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THE SPOT: The man who never said ‘I can’t’

Even after stepping down as CEO, Peter Vigue still sits at his desk poring over blueprints and plans at Cianbro's headquarters in Pittsfield.

PITTSFIELD (NEWS CENTER Maine) – Even after stepping down as CEO, Peter Vigue still sits at his desk poring over blueprints and plans at Cianbro’s headquarters in Pittsfield.

"Obviously I'm very proud of where this company has taken itself but understand I'm only one person. one of many,” Vigue said.

He has worked for the company for 48 years.

“I've had experiences in my life that were absolute gifts,” Vigue said.

In that time he rose up the ranks from a construction worker to the man in charge, in a town he’s always home.

"I spent my life here in this town. I was born in Caribou. I came here in 1955 at the age of eight,” Vigue said.

He said he never expected to be the leader of the multi-billion dollar engineering firm, but he credits his success to one simple moment when he was a student an MCI.

A teacher named Mrs. Hazel Earl stopped a class when a student said “I can’t” and started a lecture that has stayed with him ever since, according to Vigue.

"She could make a grown man cry,” he said. “Telling us that when we used that word ‘can't’ we were going to fail."

An old photo of Mrs. Earl still sits in Vigue’s office to remind him of that important message—one he has carried with him all these years.

Vigue admitted work consumed much of his life. Every project was a new challenge for him. He said the most rewarding part is being able to step back and see the final product.

"I couldn't have done what I've done with my family because there were times when I was never home,” Vigue said.

Q: Do you regret that?

A: “I do. But my wife made up for it.”

Now his son, Andi, will take over.

"I'm very confident that he will take the company, along with his team, to a whole new level,” Vigue said.

He said he does not plan to leave anytime soon as he works to ensure the company continues to progress, because when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.

"I'm very blessed. I have my health. I have a great family. I work for some of the greatest people on this earth in a great place," he said.

Vigue will remain with the company as chairman of the board. However, he said he still plans to take time to enjoy camp with his wife and work on special projects.

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