Submit Nominations for 2026 Annual Awards
We are seeking nominations for awards that will be presented at our Annual Awards Event on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Nominators may submit the same individual, group, or organization for more than one award, though no recipient will actually be selected to receive more than one in the same year. Businesses, organizations, or individuals are not required to be affiliated with the Chamber to be eligible for awards. Self-nominations are not permitted, however, a member of an organization’s board of directors may submit a nomination on its behalf.
***Beginning with the 2023 awards, named awards will be retired (after 10 years) with respect and appreciation for the individuals that the awards are named after. The Chamber will determine if the award shall be renamed, or retired entirely. Award categories may be added, retired or combined on an annual basis for efficiency and relevance. For a complete list of prior awards and winners, please click on past years award recipients.
Deadline for nominations – Friday, January 30, 2026
Award Descriptions:
- GENERAL INTENT: The Norbert X. Dowd Award is intended to honor an individual(s) who serves their business and/or business community with distinction and who contributes significantly to the overall good of business and the betterment of the communities of the Bangor region.
- GENERAL ADVANCEMENT OF BUSINESS: The recipient should contribute his/her talents and abilities to the overall betterment of the Bangor region.
- CREATIVE ABILITY: The recipient should show a consistent high degree of creative or original thinking.
- BUSINESS SERVICE: The recipient should show a solid and continuous record of achievement for a company as an employee.
- COMMUNITY SERVICE: The recipient should be active in civic, religious or organizational groups dedicated to some phase of human or social welfare in the Bangor region.
- PERSONAL INTEGRITY: The recipient should show constructive activity and integrity in all business relations.
2026 NORBERT X. DOWD NOMINATION FORM
PAST RECIPIENTS: Harold L. Nason, Frederic S. Newman, Jon Grant, Herbert E. Sargent, Larry K. Mahaney, Curtis Hutchins, Galen Cole, Wilma A. Bradford, D. Arthur Johnson, R. Leon Williams, Douglas H. Brown, Samuel Saliba, Thomas A. Greenquist, Carl & Helen Libby, Malcolm E. Jones, Stephen & Tabitha King, G. Clifton Eames, Margo Cobb, Stan Israel, Joe Cyr, Ralph Leonard, Leonard Minsky, Peirce Webber, Abe & Frieda Miller, Lloyd E. Willey, Jack E. Quirk, Harold O. Bouchard, Charles F. Bragg, Ed Darling, Richard & Elizabeth Warren, Edwin N. Clift, Sister Mary Norberta Malinowski, John Rohman, Danny and Carla Lafayette, Gary Smith, John W. Bragg, Peter G. Vigue, Miles Theeman, John Simpson, Andrew Hamilton, Woodrow Cross, Jean Deighan, Michael Aube, Carol Epstein, Steve Schley, Richard Fournier, Elizabeth Sutherland, Dan Tremble
This award seeks to recognize an individual, business or organization that has made significant contributions to the arts, entertainment and cultural opportunities in the Bangor region.
This award recognizes a business (over 25 employees) operating in our region that has set an example in leadership, innovation and quality, and/or has provided noteworthy economic opportunity to the people of the Bangor Region.
2026 LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR NOMINATION FORM
PAST RECIPIENTS: WABI-TV, Bangor Daily News, Telford Aviation, Sargent Corporation, Cianbro, Miller Drug, Bangor Savings Bank, Oxford Networks, Cross Insurance, WBRC Architects-Engineers, Hollywood Casino, RH Foster Energy, Darling’s, Dennis Paper & Food Service Company, Dysart’s, CES, Inc., GE Gas Power, Northern Light Health/Penobscot Community Healthcare/St. Joseph Healthcare, WS Emerson, ERA Dawson-Bradford Co., REALTORS, Frank’s Bake Shop
Small businesses account for approximately 80% of the Bangor Region Chamber’s total membership and we do everything possible to ensure their success. This award recognizes a business (with less than 25 full or part-time employees) for their tireless work and embodiment of the spirit of enterprise.
2026 SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR NOMINATION FORM
PAST RECIPIENTS: Rebecca’s, Tiller & Rye, The Henry’s Bridal Boutique & Formal Wear
Nonprofit of the Year
This award is given to a nonprofit organization that has made a notable difference in the lives of the people who live in the Bangor Region.
PAST RECIPIENTS: American Folk Festival, Bangor Humane Society, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Maine Discovery Museum, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals of EMHS, Acadia Hospital, Foster Center for Student Innovation at the University of Maine, Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau, Penobscot Theatre Company, Penquis, Good Shepherd Food Bank, Bangor Public Library, United Way of Eastern Maine, Eastern Area Agency on Aging, Bangor YMCA, Community Health and Counseling Services
This award recognizes an individual who has contributed a significant amount of time and expertise to serving the Bangor region either by helping others directly or by enhancing community or regional assets that add to that quality of life.
PAST RECIPIENTS: M. Jane Irving Community Service Award: George Eaton II, Hilda Hutchins McCollum, Senior League World Series, Bill Lucy-People’s United Bank, Hammond Street Senior Center, City of Bangor, Mark Woodward, Eastern Maine Community College, Maine Troop Greeters, Bangor Housing Authority, Bangor Area Recovery Network, Norman Heitmann, Risteen Bahr, Tanya Emery, Thomas Judge
Sarah Dubay Professional Service Award (Formerly Arthur A. Comstock Professional Service Award): Irv Marsters, John Simpson, John Diamond, Nelson Durgin, Andrew Hamilton, Steve Pound, Dennis Marble, Ric Tyler, Michael Ballesteros, Stephen Rich, Renee Kelly, Lee Speronis, Suzanne Spruce, Kristen McAlpine, David Dunning
Sarah Dubay Community Service Award: Tammy Higgins
Recognizing a newer business whose innovation and creativity have succeeded in opening new economic opportunities for our region.
2026 INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP NOMINATION FORM
PAST RECIPIENTS: Bion & Dorain Foster Entrepreneurship Award: Webster Atlantic Corp.-Mark Wellman/Tori Britton, Waterfront Concerts, Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications, Geaghan’s Pub and Craft Brewery, Cerahelix Inc., C&L Aviation Group, Husson University, Abe & Heather Furth, Adam Moskovitz, CourseStorm, Wilcox Wellness & Fitness, Gamenetics
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Award: Devil’s Half Acre Distillery, Global Secure Shipping, Compotech
