Greetings, Class of 2013! Hope everyone had a great winter — UMaine men’s ice hockey sure did! Laura and I made it to the Hockey East Championship at the TD Garden, and we very much enjoyed seeing some of you there. If you have any big plans for the summer or have some news to share about your Black Bear life, please feel free to reach out to us at qualey.richard@gmail.com and we will be sure to feature your update in the next column. Now, on to a few updates:
Our classmate Joseph Begin was recently promoted to senior manager in the tax practice at Baker Newman Noyes. Congratulations, Joseph!
Piko Provisions, a Hawaii based company founded by our classmate Ethan West was recently recognized in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO-100: America’s Top 100 Small Businesses list. Piko Provisions was selected out of more than 14,000 applicants for its overall growth driven by cutting-edge ideas, resilience, and strong employee culture.
Ethan, as founder & CEO, was quoted in the article: “This award is a testament not just to our team, but to the many hands and hearts in our community who have supported us every step of the way. From our dedicated local famers to the families who trust us with their nutrition, this recognition belongs to all of us. Together, we are driving a more equitable and accessible local food system here in Hawaii, and we are so grateful for the community that makes this possible.”
Piko Provisions was also featured as the cover story in the Pacific Business News recognizing Hawaii’s fastest growing companies. Piko Provisions was ranked 14th with an 86 percent growth rate in revenue between 2021 and 2023. A huge congratulations to Ethan and his team; what an incredible honor!