Annie Tselikis, the executive director of the Maine Lobster Dealers’ Association, has been named marketing manager for Maine Coast, a shipper and dealer in North American lobster with more than $40 million in sales in 2015.
Maine Coast, located in York, Maine, has 30 year-round employees and a holding capacity of 150,000 lbs. of lobster. It was named Maine’s Exporter of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Association in 2015.
Tselikis said she will lead efforts on a brand update and refocus sales efforts on the domestic marketing inside the U.S.
“We are seeing incredible opportunity broadly, both in the U.S. and abroad,” Tselikis said. “Since the company was founded in 2011, Maine Coast really focused a lot of efforts on the export market, especially Asia, because that was the growing market at the time. We’re now looking forward to working harder to grow our customer base inside the U.S.”
Maine Coast also announced the hiring of Jonathan Seavey and Alan Leck, both experienced hands in the lobster business. Seavey worked as a foreman and manager at PJ Lobster for more than 20 years, according to his LinkedIn profile, and Leck has had a 30-year career in lobster sales at East Wind Lobster Company, Paul’s Lobster Company and PJ Lobster.
Both Seavey and Leck started their jobs in November, while Tselikis, who is Maine Coast’s first marketing manager, began work Jan. 11. Tselikis is retaining her part-time position with the Maine Lobster Dealers’ Association and her role on the board of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative.
“My roles with those associations will not change, as I believe they aremutually beneficial for the organization and the company,” Tselikis said. “I will continue advocating on behalf of wholesalers, dealers, processors and other lobster companies, answering phone calls from members looking for information or resources, and serving as a conduit between our industry and local, state and federal elected officials.”
Maine Coast owner and CEO Tom Adams said the company will benefit from the additional sales and marketing staff.
“In order to keep up with this growth pattern, I know I must invest in people to support my business development,” he said.
