Kristan Vermeulen has picked back up the microphone to speak to makers and small business owners who have supported her through her pageant journey. She is now titled your USOA Ms. Maine 2025. One maker that has supported her is Rogue Life Maine which focuses on creating high-quality, performance-driven everyday apparel and for outdoor enthusiasts. The Rogue Life Maine concept highlights the connection between the brand’s strong foundation in the state of Maine and they're growing nationally as well.

The Rogue Life Maine initiative also fosters a sense of local pride, celebrating the hardworking, passionate individuals involved in the brand’s operations in Maine. This could involve partnerships with local organizations, events, and collaborations that highlight the Maine community. Rogue Life Maine promotes a lifestyle rooted in hard work, dedication, and a commitment to fitness and personal improvement. It resonates with people who value integrity, resilience, and a strong work ethic, characteristics that are often associated with both Maine’s culture. Reflecting the rugged, durable nature of the region, the apparel tied to this concept might include designs that evoke Maine’s outdoor culture, landscapes, and the strength required to thrive in such a setting. Tune into this episode to learn more about Mark Rodrigue and his story of owning and operating Rogue Life Maine.

Kristan interviews Jordia Benjamin, the Executive Director of Indigo Arts Alliance. A nonprofit organization based in Maine that focuses on supporting artists of color through residencies, exhibitions, and community engagement. Founded to address the underrepresentation of artists from diverse backgrounds, it provides a platform for creative expression and cultural exchange. The alliance aims to foster collaboration, promote artistic innovation, and enhance the visibility of artists of color, creating a vibrant arts community that reflects a range of perspectives and experiences. Through various programs and partnerships, Indigo Arts Alliance also seeks to inspire social change and connect with local communities.

Model Airplane is a collection of musicians that come together every year to perform an ultimate show right around Thanksgiving. They jibe with one another. It's their thing. They got the funk. They got the soul. Started by singer Lyle Divinsky, Dan Boyer, and Pete Genova and features an all-star lineup of Maine-based musicians. They bring together a community that knows and loves this tradition. Not only does the band see the curation of amazingly talented artists' family, but they consider the audience family too. Kristan has seen them three years in a row and she truly feels this connection, the connection is unreal and Kristan wants you to listen to what that connection entails.

Have you ever heard of the term hand hewn? Kristan had no idea what it was until she met this lovely gentleman who lives a town over from her. She always passed by his house and saw the Renaissance Timber sign hung in his front yard and was always curious about what was going on there. Come to find out Steve was turning a round tree into a square beam using only hand tools. While water-powered sawmills existed in New England as early as 1630, hand-hewing large beams was a technique favored by many American craftsmen to frame out barns and buildings: structures that have stood the test of time and borne patiently the worst of summer's blistering heat and New England's unkind winters. Today, Steve uses exactly the same tools and techniques as 17th- and 18th-century Maine craftsmen to create classic beams and mantels: timbers that will transform your family's favorite space into a showcase for generations to come. Tune in to learn more about Steve's past prior to getting into hewing beams, the process behind hand hewing beams, and much more. Also, stay tuned till the end to listen to a track from local Maine musician King Kyote.

Gnykol combines timeless designs and reclaimed leather and creates a sense of fearless expression in her handmade artwear. Gnykol’s Artwear is a one-of-a-kind wearable art fashion. Two core ethics of Gnykol’s work are creating rockstar garments with repurposed materials. Off-cuts and imperfect leather hides are her favorite sources of inspiration. From these scraps come the striking compositions that define Gnykol’s current collection of leather outerwear. Ranging from lightly embellished with functional hardware to elaborately adorned with high densities of studs and spikes, each piece is a work of art. When Kristan discovered Nicole at the Maine Craft Association STITCH event in 2022, she was blown away. Who knew a woman here in Maine was making bustiers and jackets that you would most likely see in LA or New York City. Tune in to learn more about Nicole's fashion career -- how she got there and where she is today.

Philip Costello creates sculptures and carvings that call forth the wonder and beauty of nature in wood. Last summer Kristan had the privilege of interviewing him at the Cliff House Resort in Ogunquit, Maine. The Cliff House invited Phil to carve right there on their property and sell his work. Some of his work is featured in the hotel and one piece that comes to mind that I have seen at the hotel is in their conference room, a beautiful mermaid which Kristan talks about with Phil during the interview. They talked about the intricacies of woodcarving, detail, and design. Through careful honing of technique and process, Phil has carved a place for himself among the finest artisans and depths of the woods sculpting craft from a studio in Southern Maine and southwest Florida. He is surrounded by the beauty in and around the ocean and is inspired to duplicate these nautical pieces in detail with masterful skill. His vision for design and the careful planning of each piece along with the type of wood used allows for the efficient, flawless execution of realistic sculptures. New and novel sculpture requests keep Phil in a continual state of artistic development and he readily enjoys the challenge of creating custom commission works. Tune in to learn more about Phil and his craft of wood carving -- a rare craft you don't find too often.

Pot + Pan is much more than a delivery mechanism for THC, their edibles are delicious, chef-developed, culinary wonders. You can proudly share these treats with loved ones of any cannabis experience level. With a scientifically-tested and accurate range of potencies, folks can choose their ideal dose and enjoy an entire edible. Kristan never had an edible before and Tara provided her with the best information to make her feel comfortable and safe before diving into her first bite. She highly enjoyed the Key Lime Gummy Bundt as her first ever edible.

Chef Tara graduated from culinary school in Cambridge and has worked in some of the best restaurants. She ran two acclaimed businesses and now leads Pot + Pan’s edibles with her inquisitive and playful approach. Her creations pair nostalgic flavors with delightful surprises. They have surprising contrasts—in aroma, texture, taste, color, and temperature—that invite you to stop and take note, to relive a happy moment, or sear the present one into your consciousness.

Tune into to learn more about Tara's past career, how she got involved with Pot + Pan and her future goals with the company.

Catherine Fisher is a fashion designer and is known for her fabulous sustainable fashion pieces. But before getting into fashion she wrote poems and this creative process turned into a discovery, of revealing. These garments she has created are essentially poems in physical form. Each element of a blouse or pants, as with each word and stanza of a poem, represents a personal quest to illuminate an underlying idea or question. Whether gathering driftwood on a Maine beach for handmade paint brushes, constructing scenery elements for photo shoots, or developing calligraphies and designing embellishments specific to each garment—her choices seek to articulate the inner life of each poem. Every bit is part inquiry, part finding in the art of expression. Tune in to this episode to learn more about Catherine's past before getting into poetry and sustainable fashion, how her poems are inspired by each of her fashion pieces, and how people connect to her work of art.

On the next episode of the Makers of the USA Maine series, Kristan speaks to The Mallett Brothers Band. Founded in 2009, the Mallett Brothers have had multiple lineup changes and stylistic shifts over the years, but they've remained steadfast in delivering heartfelt songs with emotional lyricism, vivid imagery, and dynamical musical tunes. Their busy tour schedule since forming in 2009 has helped them to build a dedicated fanbase across the U.S. and beyond while still calling the state of Maine their home. With a style that ranges from alt-country to Americana, country, jam, and roots rock, theirs is a musical melting pot that's influenced equally by the singer/songwriter tradition as by harder rock, classic country, and psychedelic sounds. They have performed at some of the country’s top venues and festivals, including Portland, Maine’s State. Texas Hill Country Explore Magazine calls them “New England’s wildly eclectic crew of genre rebels.” Tune in to learn more about The Mallett Brothers Band how they started their band, how they put together an album filled with traditional logging shanties, and much more.

Jen Brophy and Gloria Curtis, the ladies behind Red River Camps, manage and own a sporting camp particularly known for its fly fishing. This camp has quite a history as the start of the camp began in 1886. William Whitman, the wealthy owner of several textile mills in Massachusetts, and Harry Chapman, a businessman, decided to follow their love of the outdoors to a remote logging area in Aroostook County, known at the time as the Red River Lakes region. There, they built a two-story cabin on a small island on what would eventually become known as Island Pond.

After completing the island cabin, the Whitman and Chapman families built several buildings on the north shore of the pond, including a school, barbershop, wood shop, a lodge to gather in, horse barns, and sleeping cabins. For over thirty years, their extended families used the camp as a private retreat, typically staying for an entire season each year. If rumors can be trusted, they converted the island cabin to a dance hall, complete with piano, for a number of years.

When the Norrises decided to sell Red River in 1979, the Brophy family agreed to run the camps for a season until the Norrises could locate a buyer. The rest, as they say, is history.

After Jen’s father retired from the business she decided to take Red River Camps over and has been working alongside Gloria for many years to bring folks an experience unlike no other. Tune in to learn more about the camp and its cabins decked out in decor inspired by fly fishing, the crafting behind Gloria's delicious meals handmade by Gloria the wonderful hospitality they offer, and much more.

Lauren is a fly fishing angler who works full-time for a software company and her side hustles are candlemaking and crafting CBD oils. What Kristan found interesting about Lauren is that during the beginning of the pandemic, she wanted to craft something with her hands, she would get tired of looking at a computer screen and just needed to find a place to you know, focus on her mental health and just take a break and outdoors allows her to do that as well as these two side hustles that she created. She does everything from sourcing materials to learn how to craft these products with the candles and the CBD oils, which is quite the process. Then she also goes through the testing process, particularly with the CBD oils as well. So she knows everything. The reason why Kristan brought her into this series is that Kristan finds that a lot of folks are still focusing on their corporate careers and that's something that they'll probably do for the rest of their lives. But Kristan finds that it's so amazing to hear and see that these individuals can have a hobby of crafting and getting something done with their hands and doing something that is way different from what they're doing in their corporate jobs. Tune in to learn more about Loren's craft, life here in Maine and how the outdoors particularly fly fishing inspires her.

Bri Dostie, a Maine Recreation and Fishing Guide as well as an illustrator, writer, and founder of Confluence Collective an organization has identified that fly fishing culture is exclusive and primarily informed by the white male cis-gendered, able-bodied lived experience. The organization's mission is to remove barriers, support individual and community growth, and instigate change and amplify stories more representative of human diversity on the water. Kristan was introduced to Bri through Maine Outdoor Brands which is a membership organization that brings together outdoor brands in our lovely state of Maine. Bri is on the board and when she heard about her illustration work she knew she had to have her on the podcast. Her illustration work is inspired by nature and has been featured in The Flyfish Journal, Fish and Forage, and many more. She even does commission work, perfect gifts for the holidays. Tune in to learn more about Bri's work with Confluence Collective and how her the outdoors inspired her studio art.

Mary Zambello is the owner, maker, and designer of Reclaimed Maine. Her beautiful studio and wood shop are located at her home in Windham. Her business encompasses her love for the Maine Outdoors using lakes, pines, and coastlines as her inspiration. She custom designs and hand makes all of her products in hopes that they can inspire exploration and give back to Maine's environment. Her custom Pine Tree Coast design, which was the first design that kicked off her business, combines the love for Maine's forest and coast, the mission to protect it, and the desire to explore it as often as we can! Each year, she donates 10% of net proceeds from the Pine Tree Coast collection to the Natural Resources Council of Maine in order to help protect and reclaim Maine’s environment. She designs hats, apparel, and cutting boards and she even designs custom signs. But what is unique about the wood is that it is sustainably harvested. When you walk into her shop you feel like you’re stepping foot into a miniature LL Bean but it has some fun creatures you can pet including her beautiful cat and her extremely nice dog.

The Becoming a Maker series is proud to present the first Lady Maker on The Fly interview. Meet Maine Fly Company’s rod smiths Izzy Hutnak. Founder Jeff Davis started Maine Fly Company to celebrate his late father’s passion for fly fishing and Maine. Jeff was working a corporate gig prior to starting his own company and traveling a ton for work when his father passed, he stumbled upon his father’s fly rod collection and something clicked. He started toying around with the idea of building rods but not just any rod — a rod that is an art form. From the colorful blank to the custom grip to the finished reel seat — these rods are truly one of a kind. Made by hand, in small batches and many of his rods are inspired by and named after fisheries in Maine. Jeff left his corporate job and went full time with Maine Fly Company and as of two years ago has started to build a team that aims to keep the state’s fly-fishing culture and heritage alive through high-quality craftsmanship of their small batch rods.

Makers of the USA is proud to present a very special series that is a little outside the box than previous episodes that have been on the podcast. Kristan pulled together an amazing group of female makers and fly-fishing anglers to head up to Red River Camps in the northern Maine woods. These ladies have their hands in many types of craft from building fly rods to candles and CBD oil making to woodworking and graphic design to experiences and photography and videography. Some of these ladies are brand new to fly fishing such as myself. Some are quite the anglers and are certainly mentors of mine being a newbie in the fly fishing sport. What I find important to storytelling now having this podcast for over three years is impactful conversations and having these conversations among a group of makers is mind-blowing to me. There is so much raw material that comes from these that I thoroughly enjoy them and I hope you do too.

Makers of the USA has partnered up with Skowhegan Savings Bank on a mini-series called Becoming A Maker. For the second episode of the series, Kristan Vermeulen interviews Madison High School principal Christopher LeBlanc and Chris Beaman welding instructor at Somerset Career and Technical Center (SCTC)’s welding center at Madison High School. SCTC trains over 300 students across Somerset County in various tech trades including welding. The welding program had an ongoing waitlist and the team decided they needed to expand. Madison Area Memorial High School offered a space that was previously used as a metal shop. The tech center was awarded a grant to cover a great portion of the costs. David Dorr the Director of SCTC, alongside Madison High School principal Christopher LeBlanc; and other stakeholders including Skowhegan Savings Bank raised funds to complete the project. Not only does this welding shop help students build their skills, it also allows them to receive certifications and college degrees and helps them get a career by building bridges and other interesting projects. Tune in to the episode to learn more about how Christopher LeBlanc supported SCTC in expanding their program by building a welding center attached to Madison High School and how Chris Beaman teaches his students in all areas of welding and best positions his students in getting a full-time career utilizing the skills they were taught at the center.

Makers of the USA has partnered up with Skowhegan Savings Bank on a mini-series called Becoming A Maker. To kick off the series Kristan Vermeulen interviews Alternative Manufacturing Inc., one of New England’s best resources for electronic contract manufacturing, that is based in Winthrop, Maine. AMI serves a wide range of clients throughout the USA, Canada & Europe in markets such as; Medical, Industrial, Green Technologies, Robotics, and Mil/Aero. Kristan interviews Kim Vandermeulen and Jim Barry about how they help start-up companies with their tech needs. A great example of how AMI assisted someone in bringing their dream to life was with a woman who lives in Winthrop who wanted to find a technological solution for seniors to remember their walkers when navigating throughout the day. They have also assisted start-ups with indoor vertical farming and ropeless lobster traps. Tune in to learn more about AMI's history, how they have helped not only start-ups but international companies with their tech needs, and how Kim is not only a maker focused on tech but of delicious beverages.

Many people may not know this about Maine but located along the coast of Rockland and Camden harbors are nine historic vessels, the largest fleet of Windjammers that offer all-inclusive, overnight cruises in the world. Each of these captains and their families works hard to preserve Windjammers that are hundreds of years old. Many of these vessels would have been turned into bars or left in a junkyard to rot but this amazing community, the Maine Windjammer Association, is keeping these historic vessels alive and bringing guests onboard to experience not just the history, but also introducing them to real sailing and life on the Maine coast. Kristan speaks with Sam Sikkema, the Captain of the Victory Chimes. He had recently purchased the Victory Chimes from former owner Kipp Files and his ship is the largest one in the fleet and the United States. Kristan has a huge heart for Victory Chimes as it has a history sailing in the Chesapeake Bay, where she grew up sailing. Tune in to hear about Captain Sam's life on the water, how he got up to Maine, how he became captain of the Victory Chimes, and what his craft is all about.

Kristan gets to sit down with Alison Thibault, the owner and founder of WindHorse Arts and the winner of the Makers of Maine pitch competition I did a while back. Thanks again to David Libby from Town and Country Federal Credit Union and Sabina Hitchen, from Press For Success for being the judges of the competition. Alison won the competition with over 170 votes. She has quite the story as her craft is color. She takes color and transforms it into pieces of glass jewelry. When you walk into Alison’s shop each piece shines as the sun shines through the windows. Alison talk to Kristan about how she moved to Vinalhaven and opened her storefront on the main street, the craft behind her glass pieces, how she has a passion for poetry and how that is weaved into her business, what she plans to do over the next five years with her business, and much more. Tune in to Alison’s episode of the podcast to learn more about her craft of color and stay until the end to hear a track from Joshua Eden.