Nick and Garrett Bernardo (Class of 2014 and 2015, respectively) are co-owners of NOVUS, a clothing company that offers sportswear and apparel to teams and corporations. Garrett is the CEO/Creative Director, Nick is the COO/Director of Sales, and Scott is the CSO/Director of Outside Sales. 

“UMaine was always on my radar due to my parents,” Nick says. “They met their freshman year in Stevens Hall!” The brothers grew up vacationing in Maine from their home in New York. When deciding where to attend college and play baseball, Nick and Garrett already felt like UMaine was a second home. Both brothers were members of the University of Maine men’s baseball team – Nick played first base, and Garrett played infield and outfield.

The brothers also established the UMaine Claim Your Crown Fund at the University of Maine Foundation in 2021. This endowed fund provides financial assistance for purchasing athletic team championship mementos. The first benefactors were the UMaine 2021 America East Field Hockey Champions.

NOVUS has committed to contributing to the Claim Your Crown Fund for the next five years. “As we continue to work hard on growing our business, we’re excited to work along UMaine and their commitment to excellence in both academics and athletics,” Garrett says. Nick adds, “We are a mission-driven company, and giving back to the community and those that helped get us to where we are today is all part of our greater plan. Maine has always held a special place in our hearts.”

If you’d like to contribute to the Claim Your Crown fund, click here.

Read  the full story on the Maine Business School news page