A Conversation with Shannon Richards, Incoming President for MEREDA

Incoming President of MEREDA Shannon Richards sits with current MEREDA President Craig Young and immediate past President Josh Fifield for the eighteenth episode of MEREDA Matters - the podcast that puts you in the room with the people who are driving responsible development in Maine. Richards, who is the Founder of the design-build firm Hay Runner, shares the origin of her company, including the inspiration for its name. She goes on to talk about what it was like growing up in Castine, Maine and Jamestown, Rhode Island and why she feels that all of Maine is like an island community. Richards also discusses the importance of art in her life, how she does something creative everyday, and why she decided to build an art school with her partner, architect Caleb Johnson. The conversation also includes a discussion on Richards’s approach to running a successful business, which for her is about coming up with a plan and then showing up every single day. The group goes on to reflect on their experiences working together on MEREDA events and what Richards’s goals are for the next two years as President. Where is Shannon’s favorite place to vacation in Maine? Listen to the episode to find out!