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Learn more about our team

Stefa Normantas - Stefa Normantas is a seasoned event manager and co-owner of the New England Made Giftware & Specialty Food Shows and Green Tree Event Consultants/Giraffe Events, Maine-based event services companies. Whether directing a trade show or managing a conference for hundreds, Stefa enjoys the challenge of project management and working with her fantastic team. She is a member of the Women's President's Organization, the Saco Arts Commission, held/holds board member roles for Camp Neringa, Saco Main Street, Pine Tree Society, Maine Marketing Association, and is the former president of the Ad Club of Maine, and Saco Main Street. Stefa holds a dual undergraduate degree in Communications/Studio Art and masters degree in Communications Management from Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a beekeeper, creative gardener, mediocre painter, loves good beer, good dinners and likes to find any excuse to bring the outdoors in. She married a Texan, Frank, and has four children, Harry, Lucy, Liam, and Mikas.

 

Vitas Normantas - As co-owner, Vitas brings his strong local reputation and technical expertise to Green Tree's Electrical Division. His education and corporate administrative experience with Guy Gannett Communications gives him a broad overview of what works, and how the right improvements can make a significant difference in the success of a business. Vitas has been nationally recognized for his expertise in creating innovative solutions to risk management issues. Other roles included work with Saunders Brothers in Westbrook and Lumberman’s Underwriting Alliance of Boca Raton, Florida. Vitas and his wife, Sheila, have two children, Marie and Sophia. 

 

Gregg Shapiro - Vice President of Sales & Business Development. Gregg's 25 years of business-to-business media experience provides Green Tree's clients with a wealth of insights into effective strategies in building and driving their businesses. A Boston-area native, and alum of Syracuse's Newhouse School of Public Communications, Gregg has called Maine home for 20+ years where he has worked in media sales and marketing for United Publications and Diversified Communications. Prior to moving to Maine, he directed exhibit and sponsorship sales for the International Health and Racquet Club Association (IHRSA), after beginning his career in advertising. When not touting the gospel of Green Tree and the company's breadth of services, he's likely running, skiing or holding court behind a Miller High Life.

 

Whitney Burdsall - Logistics Director. Whitney got her start in event planning over 25 years ago with the Epic Homecoming Party of 1996. Once she went professional, Whitney worked for 8 years in Fundraising and Event Planning for a variety of arts organizations and non-profits in Seattle including The Empty Space Theatre, PONCHO and The Seattle Repertory Theatre. After moving to Maine in 2009, she joined the Green Tree team and celebrated 14 years with the company in 2024! Whitney specializes in client stewardship, project management, logistics, problem-solving and communications. Outside of the office, she enjoys gardening, playing golf, cooking, is a bit obsessive about Halloween, adores her pup Mia, and loves all things cheese.

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Frank Freeman - Office Manager. Frank got involved in event management by marrying native Mainer, full-blooded Lithuanian, Stefa Normantas. He had been an office manager at Borders Bookstore in Chestnut Hill, MA, but when the kids started showing up he became one of the original stay-at-home-dads. He grew up in Texas, Connecticut, and California, but mostly in Texas. He has a BA in English from Texas A & M, and a master’s in English from Northeastern University. He spent a year teaching college-level English after graduate school, a year at B. Dalton Bookstore, then two years studying philosophy in a Catholic seminary in Boston. Thereafter he worked in bookstores and devoted himself to writing. He now writes (mostly poetry and book reviews) in the mornings and keeps the books at Giraffe Events and Green Tree Event Consultants in the afternoons. Besides reading and writing, he likes to go on walks, run, lift weights, ski, play tennis, and enjoys martinis.

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Sandie Jones - Buyer Concierge for NEM.  In 2000, after a career of 35 years working with her husband Bill for a non-profit organization they achieved their dream of retiring to the beautiful state of Maine. In 2005 retirement appeared to need an “infusion of activity”. While browsing the “Jobs in Maine’ website her curiosity for finding out where the Giraffes could be found in Maine got the best of her and she applied for a job with Giraffe Events. She has received the ‘Golden Phone Award’ for making 1,000’s of phone calls for the Event company. In her spare time she enjoys her 5 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, attending quilt shows with husband Bill, volunteering, cross stitching, quilting and being a Cricuteer.

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Mia & Maddy - Junior Comedic Relief Agents. At Green Tree, we're big fans of dogs...and cats, chickens, birds, geckos, bees, and whatever else one of us adopts. While most of our pets stay home, these two are in the office regularly. We've tried them out in a variety of office roles, including human resources and sales, but their schedules are just too packed with belly rubs, smelling things, eating, napping and wrestling with each other. 

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