The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) has been investing in innovative Maine companies and collaborating with influential and effective stakeholder organizations for 17 years now. Many of them have achieved significant success and earned well-deserved accolades along the way and this month I want to recognize several who have been in the news recently or who merit recognition.
First and foremost, I want to convey my appreciation to MTI Board member Linda Diou for her many years of service to MTI and Maine’s innovation economy. Linda has been affiliated with MTI since 2002 as a subject matter expert on our Biotechnology Board. Since 2009, she has served as a member of our Board of Directors. She has also worked tirelessly in Maine’s small business ecosystem as a SCORE mentor and, since 2015, has served as head of the Augusta Chapter of SCORE – an entrepreneurial resource that provides mentoring and education to small business owners. Linda, who is terming off the MTI Board in September, was chair of the Board when I first took over the reins of MTI in 2014. Her steady guidance, leadership, and myriad contributions to MTI have been greatly valued and appreciated by the MTI staff and Board and we wish her well in all her future endeavors.
I also want to congratulate Nancy Strojny for being named a 2017 Woman to Watch by Mainebiz magazine. Nancy has led the Portland Chapter of SCORE since 2012 and has helped rebrand and reshape SCORE’s image in Maine. Working with entrepreneurs, SCORE mentors like Nancy and Linda Diou utilize keen listening skills and deftly work to assemble the right resources, guidance and advice to help small business owners succeed. Nancy’s impressive work over the years also earned her a national honor in 2012 when she was recognized as a White House Champion of Change for her efforts with SCORE and Maine’s entrepreneurial community.
Aside from being a valuable resource for MTI-portfolio companies, Nancy is also an esteemed partner and collaborator with MTI. For years now, MTI has been the sponsor of SCORE’s annual Success Awards Luncheon and we relish our association. So, I want to express my deep appreciation to her and congratulate her on being named a 2017 Woman to Watch by Mainebiz.
Vet First Choice, an MTI portfolio company since 2010, whom I wrote about in last month’s blog, was recently honored as one of Inc. magazine’s 5000 fastest growing companies. It’s the sixth consecutive time that the company has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 list. The company also made headlines recently when it raised $223 million in new investment – – “the single largest round of venture funding for a technology company the state has ever seen,” according to Mainestartupsinsider.com. Additionally, the company also announced that it had acquired two Phoenix-based pharmacies that will help it grow its offerings to veterinary practices. Kudos to Vets First Choice on all its exciting growth and accolades.
Municipay, another MTI portfolio company, was also featured on the Inc. 5000 list in 2017. It’s the third straight time the company has appeared on the list and its three-year growth was reported by the magazine at 190%. Terrific news for this payment processing solution company.
So, thank you to Linda Diou and congratulations to Nancy Strojny, Vet First Choice and Municipay. MTI is proud of our affiliation with each of you.
Best,
Brian Whitney
President