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Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Family Business Association held its annual awards ceremony for the first time.

As a sign of the times, the Family Business Institute awarded the first national service award to a manufacturer of medical test swabs.

Puritan Medical Products is a family-owned company located in Guildford. It started as a mint-flavored toothpicks a century ago. It is now the largest manufacturer of medical test swabs in North America and has signed a multi-million dollar contract with the government. In the first two months of the pandemic, Puritan increased production to 7 days a week and recruited hundreds of new employees to operate 24/7. The company has grown from one factory to three, all located in Maine, and plans to build a fourth factory in Tennessee.

"This is a crazy journey," Executive Vice President Timothy Temblat said at the awards dinner held at the Holiday Inn Portland Bay on October 6. "I owe all this to our employees and thank all of them for their support."

The 21st (almost) Annual Family Business Award is highly anticipated after the postponement in 2020. The association received 166 nominations, of which 24 semi-finalists were highlighted, and 7 winners were finally selected because of their innovation, service and sustainability.

"We have worked hard for 2.5 years, so we are very happy to be here," said executive director Catherine Wygant Fossett.

One winner—Bidford-based Volk Packaging—was recognized for donating special boxes from the Veterans House to respectfully return the personal belongings of deceased veterans to their families. The other-Dolphin Wharf and Restaurant, Harpswell's fourth-generation family business-is recognized for its excellent customer service. The third is Origin, known for bringing textile manufacturing back to Farmington.

Several winners are notable for their environmental management. The Springworks Farm in Lisbon has a proprietary closed-loop fish-vegetable symbiosis system in which they breed tilapia, produce natural fertilizers for organic lettuce, and clean water for tilapia. Warren's Horch Roofing recycles all roof waste and turns it into recycled products and paving materials. Freeport’s Zachau Construction was named the Largest Enterprise of the Year and it promoted the use of cross-laminated timber, a solid engineered wood board that provides design flexibility and low environmental impact.

The Small Business Award is given to one of the oldest companies in Maine, which has existed since its rolling hills became part of the British colony. Smiling Hill Farm is a three-century dairy producer in Westbrook, famous for its unique vintage glass bottles of milk and yogurt, cheese and ice cream. But it has also developed into a destination-suitable for playground gatherings, visits to tares and cross-country skiing. The Knight family is also quite innovative. They extract whey from cheese to feed pigs, and collect mountain pine trees to feed goats after the holidays.

Amy Paradysz is a freelance writer and photographer from Scarborough. You can reach her through [email protection]

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