AUGUSTA — Macpage has been a mainstay downtown since the accounting firm reopened its Augusta office in 1989, in the newly built KeyBank Plaza.
With a commitment to staying in Augusta, the company bought its own building in 2012 in Market Square, occupying a visible location in the heart of downtown.
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“One of our goals when we were looking for a building was stay in town if possible,” said Scott Small, one of the managing directors at the office.
Small and Jeff Hubert, another managing director with the firm, left the Portland location in 1989 to re-establish an Augusta office 16 years after it closed. There are now around 20 people who work at the office, including the original office manager hired for Augusta, Sara Hasty.
The Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce is honoring Macpage with the Business of the Year Award at the chamber’s annual awards ceremony Friday, Jan. 23.
Peter Thompson, the outgoing president and CEO of the chamber, said Macpage was chosen because it’s a longstanding business that has stayed ahead of the curve in terms of technology, and is committed to its clients and employees.
He said the Augusta office isn’t a large business, but it’s “one that’s very impactful in the community and one that certainly has a big impact on some of our larger businesses.”
The Augusta office works with some of the area’s largest distributors, contractors and manufacturers in the area, Small said, but they have clients from all over the state. The company’s work includes accounting, auditing and financial consulting services.
Rick Tardiff, president and CEO of J.S. McCarthy Printers in Augusta, said his printing company has used Macpage since 2000 for tax and business consulting work.
He said the company has used the financial firm extensively when making acquisitions of other businesses in recent year.
“They’re a very important part of what we do, and they’ve got such a great reputation within the area,” Tardiff said.
He said financial institutions know that “if Macpage has looked at it and put their stamp of approval on it, then it’s been done right.”
Thompson said Macpage, and especially Small and Hubert, is also very involved in charitable and other nonprofit groups in the community.
“We definitely encourage people to be involved in civic groups,” Small said. “Part of it is getting out there, getting to know people for referral work down the road. Part of it is just giving back. The danger to this business is whenever you get asked to be on a board, the next thing you’ll asked to be is the treasurer.”
Small’s civic work includes his current role as treasurer of the Friends of Lithgow Public Library, which led fundraising efforts for the library’s upcoming renovation, and he previously led the United Way of Kennebec Valley’s capital campaign.
Hubert has been a board member of MaineGeneral Health since 2006 and is chairman of the finance committee. He is also a past president of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kennebec Valley before the organization merged with a midcoast branch.
Both have also been involved in youth sports leagues in the city, among other organizations.
Hubert said their civic work gives them the chance to contribute to community organizations by sharing their experience and knowledge.
Hubert said the teamwork between him and Small, along with the rest of their team, has led the business to where it is today, 25 years after opening the office in the downtown.
“This award’s really not about Jeff and Scott,” Hubert said. “It’s about the firm, the employees and the clients. It’s the employees, the clients and the spotlight’s on them.”
Paul Koenig — 621-5663
Twitter: @paul_koenig
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