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On December 16, PROPEL Portland, the young professional’s chapter of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, hosted its Annual Ignition Awards. The ceremony celebrated local business owners, individuals, and companies.
PROPEL received more than 100 award nominations from peers and community members in the Greater Portland area. Following the nomination process, the public submitted around 500 votes for the finalists, resulting in the selection of six winners including Evergreen CU and an Evergreen CU employee!
“Although, we were forced to shift the event format to virtual, as a board we felt it was more important than ever to recognize the outstanding efforts of the young professionals and businesses in our community,” said Jillian Kanter, PROPEL President. “We are amazed at the flood of support we received from the community in nominating, voting for, and honoring these extremely deserving individuals and businesses.”
2020 Ignition Award Recipients
Young Professional of the Year, Nate Moody
- Moody, a Retirement Investment Counselor at Lebel & Harriman, focuses on helping plan sponsors, create and implement education plans in order to encourage employee engagement, as well as working with plan participants directly to increase retirement outcomes. He also volunteers with Junior Achievement of Maine, Preble Street Soup Kitchen, and plays pick-up basketball with kids at Long Creek Youth Development Center.
Community Leader of the Year, Julia Leighton
- Leighton is the founder of the nonprofit, Let’s Dia-beat This, which aims to soften the financial burden for families with children that have diabetes. Leighton hosts private fundraising events for families, volunteers for American Cancer Society’s Masquerade Ball committee, and has been serving as PROPEL’s In Focus Committee Chair. Leighton also works at Evergreen CU serving as the credit union’s Member Development Associate.
Adaptive Business of the Year, Evergreen CU
- Evergreen CU provided more Paycheck Protection Program loans to Southern Maine businesses than any other credit union in the state of Maine. Evergreen also provided free online financial education programs for members. In addition to supporting their members, Evergreen CU supported their employees during the pandemic by offering flexible working schedules and an extra 40 hours of paid time off.
Adaptive Business of the Year, American Roots
- American Roots is committed to supporting a better and more sustainable way of life while creating jobs and quality products in the United States. When the pandemic hit, they shifted their production to include personal protection equipment, including a custom reusable facemask.
Maine Ambassador of the Year, Nate Wildes
- Wildes is the Executive Director of Live + Work in Maine, focused on raising awareness about the career opportunities and world-class quality of life experienced by those of us who live and work in Maine. Wildes, is also the co-founder of Flight Deck Brewing.
Unsung Business Hero of the Year, Portland Sea Dogs
- The Portland Sea Dogs are a staple in the Greater Portland area and a pillar of the community. When the pandemic cancelled their 2020 baseball season, the Sea Dogs stood by all their employees both year-round and seasonal by committing to paying every employee who would have worked the 2020 season even though they did not play a single game of baseball.
Congratulations to all of the winners!