Open Door features personal reflections from local leaders about their career trajectory, management style and lessons they’ve learned along the way. Our president & publisher Stefanie Manning interviews local CEOs and business leaders for a behind the scenes look at their career paths, the ups and downs of running their businesses and the trends shaping them.
Mary Allen Lindemann, owner of Coffee by Design, will sit down with Maine Trust for Local News President & Publisher, Stefanie Manning for a conversation at the Roux Institute at Northeastern University on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
About Mary Allen
Mary Allen Lindemann is the Owner, Chief Creative Director, and Co-Founder of Coffee By Design, a Maine woman-owned and operated specialty coffee company she has led for more than 30 years.
Originally from Connecticut, Mary Allen developed a love for Maine while spending summers on Chebeague Island and eventually moved to Portland after discovering her passion for coffee while working in Seattle. In 1994, she founded Coffee By Design, which has remained committed to supporting social change locally and internationally. Under her leadership, Coffee By Design has earned national recognition for excellence in sustainably sourced, traceable coffee and its commitment to farmers and coffee-growing communities around the world.
Mary Allen is committed to building a business rooted in quality, creativity, community, and purpose. A longtime advocate for Maine’s business and arts communities, she is a founding member of Women Standing Together, Portland Buy Local, and the First Friday Art Walk, and has served in leadership roles with Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility and Portland Buy Local.
At the heart of her work is a simple belief: coffee has the power to bring people together, leading to positive change.
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