BANGOR — Husson University will kick off the Spring 2026 Distinguished Business Speaker Series on Wednesday, March 4 with real estate CEO Julie Dawson Williams.
Williams, a Bangor native who has been a licensed real estate agent and REALTOR since 2000, is the CEO and broker/owner with Dawson Inc. She graduated from Bangor High School and Bowdoin College and then worked in the office of U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins in Washington, D.C. as a legislative correspondent on healthcare, art and historic preservation issues. In 2006, Williams started working for the New England Council as Deputy Director of Federal Affairs, where she focused on higher education, healthcare and technology policy.
She and her husband are the second-generation owners and operators of Dawson Inc., a family of companies, including ERA Dawson Bradford Co. REALTORS, Dawson Insurance Agency and Dawson Commercial Brokers. Over the past decade, Williams has grown the businesses to more than 80 agents and three locations, implemented cutting-edge technology services for agents and clients, overseen a refresh of the brand and redesigned the agent training program.
The second event in the Spring 2026 series will feature James Dicke II ’17H and Stephen Coston ’16 on Thursday, April 2.
Dicke is the chair and CEO of the Crown Equipment Corporation. The family-owned business with more than 20,000 employees, located in the United States, Germany, Australia, China and Singapore, operates a service and distribution network that exceeds 500 retail locations in more than 80 countries. Crown Equipment Corp. designs, manufactures, distributes, services and supports material handling products that provide customers with superior value.
Dicke began his studies at the Culver Military Academy, where he undertook a rigorous academic curriculum and also studied painting under Warner Williams, noted bas-relief artist and amateur astronomer. He received his bachelor of science degree in business administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He received an honorary doctor of business degree from Husson University in 2017.
Coston ’16 is the founder and partner of Stay Bar Harbor Hotel Group. He also worked for a decade as a registered investment advisor and partner with Coston, McIsaac & Shea Investment Advisors. He graduated from Husson University with a degree in business-financial management and was a valedictorian of the Class of 2016.
Coston’s hotel group in Bar Harbor has grown from a single hotel in 2018 to 404 rooms in Bar Harbor and 37 in Camden. He is passionate about restoring boutique properties and is an enthusiastic collector of both contemporary Maine artists as well as Old Master and 19th Century European paintings, many of which are displayed in his hotels. During his time at Coston, McIsaac & Shea the firm was able to grow its portfolio of managed assets from $60 million in 2015 to $400 million by the end of his tenure.
Spring 2026 lineup
- Julie Dawson Williams — Wednesday, March 4, 12-1 p.m. at The Gracie Theatre
- James Dicke and Stephen Coston — Thursday, April 2, 12:30-1:30 p.m at The Gracie Theatre
The public is welcome at both events. Register online here.
