Ames True Value Supply in Wiscasset, Renys of Newcastle, King Eider's Pub/Stone Cove Catering of Bristol, and The Animal House in Damariscotta and Westbrook are four of the 32 finalists for the 16th annual Maine Family Business Awards as presented by the Institute for Family Owned Businesses (IFOB).

IFOB presents awards to exemplary Maine firms that demonstrate excellence in family involvement, business success, and commitment to employees, customers and community. Any business where one owner shares ownership or works in the business with at least one other family member is considered a family-owned business for the purpose of the award.

Presented in partnership with Portland-based law firm, Verrill Dana, IFOB will announce the winners at a gala awards ceremony on May 18, hosted by WGME-13’s Gregg Lagerquist. Before the presentation of the awards, a panel of four prominent family-owned business leaders will share the innovative, effective, and unconventional ways they’ve learned to navigate the “family element.”

Panelists include: Meredith Strang Burgess, Burgess Advertising & Marketing; Lindsay Gifford-Skilling, Gifford’s Ice Cream; Alan MacEwan, Verrill Dana; and Casey Prentice, Prentice Hospitality Group. Moderator for the event will be Colleen McCracken, Planet Dog.

This year’s 32 finalists include: Acme Body Shop, South Portland; Ames True Value Supply, Wiscasset; Blue Elephant Events and Catering, Saco; Bruno's Tavern, Portland; Buoy Sports, South Berwick; Caverly Farms, Clinton; Central Distributors, Lewiston; Cousins Maine Lobster, Saco; Crocketts Cove, Vinalhaven; Cross Insurance, Bangor; DeLorme, Yarmouth; Downeast Toyota & Downeast Auto Body, Brewer; F.O. Bailey Real Estate, Falmouth; Grand Central Café, Waterville; Haven's Candies, Westbrook; Hebert Construction, Lewiston; Higgins Corporation, South Portland; Kate's Creamery, Old Orchard Beach; King Eider's Pub and Stone Cove Catering, Bristol; Kingsley Pines, Raymond; Lucy's Granola, East Blue Hill; M.R. Brewer, Portland; Minuteman Signs, Augusta; One Stop Event Rentals, South Portland; Renys, Newcastle; Shaw & Tenney, Orono; Strategic Media, Portland; Suger, Biddeford; The Animal House, Damariscotta and Westbrook; The Regency, Portland; TideSmart Global, Falmouth; and Volk Packaging Corporation, Biddeford.

An independent panel of judges selected the finalists and will determine the award winners. This year’s judges are: Masey Kaplan, Close Buy Catalog; Lesa Ouellette, Hannan’s Electric; Dean Bingham, Dean’s Sweets; Mike Davis, IRC Industrial Roofing Companies; Laura Foye, TD Bank; Stephen deCastro, Key Private Bank; Kim Garrett, The Wolak Group; Denise Cole, d. cole jewelers.

The Institute for Family-Owned Business is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting family-owned businesses, which represent about 80 percent of all businesses in Maine.