The Boulos Beat: A Commercial Real Estate Podcast

In this episode of The Boulos Beat, host Greg Boulos engages with Meredith Strang Burgess, President and CEO of Burgess Advertising & Marketing, a prominent advertising and marketing firm based in Portland, Maine. They explore her diverse career and the personal experiences that have significantly influenced her life. The discussion covers Meredith’s tenure as a state representative, her journey as a cancer survivor, and her forthcoming book on breast cancer. She also highlights her pivotal role in founding the annual Maine Tri for a Cure triathlon, which, this year, successfully raised $2.18 million for the Maine Cancer Foundation.Additionally, Greg and Meredith reflect on the evolution of the advertising industry, her active participation on various nonprofit boards, and her political contributions, including co-sponsoring the landmark 2009 same-sex marriage bill. Meredith underscores the importance of women supporting one another and the profound impact of her efforts in cancer prevention and support.

In this episode of The Boulos Beat, host Greg Boulos speaks with Bob Gould, a retired partner of Brown Brothers Harriman, about his extensive leadership roles in both commercial and nonprofit sectors. Bob currently holds positions as Principal at Spinnaker Trust, Trustee and Investment Committee Chair of the Pinkerton Foundation, and Co-Chair of the Board of Squash Haven. The two discuss Bob’s family's history in Maine, his involvement in the Black Point Inn acquisition, and his role in the Portland Museum of Art's Winslow Homer Studio purchase. Bob also shares insights on the growth of the Pinkerton Foundation, the importance of mentorship, and his views on Portland's development and the future of Spinnaker Trust.

On this episode of The Boulos Beat, guest host Cameron Foster sits down with  Kathryn Sargent, Executive Director of the Locker Project to discuss her journey from Massachusetts to Maine, her education at Bowdoin and UVA, and her transition to the Locker Project.Founded in Portland in 2014, the Locker Project relies on foundation grants and contributions from local businesses and community members to provide food-insecure children and families with reliable access to nourishing food. Unlike school meal programs, the Locker Project provides fresh produce and meal items for the whole family. Unlike traditional food pantries, the Locker Project partners with schools and other local agencies to make food available at dozens of locations. In 2024, program partners will facilitate distribution of more than 600,000 pounds of nutritious food in Greater Portland and beyond. Community members interested in supporting this work can find more information or make a donation at www.mainelockerproject.org..

On this episode of The Boulos Beat, our guest host Caitlin Burke is excited to connect with Ben Kelley, principal of Kelley Family Properties. The family-owned real estate development and investment company has properties throughout New Hampshire and specializes in value-add re-development in commercial and multi-family properties.Ben and Caitlin sit down to discuss Ben’s life-long career journey, including how his internship with Brady Sullivan Properties, one of the largest commercial and residential real estate companies in New Hampshire, evolved into his estate entrepreneurship today. They also dive into the properties Kelley Family Properties and The Boulos Company have leased together, the projects Ben is most proud of, and why he and his team decided to do business in New Hampshire.

In this episode of The Boulos Beat, host Greg Boulos engages in a conversation with Cole Siefer, the CEO of Med Matrix. They delve into the origins of Med Matrix, a cutting-edge medical clinic and med spa with locations in South Portland, ME, and North Conway, NH, and how Sasha Phillips of The Boulos Company helped Med Matrix in its space search. Cole shares how personal experiences shaped the establishment of Med Matrix and discusses the challenges of running a business at a young age, including the dynamics of working with family members. Greg and Cole discuss such topics as exosomes, stem cell treatments, and the array of other services offered by Med Matrix. Additionally, they explore the role of functional medicine in healthcare and outline the model of Med Matrix in the years to come.

On this episode of The Boulos Beat, host Greg Boulos speaks with Dinah Minot, former TV, film producer and now Executive Director of Creative Portland. The nonprofit organization promotes the economy through the arts and elevates the artists, makers, and cultural institutions that make Portland one of a kind.Greg sits down with Dinah to discuss her 25+ years of experience as a producer in New York and Los Angeles, including her credits as associate producer of Saturday Night Live, co-producer of Paramount Pictures’ films including Wayne's World, Tommy Boy, Coneheads, and others. They also talk about what attracted her family to the Portland area, her work at Creative Portland, and how the nonprofit works with arts organizations throughout Maine to spread art awareness in the city. Dinah also goes into what Creative Portland projects are in the works and the vision moving forward.Check out all The Boulos Beat podcasts on our website and subscribe to Apple Podcast, Spotify, or Pandora.

On this installment of The Boulos Beat, we're thrilled to introduce our inaugural New Hampshire-centered episode. Join guest host Caitlin Burke as she sits down with Jay Bisognano, the visionary behind Torrington Properties, a real estate investment firm seizing opportunities in value-added investment, development, and management. Jay is also the founder and partner of Stonington Capital, a Boston-headquartered real estate finance company.Jay and Caitlin sit down to discuss how Jay founded the two companies and the inner workings of each one, specifically the various development deals across New Hampshire. They also talk about Torrington Properties' value-added component and how their out-of-the-box thinking and creativity set them apart from other developers in the state. Jay also provides insight into what led him to invest in New Hampshire, his first deal, and what is next for Torrington Properties and Stonington Capital.

On this episode of The Boulos Beat, host Greg Boulos speaks with Art Batson, Jr. of Lucas Tree Experts. Opened in 1926, Lucas Tree Experts is a third-generation business serving innovative vegetation management solutions to Maine and beyond.Art and Greg sit down to discuss Lucas Tree Experts, including its founding and current work. They also discuss how the Maine-based company switched from a residential focus to a commercial one in the '80s, how the Batson family works together today, and how the pandemic affected the company's operations. Art also pulls out his crystal ball to provide insight into Lucas Tree Expert's future and how his son, president Art Batson, III, plans to grow and expand the family business.

On this episode of The Boulos Beat, guest host Samantha Marinko speaks with Angela Stone, founder of Maine Needs. Maine Needs is a non-profit organization that strives to help individuals and families in Maine meet their basic material needs by providing donated clothing, hygiene products, household items, and other necessities. Angela and Samantha sit down to discuss Angela’s journey from Maine to Chicago and back again, the earliest days of Maine Needs operating out of a garage, and what the future has in store for the non-profit. They also talk about how Angela was encouraged by another local organization to set aside her inexperience in the nonprofit world and use her skillset to her advantage. Angela also provides insight into the organization's mission and shares the thoughtful backstory of their logo. 

On this episode of The Boulos Beat, host Greg Boulos sits down with Liz Cotter-Schlax, President, and CEO of United Way of Southern Maine, and asks how the nonprofit mobilizes the community to tackle the biggest issues of the day.Greg and Liz discuss Liz’s work experience and journey to her executive position at United Way, starting with her early life in Waterville. They also talk about nonprofit vs for-profit work, how United Way receives resources, and how organizations receive funding from the nonprofit. Liz also reflects on charitable giving changes over time and the impacts of the recent pandemic on the United Way.