Press Releases

Hilltop Log & Timber Homes is excited to announce its acquisition of the highly visible model home on Route 95 North in Sidney, Maine, formerly operated as Dostie’s Log Homes. On August 29, 2008 Hilltop took possession of the property, including a 5780 square foot log home model, a 576 square foot garage, a 3346 square foot production workshop, and a 5600 square foot storage and kiln building.

The Town of Sidney granted Hilltop Log & Timber Homes approval to reopen the model and facility on September 2, 2008.  Dan McKenna, owner and founder of Hilltop raved about Sidney town officials, “The Sidney Board of Selectmen were fantastic people to deal with.  We are very enthusiastic about broadening our roots in Sidney.”   

Hilltop forecasts a minimum of 25 new homes per year from this facility and expects to far exceed this number in conjunction with its 3 Model Home Complex and Manufacturing facility in Bowdoinham.  Hilltop’s expansion supports economic stimulation for Maine, creating new homes and jobs to support a growing population.  In 2009, the company will additionally offer a commercial kiln drying service through its new Sidney facility, supporting the construction industry throughout the state.  The Sidney location will also operate as a retail log home supply outfit.

Hilltop Log & Timber Homes offers log, post & beam, hybrid, and stick-built homes.  The company plans to construct a timber frame on the Sidney grounds facing 95 North that will alert passersby of the range of construction methods and energy efficient techniques available to them.  “The visual impact of spotting the large log home model next to this stunning open timber frame will tell people how flexible we are for our clients.  In fact, it is our flexibility and ability to give the customer what they want that has helped us survive this volatile housing market,” stated Marie Stuckey, Hilltop’s Marketing Director.  Nate McKenna, Hilltop’s National Director of Operations and Sales spoke in support of the Maine economy stating, “Over the past two years we’ve observed a growing client preference for buying from a local manufacturer to help keep money in Maine and support our state’s economy.  With the economy strained, the strongest survive.  Hilltop has become Maine’s premier log home company with consistent quality and a commitment to meeting a variety of customer needs.  There is very little we will not produce for our clients”, said McKenna.

Hilltop Log & Timber Homes plans to open its new Sidney model to the public as soon as possible, although no specific date has been set.  The Sidney model can be visited from exit 120 on 95 North.  After making a left hand turn off the exit, it is located on the right inside the Cole Industrial Park.  The Bowdoinham models and production facility are located at 88 Pond Road/Route 125, off exit 37 from Route 95.

Hilltop Log & Timber Homes, a member of the Log Home Council and National Association of Home Builders, designs, manufactures and sells custom log, post & beam, hybrid, cabins, stick built homes and  commercial buildings.  Celebrating its 25th year since founding, the company has become the premier choice for custom homes within Maine and now sells to a variety of buyers including those seeking smaller first homes, larger second homes, luxury vacation homes and camps or cabins.  Its commercial markets include resorts, campgrounds, restaurants, home developments and bed & breakfasts. 

To learn more about Hilltop Log & Timber Homes, call 800-622-4608, write hilltop@yourhilltophome.com or visit www.hilltoplogandtimberhomes.com. 

On June 21, 2008 Hilltop Log & Timber Homes, of Bowdoinham will host its 7th Annual Home Planning Event.  The free, all-day event includes construction demonstrations in log and hybrid post & beam, using structural insulated panels.  Energy efficient “green” products and seminars will be featured.   

“For educational purposes, there is nothing more superior than a visual aid.  This is especially true for the custom home buyer, attempting to sift through countless choices”, said Nate McKenna, National Director of Operations and Sales for Hilltop.  A team of experienced builders demonstrate and explain varied construction methods, as registered attendees watch and raise questions.

From 9:00 am through 3:30 pm home buyers interested in creating a custom dream home will have access to design and drafting presentations, building demonstrations, home planning and green product seminars, production facility and model home tours, as well as access to a network of builders, realtors, and client advisors.  The day’s festivities include raffles for various prizes, with a grand prize of 100 gallons of home heating oil.  Participants must be pre-registered and present to win.
Hilltop’s Home Planning Event is fun for the whole family, with games and contests throughout the day.  The company offers both home packages and combined land/home packages, as well as turnkey services for convenient home planning all through one source.   

Hilltop Log & Timber Homes designs, manufactures and sells custom stick-built, log and hybrid post & beam homes, cabins and commercial buildings.  Celebrating its 25th year since founding, the company has become the premier choice for custom homes within Maine and now sells to a variety of buyers including those seeking smaller first homes, larger second homes, luxury vacation homes and camps or cabins.  Its commercial markets include resorts, campgrounds, restaurants, home developments and bed & breakfasts. 

To register for Hilltop’s 7th Annual Home Planning Event, call 800-622-4608, write hilltop@yourhilltophome.com or visit www.hilltoplogandtimberhomes.com.

In late August of this year, Maine 's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) granted Hilltop Log & Timber Homes, of Bowdoinham , ME final permitting for construction of its new 19 lot sub-division along Cobbosseecontee Stream in Gardiner. The property aptly named Streamside Estates II is the second Hilltop property of its kind in Gardiner.

Hilltop Log & Timber Homes' first Gardiner sub-division, Streamside Estates I, is a 12 lot property that began construction in December 2005 and currently houses its last available spec home for sale. The first 11 lots of Streamside Estates I are inhabited by a community of log and stick-built homes that Hilltop designed and custom cut for each site, according the buyers' vision. Until sold, the current spec home at Streamside Estates I is used as model for potential new Streamside Estates II home owners to view. Streamside Estates II includes 5 waterfront and 14 wooded lots, one of which already sold. Despite consistent reports of a down-turned real estate market, Hilltop Log & Timber Homes is experiencing a boom in interest in these properties. Upcoming Open House tours are scheduled for Saturdays, November 17 th and December 1 st , from 9am through 3 pm. Both Streamside Estate properties are located off Route 201 in Gardiner.

Jason Simcock, Planning and Development Director for the City of Gardiner expressed great enthusiasm for Gardiner's economic success and future growth. “ Gardiner , Maine is a service center community with many economic development projects happening.  Projects include revitalizing downtown, expanding the Libby Hill business park and redeveloping the City's waterfront among many others.  Streamside Estate's 19 lot housing sub-division is one of Gardiner's largest housing sub-divisions in recent years and is a sign that Gardiner continues to be an attractive community in which to live”, said Simcock.

Hilltop's Founder and President, Daniel McKenna was equally happy with his experience working with the City of Gardiner . He said, “The City of Gardiner was very easy to work with and anxious to have the first new development. We are very proud to help enrich the community with another beautiful development.”

As part of their Master of Business Administration (MBA) requirement, teams of University of Southern Maine (USM) students were tasked with the assignment to study a local company and make business recommendations for it. Last spring's USM MBA Practicum class was divided into 7 teams of student consultants tasked with analyzing the defined needs of their client companies. USM students Jaime Bower, Bob Langworthy and Mark Lichter selected Hilltop Log & Timber Homes as the business entity they would analyze in the area of marketing.

Hilltop Log & Timber Home's inclusion on the list of companies to analyze was the result of the combined efforts of Brad Swanson, Consultant with Maine 's Small Business Development Association and John Massaua, the head of this same organization and the USM professor assigning the MBA Practicum Project.

Swanson recommended Hilltop get a team of students involved in analyzing their business. He met with Hilltop owners, Dan and Cathy McKenna in January 2007 to help identify needs and direction for the project.

The MBA team had at least 8 companies to choose from in formulating their MBA Practicum Projects. Hilltop Log & Timber Homes was the top choice for the marketing study team. Team leader, Langworthy, grew up in the building industry since his father worked in this field and found Hilltop Log & Timber Homes most interesting.

The team received a summary of identified needs to study and assess and met with Hilltop principals to better understand these needs. To begin, Hilltop sought specific recommendations as to where to allocate marketing dollars. The MBA team felt there was too much potential for disappointment in this particular task since they had no formal background in consultation. Instead, the MBA team proposed to study Hilltop's customers and overall strategy in order to present a clearer picture of Hilltop's target market.

The students researched Hilltop by interviewing employees, dealers, owners and homeowners. They also attended the annual Maine Log Home Show, a standard tradeshow on Hilltop's marketing calendar. Langworthy said, “We had a great response rate from the customers and were surprised by some of the findings.” The MBA team found that log homes are not only suited for just a stereotypical small cabin purchaser, but that many customers seek primary residences and executive log homes for retirement, vacation or 2 nd homes. “In the end our professor thought we had done a very good job. Whether or not some of the ideas we suggested were implemented would be another measure of the success of our project,” commented Langworthy.

When taking on the MBA Practicum, Langworthy already had some background in business management. He graduated from USM in May 2007 and is currently working at Atlantic Great Dane, a semi-trailer sales and service company with clients such as Hannaford and Oakhurst. Bob interviewed for this position while working on his MBA.

With no previous business management background, the MBA Practicum presented Lichter and Bower the opportunity to be involved in a hands-on experience from a business ownership and management perspective. Lichter and Bower are on target to complete their MBA programs this year. Bower is currently in the Coast Guard and plans to use her MBA to advance to a management position. Lichter recently worked for a Cadillac Mountain Store in Portland and currently has chosen to go back to school full time.

When the project was complete the USM team presented Hilltop with their findings in a full report and conference. Langworthy remarked, “Working with Hilltop gave us a chance to apply what we were learning in class. “There is nothing like actually going onsite, meeting with the owners, employees and interviewing customers to get a feel for what we are learning and how it applies to the real world. It was a very valuable experience for all three of us.”

The USM team students were graded separately and competitively based on their perceptions of each others work load. Langworthy received an A, but does not know what grades Lichter and Bower earned. To help with grading assessment, students were asked to divide and allocate an imaginary $10,000 of bonus money between the team members, explaining their choices. They were not permitted to divide the money evenly. Massaua let the students grade each other since he could not possibly know who carried the bulk of the responsibility and effort on the project.

The Practicum's conclusion included a recommendation for subsequent MBA teams to continue forward supporting Hilltop Log & Timber Homes as well as specific items to study further. “If Hilltop was willing I think it could have a really positive impact on the company,” Langworthy suggested. He continued, “It was a very positive experience for me. I hope that Hilltop will continue to have a good relationship with the USM MBA program and allow more teams to help out.”

Hilltop Log & Timber Homes designs, manufactures and sells custom log, post & beam and stick-built homes, cabins and commercial buildings. With nearly 25 years experience, the company now sells to a variety of buyers including those seeking smaller first homes, larger second homes, luxury vacation homes and camps or cabins. The company's commercial markets include resorts, campgrounds, restaurants, log home developments and bed & breakfasts.

On June 23, 2007 Hilltop Log & Timber Homes, of Bowdoinham will host its 6 th Annual Log Raising Event. The free, all-day event includes construction demonstrations in log and post & beam. Energy efficient “green” insulating products are featured.

“For educational purposes, there is nothing more superior than a visual aid. This is especially true for the custom home buyer, attempting to sift through countless choices”, said Nate McKenna, National Director of Operations and Sales for Hilltop. A team of experienced builders demonstrate and explain varied construction methods, as registered attendees watch and raise questions.

From 9:00 am through 4:00 pm home buyers interested in creating a custom dream home will have access to design and drafting presentations, building demonstrations, home planning seminars, production facility and model home tours, as well as a network of builders, realtors, and client advisors to chat with.

Hilltop’s Log Raising Event is fun for the whole family, with games and contests throughout the day. The company offers both home packages and combined land/home packages, as well as turnkey services for convenient home planning all through one source.

Hilltop Log & Timber Homes designs, manufactures and sells custom log and post & beam homes, cabins and commercial buildings. With nearly 25 years experience, the company now sells to a variety of buyers including those seeking smaller first homes, larger second homes, luxury vacation homes and camps or cabins. Its commercial markets include resorts, campgrounds, restaurants, log home developments and bed & breakfasts.

To register for Hilltop’s 6 th Annual Log Raising Event, call 800-622-4608 or visit www.hilltoplogandtimberhomes.com.