Banknorth Group President Bill Ryan Inducted into Maine Business Hall of Fame

William J. Ryan, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Banknorth Group, Inc., formerly Peoples Heritage Financial Group, has been inducted into Junior Achievement's Maine Business Hall of Fame.

Ryan and Lyndel J. Wishcamper, president and chairman of Wishcamper Properties, Inc., were selected by a distinguished panel of Maine civic and business leaders as the 32nd and 33rd laureates to be so honored. The induction ceremony took place Tuesday (May 16) before 275 guests during a celebration of the 35th year of Junior Achievement of Maine at the Portland Marriott.

The Maine Business Hall of Fame honors business leaders who have made a significant and enduring contribution to Maine's economy and its sense of community. The laureates, by example, provide inspiration to students and young people entering the world of business.

Ryan received a unique crystal obelisk set in a hand-crafted base designed and constructed by Rick Meade. The Ramses Pyramid symbolizes the enduring contributions of laureates, and the three-sided base represents the triangular partnerships of students, educators and business leaders that are the essence of Junior Achievement.

Ryan is a resident of Cumberland Center and a member of Governor King's Maine Task Force on Interstate Banking and Branching. He serves as a board member for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Maine, Central Maine Power Company, the John J. Nissen Baking Company and Maine Life Retirement Community, and is a trustee at the Portland Museum of Art and of the Pine Tree Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Maine.

Ryan has been instrumental in building what is now known as Banknorth Group, Inc. into an $18.4 billion bank holding company that is the parent company of Peoples Heritage Bank in Maine; Bank of New Hampshire; First Massachusetts Bank; GBT in Connecticut; Evergreen Bank in upstate New York; and Franklin Lamoille Bank, Howard Bank, First Vermont Bank and The Stratevest Group, all of Vermont.

# # #