Main-Land Development Consultants, a land use planning company based in Livermore Falls, announced they are now an employee-owned company. The company says owner Bob Berry III sold his majority stake in the firm and the deal closed in June.

An employee stock ownership program, known as an ESOP, was formed in 2023. Investopedia defines an ESOP as an employee benefit that gives workers ownership interest in the company in the form of shares of stock.

Darryl Brown founded Main-Land Development Consultants in 1974. Berry bought the company in 2011, which has grown and now has offices in Falmouth and Newport in addition to the Livermore Falls office. Main-Land offers surveying, mapping, regulatory and civil engineering consulting services.

Simultaneously, the company announced that Rick Dunton has been promoted to chief executive office and president of Main-Land Development Consultants, with Berry’s retirement. Dunton, a Rumford native, started with the company as an intern in 2005.

Berry will stay on as chairman of the board of directors and says he will focus most of his time on his quest to become a full-time author.

The company did not state how many employees are involved in the ESOP, but 25 people are listed on the company website.

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