gun entrepreneurs is our most industry diverse group yet”, said Top Gun  Program Manager Laurie Johnson. “With the program’s expansion to Maine’s Northern and  Downeast regions, the participants are a great representation of Maine’s ingenuity and  entrepreneurial spirit.” 

Top Gun is sponsored and supported by the Maine Technology Institute, Maine Department of  Economic and Community Development, Bangor Savings Bank, partner economic development  organizations, local businesses, corporate and non-profit sponsors and dozens of volunteer advisors  and mentors around the state. Additionally, the Maine Technology Institute will provide a $25,000  cash prize to be awarded at a final statewide Showcase pitch-off to be held on May 16.

Established in 1997, MCE’s mission is to build and lead a community of growth-oriented businesses  in Maine, by providing the training, connections, coaching and mentors they need to commercialize  and grow their ideas, products and services so that their companies will drive the growth of Maine’s  

economy. Over its 25-year history, the organization has accelerated the growth of hundreds of  businesses, and established a mentor network of over 250 members. For more please visit www.mced.biz.