Maryna Shuliakouskaya came to the United States from Belarus in 2007 with no English and a short-term plan to earn $5,000 before returning home. After meeting her husband, Adam, she chose to stay, and together they built a life in Eliot, Maine, where they are raising their three daughters, Nellie (17), Nadia (9), and Nika (7 months).
In 2013, while working as Marketing Director for Subway of Maine, Maryna was invited to open the first franchise location for Aroma Joe’s. Today, she owns 12 Aroma Joe’s locations across Maine, including stores in Saco, Scarborough, and Gorham, as well as others spanning from Kittery to Orono. She also serves as Chief Operations Officer of Acadia Management Group, overseeing multiple quick-service restaurant brands. Maryna is also a founder and co-managing partner of Aspire ME Group, a Portland-based firm that helps small- and mid-sized businesses prepare for franchising and scale responsibly.
Maryna holds a PhD in International Business with a focus on International Marketing. She consults local business owners and corporations on growth, marketing, and employee engagement, and regularly speaks to students across Maine. She also teaches business and marketing courses at York County Community College and Southern New Hampshire University.
She is deeply involved in her community, with a long history of fundraising, supporting schools, and recognizing student achievement. Maryna has been a long-term member of the Kittery Rotary Club and serves on the York County Community College Foundation Board. She was recognized as an Outstanding Woman in Business by MaineBiz Magazine in 2025.
In this conversation, retention takes center stage. Turnover often isn’t a cost issue—it’s a culture one. Beyond perks, benefits, and pay, creating a restaurant brand that lives up to its promise as an employer of choice boils down to a host of initiatives that start from the top down.
