2025 Award Winners

See all the videos, produced by Sutherland-Weston Marketing Communications, by clicking here.

Norbert X. Dowd Award: Dan Tremble

Dan grew up in Bangor and after graduating from Bangor High School, he attended the University of Maine where he received a degree in Public Administration. Since 1996, he has owned and operated Fairmount Market on Hammond Street and was a former partner of the Bangor Ground Round.  

Dan previously served two terms on the Bangor City Council from 1999-2005, was Council Chair in 2004, and was elected again to serve as Chair of the City Council in November 2020. He served 12 years as Penobscot County Treasurer and previously served as Board Chair for Penquis CAP, the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, and Eastern Maine Development Corp. He is the current Penobscot County Commissioner.  Dan lives in Bangor with his wife, Molly, and their dog, Reny.  They have two adult children, Sean and Erin.

“Throughout his life of community service, Dan has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the region and beyond. Dan’s passion for civic leadership is evident through his experiences as a business owner, his various leadership roles within the community, his service on the Bangor City Council, his tenure as mayor, and as County Commissioner. He collaborates closely with community stakeholders, businesses, and organizations to address challenges and work toward solutions.”

Large Business of the Year: Frank’s Bake Shop

Frank Soucy opened up Frank’s Bakery on Hancock Street in 1945 , before relocating to their location on State Street in Bangor in 1947. Frank’s has been a family owned business serving as a go-to gathering spot where people come together to enjoy a coffee, breakfast, lunch, meal for dinner, delicious sweet treats, special occasion cakes and more. Since 2017, Frank’s Bake Shop has been owned by Frank’s great grandson, Brett Soucy, and his wife, Shelby. During this time, Frank’s has expanded its menu, enlarged its physical space, and grown its team to more than 50 full and part-time employees.

“Spirit of the Region” Cultural Award: Annette Dodd

Annette S. Dodd, co-owns The Rock & Art Shop and Sohns Gallery in Bangor. As a small business owner, former art teacher, curator, and sister of a naturalist, Annette values community, the arts, aesthetics, and nature. She is always thinking of ways to improve and beautify her surroundings. Over the past decade, she has been volunteering to bring more art and beauty to Bangor.  Her public artworks include The Greetings From Bangor Maine Mural, Paul Bunyan Bangor Wants You Mural, and Kenduskeag Stream Trail Mural in collaboration with Peter Walls. 

Annette is a co-founder and president of Bangor Beautiful, a nonprofit organization that creates projects to beautify the area. Through Bangor Beautiful, Annette has worked to plant native gardens and city trees throughout Bangor. In the past few years, Bangor Beautiful has worked to install many public works of art including, The Good Of the Hive Mural on Park Street, The Lupine Mural on Center Street, the Wabanki designed Ground Mural on Hammond Street, Spring Wood Mural also on Hammond Street, and student collaborated Pollinators Mural on Abraham Lincoln Elementary School.

Small Business of the Year Award: The Henry’s Bridal Boutique & Formal Wear

For more than 25 years, The Henry’s Bridal Boutique and Formal Wear has outfitted wedding parties, prom goers, event attendees, and party guests in Eastern Maine and beyond. When Mike and Maureen Henry opened The Henry’s in 1999, they envisioned being more than a bridal shop, they wanted to be a one-stop solution for all special occasion attire. Located in Bangor, this multi-generational family owned business continues to listen and collaborate with customers, helping each one craft the perfect look for their special occasion.

Sarah Dubay Community Service Award: Tammy Higgins

Dedicated to community service, Tammy Higgins has served as the founding Board Treasurer of the Maine Discovery Museum, Past President of the Bangor YWCA, Treasurer and Board Member of the Bangor YMCA, and co-chaired the merger of the YMCA and YWCA. Tammy also served as Treasurer of the Penobscot Pony Club and the Bangor Fire Auxiliary, and was appointed by the Bangor City Council to a committee that aided in the design and development of the Cross Insurance Center.  

A dedicated community leader, Tammy is a Rotarian and currently serves on the Bangor Y Foundation Board and the Maine Discovery Museum Board. She is a member of the AICPA and the Maine Society of CPAs.  Tammy joined Epstein Properties in 1996 and currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Finance and Special Projects.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting at Husson University. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).  Tammy resides in Bangor and Dedham with her husband, Tom. She has two children and recently welcomed her first grandson.

Nonprofit of the Year: Community Health and Counseling Services (CHCS)

Community Health and Counseling Services is a private nonprofit organization that provides community-based home health, hospice and mental health services to adults and children in central, eastern, southern and northern Maine. Through its diverse programs and services, CHCS profoundly impacts the community in numerous ways. The scope of CHCS services fall under the broad categories of Home Health, Hospice, Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorder services. CHCS is an organization with many services and supports that may not be well known to the broader community, but are essential to those individuals in need of these resources, often in times of crisis.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award: Compotech

Volunteer of the Year: Liz Russell

Award Video Produced by WABI

We are delighted to recognize Liz for her many contributions to the Chamber, including her service to the Board, helping out at events, and supporting chamber programs. Not to mention, her contributions to the community and the positive impact she has had on generations of students as President of Eastern Maine Community College. 

Liz Russell became the 8th president of Eastern Maine Community College in June of 2022 after spending nearly 29 years in various capacities at the college, including Director of Admissions, Dean of Student Success, and Vice President of Academic Affairs. A native of Lincoln, Liz received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Husson College. Liz currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, Northern Light Health, Eastern Maine Development Corporation, and Good Samaritan Agency. A graduate of the Bangor Region Leadership Institute and the National Education Association Emerging Leaders Academy, Liz previously served as the president of the Women’s Maine State Golf Association.  When she’s not working, you might find Liz at Bangor Muni, traveling, or at home working on her genealogy.