Gritty’s cycling team pedaling for charities, raising thousands of dollars

FREEPORT — Like many great ideas, this one started in the pub over a pint of Gritty’s. More than 10 years ago, three or four guys in Gritty’s Freeport Mug Club decided they wanted to ride in the Trek Across Maine. Today, that idea has expanded into one of the most successful fundraising groups in the state. “When Bill, Patrick and I had the crazy idea to ride in the Trek, we asked Gritty’s if they would help pay for our jerseys,” said team captain Jerry Yurko. “We ordered some plain white jerseys with the Gritty’s logo on the back in green ink. For the first few years, we would gain a few riders here and there, but nothing too serious. Along the Trek route other riders would joke about what was in our water bottles: water or Gritty’s beer. We raised some money, had some fun and enjoyed the ride. Then, about 10 years ago, Gritty’s made a serious commitment and the team just exploded.” Now, more than 100 people wear the Gritty’s jersey for Gritty’s cycling team. However, that number ebbs and flows with each charity ride. At this year’s Trek Across Maine, Gritty’s cycling team raised more than $71,000 and since 2005, they’ve raised a staggering $388,000 for the American Cancer Society. The team rides in several charity rides each summer, including the MS Great Maine Getaway and the Dempsey Challenge.

SERVPRO of Bath/Brunswick honored at July awards event in Chicago

TOPSHAM — SERVPRO, a company dealing in disaster cleanup, restoration and remediation services, recently recognized Shawn and Marcy Cox of SERVPRO of Bath/Brunswick with the Chairman’s Bronze award for outstanding revenue performance. The awards event took place at the company’s 46th Annual Convention, held in July in Chicago. “Winning this award requires a partnership between the dedicated team at SERVPRO of Bath/Brunswick and our franchiser SERVPRO,” said Shawn Cox. “We contribute by working hard to earn the trust and respect of home and business owners in our community. SERVPRO backs us up by providing us with the tools, training and knowledge to help us maintain our leadership position in our industry.”

Vistage chair from Freeport starts group to help CEOs and business owners

PORTLAND — Vistage chairman George Casey of Freeport recently launched a new Chief Executive Peer Advisory Group in the Portland/southern Maine market. According to a news release, the core purpose of the group is to increase the effectiveness and enhance the lives of the members.

Casey will lead the new group, which brings chief executive officers and business owners of Maine-based companies together to meet monthly to discuss their business issues and opportunities, share expertise, participate in nationally recognized speaker workshops, and provide each other with confidential help to achieve their personal and business objectives.

He joins a Vistage community of more than 800 chairs globally who lead local area groups; these groups total nearly 20,000 members in 16 countries.

The new Southern Maine group, which presently has a half-dozen senior executive members, is on track to increase to the targeted 12-18 members over the next several months. The group meets monthly at various southern Maine locations.

“We have a great core group of professionals in this group,” Casey said. “And we are looking for additional like-minded senior executives and business owners who see the value that a peer-to-peer group can offer.”