The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce honored Elizabeth Sutherland with the group’s most prestigious award during the annual business awards dinner Friday evening,
Sutherland, co-owner and chief executive officer of the marketing firm Sutherland Weston, received the Norbert X. Dowd Award, which is given annually to a person who is forward-thinking and provides leadership in multiple areas of the community.
The chamber event featured a space theme in conjunction with the upcoming total solar eclipse, which is expected to bring thousands of people to Maine to view it. Norbert Dowd, who was executive director of the chamber for more than 25 years until his retirement in 1972, led the region’s efforts to take advantage of the 1963 total eclipse.
The Dowd Award was one of nine given to the Bangor area’s business and community leaders during the evening festivities.
“Tonight I urge each of you to be the next community member on track to receive this [award],’’ Sutherland said to the more than 750 attendees after being presented with the honor. “Embrace community involvement. Find a cause that speaks to you and perhaps even more importantly, make room for others to join.”
The marketing firm Sutherland owns with Cary Weston helps businesses grow in Maine, the chamber said in its description of the business. She formerly worked as an accredited public relations professional at Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, American Red Cross and for Sen. George Mitchell.
She serves multiple community organizations, including as president of Bangor Symphony Orchestra and vice president of Dirigo Reads Board of Directors. Her community service resume includes Cross Insurance Center Advisory Board, Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau, Heart of Maine United Way and Mobilize Eastern Maine.
Sutherland is a graduate of the Bangor Region Leadership Institute and has received other community awards including the G. Clifton Eames Leadership Award in 2016, Girl Scouts of Maine’s Juliette Award for Leadership in 2017 and was named to the JA Business Hall of Fame in 2022.
She is married to radio host Ric Tyler, who was the emcee for the evening.
The chamber recognized ERA Dawson Bradford Realtors with the Large Business of the Year Award. Dawson is a second-generation family-owned business that has expanded its reach from Bangor to Orono and Rockland. Dawson Co. is celebrating 50 years in 2024.
Tiller & Rye in Brewer received the Small Business of the Year Award. Owners Sarah Morneault and Lindsey Levesque emphasize Maine products in their natural foods market.
The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award went to Global Secure Shipping of Old Town, which produces the only intermodal secure shipping container in the world, according to the chamber’s awards program. It established a facility in Old Town that manufactures from 1,000 to 3,000 ISO-certified containers that have six-sided intrusion detection, real-time tracking, door opening alerts and secure global communication. The technology was developed by the University of Maine and Georgia Tech Research Institute.
The chamber gave Bangor Region YMCA the Non-Profit of the Year Award for supporting a wide age range of population with its programming, employment and opportunities for volunteerism. The Y is planning and raising funds for a new facility.
The Community Service Award went to Tom Judge of Lifeflight of Maine, which serves the entire state’s medical community. Judge has received numerous other community awards including the Governor’s EMS Award and the Keith Neely Award for leadership and science from the National Association of EMS Physicians.
David Dunning, who works for S.W. Cole Engineering Inc., received the Sarah Dubay Professional Service Award for his involvement with the chamber and the Bangor community. He had already earned the chamber’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2015 for his work, including leading the chamber’s search for a CEO.
Sarah Dubay, for whom the award was named, led Fusion:Bangor, was on the chamber’s board and helped with other chamber functions including the “Hot Stove” events. Dubay died in 2021 at the age of 46.
The chamber awarded the Spirit of the Region Cultural Award to Waterfront Concerts, which brought an estimated $34 million to the Bangor area with the 22 performances it presented in 2023. Waterfront Concerts has rebuilt and upgraded its venue, drawing thousands of people to the area, the chamber said.
Jason Clay, owner and CEO of Governor’s Restaurant and Bakery, received the 2023 Volunteer of the Year Award. This award normally is given out earlier, but weather delayed the event. Clay was recognized for serving on the chamber board, Bangor Region Community Council and the Old Town Development LLC’s economic development committee, among other acts of volunteerism.
Chamber President and CEO Deb Neuman and emcee Ric Tyler led the awards ceremony. Primarily student volunteers from Husson University’s softball team and Eastern Maine Community College’s Criminal Justice Program helped prepare and serve dinner.
