Maine Thrive Voices

Sandy Smith

Maine Thrive Voices highlights the people, businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders helping Maine communities thrive. Through conversations, interviews, and local insights, we explore stories about business, wellness, community growth, local events, and the people making a difference across Maine. Episodes feature local business owners, healthcare professionals, nonprofit leaders, community organizations, and voices from regions throughout the state — including the Penobscot Valley, Kennebec Valley, Casco Bay, and beyond. Produced by Maine Valley Voices Media.

Episodes

  1. Jul 24

    I would love for us to go out of business because no one needed our help. That would be a lovely day.

    "I would love for us to go out of business because no one needed our help. That would be a lovely day." That's Suzan Prendergast, Executive Director of the Bangor Humane Society, after eighteen years leading the shelter that serves thirty-five Penobscot Valley towns — and it tells you everything about how she sees the work. In this episode of Maine Thrive Voices, host Sandy Smith sits down with Suzan for one of the most honest conversations you'll hear about what really happens inside an animal shelter. Before BHS, Suzan spent years with the Red Cross in disaster relief and emergency response — training that shows up in shelter leadership more than you'd ever guess. She talks about her son growing up in the kennel halls, what "no-kill" actually means and doesn't mean, the post-COVID surge that filled all forty-two kennels, and why a shelter that is roughly eighty percent donor funded depends on its community every single day. In this conversation: - The Red Cross years — and how disaster response training built a shelter leader - The honest truth about no-kill, straight from the person who lives it - What the post-COVID surge did to shelters across Maine - Forty-two kennels, thirty-five towns, one small team - The Partners for Peace partnership and the work most people never see - Paws on Parade and how Greater Bangor can actually help - Why the toy bin matters more than you think - The answer that gave this episode its title How to help the Bangor Humane Society: Adopt, volunteer, donate, or join them at Paws on Parade. Details at the website below. LINKS Bangor Humane Society: https://www.bangorhumane.org Read the companion Insight — "I'd Love to Go Out of Business": https://mainethriveinsights.com/suzan-prendergast Suzan's Community Profile on Penobscot Valley Thrive: https://penobscotvalleythrive.com/detail-page/bangor-humane-society Maine Thrive Voices is produced by Smith Digital Solutions, LLC in Bangor, Maine. Learn more at smithdigitalsolutions.com.

    I would love for us to go out of business because no one needed our help. That would be a lovely day.

  2. Jul 23

    The Letter That Brought Chris Mendoza to Maine

    Chris Mendoza's life changed with a piece of mail. He was living on Long Island, working in retail, engaged to be married — and then a hand-written letter arrived from his grandfather Jack, who had run The Appliance Doctor in the greater Bangor area for 36 years and believed Chris was the right person to carry it forward. Chris and his fiancée Dorothy read it together, took the leap, and moved to Maine in 2016. In this episode of Maine Thrive Voices, host Sandy Smith sits down with Chris to talk about learning the trade from a man who could diagnose a machine by ear, the three years they worked side by side before Jack's passing in 2019, and what it means to carry a legacy through kitchen doors all over the Penobscot Valley — where customers still remember Jack by name. Along the way: the Long Island-to-Maine culture shock, what "kind, honest service" actually looks like on a service call, the appliances that give Maine homeowners the most trouble (laundry on well water and refrigerators lead the pack), a pet-hair maintenance lesson from Sandy's own washer, why Chris urges people to list working appliances on Facebook Marketplace instead of throwing them away — and the phone number that has never changed: the same Hudson-Bradford line his grandfather answered. Reach The Appliance Doctor: Call or text: 207-327-1000 Website: https://appliancedoc.org Community profile: https://penobscotvalleythrive.com/detail-page/appliance-doctor-inc Read the companion Insight on Maine Thrive Insights: https://mainethriveinsights.com/chris-mendoza Maine Thrive Voices is produced by Smith Digital Solutions, LLC in Bangor, Maine. Learn more at smithdigitalsolutions.com.

    The Letter That Brought Chris Mendoza to Maine

  3. Jul 17

    Episode 8 — Second Chances and Forever Homes | Britney Ellis, The Animal Orphanage

    "These animals aren't damaged, and they aren't broken. They're just waiting." In this episode of Maine Thrive Voices, host Sandy Smith sits down with Britney Ellis, Public Relations Specialist at The Animal Orphanage in Old Town, Maine — a no-kill shelter that has been giving lost and abandoned animals a second chance since 1990. Britney is the voice for animals who can't speak for themselves. If you've seen the adoptable pet segments on WABI TV5, you've seen her work. In this conversation, she walks us through what "no-kill" really means, how strays come into the shelter through police and animal control, and what happens between the day an animal arrives and the day it walks out the door with its new family. You'll also meet Rex — a striking four-year-old with a big heart and a lot of energy who has been waiting at the shelter for nearly a year. Somebody's perfect dog is sitting in Old Town right now. Whether or not you're ready to adopt, there are three ways to help: adopt, foster, or donate. Every one of them saves a life. CONNECT WITH THE ANIMAL ORPHANAGE: Website: https://www.animalorphanageoldtown.com/ Email: animalorphanagepr@gmail.com Phone: (207) 827-8777 Visit: 71 Airport Road, Old Town, Maine READ THE COMPANION INSIGHT:https://mainethriveinsights.com/britney-ellis BRITNEY'S COMMUNITY PROFILE:https://penobscotvalleythrive.com/detail-page/animal-orphanage ----------------------------------------------------- Maine Thrive Voices — Real Voices. Real Maine. Hosted by Sandy Smith, Maine's Visibility Consultant, Smith Digital Solutions, Bangor, Maine. New episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Britney Ellis is a Founding Voice of Maine Thrive Voices — the first circle of twelve Maine voices.

    Episode 8 — Second Chances and Forever Homes | Britney Ellis, The Animal Orphanage

  4. Jul 12

    The Day Tony LaPrino Said Yes

    Tony LaPrino was standing in a half-finished new build, picking up a check from his builder, when he said the five words that changed everything: "I'd love to learn how to do this." The room went quiet. The builder asked if he was serious. He was — and one year later, North Star Property Solutions is booked solid across the Greater Bangor area. In this episode of Maine Thrive Voices, host Sandy Smith sits down with Tony to talk about how a college summer job painting houses in Southern Maine turned into a calling he couldn't shake, why the "handyman" label stopped fitting the caliber of work he delivers, and how he found his niche as a Property Preparation Specialist — the skilled professional who takes on the projects contractors won't call you back about, shows up in weeks instead of months, and leaves homeowners saying "it's like a new kitchen." Tony and Sandy cover: - Saying yes before you feel ready — and how one yes built a business - What a typical week looks like: small remodels, drywall, decks, stairs, and interior/exterior painting - Why people don't hire drywall repair — they hire a home ready to sell, ready to rent, ready to enjoy, ready for the next chapter - Integrity as a business model: show up, pick up the phone, do what you said you'd do Tony also shares his vision for the future, including building affordable ADUs to help address Maine's housing needs.] Connect with Tony LaPrino: Website: https://northstarpropertysolutionsinc.com Phone/Text: (207) 745-5304 Email: tony.laprino@northstarpropertysolutionsinc.com Read the companion Insight on Maine Thrive Insights: https://mainethriveinsights.com/tony-laprino Maine Thrive Voices is produced by Smith Digital Solutions, LLC in Bangor, Maine. Learn more at: smithdigitalsolutions.com.

    The Day Tony LaPrino Said Yes

  5. Jun 28

    A Top Dog Daycare — They Are Doggone Good!

    Peter Richmond never grew up with a dog. But when his son got a husky named Luca, something clicked — and it never stopped. What started as a friendship with a dog daycare owner named Hallie Tyler turned into an opportunity Peter couldn't pass up. He took over her property in Glenburn, put his name on the door, and built Woof LLC into the top-rated dog daycare in Penobscot County — two years running. This episode is the story of how a Cape Cod native fell in love with dogs, moved to Maine, and built a business around the belief that every dog deserves a safe, happy place to land. Key Takeaways A tired dog is a five-star review. Peter's measure of a great day at Woof is simple — if the dog gets excited half a mile from the facility on the way in and sleeps the whole way home, they did their job.Not every dog is made for daycare — and that's okay. Peter has candid conversations with owners when a dog isn't thriving in a group setting, and he does it with care, not judgment.Trust is built one meet-and-greet at a time. New dogs and their owners are invited for a quiet weekend visit before their first full day — no pressure, no crowds, just a chance to get comfortable.The whole staff is first aid certified, including dog CPR. It hasn't been needed yet, but Peter wanted to be ready.Communication is everything. Peter texts owners during the day with updates — a practice he learned directly from Hallie Tyler and never stopped.Resources Mentioned Woof LLC website: woofllc.comBooking software: Ginger (available to sign up directly at woofllc.com)Phone/Text: 207-944-0339Facebook: Woof LLCClosing New episodes of Maine Thrive Voices publish regularly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. If you know a Maine business owner or community leader who belongs on this show, reach out at smithdigitalsolutions.com.

    A Top Dog Daycare — They Are Doggone Good!

  6. Jun 27

    She left the Olympics to come home, then she built her own event

    Laura McIntyre has been running large-scale event logistics since before most people knew that was a job. From managing 5.5 million square feet of warehousing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics to coordinating Hurricane Katrina relief operations in Baton Rouge, she spent thirteen years as part of a loose network of professionals who get called in when the stakes are high and the margin for error is zero. When her parents needed her, she came home to Bangor and thought that chapter was closed. Then she married a marathoner who looked at Route 2 and saw a race course. MESA-Maine was born in Lincoln in 2002, and it hasn't stopped growing since. This episode is the story of how world-class logistics came home to Maine — and why that matters to every runner who crosses a MESA finish line. Key Takeaways No time limits, ever. MESA stays until every runner finishes — seven hours, eight hours, it doesn't matter. The clock runs and the medal is waiting.Every MESA race is a Boston qualifier. Course design starts with finding the flattest, fastest route before anything else happens.The logistics behind a Maine road race are massive. Permits, law enforcement, emergency management, medical, USA Track and Field sanctioning, insurance, volunteers, t-shirts, medals, and door-to-door donation outreach — all of it before a single runner registers.The Maine National Guard has committed to partnering with MESA races going forward — a significant addition to an organization that already runs deep in the military community.MESA is actively building for the future. A 207 Ultramarathon, a Backyard Ultra, bids on the Veterans' Wheelchair Games and Special Olympics World Games, and expansion into northern and western Maine are all in development.Resources Mentioned Race registration: mesa-maine.org and runsignup.comEmail Laura: mesamaineinfo@gmail.comPhone/Text: 207-694-9184Benefiting nonprofits: Heart of Maine United Way, Kennebec Valley United Way, Northern Pacific Activities Council, Maine Veterans ProjectClosing New episodes of Maine Thrive Voices publish regularly. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio.

    She left the Olympics to come home, then she built her own event

  7. Jun 12

    Episode 4: Flori Davis — 2025 Bangor Marathon Women's Course Record Holder

    In this episode of Maine Thrive Voices, Sandy Smith sits down with Flori Davis of Hermon, one of the original runners of the Bangor Marathon and the 2025 women's course record holder. Flori has been running for more than twenty years, and her story is anything but a straight line — a Boston qualifier derailed by injury, a second qualification missed because life with four kids and a real estate career got in the way, and a third attempt this June that became her best race yet. Flori watched her course record fall this year — and felt relieved. Then she went out and beat her own previous time by minutes anyway. That tells you everything about how she runs: for herself, on her own terms, with twenty years of hard-earned wisdom about recovery, fueling, and knowing when to push. What you will hear: Why the Bangor Marathon course feels almost easy when you train on Hermon's hills The Boston Marathon that injury took away — and the registration deadline that family life buried What miles 17 through 19 actually feel like, and how smarter fueling beat the wall this year The finish line mix-up that left her husband waiting behind Geaghan's What losing the course record taught her about why she runs The recovery and tapering changes that made this her strongest race ever How a high school coach in Pennsylvania sparked a lifelong outlet Her path from Romania to Pennsylvania to Maine — and a real estate career built almost entirely on repeat clients and referrals About Flori Davis: Flori is a real estate agent with NextHome Experience, serving Bangor and the surrounding towns, where roughly 95 percent of her business comes from repeat clients and referrals. The best way to reach her is a call or text at 207-852-4597 — texts work best with four kids in the house. If Flori's story got you thinking about lacing up — or about that race you've been putting off — share this episode with a running friend. And come out to cheer next June. The cowbells matter more than you think. Maine Thrive Voices is produced by Smith Digital Solutions, LLC in Bangor, Maine. Learn more at smithdigitalsolutions.com

    Episode 4: Flori Davis — 2025 Bangor Marathon Women's Course Record Holder

  8. Jun 11

    From Her Kitchen Table to a Thriving Practice

    Episode 3: Amber Willey — 207 Wellness, Veazie, Maine In this episode of Maine Thrive Voices, Sandy Smith sits down with Amber Willey, co-owner and nurse practitioner at 207 Wellness in Veazie, Maine. Amber shares her powerful personal transformation — losing 150 pounds through her own GLP-1 journey — and how that lived experience became the foundation for a practice that has helped hundreds of Mainers reclaim their health. From IV hydration to hormone optimization, regenerative aesthetics to hair restoration, 207 Wellness is bringing big-city wellness services to central Maine with a deeply personal, human touch. From starting at her kitchen table to outfitting the University of Maine football team with IV hydration, Amber's story is one of grit, purpose, and building something your community actually needs. What you will hear: The moment Amber realized she could do things differently — and better How losing 150 pounds changed her career, her confidence, and her direction Why 207 Wellness started with weight management and grew into a full wellness platform What IV hydration actually does and why skeptical patients become regulars The truth about hormone optimization — and why so many people are running on empty How big-city treatments like NeoGen and Alma TED are now available right here in central Maine What wellness really means — beyond the scale About 207 Wellness: 207 Wellness is a functional and regenerative wellness clinic located in Veazie, Maine, serving patients across the greater Bangor region and beyond. Services include GLP-1 weight management, IV hydration, hormone optimization for men and women, regenerative aesthetics, laser treatments, and hair restoration. Walk-ins are welcome for IV and vitamin injection services. Saturday appointments available. Visit 207wellness.com for booking and the full service menu. If Amber's story resonated with you, leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share this episode with someone who's been thinking about taking that first step toward better health. 207 Wellness is ready when you are. Maine Thrive Voices is produced by Smith Digital Solutions, LLC in Bangor, Maine. Learn more at smithdigitalsolutions.com

    From Her Kitchen Table to a Thriving Practice

  9. Jun 3

    Dreamer Food — How Anik Derphilibossian Brought Lebanese Flavors to Bangor

    In this special founding guest episode, Anik Derphilibossian shares her inspiring journey from nurse to food entrepreneur. From growing up in a food-loving Lebanese household to chasing her American dream, Anik opens up about the challenges of starting a food truck and restaurant in Bangor, Maine. She talks about the power of dreams, the importance of community, her famous stuffed grape leaves, and why she created the Dream Board at Dreamer Food. This heartfelt conversation is full of warmth, resilience, and mouth-watering stories — exactly what Maine Thrive Voices is all about. One of the very first guests who believed in this podcast before it even launched — don’t miss Anik’s story.

    Dreamer Food — How Anik Derphilibossian Brought Lebanese Flavors to Bangor

  10. May 20

    Helping Mainers Stay Active & Pain-Free — Brad Libby of Performance Physical Therapy

    Brad Libby of Performance Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation joins Maine Thrive Voices to discuss helping Mainers recover from injuries, stay active, and improve long-term mobility and wellness. In this conversation, we discuss: physical therapysports rehabilitationinjury recoverystaying active as we agecommon misconceptions about physical therapyhelping people move and feel better throughout the Bangor and Brewer regionThis episode is part of the Penobscot Valley Insights series from Maine Thrive Voices. Learn more:Performance Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation Produced by Smith digital Solutions, LLC in Bangor, Maine..

    Helping Mainers Stay Active & Pain-Free — Brad Libby of Performance Physical Therapy
  • 10 Episodes

About

Maine Thrive Voices highlights the people, businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders helping Maine communities thrive. Through conversations, interviews, and local insights, we explore stories about business, wellness, community growth, local events, and the people making a difference across Maine. Episodes feature local business owners, healthcare professionals, nonprofit leaders, community organizations, and voices from regions throughout the state — including the Penobscot Valley, Kennebec Valley, Casco Bay, and beyond. Produced by Maine Valley Voices Media.

Information

  • Creator
    Sandy Smith
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sandy Smith
  • Show Website
    Maine Thrive Voices