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Maine Center for Entrepreneurs and Partners Announce the 2024 Top Gun Class

(Portland, ME) The Maine Center for Entrepreneurs (MCE) along with its partners, the Lewiston
Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation at
Thomas College, and the Northern Maine Development Commission announced today the 38
businesses selected for the Top Gun 2024 Class. Beginning in 2009 with 12 companies, the Top Gun
Program has proudly worked with over 340 Maine entrepreneurs across the state to launch and grow
their startups.

The competitive selection process included completing an online application and pitching their
business at an interview. Over the course of the 15-week program, staff and mentors will guide
participants through the “hands-on” training and group learning exercises taught by subject matter
experts in finance, business and marketing.

MCE is pleased to announce this year’s group of Top Gun businesses and entrepreneurs:

Ellsworth
AFR – Benjamin Pyles
Farm & Fish – Kate Pilotte
Salt Air Properties LLC – Amanda Look

Houlton
Automated Waste and Recycling, Inc. – Charles J Amara
Caribou Painting Company – James Dempsey
Chapped Hide – Suzanne Belle Hiltz
LYFT – Jack Westfall
The Maine Bean & Tea – PattiJo Thompson
WAVED Medical LLC – Kendra Batchelder

Lewiston/Auburn
Alchemize Coach – Christine O’Connell
DeltaCom Coffee – John Nelson
Garden Bevy – Sarah Chadburn
Glendarragh Farm Lavender – Lorie Costigan
MAC’s Gourmet Popcorn – Erika Moore
Nor’Easter Oyster Co. – Sean Corcoran
Sovereign Women’s Wellness LLC – Shea Donovan
Upta Maine – Shaun Hadlock

Machias
Pen & Cob Farm – Katherine Swann
Rime Farm – Lisa Dereszewski
Sew Fetch Dog Co – Caissie Roberts
Nautical Farms – Morgan-Lea Fogg

Portland
Balanced Card Sorts – Anush Hansen
BlackTravel Maine – Lisa Jones
Bonsie Skin to Skin Babywear – Anna Turcotte
Climate Resources Group – Sam Milton
Go Natural English – Gabrielle Wallace
Kili Organics – Juliana Tebbetts
Lifted Blends – Devon Lathrop
Marcel Selemani – Marcel Selemani
Squad 10 Medical Fitness Center – Sarah Spencer
The Pain Changer® – Katie Wrigley
Vitalo Health – Mike R Mfashingabo
WOWSpace Design – James Leslie

Waterville
AIM Academy Inc. – Derek Session
Concepta Jones – Concepta Jones
Scrap Dogs Compost – Davis Saltonstall
Watermelon Pie – Kachina Miller
Watts Works – Nick Watts

“The 2024 group of Top Gun entrepreneurs is our most industry diverse group yet”, said Top Gun
Program Manager, Laurie Johnson. “With the program’s expansion to Maine’s Northern and
Downeast regions, the participants are a great representation of Maine’s ingenuity and
entrepreneurial spirit.”

Top Gun is sponsored and supported by the Maine Technology Institute, Maine Department of
Economic and Community Development, Bangor Savings Bank, partner economic development
organizations, local businesses, corporate and non-profit sponsors and dozens of volunteer advisors
and mentors around the state. Additionally, the Maine Technology Institute will provide a $25,000
cash prize to be awarded at a final statewide Showcase pitch-off to be held on May 16th 2024.

About Maine Center for Entrepreneurs:
Established in 1997, MCE’s mission is to build and lead a community of growth-oriented businesses
in Maine, by providing the training, connections, coaching and mentors they need to commercialize
and grow their ideas, products and services so that their companies will drive the growth of Maine’s
economy. Over its 25+ year history, the organization has accelerated the growth of hundreds of
businesses, and established a mentor network of over 250 members. Please visit www.mced.biz.

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