November 16, 2023 at 10:00 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on MEREDA’s Morning Menu: Harvesting the Future: Seaweed in Maine

MEREDA’s Morning Menu: Harvesting the Future: Seaweed in Maine

December 14, 2023 – 8:30 – 10:00 AM

In-Person – Pre-registration is required.

Holiday Inn by the Bay – 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME

Buffet Breakfast: 8:30 – 9:00am Program: 9:00 – 10:00 am

About the Event:

Join MEREDA on December 14th at the Holiday Inn By the Bay, 88 Spring Street, Portland as our panelists discuss the rise of aquaculture in Maine and the growing significance of seaweed in commercial real estate.

Presenters include: 

Benjamin Whitney, Plant Manager at International Flavors & Fragrances

Sebastian Belle, Executive Director, Maine Aquaculture Association

Briana Warner, CEO, Atlantic Sea Farms

Don’t forget, this breakfast will now run from 8:30 – 10:00 AM in an effort to accommodate those working around childcare and bus drop offs and pick ups.

Cost: Members: $45.00 each | Non-Members: $55.00 each — Prices increase by $10 after December 7th.

Register HERE!

This event is sponsored by Norway Savings Bank.

November 14, 2023 at 8:00 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on Listen Up! The November 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!

Listen Up! The November 2023 Episode of the “MEREDA Matters” Podcast is Now Available!

A Legislative Update on Housing with Senator Matt Pouliot and Representative Traci Gere

Maine Senator Matt Pouliot of Augusta and House Representative Traci Gere of Kennebunk sit down with MEREDA President Craig Young and Pierce Atwood attorney and government relations’ advocate Elizabeth Frazier for the eleventh episode of MEREDA Matters – the podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine.

Both Senator Pouliot and Representative Gere serve on the Joint Select Committee on Housing. They provide an overview of the history and focus of the committee and discuss Maine’s dire need for housing – the state needs some 80,000 new units to be built in the next seven to ten years. The group discusses some of the solutions the Joint Select Committee is working on to reduce the barriers to housing creation and democratize development, such as a government program to map out sewer and water lines in the state, investment in training programs for the trades, and a bill to establish a process to vest rights for land use permits.

The conversation also includes an exploration of other creative ideas that will support the housing industry, including a program to identify vacant properties in the state and partnerships with the forest products industry to make innovative materials for building.

What are Senator Pouliot and Representative Gere’s favorite restaurants? Listen to the episode to find out!

https://mereda-matters.simplecast.com/

Catch up on past episodes while you’re there!

The MEREDA Matters podcast is sponsored by NBT Bank and Landry French Construction. Additional sponsors include Bangor Savings Bank, Clark Insurance, A Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company, and The Boulos Company. A new episode will be released each month and each will feature new voices from the real estate and development industry.

November 1, 2023 at 10:00 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on MEREDA’s Morning Menu – Using the Condominium Act to Solve Land-Use Issues

MEREDA’s Morning Menu – Using the Condominium Act to Solve Land-Use Issues

November 29, 2023 – 8:30 – 10:00 AM

In-Person – Pre-registration is required.

Holiday Inn by the Bay – 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME

Buffet Breakfast: 8:30 – 9:00am Program: 9:00 – 10:00 am

About the Event:

Under the Maine Condominium Act, an entire condominium development is treated as only one parcel of land for many zoning related issues, such as lot size, frontage, density, etc. In addition, there are typically no space and bulk restrictions relating to the location of buildings or units to one another. This presentation will show how a number of recently developed projects have been able to meet project objectives by structuring the project as a condominium and being able to develop the project in ways that would not have been possible without the use as a condominium. It will review the use of land parcel condominiums or “lot line condominiums” where the unit boundaries are lots on the ground and show how the condominium structure enabled the development. It will also review the use of the Condominium Act as a development tool to meet other project financial or programmatic requirements. Finally, it will review a change in the language of the Condominium Act that MEREDA got enacted during the last legislative session and the importance of that change to make the Condominium Act a more useful development tool.

Presenters include:

Gary Vogel, Drummond Woodsum

Brooks More, Development Director, South Portland Housing

Nathan Szanton, President, the Szanton Companies

Don’t forget, this breakfast will now run from 8:30 – 10:00 AM in an effort to accommodate those working around childcare and bus drop offs and pick ups.

Cost: Members: $45.00 each | Non-Members: $55.00 each — Prices increase by $10 after November 22.

Register HERE!

This event is sponsored by Norway Savings Bank.

October 18, 2023 at 10:00 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on DevelopME Committee’s Lunch & Learn Event – Financing and its Role in the Development Process

DevelopME Committee’s Lunch & Learn Event – Financing and its Role in the Development Process

In-Person – Pre-registration is required.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023 – 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME

Lunch: 11:30 – 12:00pm Program: 12:00 – 1:00 pm

About the Event:

Join MEREDA’s Emerging Leaders Committee for its next Lunch & Learn Event!

In this third installment of the DevelopME series of panel discussions organized to understand the roles and responsibilities of professionals engaged in development projects, this session will cover the value of having both a residential and commercial lending relationship as part of your team, and learning about the biggest differences between the two.

Meet our Presenters:

Gwen Hulit is a Mortgage Loan Officer with U.S. Bank, with lending capabilities in all 50 states. She originates residential mortgages on properties ranging from 1-4 units as primary residences, second homes, and investment properties. Gwen is the Co-Chair of MEREDA’s DevelopME committee and is active with the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute. Gwen lives in her hometown of Falmouth with her husband and daughter.

Dana Myles is a Regional Vice President, Commercial Lender for Norway Savings Bank. She is based in the Portland Office, but can help with Commercial financing across Southern, Western and Midcoast Maine. She can help with answering questions and financing commercial real estate, construction loans, business acquisitions, business equipment loans, business startup loans and operating lines of credit. Dana is a part of MEREDA’s DevelopME committee and is on the Advisory Committee for CEI Ventures. Dana lives in Scarborough with her husband and two boys.

The program will be moderated by Taylor McFarlane, Associate Broker on the McFarlane Field Team at Portside Real Estate Group. Taylor is a Maine native, raised in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. She graduated from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill where obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Communications. Taylor epitomizes integrity and attention to detail in every real estate transaction, which has resulted in her rapid growth and success in the real estate industry in just a few short years. Today, whether working with those new to the process or the very experienced, each transaction gets 100 percent of her attention and expertise.

As parents of two young children, Taylor and her husband Phil embrace every opportunity to explore Maine as a family. Taylor is an active community member, offering invaluable local insights to her clients. In 2022, she was honored as a recipient of Maine Biz’s 40 under 40 award.

MEREDA’s Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by November 7. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend or who cancels after November 7.

Cost: Members: $35.00 each | Non-Members: $45.00 each — Prices increase by $10 after 11/7.

Register Here!

This event is sponsored by Foreside Title Co. and Lotfey Dennett Insurance Brokers.

October 12, 2023 at 10:56 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on A Fresh Forecast – MEREDA to Hold Annual Forecast Conference in February 2024

A Fresh Forecast – MEREDA to Hold Annual Forecast Conference in February 2024

PORTLAND, Maine – Mark your calendars! The Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) Annual Forecast Conference and Member Showcase has a new date: February 29th, 2024. As we leap into the new year, leaders from the state’s real estate and development community will gather at the refreshed Holiday Inn By the Bay to provide an economic overview and outlook on the industry’s key economic indicators. Along with the new date, the 2024 Forecast Conference will have a new afternoon format that will allow attendees to choose between various presentations from leading industry insiders.

“If you care about responsible development in Maine, the Forecast Conference is where you want to be,” shares MEREDA President Craig Young. “MEREDA really excels at facilitating important conversations about the issues facing our industry and our state. To be able to be in the room with some of Maine’s top real estate leaders is invaluable; it’s simply the best way you can start the new year. ”

MEREDA Vice President and Conference Committee Chair, Shannon Richards, echos Young’s enthusiasm: “MEREDA’s cornerstone event brings us all closer as a community, a community that is working to design, build, and develop responsibly in Maine. I’m thrilled that we will be gathering to look forward to 2024 in a new way.”

This unique conference brings together the largest gathering of commercial real estate professionals in Maine, and is specifically geared toward developers, brokers, architects, bankers, attorneys, accountants and other industry professionals. According to Shelly R. Clark, MEREDA’s Executive Director, MEREDA’s Forecast Conference will be in-person only and held at the Holiday Inn By the Bay on February 29 from 8am to 5pm. Registration is available at MEREDA.org for both the event and Member Showcase.

October 5, 2023 at 10:00 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on MEREDA’s Annual Fall Networking Social Returns!

MEREDA’s Annual Fall Networking Social Returns!

In-Person – Pre-registration is required.

November 2 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Mariner’s Church Banquet Center 368 Fore Street, Portland

About the Event:

MEREDA’s Annual Fall Social returns on November 2! Mark your calendar now to join us for another great “meet-and-greet” opportunity.

MEREDA’s networking events attract key players in Maine’s real estate industry offering excellent opportunities to interact with the experts.

Join us and other industry professionals on November 2 from 5 – 7 pm for Hors d’ oeuvres, Spirits, and Great Conversation!

Registering for this Event: Purchase your tickets HERE. Registration closes at 1:00 PM on November 2, 2023.

Refund Policy: Receipt of your registration indicates your intention to attend and secures you a ticket to the event. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend or who cancels after October 26. RSVP is requested by October 26. Payment is expected at the time of registration.

Ticket Prices: Members: $45 each | Non-Members: $60 each Prices increase by $10 after October 26.

This event is sponsored by J.B. Brown & Sons, M&T Bank, and Preti Flaherty.

September 15, 2023 at 8:00 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on MEREDA’s Morning Menu – Innovative Building Products & Revitalization of the Madison Mill

MEREDA’s Morning Menu – Innovative Building Products & Revitalization of the Madison Mill

In-Person – Pre-registration is required.

Thursday, October 19, 2023 – 8:30 – 10:00 AM

Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME

Buffet Breakfast: 8:30 – 9:00am Program: 9:00 – 10:00 am

About the Event:

Join MEREDA on October 19th to hear from Matthew O’Malia, Co-Founder and Vice President of TimberHP, Executive Partner of OPAL Architecture, about the renovation of a former paper mill in Madison, Maine. This facility has since been turned into the first wood fiber insulation manufacturing plant in North America. With renovations nearly complete, TimberHP will be selling all three of its products—TimberFill, TimberBatt and TimberBoard—on the North American market by late 2023.

Don’t forget, this breakfast will now run from 8:30 – 10:00 AM in an effort to accommodate those working around childcare and bus drop offs and pick ups.

MEREDA’s Refund Policy: Your RSVP is requested by October 12. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend or who cancels after October 12.

Cost: Members: $45.00 each | Non-Members: $55.00 each — Prices increase $10 after 10/12.

Register Here!

This event is sponsored by Norway Savings Bank.

August 21, 2023 at 10:00 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on DevelopME Committee’s Lunch & Learn Event – Meet the Land Use Designer and Environmental Professional

DevelopME Committee’s Lunch & Learn Event – Meet the Land Use Designer and Environmental Professional

September 20, 2023 – 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

In-Person – Pre-registration is required.

Holiday Inn By the Bay
88 Spring Street
Portland, ME

Lunch: 11:30-12:00
Program: 12:00-1:00

About the Event:

Meet the Land Use Designer and Environmental Professional – Defining their Role in the Development Process

Join MEREDA’s Emerging Leaders Committee for its next Lunch & Learn Event!

In this second installment of the DevelopME series of panel discussions organized to understand the roles and responsibilities of professionals engaged in development projects, we introduce a land use designer and an environmental professional. While our first panel offered insight from a broker’s perspective, this conversation will focus on when you should consider hiring a land-use design professional and what questions and information they provide to the team. We also explore how (but more importantly, when) it’s best to engage with an environmental professional and how they can guide the development team on the feasibility of development projects after the initial environmental assessment when teams navigate challenges associated with environmental impacts.

Meet the Presenters:

Lucas J. Benedict is a Senior Project Manager and Licensed Professional Geologist at Credere Associates, LLC in Westbrook, Maine. With nearly two decades of experience as an Environmental Professional, he and his Credere ‘associates’ specialize in sustainable Brownfields Programs and redevelopment projects across New England. Lucas not only helps private- and public-sector clients mitigate business risks tied to environmental challenges such as ‘Urban Fill’, hazardous wastes, and building materials containing PCBs, asbestos, and heavy metals, but also oversees Environmental Remediation/Construction contracts for the Federal Government/Department of Defense, managing tasks that include remediation, abatement, general construction, repairs, and demolition.

Henry Hess is a seasoned Landscape Architect and Project Manager at Sebago Technics. With over a decade of expertise in land and master planning, site design, due diligence, planting design, permitting, and construction, Henry’s skills as a Maine Registered Landscape Architect have been instrumental in shaping communities across various cities and towns in Maine.

Since joining Sebago Technics in 2018, Henry’s leadership in Landscape Architecture has consistently delivered creative solutions to complex site challenges. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, he was promoted to the role of Project Manager in 2023. In this capacity, he Is responsible for overseeing the overall development, budget, schedule, and approval of projects while skillfully maintaining strong relationships and communication with clients and regulatory authorities.

DevelopME Committee Co-chairs, Matt Pitzer of Simpson Gumpertz & Heger and Gwen Hulit of Bangor Savings Bank will moderate the program.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Registering for this Event:
Purchase your tickets here. Registration closes at 4:00 PM on September 19, 2023.

Refund Policy:  Your RSVP is requested by September 13. Payment is expected at the time of registration. No refunds will be granted to anyone who registers, but fails to attend or who cancels after September 13.

Ticket Prices:
Members: $35 each | Non-Members: $45 each
Prices increase by $10 after September 13.

This event is Sponsored by Sebago Technics and Credere Associates , LLC.