NOMINATED BY NMDC
For the past 25 years, Maureen and Steve Hassett have built up a powerhouse of precision manufacturing in coastal Maine in Custom Composite Technologies, helping customers create what they imagine though composites. At the beginning of the business they focused on the custom boatbuilding industry that is an iconic part of the local economy, but quickly started branching out as new opportunities presented themselves.
By 2003, Custom Composite had outgrown its first space, so Maureen and Steve used SBA financing to build a 7500 square-foot facility that was specifically equipped with air handlers to keep employees safe and was also designed for future expansion and innovation. Between the new facility and assistance from the Small Business Development Center, the business was poised for rapid growth and new opportunities. With the help of the SBDC, Maureen and Steve were able to plan for sustainable growth and manage the 2008 financial crisis, which hit the boatbuilding industry especially hard.
Coming out of that crisis, Custom Composite started reinvesting in the business and diversifying their services, all while working to retain staff. These efforts paid off, as by 2016 profits were once again rising, and the business had broken into new markets with renewable energy, robotics, and architectural applications, while retaining their reputation for high-quality, creative, and customer-centric marine applications of composites.
The couple’s son, Nate, returned to the business in 2021 after earning more experience in composite fabrication at composite aerospace companies in the western US. Nate brought with him new ideas, energy, and vision to help guide Custom Composite Technologies to further growth with new clients, processes, and creative insight. The company also strategically focused on employee experience, with improved wages, education opportunities, and benefits.
As advocates for their community, the Hassetts seek out opportunities to share their experience and success with others. Steve sits on the Maine Technology Board for the Composite Technology Sector and Maureen sits on the Maine Composite Alliance board where she has served as co-chair and treasurer. She is also the liaison for the Governor’s SBDC Commission, where she advocates for other small manufacturers and coastal businesses. Previously, she served two years on the Bath Brunswick Chamber board.The company is also active in the Maine Marine Trades Association and the Maine Manufacturers Association.
Additionally, the couple is committed to supporting midcoast non-profits serving youth programs and food security, while Nate is an active member of the Bath Forestry Committee, working to preserve green spaces for the community.
As successful small business owners who have never sacrificed quality and values, even during the height of the financial crisis, and active supporters of their community, the Hassetts have shown themselves to be some of the best representatives of Maine’s small business community, and the SBA is pleased to name them as the 2026 Small Business Persons of the Year for Maine.
