A New Blueprint: Shannon Richards Featured in Portland City Lifestyles

May 2025

published by: Portland City Lifestyles

Excerpt:

A New Blueprint

Shannon Richards’ approach to streamlining real estate, supporting creatives and leading by example.

Shannon Richards doesn’t just build homes—she builds possibilities. The founder of Hay Runner, a real estate, architecture, and construction firm, Richards is redefining what it means to own and maintain property in Maine. With a commitment to simplifying homeownership and fostering a strong creative workforce, she has become a force for innovation in an industry often burdened by complexity.

Growing up along the Maine coast, Richards was shaped by a deep sense of place and community. “Being from Maine, you feel pretty close to the ground,” she says. “Everyone pitches in. If you’re on an island and there’s a flood, everyone grabs a shovel. It’s all hands on deck.” That mentality—of collaboration, resilience, and thinking big—has been a guiding force in her career.

Richards began her professional journey in furniture and fixture design before transitioning into housing. As she worked within different facets of the industry, she saw firsthand the need for a more integrated approach to homeownership. “At some point, I realized if I was going to do this again, I was going to do it for myself,” she recalls. And so, Hay Runner was born. ..….READ MORE.