Stephanie Clement, Bo Jennings, and six other award recipients were recognized for their contributions to local businesses, nonprofits and community life.
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BAR HARBOR—Stephanie Clement’s dad came up to Mount Desert Island every summer as a geologist.
Stephanie and Katherine, his daughters came here too, learning the granite, playing and exploring on the cracks and slopes, becoming acquainted with the base of earth that supported the island and its communities of people, of plants, of animals.
“Stephanie, of course, has grown up knowing granites and all these different rock types and caring about the environment so much and learning so much about what has gone on in the past and what’s going on right now,” her dad explained on a Dobbs Productions video, Thursday at the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting and awards dinner.
A natural resource career? A lifetime spent caring about nature and life and community?
Those values have been embedded in Stephanie Clement all along. That caring, that stewardship has been her life’s mission and its only grown and evolved as she’s spent year after year taking care of her community.
“There are institutions on this beloved island,” Friends of Acadia CEO and Clement’s boss, Eric Stiles said. “Acadia National Park. You think of MDI Bio Lab. You think of the Jesup Library. And then there’s more recent ones like Friends of Acadia. Those institutions marry interconnected tissue like Acadia National Park.”
That park was gifted, he said. The communities and park are interdependent. What happens in the park, he said, impacts the communities.
“Stephanie lives that. Her sphere of service (is) both at Friends of Acadia and to Acadia National Park and its communities; she binds us together. It is her dedication, her loyalty, her very hard work and her moral compass,” Stiles said.
Clement’s brilliant and giving nature, her empathy, the way she can feel her way into conversations and moments and community with a rare combination of exceptional heart and intellect were some of the reasons that she received the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious Cadillac Award during its annual meeting on Thursday night.
In true Clement fashion, she took the flowers and the award and the hugs and thanked everyone else in a lovely and sometimes tearful speech.
“I want to thank Dad who is here tonight with me,” Clement said, looking across the room to where her father sat with her coworkers at Friends of Acadia as well as Acadia National Park’s John Kelly. “When I was born, I hit the jackpot. I’m just so grateful for all your love and support.”
When Clement moved to Mount Desert Island, she didn’t know many people. Pat Stanley suggested she run for the Chamber board. So, she did.
“I met so many people that way,” she said and it finally felt like home.
That was a true gift, she said.
“It’s wonderful, wonderful work,” she said of the Chamber staff and its new work with the young professionals group, the business roundtable, and other incentives and new gatherings meant to generate discussion and connection.
“Thank you so much for this great honor. It touched my heart intensely,” she said.
PRESIDENT’S AWARD—GARY “BO” JENNINGS
Clement wasn’t the only award winner on Thursday night. Gary “Bo” Jennings received the President’s Award, which when he’d been a past president of the Chamber, Jennings said was meant to reflect someone who fights for the soul of the town.
“Who brings integrity to the community in whatever platform they choose? Who would I be proud to stand next to?” he said he asked himself during the process.
This year, current president Rachel Crater did the same thing.
Strong communities need connections but also people who are willing to step forward, carry responsibility, and lead in difficult times.
“Some Chamber presidents step into the role in a season of stability,” Crater said. “Bo Jennings did not.”
Jennings became president as executive director Alf Anderson was leaving. The organization had no executive director as it searched for the next one, which would be Everal Eaton. Jennings had to lead the search, help staff, and hire a director, an enormous responsibility, Crater said.
“He continued to support that new leader, Everal, through the challenges that came and do come when stepping into such a public role,” she said. “He honored the people who had given years of their lives to the community” while also welcoming new staff, new energy, and new ideas.
Jennings provided steadfastness, she said, during some of the Chamber’s most contentious years as conversations about cruise ships, funding, development, tourism, and the relationship between residents and businesses sometimes became heated.
“It was all very personal. The Chamber faced criticism, lost funding, and had to demonstrate its value of worth. Bo remained willing to step into those conversations. He advocated fiercely for local businesses while continuing to remind us that when we disagree we’re still neighbors,” Crater said.
The Chamber emerged with a new strategic plan, renewed mission, new team of staff and a clearer commitment to both a striving business commitment and strong community.
Jennings also created the recent Music Harbor festival which features 100-plus hours of music in venues across Bar Harbor and into Trenton and Northeast Harbor.
“Which may be the clearest example of how Bo thinks,” she said of the festival. “Let’s bring businesses together, support local musicians, create something joyful and give residents and visitors a reason to share this town with one another rather than separately.”
Jennings didn’t know he was receiving the award and took the stage, visibly moved. His first words were about how he came to the island and thanks for his employers, Jeff and Jenna Young, who own—or have co-owned multiple businesses—but are likely most known for owning the Side Street Cafe and Annex.
When Jennings received a message from Jeff Young a few years ago, asking him to come work for him and Jena, Jennings didn’t know what Young did for a living.
He said yes anyway. He took a chance on a community, on employers, on himself, too.
“We are all stronger together. We don’t have to agree on everything. We live and work in a very special place and I hope we spend all our energy on doing good and not arguing about bad,” Jennings told attendees.
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AND NEIGHBORING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR — ADAM FRALEY AND NOR’EASTER POUND AND MARKET
Each year, the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce recognizes individuals, businesses, and organizations whose dedication, leadership, and service contribute to the strength and character of our community.
The Young Professional Award recognizes an emerging leader under forty that is committed to the future of the region and has professional history and work involvement in the community.
Fraley’s Nor’Easter Pound & Market in Northeast Harbor won the Neighboring Business of the Year Award.
“I was saying for a couple of years amongst our friends group and my parents,” he said, praising the Chamber’s young professional leadership as he received his award, “and finally these guys took the initiative and started in through the Chamber.”
The Chamber’s Young Professionals Group is a newer entity that organizes outings and events for people in their twenties and thirties.
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR—COOL AS A MOOSE
Cool as a Moose won business of the year. Cool as a Moose has a been a retail staple in Bar Harbor for decades.
Ben Dunbar accepted the award and spoke of how he’d never imagine stepping through the doors of the store and becoming an employee. He profusely thanked all of the staff.
RISING STAR AWARD—HIDDEN BARN BOOKS
Hidden Barns Books received the Rising Star Award.
Genie Thorndike transformed an old barn behind Reel Pizza in downtown Bar Harbor into not just a book store but a community center.
“I had moved my workshop up to Bar Harbor and found that lonely and isolating after being in a 16-person furniture-making shop in Massachusetts where I had been looking with a friend for a space where woodworkers and other makers from North Bennet St. School could teach classes. I love to learn and am always curious, so I needed to find a place where people could come gather and learn, so when I thought about places I love to be in, a bookstore with a community space just made total sense,” she explained in 2025.
It also made total sense for the business, which has quietly hosted community event after community event and worked in partnership with multiple people and nonprofits to receive the rising star award.
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD—LINDA LUNT
The Community Impact Award honors a business or individual who displayed an extraordinary commitment to making our community a better place for its residents, businesses, and guests.
Linda Lunt’s impact on the communities of Mount Desert Island happen bit by bit, connection by connection and post.
She recently retired from her position at the YWCA of Mount Desert Island and there she connected countless people to resources, ways for them to get help, ways for them to help themselves with minimal barriers.
With Andrew Flanagan, she was a large part of the creation of the MDI Woodbank, which gives people free wood to heat their homes.
She has posted countless requests and needs on the Bar Harbor Barter and Swap site on Facebook. It might be for clothes. It might be for furniture. It might be for swim lessons.
While her husband, Dan, videoed her from his seat at the table, Linda Lunt received the Community Impact Award and thanked her former supervisor Jackie Davidson at the YWCA of MDI and the community.
“The MDI community. You guys have been amazing. All of your responses for posts on Bar Harbor Barter and Swap have brought people everything from swim lessons to clothing to anything you can imagine,” Lunt said.
She also thanked her husband for his endless lugging of furniture.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR—CRITERION THEATRE
The nonprofit introduces people through storytelling, dance, and theater classes as well as live music and speakers.
“The Criterion is not only a stage, but a gathering place for arts and culture,” Crater said.
Courtney Sales, director of the theater, said it was thrilling to be a part of the theater’s newest iteration under the auspices of Harper House Music Foundation.
“Bar Harbor is a place that embraces new leadership and I thank you for that,” she said. “We’re very grateful.”
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR—CHRIS VINCENTY
Chris Vincenty of Reel Pizza, which began in 1995 in half of an ancient Darling’s Auto Parts Store was awarded volunteer of the year.
Reel Pizza is also owned by Lisa Burton. They eventually tore down the building and made the current cinema. They’ve supported local nonprofits, shown outdoor movies and welcomed school groups, Curtis Simard, president and CEO of Bar Harbor Bank and Trust, said back in 2023.
“It recognizes an individual recognized for outstanding volunteer service and commitment to the community,” said Chamber Operations Manager Kamahl Walker.
“So much of what makes Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island special happens because of people who choose to give their time. Volunteer work often takes place quietly behind the scenes and without expectation of recognition. Tonight we have the opportunity to say thank you,” Machias Savings Bank Vice President and Bar Harbor Branch Manager Matt Horton said. “Through his creativity, persistence and commitment to the community, Chris exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism.”
THE CHAMBER AND ITS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS
Crater also thanked the Chamber staff and its volunteers.
“I’m so excited for the energy and enthusiasm of our Chamber staff,” Crater said. “They work incredibly hard but are also willing to innovate, listen, try something new, and keep looking for a better way to serve the community.”
That might be helping a young professional early in their careers, helping island communities work more closely together, or creating and hosting events that help the businesses and also the residents celebrate together such as the July Fourth celebrations, the Bed Races, the holiday celebrations or the new Wedding Expo.
“They are building the connections that allow Bar Harbor to thrive,” Crater said. “Thank you for participating in that community.”
The award winners represented different parts of island life: businesses that bring people through their doors, nonprofits that create places to gather, volunteers who give their time, and neighbors who connect people with the help they need.
Their work takes different forms, but it shares a common thread: the belief that a community is something people build together.
As Jennings put it while accepting the President’s Award, “We are all stronger together. We don’t have to agree on everything. We live and work in a very special place and I hope we spend all our energy on doing good and not arguing about bad.”
A community can be divided over tourism, development, funding and change, yet still depend on relationships and shared institutions.
Clement’s childhood connection to Acadia, Lunt connecting people with resources, Hidden Barn Books becoming a gathering place, and Jennings creating Music Harbor all show community-building in action.
2026 ANNUAL AWARD RECIPIENTS
- Cadillac Award: Stephanie Clement
- Business of the Year: Cool As A Moose
- Neighboring Business of the Year Award: Nor’Easter Pound & Market
- Rising Star Award: Hidden Barn Books
- Community Impact Award: Linda Lunt
- Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Criterion Theatre
- Young Professional of the Year: Adam Fraley
- Volunteer of the Year: Chris Vincenty
THE SPONSORS
“Before we dive into the evening, please join me in thanking the generous sponsors who helped make tonight’s celebration possible,” Eaton said near the beginning of the program.
- Presenting Sponsor: Bar Harbor Bank and Trust
- Award Sponsors: First National Bank, Machias Savings Bank, Versant Power, and the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel and Events Center
- Cocktail Reception Sponsor: Cape Air
- Toast to Success Sponsors: Black Friar Inn & Pub and Milagro Coffee Bar
- Red Carpet Sponsor: Bar Harbor Story
Other businesses donated:
- Floral arrangements provided by Queen Anne’s Flowers
- Giveaway items provided by Cape Air, The CAT, Acadia Corporation, Cool As A Moose, Little Village Gifts, Geddy’s, Window Panes, and A Little Mad.
- The Cadillac Award Video production by Dobbs Productions
All photos: Carrie Jones/Shaun Farrar/BHS
More photos are on our Facebook page.
DISCLAIMER: We were the red carpet sponsor for the event, which meant that we took a lot of photos for the Chamber while also covering the event.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Rick Osann Art.
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