UNION — Kathi Langelier, founder and formulator Herbal Revolution, has a shot at winning two competitions this coming week. In November 2016, she had just advanced as one of 13 semi-finalists in season two of the entrepreneurial pitch show/competition, Greenlight Maine, competing for the $100,000 prize.

Pitching in front of judges on TV the first time, as we initially reported in our Penobscot Bay Pilot story, froze her up. The experience, she said, made her go back to the drawing board and rework her pitch over and over so that she was confident about telling her story.  

“A couple of Saturdays ago, I had to go and pitch my products again, this time not on TV,” she said. “I was really nervous but it was so much clearer this time, because I had been working on my pitch.” She advanced again; this time as a finalist among two other competitors; Bluet, a wild sparkling blueberry wine from Maine and Surge Hydro, hydroelectric facilities.The final taping takes place Saturday, June 6 at 7 p.m. at Thomas College, and she’ll find out whether or not she has won. This episode will be posted to YouTube and Facebook soon after airing later in the month.

Once, again, Langelier will be in front of the judges and cameras for the final pitch.

“Greenlight Maine has actually made me a better business person,” said Langelier. “I have to tell people in three to four minutes what my business is. It's like going back to school for marketing and promotion.”

As if that's not enough pressure, the following day, on June 7, she also has to give a final pitch for Top Gun, a program she learned of through Greenlight Maine, which has a purse of $10,000 for the winner.

Pitching is not only a skill using an economy of words and memorable phrases, but it requires the contestants to "sell" themselves to the judges. In some cases, people pitching can "oversell" and come across as disingenuous.

“I do everything from the heart and in an authentic way with my business, so it would feel weird for me to 'put on a front' for the judges,” she said. “When I get up there in front of them, I speak from my gut. I'm really in love with the state of Maine and think what I create represents that.”

Her company provides high quality, herbal teas, tonics and elixirs, all hand crafted in small batches and her products are already in 180 stores nationwide. Herbal Revolution is located in the Midcoast with a MOFGA-certified organic farm, where she grows the herbs and vegetables that go into her products. She also works closely with other Maine farms and businesses to source her ingredients. “Supporting other Maine farms, business and the Maine economy is something that is very important to us," she said.

Asked what she would do with one or both prizes, Langelier said, “My business needs a home base. I really need infrastructure so I would use a portion of that money to purchase a building and equipment and hire staff. I want to create jobs in Maine.”

The finale for Greenlight Maine will air on June 17 at 7:30 p.m. on channel 6 and channel 2. For more information on where to find the results of the winners of both competitions, visit the Greenlight Maine Facebook page.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com