WATERVILLE — In the early 1980s Kathy and Jeff Corey traveled the eastern seaboard searching for a place to open a jewelry store.
They thought about Waterville but decided instead on Baltimore, Maryland, after discovering Waterville was already home to four jewelry stores.
“We felt it was the ideal opportunity for us so we contacted the owners and ended up leasing the same location,” said Jeff Corey, 65. “It just seemed like a logical fit for us.”
Thirty-four years later the couple has seven stores in Maine and New Hampshire and 140 employees.
The pair, who live in Winslow, are also this year’s recipient of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Community Service Award.
“Kathy and Jeff model the very definition of ‘giving back,’” said Kimberly Lindlof, president and CEO of the chamber. “When times are good and when times are challenging, they continue to support those that have supported them throughout the years — our community. They tackle both their business and their volunteerism with determination and tenacity.”
In addition to raising three children, the couple has a long resume of community service work in Waterville, including Jeff Corey’s involvement in co-founding two popular downtown events, the annual Taste of Waterville and Kringleville and the Parade of Lights, which take place during the holidays.
Corey, who serves as vice president of marketing for the company, was also named 2017 Citizen of the Year in Central Maine by the Boy Scouts of America.
Kathy Corey, who works as vice president of merchandising and product distribution, currently serves on the board of directors of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems and has served on the boards of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, Inland Hospital, Kennebec Valley Community College and the Waterville Development Corporation.
Their propensity to get involved in the community also extends to the expectations they set for their employees. Managers are expected to participate in community service as part of their job descriptions and giving back is encouraged among all employees.
“We have certain guiding standards of conduct for running our business, and it’s something we believe in,” said Kathy Corey, 60. “We talk with our employees about it, and we believe that giving back is important for us. It’s something they’ve really come to embrace.”
As a result, the company culture has earned both local and national recognition. Day’s was named 2016 Retailer of the Year by the Retail Association of Maine and is one of five independent retail jewelers to be certified by the Responsible Jewelry Council as the most social, ethical and environmentally responsible jewelers in the world, according to the chamber.
In 2017, the company was also chosen as the Retailer of the Year by the Women’s Jewelers Association of America.
“We have a lot of great employees,” Kathy Corey said. “You can’t do anything unless you have strong collaborative relationships with people. That’s the key to being successful.”
Looking back, Jeff Corey said the Waterville community allowed the pair to be successful and it’s a key reason why they want to keep giving back.
“This community has been exceptional for us,” he said. “They supported our business and it was a fantastic place to raise our three children. We’re so proud of them and there’s no doubt in my mind that growing up in Waterville and Winslow played an important role in their success in life.”
Day’s Jewelers owners Kathy and Jeff Corey have received the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Community Service award. (David Leaming/Morning Sentinel)
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