Family-owned Dairy Queen wins business award

PORTLAND — The economic development commission’s 2018 Entrepreneurs Award went to a family business — in the truest sense of the word.

“When you think of an entrepreneur, the first thing that often comes to mind is innovation and technology,” said Mary D. Dickerson, the town’s economic development coordinator told the Board of Selectmen. “But being an entrepreneur is all about hard work, dedication and customer service.”

That’s especially true if you are Michael and Rosemary Cassetta, the winners of this year’s award. The Cassettas — and their son Paul — operate the Dairy Queen restaurant at 870 Portland-Cobalt Road.

“They can be found there seven days a week,” Dickerson said. “There is no job too small or unimportant” that they won’t do.

“And no customer is a stranger,” she said. “In fact, most are good friends.”

What really stands out about the Cassettas is that working there “is often a first job for many young adults in our community and these are very lucky people!”

When Dickerson told Michael Cassetta about this award, she said the couple had been nominated by the family of one of his employees.

Michael Cassetta “related to me with pride how much he and Rosemary enjoy watching their employees grow,” she added. “Training includes all tasks from something as simple as how to sweep the floor to preparing Dairy Queen’s signature meals and desserts.”

“‘How can they get a job right when no one takes the time to show them how to do it?’ Mike asked rhetorically,” Dickerson said. “As Paul told me, to this day, they feel that each and every employee that comes through the door is part of their responsibility, by teaching them the important lessons of life.”

“They give each employee the time to educate them on what it takes to succeed not just at Dairy Queen but also in their future endeavors,” Paul Cassetta continued.

“The Cassettas are proud to watch their employees master new tasks, finding their confidence to speak directly to customers and, more importantly, as individuals,” Dickerson said.

The Cassettas didn’t start out in the food business. For 20 years, they owned a hardware store, handling nuts and bolts, tools and paint rather than hamburgers and Blizzards, Dickerson aid.

But when the big-box retailers began putting pressure on small independent retailers, the Cassettas “chose to trade industries and communities, and, to Portland’s benefit, they ended up here,” she said.

That is a significant part in how the Cassettas approach their businesses, Dickerson said. “Paul also told me that, ‘The community gave them the chance to be a part of their family and they have a responsibility to return the favor.’ ”

“They are very much a port of our Portland family — after every basketball, baseball and soccer game, win or lose, every band concert, on warm days and cold days, for birthdays and

anniversaries, Mike and Rosemary are part of our family,” Dickerson said.

Then, in the company of EDC Chairman Elwin Guild, she presented the Cassettas with the Entrepreneur award.