Planet Dog, The VIA Agency, and the Greater Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau receive top awards
Yesterday, November 30, at Ocean Gateway, the Portland Development Corporation and the City of Portland presented its sixteenth annual business awards to three local businesses that have played a major role in developing Portland’s economic vitality.
From left: Mark Rees, City Manager/City of Portland; John Coleman, President and Founder of The VIA Agency; Barbara Whitten, President/Greater Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau; Alex Fisher, President and Founder of Planet Dog; Nicholas Mavodones, Mayor/City of Portland; Donna Katsiaficas, President/Portland Development Corporation
President of the Greater Portland Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Barbara Whitten accepted the 2011 Economic Development Achievement Award in recognition of its 4th Annual Harvest on the Harbor Event, which brings in more than 5,000 people in the downtown over the three-day event, resulting in an economic impact of more than $2 Million. Among the visitors to the event, 60% come from Maine and 40% travel here from other states. Coastal Living Magazine named the event as one of the top 10 seafood and wine festivals in North America.
The VIA Agency received the 2011 Business of Year Award. The Award was accepted by the company’s President and founder John Coleman who started the agency in 1993 and it is now ranked among the top 100 advertising agencies in the United States. The VIA Agency was also recently named Ad Age Magazine’s Small Agency of the Year – selected from hundreds of agencies in 22 countries. The VIA Agency has a diverse client base ranging from non-profits to large corporations including Samsung, Disney, and HBO. When looking for a new location for its Danforth Street headquarters, the agency could have moved anywhere and chose to relocate to the former historic Baxter Library building on Congress Street, bringing its seventy-five employees into an area of the Arts District bringing an influx of new energy and pedestrian activity. As for its new headquarters at the former Baxter Library, VIA’s website calls it “. . . something like a cross between ‘The Hogwarts School of Magic’ and MIT’s New Media Lab.” VIA is a shining example of the type of company Portland’s creative economy is trying to cultivate.
Planet Dog received the 2011 Small Business of Year Award, accepted by founder and co-owner Alex Fisher. Since founding the company in 1997, Planet Dog has developed award-winning, non-toxic and recyclable premium products for dogs. Fisher’s commitment to the community is exemplified by the company’s support of local initiatives and donations to a variety of causes. Its flagship initiative is the Planet Dog Foundation, whose philanthropic mission is to promote and celebrate programs that enable dogs to serve and support their best friends. The foundation receives 2% of Planet Dog’s sales. In 2007, Planet Dog gave more than $200,000 in cash and product donations which are donated to non-profit canine service programs nationwide to support training and placing working dogs with people in need.
Congratulations to all three award recipients – we look forward to your continued success in Portland!