Maine Alternative Solutions

Honored as Chamber’s 2015 Business of the Year   

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Ron and Amy Desmarais, owners of Maine Alternative Solutions in Milo along with several other businesses, were recognized as the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Business of the Year during the Chamber’s annual meeting on the evening of Oct. 9 at the Dover-Foxcroft Mill Event Space.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

CHAMBER BUSINESS OF THE YEAR — Ron and Amy Desmarais, right, of Maine Alternative Solutions were presented with the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Business of the Year award during the Chamber’s annual meeting on Oct. 9 at the Mill Event Space in Dover-Foxcroft. Also pictured is Chamber Vice President Will Wedge and Executive Director Denise Buzzelli.

Maine Alternative Solutions has brought heat pumps to the region as an alternative heat source and now is bringing in solar power. Ron Desmarais has helped expand several Milo businesses by building additions and making improvements, donating his time and abilities and often materials. He also has built homes and apartments in an effort to provide affordable housing for Milo residents.

Ron and Amy Desmarais came forward during the meeting to first receive a legislative sentiment from State Rep. Norm Higgins (R-Dover-Foxcroft) and State Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville), who were joined by Maine Second District Congressman Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine), for their business’ honor. “He never says I’m doing things for me, he’s always doing things for others,” Rep. Higgins said about Desmarais.

Brenda Kelley of Camden National Bank’s Milo branch and a member of the Chamber board of directors told Desmarais “you do a lot for the community” and said she had a gift bag for him. She told the audience how Desmarais is always thinking of ways to help the community, and it is not uncommon to receive emails from him during the early morning hours.

“The batteries are in here if you start to run down,” Kelley joked about one gift bag item. She said she also had three notepads, for Desmarais’ nightstand, pocket and vehicle, as well as pens so he never runs out of ink.

Tony Hamlin, who is Desmarais’ brother-in-law, said, “I just want to say how proud we are of Ron and Amy” and Hamlin cited their generosity and dedication to the community. Hamlin mentioned some of the acts on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in which the performer would keep a number of plates continually spinning on sticks, running back and forth on the stage.

“That’s pretty much what Ron does on a daily basis with Amy’s help, they keep everything on balance,” Hamlin said. He said Milo is poor town but without Ron and Amy Desmarais the community would be even poorer.

Chamber Executive Director Denise Buzzelli read a letter from Milo Interim Town Manager/Police Chief Damien Pickel in which he wrote that Ron and Amy Desmarais have donated a number of items and services to the community with “generosity spread throughout the town of Milo.” Pickel wrote about contributions to the Three Rivers Kiwanis building and the new Harrigan Learning Center as two examples.

“As a chamber director, Milo has a special place in my heart,” Buzzelli said. “I like to find other visionaries who think my way,” she said about Ron and Amy Desmarais. “They don’t look at things how they are but how they could be.”

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

LEGISLATIVE SENTIMENT — Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce 2015 Business of the Year recipients Ron and Amy Desmarais, center, of Maine Alternative Solutions in Milo were presented with a sentiment from the Maine Legislature as part of the award presentation Oct. 9 in Dover-Foxcroft. Pictured with Ron and Amy Desmarais is, from left, State Rep. Norm Higgins (R-Dover-Foxcroft), State Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville) and Maine’s Second District Congressman Bruce Poliquin (R-Oakland).