September 12, 2019 at 9:00 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on Join MEREDA for another great “meet-and-greet” opportunity, this time on Portland’s Waterfront, at MEREDA’s Annual Fall Networking Social

Join MEREDA for another great “meet-and-greet” opportunity, this time on Portland’s Waterfront, at MEREDA’s Annual Fall Networking Social

Join us on Portland’s waterfront for hors d’oeuvres, spirits, and great conversation with colleagues, friends and other industry professionals for our Annual Networking Fall Social on October 17 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM.

Another great “meet-and-greet” opportunity, this time on Portland’s Waterfront, you are invited to the Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) highly-anticipated Annual Fall Social on October 17th!

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

Join us for a cocktail or two, and reconnect with colleagues and friends, both old and new!

Before the official “networking” gets underway, MEREDA will hold its Annual Meeting of the Members beginning at 4:45 PM – Members Only

About the Event:

October 17, 2019 – 5:00PM to 7:00PM

Hilton Garden Inn, Portland Downtown Waterfront
65 Commercial Street
Portland, ME

Registering for this Event: Click Here to Register Now

MEREDA Members: $45 each | Non-Members: $60 Each
Prices Increase by $10 after October 10

Your RSVP is requested by October 10. 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 10.

For more information and to register, click here.

MEREDA’s 2019 Annual Fall Networking Social is sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank, J.B. Brown & Sons and Preti Flaherty.

August 20, 2019 at 8:00 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on MEREDA’s DevelopME Committee is Pleased to Present “Real Estate and Financing Issues in Maine’s Cannabis Marketplace” at the Portland Public Library’s Rines Auditorium on September 18

MEREDA’s DevelopME Committee is Pleased to Present “Real Estate and Financing Issues in Maine’s Cannabis Marketplace” at the Portland Public Library’s Rines Auditorium on September 18

Maine Real Estate & Development Association’s (MEREDA’s) DevelopME Committee is pleased to present “Real Estate and Financing Issues in Maine’s Cannabis Marketplace” at the Portland Public Library’s Rines Auditorium on September 18, 2019 from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Come hear from industry members and stakeholders on the current climate for conducting business with cannabis companies here in Maine with a focus on land use regulations, municipal relations, and banking & financing hurdles. We will be joined by Josh Quint, Director of Operations for Canuvo, one of the state’s 8 licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, Garrett Corbin, a legislative advocate for the Maine Municipal Association, and Gene Ardito, President and CEO of cPort Credit Union.

About the Event:

September 18, 2019 – 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Portland Public Library
5 Monument Square
Portland, ME

Lunch: 11:30 – 12:00 p.m.
Program: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

About the Presenters:

Joshua Quint is Director of Operations for Canuvo, one of four vertically integrated Medical Marijuana Dispensaries licensed by the State of Maine.  Josh has helped lead Canuvo to the forefront of the cannabis market in Maine.  In this position for the past 6 years, Josh interacts with all aspects of the cannabis industry, from cultivation facility design to product development to public policy.  Josh has worked with regulators and legislators at the municipal, state and federal level to improve state-run marijuana programs and ensure public health and safety standards for businesses operating in the cannabis market.  Josh was born and raised in Minot, Maine and now resides in Bridgton.

Garrett Corbin began working as a Legislative Advocate for the Maine Municipal Association in April 2013. Garrett received his BA degree from Boston University, his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Maine School of Law, and his MA from the Muskie School. Before coming to MMA, Garrett worked in a number of capacities with and for the Maine Legislature. Garrett’s advocacy is focused in the areas of energy, marijuana legalization, intergovernmental relations and judiciary.

Gene Ardito has held the role of President and CEO of cPort Credit Union since 2004. With assets of over $230 million, cPort Credit Union employs 81 staff and serves over 24,000 members with four locations in Portland, Augusta and Scarborough. cPort was founded in 1931 as the Government Employees Credit Union of Maine, serving primarily federal employees including postal workers and military personnel. In 2005, Ardito led the expansion of the credit union’s charter to serve Maine’s five most populous counties and rebranded GECUME to cPort Credit Union. In 2018, cPort Credit Union opened its third Portland branch at 35 Middle Street in the Old Port.

Ardito is a graduate of Providence College.  He spent the first ten years of his career working in corporate finance positions at Central Maine Power during a time of incredible regulatory and economic change and under the leadership of thought leaders such as John Rowe and David Flanagan.  Ardito then spent ten years working in corporate finance positions at UNUM raising capital and managing world-wide banking relationships through strong organic and merger related growth.  Following UNUM, Ardito became a Senior Relationship Manager within Fleet Bank’s Corporate Banking Group and successfully grew relationships with large insurance companies throughout the United States including Prudential, Pacific Life, AIG, Guardian Life and Allstate. A Portland resident, Gene has served on the boards of the UNUM Foundation, Diocese of Portland, and Community Financial Literacy.

Registering for this Event: Click Here to Register Now

Your RSVP is requested by September 11, 2019. 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 11, 2019.

Ticket Prices:

Members: $15 each | Non-Members: $25 each
Prices increase by $10 after September 11, 2019

To register, please click here.

This DevelopME Lunch & Learn Seminar is sponsored by cPort Credit Union. 

August 19, 2019 at 9:00 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on Maine Real Estate & Development Association Elects Shannon Richards to its Board of Directors

Maine Real Estate & Development Association Elects Shannon Richards to its Board of Directors

Shannon Richards of Portland has been elected to the board of directors of the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), a statewide organization of commercial real estate owners, developers and related service providers.

Shannon returned to Maine in the early 2000’s after receiving a BFA from Syracuse University and started a studio soon after which melded a cooperative creative space, gallery and workshop, out of which she designed and manufactured custom furniture and fixtures. This business grew to include interior design, architectural design services and general contracting, and is now called Hay Runner, a real estate development company that provides services related to residential and commercial real estate transactions, project management, design, construction, furnishing and produces design centric events. Hay Runner provides brokerage services through its affiliation with Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty.

Shannon passionately supports artists in Maine as a member of the Board of Directors of the Maine Crafts Association, which has more than 600 artist members and offers retail, educational and marketing support to artists and craftspeople in Maine.  She also supports conservation in Maine as an adviser to the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, which ensures public access to some of Maine’s most beautiful coastline.  Shannon also participates in the Greater Portland Board of Realtors, the Maine Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors.

Already an active member of MEREDA, Shannon serves on its Conference Committee and most recently took a leading role helping develop the program for its annual Spring Conference held last May.  MEREDA’s Vice President of Operations, Shelly R. Clark says, “We are excited to begin working with Shannon at the Board level.  Shannon has a lot of drive and ambition, and certainly brought a new energy when she joined the Conference Committee.  She will be a great addition to MEREDA’s Board of Directors.”

For further information, please contact MEREDA’s Vice President of Operations, Shelly R. Clark at 207-874-0801.

August 12, 2019 at 9:00 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on MEREDA’s Morning Menu Breakfast Event – Hotel Development in Portland and in Maine: Opportunities, Challenges and Forecasts

MEREDA’s Morning Menu Breakfast Event – Hotel Development in Portland and in Maine: Opportunities, Challenges and Forecasts

Matthew Arrants, one of the hospitality industry’s most respected professionals, and James Brady, one of Portland’s most prominent hotel developers, will share their views on the excitement and challenges of building hotels in both Portland and in Maine – and the prognosis for the hospitality industry in the immediate future.  Matt Arrants is the Executive Vice President of Pinnacle Advisory Group in Boston, and is the former Chairman of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants.  He holds a Masters’ Degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University and has worked in various managerial capacities for Four Seasons Hotel and with Rock Resorts.  Jim Brady is the moving force behind Portland’s dynamic Press Hotel, and is currently working on the new Hilton Canopy on Commercial Street in Portland.  Mr. Brady has also been involved in hotel development and management throughout the State of Maine, United States, and Europe.

Make plans to join us for breakfast on September 10 from 7:30 AM – 9 AM at the Portland Regency Hotel as we kick off our 2019/2020 Morning Menu Breakfast Series This powerful ensemble will provide their thoughts and anecdotes on the history of the hospitality industry regionally – and their best guesses for our future. Moderated by David Soley of Bernstein Shur.

About the Event:

September 10, 2019 – 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Portland Regency Hotel
20 Milk Street
Portland, ME

Buffet Breakfast: 7:30 – 8:00 a.m.
Program: 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

About the Presenters:

Matthew Arrants, ISHC, CHAM is the Executive Vice President of Pinnacle Advisory Group, working in both the Boston and Portland offices. As Pinnacle’s Director of Asset Management Services, Matt specializes in asset management, development services, and operational reviews. His clients include hotels, universities, hospitals, real estate investment funds, and lenders. Matt is currently a board member of the Hotel Asset Manager’s Association (HAMA) and leads that group’s marketing committee.  Matt holds the prestigious Certified Hotel Asset Manager (CHAM) designation from HAMA and a former Chairman of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants, a group of the hospitality industry’s most respected professionals from across six continents.

Jim Brady is a real estate developer with extensive experience designing, constructing and operating branded and non-franchised hotel properties. He is the developer of The Press Hotel, a 110 room Autograph Collection in Portland, Maine. Following the opening in May 2015, the hotel has won several prestigious awards, scores within the top 5% of all Autograph Collection Marriott hotels, is the Portland market RevPAR leader as well as TripAdvisor’s #1 hotel in the market.

In 2017 Jim founded Fathom Companies, where he serves as the President and Director, specializing in the development of mixed use, hospitality, and redevelopment of historic properties. Currently, Fathom has many ongoing development projects, including a 135 room Canopy by Hilton to be located on Commercial Street.

Prior to Fathom, Jim co-founded and served as President of Olympia Development for 10 years. Olympia Development completed over $200 million in real estate projects, including five ground-up hotels, and was named “Developer of the Year” in 2004 by Hilton Hotels Corporation worldwide. After leaving Olympia in 2008 to live in Bologna Italy, he served as Project Director for MProject on a €400 million redevelopment of multiple projects including the planning, approvals and design management of a historic rehabilitation of the famed Excelsior and Des Bains Hotels working with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts to convert to hotel and branded residences.

Registering for this Event: Click Here to Register Now. 

Your RSVP is requested by September 3, 2019. 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 3, 2019.

Ticket Prices:

Members: $45 each | Non-Members: $55 each

Prices increase by $10 after September 3, 2019

To register, please visit click here. 

This MEREDA Morning Breakfast Event is sponsored by Norway Savings Bank, Bernstein Shur, Fathom Companies and Wright-Ryan Construction. 

July 18, 2019 at 10:00 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on Maine Real Estate & Development Association Elects Matthew Pitzer to its Board of Directors

Maine Real Estate & Development Association Elects Matthew Pitzer to its Board of Directors

Matthew Pitzer, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C of Falmouth has been elected to the board of directors of the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), a statewide organization of commercial real estate owners, developers and related service providers.

Matt joined PDT Architects after spending more than ten years in Boston as a designer specializing in preservation and envelope restoration of prominent historic structures.  He is an adept project manager and practice leader with excellent organizational and planning skills and a personal commitment to design that confers broad social benefits. At PDT he manages several complex projects that require a thorough understanding of current building science techniques for durable, healthy, energy-efficient buildings.

MEREDA’s Vice President of Operations, Shelly R. Clark says, “Matt will be a great addition to MEREDA’s Board of Directors, bringing with him great expertise and industry knowledge. Matt will also volunteer his time on MEREDA’s Public Policy Committee, and we are anxious to begin working with him.”

For further information, please contact MEREDA’s Vice President of Operations, Shelly R. Clark at 207-874-0801 or visit www.mereda.org.

May 31, 2019 at 9:33 am · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on MEREDA’s 7th Annual “Strikes for Scholars” Bowl-a-Thon Fundraiser on May 23rd Raises Funds for Scholarships for 16 Maine Students

MEREDA’s 7th Annual “Strikes for Scholars” Bowl-a-Thon Fundraiser on May 23rd Raises Funds for Scholarships for 16 Maine Students

Again this year, MEREDA is excited to be able to provide $20,000 in scholarships to students pursuing studies in building trades, architecture, construction, engineering or a business program at a Maine Community College (MCCS), or the College of Science, Technology & Health at the University of Southern Maine.  MEREDA began its scholarship program for students in the building trades and professions 7 years ago and has continued to grow and support the program.

“MEREDA is a strong supporter of trades and professions associated with real estate and the real estate development industry in Maine, and recognizes how important these professions, that provide good jobs and careers, have been to our state, the economy and the real estate industry.   The building trades and professions provide high paying lifelong opportunities for our residents,” said Gary Vogel of Drummond Woodsum and MEREDA president. “An educated workforce is vital to support economic development. We are pleased to help these deserving students achieve their goals and our members look forward to the contributions they will make to our industry, our state and our economy.”

Since the fundraiser’s inception, MEREDA is proud to have raised and donated over $107,000 in scholar­ships helping 78 Maine students by making it a little easier for them to achieve their goal of obtaining a college credential.

Many thanks to our generous sponsors AAA Energy Service Co., Zachau Construction, Verrill Dana, and Mainebiz, as well as our bowling teams for supporting this worthwhile cause.  Without their involvement, these substantial donations would not be possible

Check out more photos from the event on our Facebook page!

May 20, 2019 at 1:23 pm · Shelly Clark · Comments Off on MEREDA Welcomes Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

MEREDA Welcomes Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

The Department of Economic & Community Development’s broad mission is to help communities and businesses prosper through a variety of programs providing everything from targeted tax relief to community block grants to tourism marketing. DECD and its partners show companies how to benefit from millions of dollars in tax credits, reimbursements, R & D credits, capital loans, even direct investment.

Join us on June 19th at the Holiday Inn By the Bay to hear about the Commissioner’s first few months in office, and learn about what she sees as opportunities and threats for Maine’s economy, and what may come out of the legislative session to advance the economy.  We’ll also learn what Maine is doing to be competitive and what programs DECD uses to assist development together with specific success stories.

Following her formal remarks, Commissioner Johnson will welcome questions from the audience.

About the Event:

June 19, 2019 – 7:30 – 9:00 AM

Holiday Inn by the Bay
88 Spring Street
Portland, ME

Breakfast: 7:30 – 8:00 AM
Program: 8:00 – 9:00 AM

Our Presenter:

Heather Johnson grew up in Skowhegan and graduated from the University of Maine. She began her career by building a diverse background in the private technology sector including sales, operations and general management roles at Nokia, Gateway and Toshiba. With continually expanding roles she created startup operations inside large companies, developed new products for new markets, and ran a $1.2 billion retail business.

After leaving the private sector, Heather had the opportunity to concentrate on rural economic development at Somerset Economic Development Corporation. During her time as the Executive Director she focused on key economic drivers such as; connectivity, workforce participation, and potential growth markets.

While serving as the Director of ConnectME Heather was responsible for managing a small grant program, mapping key assets, working with communities and businesses to help them identify needs and opportunities to utilize connectivity to enable their goals. Heather was able to able to make changes that positions the ConnectME to move forward into the connectivity space.

As Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development Heather continues to dedicate her career to fostering economic development, both in private companies and in rural communities across Maine.

Registering for this Event: Click Here to Register Now

Your RSVP is requested by June 12, 2019. 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 June 12, 2019.

Ticket Prices:

Members: $45 each | Non-Members: $55 ea
Prices increase by $10 after June 12, 2019

This MEREDA Morning Menu Breakfast Event is Sponsored by Norway Savings Bank.