ROCKLAND — Heidi B. Neal of Loyal Biscuit and Kate McLeer of Bixby and Co. were each presented with certificates of commendation during the Monday, May 4, Rockland City Council meeting. Neal was awarded the 2015 Small Business Person of the Year award by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and McLeer was selected 2015 Maine Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Mayor Frank Isganitis acknowledged a theme with these winners: Triumph over adversity.

“Kate’s own experience coming to town was met with a coupler of hiccups that sort of diverted the trucks, quite literally, from Rockland to Belfast in order to get the process going,” he said. “But through a dedicated city staff, our previous economic and community director, John Holden, got her situated, but never gave up in hoping that we could find a home for her. And that we did, and for that we are grateful.” 

Neal’s husband, Joel, accepted the award on her behalf.

Isganitis said: “Heidi and Joel are personal friends, so this is particularly exciting for me.... I spent the first 20 years of my career, prior to coming to Rockland, as a commercial banker, the last 10 of them specifically in the SBA loan program. My everyday was seeing people’s dreams come true.

According to Isganitis, Neal had been trying to get ready for the Belfast store when an opportunity to have a Camden location at the same time, “almost put them over the edge in terms of craziness, but somehow they persevered and somehow managed to get through it.

”I think it’s a testament to their fortitude, as well as their organization, that got all those things worked out.”