[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7946]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING READY SEAFOOD

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I celebrate the outstanding 
achievements of two brothers from Portland, ME, who recently won the 
U.S. Small Business Administration's Young Entrepreneurs of the Year 
Award on the local, regional, and national levels. John and Brendan 
Ready are the founders and owners of Ready Seafood and Catch a Piece of 
Maine, two highly successful firms that have transformed the Maine 
lobster market. I had the pleasure of meeting with the brothers just 2 
weeks ago, and they are a true reflection of the dedication and zeal of 
Maine's legendary lobstermen.
  The Ready brothers grew up in Cape Elizabeth, on Maine's picturesque 
coast, where they quickly grew fond of the sea. Venturing out with 
their uncle to catch lobsters, the pair learned the intricacies of the 
trade before their teenage years, and they continued to fish throughout 
high school. Attentive to their lifelong passion for lobstering, the 
brothers returned from college during summer breaks and even weekends 
to lobster. Additionally, John spent an extra year at Boston University 
to participate as a lobsterman in a co-op program.
  When they arrived back in Maine following college--John from Boston 
University and Brendan from Stonehill College--the duo immediately 
sought to enter the Maine seafood market. In 2004, they opened Ready 
Seafood, a thriving wholesaler of fresh lobster and other seafood to 
domestic clients, as well as customers as far away as Italy, China, and 
Japan. To promote Maine's rich history of lobstering, the firm provides 
both internships and unique educational opportunities to high school 
and college students in the region, including an inside look at how 
Portland's waterfront works. The brothers have visibly transformed the 
company into a $10 million business in just 4 short years.
  In October 2007, seeking to create a one of its kind company in the 
crowded seafood industry, the Ready brothers launched Catch a Piece of 
Maine, a remarkable and innovative company that allows individuals and 
corporate clients alike to purchase lobsters caught especially for 
them. The buyers pay an annual fee, which entitles them to have their 
own personal lobsterman set their traps and collect their lobsters. The 
company began with 400 traps for 2008, all of which were in place by 
last Thursday, and each is guaranteed to garner a minimum of 40 
lobsters throughout the remainder of the year. The lobsters are shipped 
at intervals scheduled by the client, and each shipment includes one 
pound of mussels and clams, a Maine dessert, and the traditional bibs 
and utensils essential to enjoying Maine's famed crustacean.
  The program includes some additional distinctive features. Customers 
keep in touch with their personal lobstermen through the Internet by 
logging onto an individualized and regularly updated summary, including 
how many lobsters have been caught and when the traps were checked. 
Moreover, clients can have their lobsters shipped anywhere in the 
continental United States, making a great holiday gift, corporate thank 
you, or special anniversary dinner. Ever mindful of the future of 
Maine's gorgeous coast and those who rely on it, the Ready brothers 
send 10 percent of their profits to the Gulf of Maine Research 
Institute for marine ecosystem education programs for schoolchildren 
throughout the State.
  The fundamentally forthright business philosophy of the Ready 
brothers is truly impressive. They represent the next generation of 
Maine lobstermen, and as such they continue and share the heritage of 
the State's prized tradition. Through both Ready Seafood and Catch a 
Piece of Maine, the brothers have already taken great steps to doing 
just that. I commend both Brendan and John for their originality and 
dedication--and for garnering the U.S. Small Business Administration's 
Young Entrepreneurs of the Year Award--and wish them well in their 
extremely bright futures.

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