Cindy Smith of Great Falls Construction (GFC) has been named the Gorham Business Exchange’s 2017 Business Person of the Year. This annual award is granted to one Gorham business person who is an involved community member, serves as a mentor and leader to others in the community, and demonstrates creativity and imagination in business. By these standards, Smith, the co-owner and vice president of GFC, is a more than deserving recipient. In her nomination, a fellow community member noted that Smith “has been a part of this [company] since 1988 and is still putting her fingerprint on many aspects of Gorham Village.”

Smith has been integral to GFC’s success since its inception, likely due to her willingness to wear many hats for the company. “I started doing the bookkeeping for Jon [Smith, Cindy’s husband and the co-owner and president of GFC] in the evening while I was working full-time, and then as we started having children, I became a stay-at-home mom and the bookkeeper,” said Smith. “It has seemed over the years I have had the opportunity to fall into roles that needed to be filled at the time, from weekend gutter jobs to roof shingle pick up, as well as any office duty that needed my attention.” Her role as vice president, though, has her sights set on big picture goals. “As we continue to grow and change, I am excited to be able to focus on development of new projects,” said Smith.

In GFC’s catalogue of previous projects, several have transformed the landscape of the Gorham Village. One of Smith’s favorite, and arguably most well-known, projects was the reconstruction of “the old garage on Main Street where Aroma Joe’s, Subway, US Cellular, and Nail Xperts now reside. It is so great to have an image in your head and then see it transpire into something you truly hope others will enjoy.”

This emphasis on community drives Smith to focus on creating strong relationships with people, what she considers her best advice for small business owners. “First and foremost, our GFC team is an awesome group of hardworking people,” she shared, “as well as our wonderful clients we have worked with throughout the years.” As for GFC’s strong connection to Gorham, Smith added, “We always are keeping in our minds what we can do to make our community a better place for all. We really enjoy living here and want to share that joy with other community members.”

Smith will be presented with an award at the Gorham Business Exchange’s Annual Meeting and Business Person of the Year celebration at Spire 29 on Tuesday, May 23, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The evening will feature a panel including Jon Smith, Shawn Moody, Scott Lovaas, and Andrew McLean to discuss up-and-coming changes in Gorham, and food will be provided by Gorham House of Pizza. To register for this free event, please visit the Exchange’s website here.