Pleasant River Lumber named 2017 Chamber Business of the Year
DOVER-FOXCROFT — From 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12 the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting and Business of the Year celebration. The chamber’s board of directors is pleased to announce that this year’s Business of the Year recipient is Pleasant River Lumber of Dover-Foxcroft.
This isn’t the first time Pleasant River Lumber has been nominated by members of the community or recognized by the Chamber for its unwavering commitment to local communities and nonprofits, and for the continued economic impact for the region as one of Piscataquis County’s largest employers. In 2008 Pleasant River Lumber was honored as the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce’s Large Business of the Year.
Pleasant River Lumber is a 100 percent U.S., family-owned Maine business with four generations of experience in the forest products industry. Over the years, the Brochu family has built a reputation on quality, service and attention to detail. Annually, their mills produce over 100 million board feet of Maine-sourced spruce dimensional lumber and eastern white pine for customers throughout the East Coast. To sustain an operation of this size while maintaining unparalleled service and quality, Pleasant River Lumber employs over 100 individuals from administrative positions, to mill workers, to truckers and more.
One might think the family running this ship would be too busy to find time to re-invest in their communities, or to partner with other organizations for the sole purpose of making the region stronger. Chamber Executive Director Denise Buzzelli explains, “It isn’t unusual to see large corporations making monetary donations on occasion, but what is different about Pleasant River Lumber is what they do over and above their financial contributions, things like donating lumber to the local high school for their musical’s set, or taking a leadership position on the board of directors of the local YMCA during a season of struggle; they give of their time and their resources, and they have been doing it for decades.”
The Chamber’s board of directors invites anyone who has been impacted by the Brochus to attend the Business of the Year celebration at the Mill Event Space on East Main Street. This will be a night of heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, and coffee and dessert. A link to registration can be found on the Chamber’s Facebook page — an RSVP is required.