Jesse Harvey will be our speaker at Portland Rotary this week. He is a person in long term recovery from Substance Use Disorder. He works as Peer Support Coordinator for Greater Portland Health, volunteers as Chapter Lead of Young People in Recovery-Portland, and serves on Portland’s Overdose Prevention Task Force, as well as on the Boards of Directors of Health Equity Alliance and NAMI-Portland.
Jesse is an advocate for low-cost, low-barrier, and evidence-based public health interventions, and he has helped to educate healthcare providers, the media, law enforcement, and others in Maine on the value of recovery-ready communities. Jesse is most passionate about recovery houses and overdose prevention sites, and is the Founder of Journey House Sober Living and Portland OPS.
Jesse is a Master’s student at Muskie. In his spare time he likes to walk around Portland and eat Ethiopian food.
Michael Dubyak, Chairman of South Portland-based WEX, shared with us the story behind writing his book, The Road to WEXcellence, and read from a couple of chapters. “Why did I write a book? Maine doesn’t tell good stories about its successes. This is a good story,” he said. “I also wanted to share the learnings from my experience.” Dubyak said the book was written to capture all the phases of the story of WEX. “I believe that my behind-the-scene perspective offers lessons.”
Dubyak read from the book’s preface, which began with the story of the culmination of WEX’s effort to launch their IP in 2005. “We were on our road show with 74 meetings in ten days,” he said. “Meetings all around the country with investment banks and potential investors. It was draining. Our owners at the time, Cendant, were in control of the process, and there were two companies trying to buy the firm before the IPO—so we had two due diligence efforts underway while we were raising interest in the offering. If one of the companies was successful, we would have to shut down the IPO.”
Dubyak said that when he opened the drapes of his hotel room on the morning of February 16, 2005 and saw the view of the Statue of Liberty, “I just lost it. I was so overcome with emotion. Here I was, a guy from Maine getting ready to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, my emotions flowing, and I just sat down on the couch and cried.” He said that he finally got himself together and met up with Melissa Smith, WEX president, and the rest of his executive team, and they launched their IPO.
“We didn’t do it for the money for ourselves,” he said. “All the money went to Cendant. We saw this as our chance for independence.”
Dubyak then read from the book’s third chapter, which is about entrepreneurial risk. “Entrepreneurs take on risks to survive,” he said, noting that by year 12, most startups have either gone out of business, or disappeared. “Very few survive,” he said. “Staying in business requires ratcheted growth and capital.” Dubyak explained that each round of raising capital is lettered, starting with “A”. “We were on the “I” round,” he said. “We cycled through six presidents before I became CEO. But the management team stayed together. “We called ourselves ‘WEX’ers,” he said. “What made us special; what makes a Maine company special are the people of Maine. We are persistent and loyal and compassionate. Our culture is that of a family, and I am proud to be a part of it.”
In response to questions, Dubyak reported that the firm’s new headquarters should be complete by the fourth quarter of this year and will house 450 employees. He acknowledged that this will present another challenge to Portland’s traffic and parking situation. Asked how the firm’s culture of community involvement plays into its competitive advantage, Dubyak said that high employee satisfaction translates to high customer satisfaction. “We’re now signing customers like Exxon and Shell to ten-year contracts,” he said. “That locks the competition out.”
Since WEX’s IPO opening at $19 per share, its stock has risen to $190.80 per share with a market capitalization rate of $8.3 billion. The book is available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.
(Photo L-R: Michael Dubyak and new club President John Curran.)
Incoming President John Curran welcomed 35 members and four guests. Jen Fullmer, a retired B-1 bomber pilot, was one of the guests who joined us for our lunch. She is currently working to establish a new nonprofit, Boots2Roots. The organization helps veterans transition from military to civilian life in Maine, assisting them with everything from job placement to navigating the real estate market.
1st VP Amy Chipman enthralled the club with tales of Toronto – telling us of a spectacular Rotary International Convention, which she attended with a battalion of Portland Rotarians, including PP Peter Goffin, 2nd VP Ellen Niewohner, PP Bill Blount, Tom Nickerson, Ron Bennett, Bruce Moore, Jan Chapman and Mr. and Mrs. John Marr. 25,000 Rotarians were in attendance at the Toronto coliseum. They heard not only from Rotary International’s president, but from prime ministers, the head of UNICEF, first lady Laura Bush and others, including Process Anne. Even Canada’s celebrity prime minister, Justin Trudeau, was in attendance. She said it was “three world leaders, one first lady, and 25,000 friends."
Jan Chapman reported that the Club’s North Deering Gardens reading program is up and running, with a full complement of readers. She also told her own Toronto story, in which she described the end of a meal when the manager of the restaurant they were at came up and waxed poetic about Rotary and its work for refugees. He then offered them all free drinks, proving the value of going out in public while wearing one’s Rotary pin.
Gracie Johnston made an appeal to members, asking them to step up to help with the Club’s monthly meal at Preble Street. The program has been going well, but the supply of Rotary volunteers has grown a little thin. Brandishing a “Help Wanted” sign, she explained that the program serves dinner on the fourth Wednesday of every month, and that all are welcome.
Finally, PP Peter Goffin was the latest victim of the cruel Queen of Hearts in our weekly raffle. He was close, pulling an ace of that suit, but not close enough to take the jackpot, which continues to grow.
Rotary District 7780 members and family are invited.
The Portland Sea Dogs are happy to host Rotary District 7780 as they take on the Altoona Curve, AA Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, August 19th at 1:00 PM. Gates open at 11:30 AM. Tickets are $26 pp. Tickets purchased through this link are for the Coca-Cola Picnic Area in Right Field, and include a buffet that runs from 11:30am until 2:00 PM and consists of hamburgers, hot dogs, bbq pulled chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, Coca-Cola products and Sea Dog Biscuits. There is also a cash bar in the area for beer and wine.
What a great way to share an afternoon with fellow Rotarians and prospective members in the District. Invite your friends and family, too!
Following is a list of our Club's volunteer projects. If you know of other opportunities, please contact Loretta: lrowe@maine.rr.com
When Project Who to Contact
Summer Reading Tuesdays and Thursdays Program 11:15-12:00 pm North Deering July 5 thru August 9 Gardens Contact Jan Chapman or Laura Young on Tuesdays jchapman1966@gmail.com lyoung@mainecf.org
Invocation: David Small Program Reporter: Dick Hall Bits & Pieces Reporter: Julie L'Heureux Registration/Greeter: David Ertz Sell Meal Tickets: David Clough Raffle: Justin Lamontagne Collect Meal Tickets: Chris Thomas Sgt-at-Arms (Setup): Charlie Frair Sgt-at-Arms (Take Down): Mike Fortunato
Member Birthday 3rd - Mark Millar 5th - Ben Millick 11th - Alan Levenson Charlie Whittier 12th - Tom Nickerson Megan Peabody 14th - Jack Carr Jennifer Frederick 16th - Julia L'Heureux 19th - John Marr 23rd - Peter Noyes 29th - Mike Reed 30th - Terri St. Angelo 31st - John Curran Date-Joined-Rotary Anniversaries Alan Levenson - 39 years Bill Reynolds - 44 years Rob Chatfield - 11 years Mike Fortunato - 8 years Steve Stromsky - 7 years Jerry Angier - 4 years Tom Nickerson - 4 years Alex St. Hilaire - 4 years Elise Hodgkin - 3 years Tom Saturley - 2 years Peter Moore - 1 year
The following items are needed on an on-going basis. Please feel free to bring them to a meeting where we will collect and distribute them to the appropriate projects.
Crutches4Africa - Crutches, canes, folding walkers and wheelchairs to be shipped to Africa.
Toiletries for the Shelters - Collect those tiny bottles of toiletries you are paying for during your next hotel visit and bring them home for members of our society who find themselves staying at a shelter and in need of personal hygiene products.