Monadnock Small Business Journal - Issue #1 - Oct/Nov/Dec 2013

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Issue 1 • Oct/Nov/Dec 2013

Navigating for Success in the Monadnock Region Your Guide to Meeting Spaces Business Tips from Local Experts Talk of the Town Calendar of Events & More!

Signs Along the Way

Local Signmaker Peter Poanessa Shares the Story Behind His Creations Oct/Nov/Dec 2013

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Monadnock Small Business Journal

C O N T E N T S Mt. Monadnock Photo by Keith McKane

FEATURES Navigating Success 15 Business Profile: Signworx 18 EDITOR’S NOTE 4 MSBJ CONTRIBUTORS 5 TALK OF THE TOWN 6 CALENDAR OF BUSINESS EVENTS 24 BUSINESS ANNIVERSARIES 28

COLUMNS The Marketing Mix: Take the Bull by the Horns

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In Your Business: Workshop Words

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The Business Next Door: LaunchingU

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Hints from Helaine

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LISTINGS Meeting Spaces in the Monadnock Region

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Business Directory 30

ON THE COVER ...

Peter Poanessa, of Signworx, a Swanzey-based sign making company, creates artistic signs for businesses in the Monadnock Region..

See profile, “Signs Along the Way” on page 18.

Photo: Michael Moore

Oct/Nov/Dec 2013

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Editor’s Note ...

It wasn’t too long ago when I did not place myself in the category of “businessperson” or “entrepreneur.” Those types of folks, I thought, just lived and breathed the bottom line and thrived on cutthroat competition.

Well, it didn’t take long for that stereotype to vanish into thin air when I started my own small business and became friends with other small business owners. I realized that while it is important to look at the bottom line (quite frequently) and keep an eye on the competition, owning a small business went beyond the scope of number-crunching and watching your back. Running a small business takes creativity, passion and a healthy dose of courage.

I have created Monadnock Small Business Journal because of people like you who create businesses with sometimes little more than a dream and the guts to make it come true.

But small businesses are not created in isolation. It takes a village, or in our case, a region. Thanks to all of you who helped make this new venture a reality: From our advertisers who made the production of this publication possible, to all those who provided writing and photography, design, sales, networking and moral support during the Journal’s upstart stage. I couldn’t have done it without you.

— Marcia Passos Duffy

Issue 1 • Oct/Nov/Dec 2013 PUBLISHER

Backporch Publishing, LLC

EDITORIAL

Marcia Passos Duffy, Editorial Director Donna Moxley, Copy Editor Carol Urofsky, Proofreader Jillian Garcia, Calendar of Events Emily Duffy, Meetings Page Listings

CONTRIBUTORS

Sharon Bailly, Rich Grogan, Helaine Iris, Becky Karush, Marcy Tanniru

PHOTOGRAPHY

Keith McKane, Michael Moore, Ed Thomas

DESIGN

Salwen Graphic Design

ADVERTISING SALES

Jaime Contois, 603-504-2906 jaime@MonadnockSBJ.com

CONTACT US

MSBJ GIVE-AWAY! WIN a month’s free membership to Sta-Fit for Women! To enter, simply subscribe to Monadnock Small Business Journal’s e-newsletter. Subscription information found on the home page at www.MonadnockSBJ.com. Drawing will be held December 31, 2013.

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Monadnock Small Business Journal

Monadnock Small Business Journal 16 Russell Street, Keene, NH 03431 603-369-2525, info@MonadnockSBJ.com www.MonadnockSBJ.com Monadnock Small Business Journal is published quarterly by Keene, N.H.-based Backporch Publishing, LLC. It is distributed throughout the Monadnock Region the first week of October, January, April and July. Monadnock Small Business Journal is a business-to-business publication that highlights news about the Monadnock Region’s small business community including new start-ups, business success stories, local expert advice and features about emerging trends. This publication is copyrighted. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. The views expressed in Monadnock Small Business Journal do not necessarily reflect the views of its advertisers, publisher or editor. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, Backporch Publishing, LLC assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions.

CONTRIBUTORS Sharon Bailly founded her business, TWP Marketing & Technical Communications in Peterborough in 1999 to provide website, blog, newsletter, success story and other content for all types of businesses. www.nhbusinessblog.com, www.twriteplus.com.

Rich Grogan is the regional manager of the N.H. Small Business Development Center for the Monadnock Region, which offers no-cost, confidential business advice to startup or expanding businesses. rgrogan@keene.edu, 603-358-2602.

Helaine Iris is a life and business coach who has been featured in numerous publications including “O” The Oprah Magazine. She’s helped many entrepreneurs make a difference in the world, accelerate their professional success and achieve a more complete and fulfilling personal life. www.pathofpurpose.com.

Becky Karush is a freelance writer specializing in biography, early childhood health and agriculture. She also writes for national and international clients including Reader’s Digest International and the Tasha Tudor Museum.

She lives in Swanzey with her writer husband, toddler son, and one-eared, high strung dog.

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Marcy Tanniru is a Keene-based expert in industrial marketing communications. After spending 12 years working with large corporations, she now helps smaller engineering, technology and manufacturing companies create marketing programs that generate results. www.marcommer.com.

Ed Thomas has been a professional photographer for more than 30 years. He produces photography for clients throughout New England for the advertising, architectural, industrial and editorial markets. He is also an avid nature and historical photographer. www.edthomasphotography.com Michael Moore has been a photojournalist for 33 years. He has worked as a chief photographer at two daily newspapers, including The Keene Sentinel. He has received numerous awards for his work and has taught photography at the college level.

Oct/Nov/Dec 2013

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TALK OF THE TOWN Your guide to business happenings in the Monadnock Region s Local Project Management Expert Publishes Book to Help Nonprofits WEARE — Karen R.J. White, CSM, PMP, PMI Fellow and founder of Applied Agility, LLC has written a book, Practical Project Management for Agile Nonprofits, aimed at helping nonprofits embrace the efficiency created by agile project management practices.

The book — which takes square aim at the challenges of fundraising, volunteer management and technology — outlines practical, field-tested project management practices and supporting case studies. “In working with nonprofits on projects, I saw a great need for basic project management at many levels,” says White, who is also the author of the book, Agile Project Management: A Mandate for the 21st Century (Center for Business Practices, 2009) and a contributing author to The AMA Handbook of Project Management. “As we implemented basic practices, we saw project delivery and communication improve, and frustration dramatically reduced.

This is particularly important for nonprofits where much of their workforce is volunteers, and keeping them engaged and motivated is often a key to success.” The book is available at leading online retailers.

For information about Applied Agility, visit www.appliedagility.com.

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Monadnock Small Business Journal

s Monadnock Tent Rental Expands Offerings GREENFIELD — Monadnock Tent Rental has expanded its party rental inventory to include tableware, linens and cocktail tables. “We are more than tents,” says owner John Hopkins, adding that the expanded rental offerings allow customers to get more of their event needs met in one place. Monadnock Tent Rental serves the entire Monadnock Region and rents tents, stage and dance floors, tables and chairs and all accessories for outdoor or indoor functions, including corporate events. For more information visit www.monadnocktent.com. s Spa Expands Services TROY — Jamie Gates, owner of Jamie Gates Wellness, a comprehensive healing spa, has expanded her staff and re-branded her business.

The spa, which provides massage, Reiki, breath work therapy, facials, body wraps, pedicures, meditation, nutrition counseling and other services, now offers esthetician services including waxing, lash and brow tinting and pedicures. Gates has also added an additional massage therapist and a nutrition expert to the business. “We’re definitely becoming a full-service operation,” says Gates. The spa has also unveiled a new logo. “Our new logo is modern, clean and welcoming, which is exactly what I want my studio to feel like,” she says of her business, which only uses organic products. For more information visit www.jamiegateswellness.com.

s New County Shop Opens RICHMOND — The Herb Barn has expanded its business to include a small country shop on Route 32 in Richmond. The Herb Barn products, including natural and herbal products and food mixes, will be available for sale at the new store. For more information visit www.herbbarnonline.com or follow on Facebook. s New Travel Service Offered KEENE ­—Thomas Transportation has created a new service to enhance its charter motor coach business.

Thomas Travel Services can arrange single or multiday tours — including hotel accommodations, meals, access to venues — and provide veteran travel guides to accompany a group on its travel. Eric Sargent and Norma Pinney, longtime travel guides who have arranged and accompanied Thomas Charters tours to Pennsylvania Dutch Country and Washington, D.C., will operate the new Thomas Travel Services division of Thomas Transportation Services, Inc. They can meet with a group or business to discuss a trip, develop an itinerary, provide a quote and be available, if needed, to accompany a group on its tour. Thomas Travel Services is also available to help schools, both public and private, that may be planning trips for students. For more information contact Thomas Transportation at 603-352-5550.

Photo: Ed Thomas

s Local Log & Timber Frame Company Designs Wounded Warrior Retreat Center

KEENE — U.S. soldiers and veterans wounded from war will soon have their own peaceful retreat center, the first of its kind in the nation. Construction of the Boulder Crest Retreat for Wounded Warriors located in Bluemont, Va. — on 37 acres in the scenic foothills of

the Blue Ridge Mountains — will receive its first wounded veteran guests this fall. Soldiers and veterans who are receiving outpatient care for serious wounds or psychological trauma will be able to use the firstclass rural retreat with their families for up to 14 days, free of charge. The

7,000 sq. ft. center and four 1,600 sq. ft. log cabins have been funded by private and corporate donations. To harmonize with the rural mountain setting, the project’s organizers chose timber frame and rustic log cabin designs created by local log and timber home company, Crockett Log & Timber Homes, based in Keene. Construction work is being done by Berryville, Va.-based Starkey Construction Inc., an authorized dealer and builder for Crockett Log & Timber Homes. “We are deeply honored to be a part of this one-of-a-kind project to help our war heroes heal,” says Dennis Richmond, president of Crockett Log & Timber Homes. For more information visit www.bouldercrestretreat. org. For more information about Crockett Log & Timber Homes visit: www.crockettloghomes.com.

“Talk of the Town” continued on page 8

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TALK OF THE TOWN s New Greenfield Committee Formed to Help Local Business GREENFIELD — The Town of Greenfield is working to help existing local businesses grow and to encourage new businesses to become a member of the community. The Greenfield Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC), established earlier this year by the Greenfield Board of Selectmen, is now open for business, say organizers. The Selectmen have populated the new EDAC with appointed members who bring a diverse set of skills and backgrounds to the mission of making Greenfield a more friendly and attractive place to do business. For more information contact 603-547-3442, or visit the town’s website at www.greenfield-nh.gov.

but have not been able to pay the out of pocket expense.” Naturopathic doctors treat the whole person, look for causes of disease, and use natural and least-invasive methods of treatment to stimulate the body’s own innate ability to heal itself.

Granite State Natural Medicine, offering care since 2008, also accepts Cigna and SchoolCare insurance; all individual health plans in N.H. cover naturopathic medicine. For more information visit www.granitestatenaturalmedicine.com or call 603-719-3000. s Jack Daniels Motor Inn Earns Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence PETERBOROUGH — The Jack Daniels Motor Inn has been honored for a second consecutive year

s Granite State Natural Medicine Announces New Harvard Pilgrim Contract KEENE — Granite State Natural Medicine, a provider of naturopathic medicine, has a new contract with Harvard Pilgrim medical insurance.

As an approved network provider, Granite State Natural Medicine is now a local option for people seeking naturopathic specialty health care. “We are very excited to become part of the Harvard Pilgrim network, since it allows us to offer care under the insurance coverage that many of our patients currently have,” says Dr. Ruth Galbraith, Naturopathic Doctor and owner of Granite State Natural Medicine. “It also opens the door for many new clients who have been curious about the benefits naturopathic medicine might offer, 8

Monadnock Small Business Journal

s Company Expands Into Northern New England AMHERST — Harvard Risk Management Corporation (HRMC) is expanding its business to cover Northern New England. HRMC, with regional senior agent Craig Graham based in Amherst, is expanding services in the Connecticut River Valley Region. HRMC is leading national provider of legal access plans and identity theft protection and restoration plans through LegalShield, Inc. Both the legal and identity theft plans are available to employers as a supplemental employee benefit for their employees at no cost to the employer. For more information contact Craig Graham at 603-930-8152 or craiggraham@harvardbenefits.com, or visit www.legalshield.com/hub/ craigwgraham. s New Marketing Firm Opens

with a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. com, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Approximately 10 percent of accommodations listed on TripAdvisor’s website receive this prestigious award. The 17-room pet-friendly inn has also received a “highly recommended” ranking by Fodor’s New England Guide. For more information about the inn, call 866-284-2921, visit www.jackdanielsinn.com or email eric@jackdanielsinn.com.

VERNON, Vt. — If you are marketing on a limited budget, i.e., on a shoestring, Terri Malloy’s new company, Shoestring Marketing, can help. Malloy, who has more than 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, says her new company helps small business owners get the most from a tiny marketing budget. “Small business owners do not have a lot of time to devote to marketing. I teach them how to market their business in the most efficient way possible,” says Malloy.

Contact Malloy at 802-579-1951 or info@shoestringmarketing.com. s The Inn at East Hill Farm Named a Top Summer Resort TROY — The Inn at East Hill Farm has been recently named the “Top Summer Resort for Families” by the Boston Parents Paper’s “Family Favorites Contest” chosen by the paper’s readers. The Inn at East

Photo: Ed Thomas

Hill Farm, a year-round family farm vacation destination, was previously named by the publication as a “Top Five Winter Resort.” The inn was also featured in the Boston Parents Paper’s “Best of the Best Magazine.”

For more information about the Inn at East Hill Farm call 800-242-6495, e-mail info@east-hill-farm.com or visit www.east-hill-farm.com. s New Healthy Community Champions KEENE — The region’s Healthiest Community Initiative, launched by the Council for a Healthier Community in 2006, has signed on 75

groups and 11 schools as “Healthy Monadnock 2020 Champions” that pledge to work together to make the Monadnock Region the healthiest community in the nation by 2020. Local businesses that have signed on include Elm City Bagels, Fenton Family Dealerships, Filtrine Manufacturing, Hamshaw Lumber, Heart-Centered and Profitable, IPG Employee Benefits, MB Massage Studio, Monadnock Food Coop, People Sense Consulting LLC, the Savings Bank of Walpole, Sta-fit for Women, The Insurance Source, Ted’s Shoe and Sport and True North Networks. “Champions” of the Healthy Monadnock 2020 initiative are businesses, community organizations, coalitions, schools and clubs that promote social connection and activity to improve the environments that we live, learn, work and play in to help make the healthy choice the easy choice for everyone, according to Healthiest Community director, Linda Rubin. “From establishing smoke-free worksite policies to creating walking routes for employees to follow during their

breaks, Champion organizations are making the environmental and policy changes needed to make it easier for employees, members and students to be the healthiest they can be,” says Rubin. Learn more at www.healthiestcommunity.org or call 603-354-5460. s Global Round Table Facilitates Leadership KEENE — Global Round Table Leadership has launched its third virtual “Round Table” experience.

Starting on Oct. 30, the Round Table will offer up to 12 participants a supportive community to practice authentic and collaborative leadership. This six-month program will focus on the elements of true leadership, says Elli Caldwell, director of products and services. “‘Leadership’ is not reserved for just those in leadership positions,” she says. The Round Table is a way for people in all walks of life — not just managers and bosses — to learn leadership by example and to carry these skills into the world, Caldwell says. Since 2001, Global Round Table Leadership has supported leadership, communication, community and shifts in consciousness through advising, facilitation and group process. Space for the October Round Table is limited. Contact www. globalroundtableleadership.com/rt or call 603-357-1969, or email info@ grtleadership.com. s Antioch: New Certificate in Sustainable Business KEENE — Want to integrate sustainability practices into your business or nonprofit? Antioch University New England (AUNE) now offers a noncredit sustainable business certificate program. The certificate is ideal for anyone asked to integrate sustainability into a business, and to lead sustainability initiatives, says Polly Chandler, head

of AUNE’s MBA in Sustainability program and chair of the Department of Management. “A Sustainable Business Certificate will give emerging sustainability leaders a depth of skills and competencies to support, develop, and launch sustainability initiatives in nonprofits and small- to mid-sized businesses,” says Chandler. Students complete three required courses and one elective from the MBA in Sustainability curriculum. The courses are offered during the MBA in Sustainability’s weekend program and weekdays.

The certificate program can be completed in two to three semesters. Contact www.antiochne.edu/ mba-sustainability/sustainable-business-certificate. s Farm-to-Table Dinners Benefit Local Nonprofits HARRISVILLE — Mayfair Farm has raised more than $1,000 for three local nonprofits in conjunction with its monthly Farm-to-Table Dinners this summer. Mayfair Farm has donated 10 percent of its on-farm retail sales for each event to a nonprofit chosen by the event’s partnering farms and organizations (which included Tracie’s Community Farm, the Harrisville General Store and Handrawn Farm). The donations were given to the following nonprofits: Monadnock Conservancy, Historic Harrisville and the Cornucopia Project. Two more Farm-to-Table dinners are planned for this fall to benefit two more nonprofits: The River Center and Farmer John’s Plot. To learn more visit www.mayfairfarmnh.com.

Send your press releases for Talk of the Town to Marcia Passos Duffy, editor at Marcia@MonadnockSBJ.com “Talk of the Town” continued on page 28.

Oct/Nov/Dec 2013

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THE MARKETING MIX Smart tactics to market your business

Take the Bull by the Horns

By Marcy Tanniru

D

ana Read, owner of Firefly Photography, was an established infant and maternity photographer in New Jersey, but she was faced with rebuilding her business when she moved to New Hampshire a year ago. “The toughest part of relocating my business is getting found,” says Read. “I had a strong referral network in New Jersey, but I’m unknown in Keene.”

Tamara Reynolds, owner of Reynolds Interiors, faced a similar dilemma when she relocated to New Hampshire.

“I’m well trained and highly experienced, I have a vast network of vendors and I keep my prices competitive,” says Reynolds. “My challenge is finding clients who need my services.”

It’s the Catch 22 of every new small business: You need to invest in marketing to acquire customers, but you need customers to generate the revenue to pay for marketing.

Small businesses are often forced to take the proverbial bull by the horns and market themselves. Note that it is possible to do this effectively, even if you’re not a marketing expert.

But good marketing is more than making brochures.

It’s about creating a strategy and using tactics to help you meet your business objectives. The first step in marketing is to create your plan.

What is a marketing plan?

A marketing plan describes what you want to get out of marketing and how you will do it. The first step in creating a marketing plan is to understand your business objective.

Once you understand what you want your business to achieve, you can create a marketing strategy that will help you get there. Then, set marketing goals that will support your strategy. After you have a marketing goal, you can determine what tactics will help you achieve your goal.

The biggest challenge: getting found

Getting found is a common problem. You need to attract clients, but you don’t have a big budget for marketing.

Luckily, there are many low-cost marketing steps that can help businesses connect with customers:

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Monadnock Small Business Journal

Small businesses are often forced to take the proverbial bull by the horns and market themselves.

1. Create a searchable online presence. A good website is a critical step in attracting customers who want what you offer. By keeping your website updated you’ll increase your chances of ranking in online searches and getting found.

2. Develop great online content. What you put on your website can help you establish trust with your customers, so developing excellent content and keeping it fresh is important. Popular content can include white papers, articles, photos, webcasts and videos.

3. Put a call to action on every page. A “call to action” is what you want your prospect to do after they’ve landed on a page in your website. It can include a link to sign up for a newsletter, request more information, download a brochure or watch a video.

4. Take advantage of local business directories.

Local business directories offer a great way to increase your online visibility. Some of the best free ones include Google, Bing, Manta and Superpages.

5. Use the right social media applications. Social media applications, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and your company blog, can be powerful tools for finding customers. Not every social media tool is right for every business, though. You should have a specific plan for social media that supports your goals to avoid wasting time on efforts that don’t support your objectives.

In short, you don’t need to be a marketing expert to promote your business successfully. You do need to have an understanding of your business goals, create a solid marketing plan to achieve those goals, and then roll up your sleeves and focus on the marketing efforts that support your plan. Once you are armed with these techniques, you can be well on your way to attracting new customers and growing your business. s Marcy Tanniru is a Keene-based consultant specializing in industrial marketing communications.

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IN YOUR BUSINESS No-nonsense advice from the local experts

Workshop Words: Keep it Simple

our workshop is on the calendar and you have participants. Exciting, right? Here’s your chance to connect personally with potential customers, business partners and peers. While you may be concentrating on the words you’ll say, what about the words you’ll write? The description you use to publicize the event, your PowerPoint slides and your handouts can also make or break your workshop.

The workshop description is vital and should answer your audience’s most important question: What’s in it for me?

Because each workshop is a one-time event, you need to limit your topic and focus on what motivates your audience now. Your description should avoid exclamation points, self-congratulation (“the best workshop you’ll ever attend!”), the jargon of the moment (“become more proactive”) and cute titles that obscure your topic. Describe your workshop in 250 words (a basic press release), then cut back to 140 characters to Tweet about it. You’ll discover what is essential to attract your audience and what you can easily delete.

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Monadnock Small Business Journal

by Sharon Bailly

Powerful PowerPoint tips

Many professional speakers dislike PowerPoint slides — but chances are, you aren’t a professional speaker and may feel more relaxed with PowerPoint. That’s fine.

What isn’t fine is jamming 500 words onto one slide and then reading the words. Each slide should contain less than 40 words or one graph, table or photo. If your audience must squint at nearly invisible text and if they can read every word on the wall before you say it, they have a right to feel cheated.

How can you remember what you want to say when your slides offer only a few clues? Build your workshop around stories that illustrate your point.

In my own workshop on marketing writing, one slide reads, “Write like you talk.” Those four words prompt a story about two salespeople presenting the same product to a customer. One salesperson announces, “Our state-ofthe-art product is quality engineered to minimalize your monetary outflow.” The other says, “Our product will save you money.” Which salesperson, I ask the audience, would you listen to?

Then I continue: Company after company writes website content that sounds like the first salesperson, not the second. That kind of content turns customers away.

The story is easy to remember, engages the audience and delivers the complex message behind a four-word slide.

What about handouts?

Professional speakers also debate endlessly whether handouts should be passed around before, during or after the workshop. Since each method has pros and cons, let’s concentrate on content.

Make sure that every handout page contains your contact information. A copyright statement is fine but not legally necessary, since copyright begins the moment you set your thoughts onto paper. Unfortunately, copyright is often ignored; restrict your handouts to content you wouldn’t mind seeing on someone else’s blog or Facebook page.

Write your handouts using words of three syllables or less (for example, “using” instead of “utilizing”) and short sentences (averaging 18 words) to increase power, flow and readability. White space and pictures create visual interest.

It is possible to give out too many handouts; limit yourself to three. Better yet, gather everyone’s email address and offer to send additional information or your

e-newsletter (which they can opt out of).

Proofread all written materials carefully on paper, not online. Your eye misses mistakes on the computer. Online spell checkers are okay but all online grammar checkers are useless. Ask one person to review your material.

Don’t ask four people; you’ll get 16 different opinions.

Try these tips and techniques for your next workshop.

You’ll create a workshop description, slides and handouts that spark excitement in your audience and keep their interest high. s Sharon Bailly is the founder of TWP Marketing & Technical Communications in Peterborough.

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Monadnock Small Business Journal

Navigating Success Your Roadmap to the Monadnock Region’s Business Resources By Rich Grogan

S

tarting a business is hard. We have all heard the sobering statistics: Thirty percent of new businesses fail within the first two years, 50 percent within five years, and by the 15-year mark only 25 percent remain.

But these statistics include those business owners who never reached out for help.

I want to offer another statistic, one that is more hopeful and based on

research with the organization I work for, the N.H. Small Business Development Center (SBDC): Of those businesses that seek SBDC business advising, 80 percent are still in business five years later, compared with 44 percent who do not seek business advice.

These numbers illustrate that business failure rates do not need to be so high. They also show that seeking business help is the best way to

increase your chances of success. But it is not always easy for self-sufficient entrepreneurs to ask for help. The first step is for the business owner to get in the “mindset for assistance.�

Oct/Nov/Dec 2013

15

The mindset for assistance

Entrepreneurs start businesses because we (I was once an entrepreneur) feel we have something to offer that is better or different from what is already in the market.

The entrepreneurial “can-do” attitude is what makes entrepreneurs and small business owners so special. But it also leads to the feeling that we can do it all by ourselves, or learn it all on the fly.

I may be good at a lot of things, but I’m by no means good at everything. And whatever I’m good at, I can always get better. It is this openness to continuous improvement that is essential for what I call the “mindset for assistance.”

It is important to understand that reaching out for help doesn’t mean that you are incapable. Instead, it is a way to ensure that your business is operating at peak efficiency. Think of it this way: Getting help means you will learn new ways to become more profitable, do things more efficiently, find new markets and create new

revenue streams.

Business help is here for the asking

Once you have the mindset for assistance — and you are willing to ask for help — you need to find someone to help you. Where can you go?

Luckily, the Monadnock Region has a tremendous talent pool of business resources. I like to think of small business resources as not a one-size-fits-all, but instead, as a road map; each business owner requires a different path, depending on the size and type of business. For example, single-proprietor entrepreneurs have very different needs than 50-employee manufacturers, yet both are considered “small businesses.”

The trick to finding the right resources for your business is to tap into resource hubs. While this article could list hundreds of specialized service providers, it is more efficient for you — in both time and money — to go to a connection hub where professionals can match you with the best resource for your business needs. (See sidebar.)

Hubs for new businesses

If you are a start-up or new business owner, you may need help preparing a business plan and financial projections, or assessing the strength of your business idea.

Since money is often tight for start-ups, it is best to reach out to free-of-charge business organizations such as SBDC or SCORE for no-cost online courses and business advice. The Hannah Grimes Center in Keene is also an excellent regional hub for entrepreneurs and offers lowor no-cost workshops and more intensive programs such as the six-month Entrepreneur Project.

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Monadnock Small Business Journal

If you decide to hire a private business coach remember that many offer free or low-cost initial consultation — a great way to decide if the coach is a good fit.

And for mature businesses

Existing and growing businesses will also benefit from tapping into these resource hubs in the region. While veteran business owners face different challenges and opportunities than start-ups, many of the resources mentioned in this article can help with mature business challenges, such as growing a business.

For example, SBDC specializes in helping businesses to prepare to acquire capital for equipment or real estate purchases. Existing businesses may also have state-level issues to address, including tax credits, workforce training programs, federal contracts or permitting. In these cases, the N.H. Department of Economic Development has an excellent website filled with helpful resources. If you don’t find what you are looking for on the website, feel free to contact anyone at the agency, who will be happy to assist you.

On the sustainability front, new or existing businesses with a physical footprint can learn how to reduce energy use, save money and navigate tax credits via NH Saves. This is a partnership with state utilities to work with businesses to save energy costs.

Don’t forget your business peers

One of the best resources small businesses can take advantage of is a community of peers. Talking with other business owners is a great way to share challenges, resources and referrals.

A simple way to network with other business owners is through local Chamber of Commerce events. The Monadnock Region has strong Chambers in Keene, Peterborough, Rindge and Jaffrey, and networking through the Chamber is a great way to meet other business owners.

You might also want to explore your Business Network International (BNI) Chapter. BNI brings together business owners from the region for networking and referrals.

Another source of networking is through professional development events. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s N.H. District Office, for example, hosts a calendar of events on its webpage, some of which are offered at no charge; many are in the form of webinars, saving you travel time.

Make the best use of your time

Once you select the business resource that is right for you, make sure you take these three steps to ensure a successful relationship:

• Come prepared: I appreciate the clients who ask: “What can I have prepared for our first meeting?” This tells me that the client is eager to work on his or her business, and is focused on improvement. Clients who come well-prepared for meetings, and expect their business coach or advisor to prepare as well, will get the most out of the meeting.

• Set up mutual accountability: Your business coach or advisor will invest time to work with you, and he or she wants to see you succeed. Most of the resources available in the region are not highly paid folks, and our reward is working with clients to help them to be successful and to grow the Monadnock Region’s economy.

To get there, however, there should be mutual accountability. This includes action items, checklists or between meeting check-ins, to ensure everyone stays on task.

• Make sure there is trust and confidentiality: You must feel like you trust your business coach or advisor.

After all, you will need to disclose personal and financial information, competitive practices or other proprietary information. You need to be 100 percent comfortable sharing that information. Increase your comfort level by using a signed confidentiality agreement, or some kind of assurances that promise nondisclosure. For example, at SBDC, we are bound by federal statute to maintain confidentiality of both our clients’ identities and the information they share.

Take the first step

Possibly the biggest hurdle to seeking assistance is time; after working a long day in your business, it can be difficult to find time to work on your business.

But, know that there are many resources in the Monadnock Region that are excited to help you. After all, we all want the same thing: a thriving, healthy, diverse local economy … and our small businesses are the engine that drives that success! s Rich Grogan is the regional manager of the N.H. Small Business Development Center for the Monadnock Region.

Business Resource Hubs in the Monadnock Region Hannah Grimes Center 23 Roxbury Street, Suite C Keene, NH 03431 Tel: 603-352-5063 Email: info@hannahgrimes.com Website: www.hannahgrimes.com

ational crowd while NH SBDC working to (Small Business Development Center) Keene State College’s Blake House get World Keene, NH 03431 Tel: 603-358-2602 Fellowship Email: rgrogan@keene.edu Website: www.nhsbdc.org ready for Monadnock SCORE Fellowship 34 Mechanic Street Keene, NH 03431 Tel: 603-352-0320 ready for Email: info@monadnockscore.org Website: www.monadnockscore.org

Web Links to Other Resources Mentioned in this Article Business Networking International (BNI) www.bninh.com Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce www.hillsboroughnhchamber.org Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce www.jaffreychamber.com Keene Chamber of Commerce www.keenechamber.com NH Department of Economic Development www.nheconomy.com NH Saves www.nhsaves.com Peterborough Chamber of Commerce www.greater-peterborough-chamber.com Rindge Chamber of Commerce www.rindgechamber.org US Small Business Administration’s NH District Office www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/2/3130

Oct/Nov/Dec 2013

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The Signs Along The Way

I

remember my father telling me as a child, ‘If you choose a career you love you never have to work a day in your life,’ ” says Peter Poanessa, founder and owner of Keene Signworx, a custom sign design and fabrication company.

Sitting in a reclaimed wooden pub booth in Signworx’s tidy vestibule during a rare quiet moment, Poanessa wouldn’t exactly call every day at work pure fun. “But the truth is,” he says, “I love what I do. I get to design and build things every day. It’s like shop class and art class in one.”

The signs are gargantuan, as if they belong in a town of giants.

By Becky Karush Photos by Michael Moore Just down the hall is big, bright room, one of three workshop spaces in the 2,700-square-foot building located at 12 Base Hill Road in Swanzey.

Outdoor signs, most for past and present area businesses, are mounted on all four walls. With his wife, Mary, who is his sole full-time co-worker, Poanessa designed and built all of them, including a sign from the old Henry David’s restaurant, once a fixture on Keene’s Main Street.

Inside, these signs are gargantuan, as if they belong in a town of giants. “They look huge, don’t they?” he says. “But get them outside and they have to compete with all that space, and they just shrink. In fact, 99 percent of the time, customers start out with sign ideas that are too small.”

After nearly three decades in the business, Poanessa knows the sign building process well. But back in the 1970s, when he was a young adult trying to figure out what to do with his life, he didn’t have any idea about signs at all.

“I was a fine arts major at the 18

Monadnock Small Business Journal

University of New Hampshire for a year, but it just seemed like I was going to end up teaching, which I didn’t want to do,” he says. “I wanted to make things.”

He left school in the mid 1970s and worked on commercial fishing boats for the next 10 years. Poanessa didn’t stop wanting to make things though: Along the way he learned wooden boat repair, home building, furniture making, cabinetry and welding. One day, as he and the crew were prepping for a salmon run in Alaska, a sign painter came up and started painting a name on the side of a nearby boat.

“This really piqued my interest,” Poanessa says. “This old guy was doing these perfect letters, freehand.

I had never imagined that signs were something you could make.”

Signworx is born Poanessa was trained at a commercial art school in Boston and started Keene Signworx shortly thereafter, in a 600-square-foot shop in Walpole.

(computerized numerical control) router machine that cost $45,000, more than I made in a year.”

Above: Peter Poanessa and his wife, Mary and their dog Elsie. Left: Poanessa holds up a carved 3-D hamburger for a new restaurant in Portsmouth. Inset photos, left to right: Signworx creations for various Keene businesses including Armadillos, Bagel Works and Church & Main.

For the first 12 years, he did everything by hand.

“Back then, it would take 20 hours just to do the kind of carved pattern you see there.” He points to a long, narrow sign with shallow, undulating scoops in the wood that give the sign depth. “Now, with the technology we’ve adopted, the whole sign takes about 20 hours to make.”

In 1994 Poanessa moved Signworx to a 2,400-square-foot industrial space in downtown Keene.

Demand for his work was growing, and he had to decide whether to stick with handwork, which he loved, or embrace cutting-edge technology.

“Mary was part of my life now and she had children, so I had a family to help support, too, so I had to figure out how to do the sign business differently or go get a different job,” he says. “I did all this research, at a time when there was no Google, just lots of phone calls and brochures in the mail. We were looking at a CNC

Going high tech Poanessa took the leap and bought the router in 1997. With the cutting and letter routing mechanized, he and Mary were able to double their workload in the first year.

These days, they produce four times the work they were doing in the early 1990s.

Much to his surprise, Poanessa fell in love with the technology, which also expanded the design possibilities open to him. His customers responded positively, too.

“About 75 percent of our work is in Cheshire County,” he says. “We’re so lucky it’s a great sign market.”

The company has made award-winning signs for such organizations and businesses as The Colonial Theatre, In the Company of Flowers, Alyson’s Orchard, and the Sullivan Fire Department, among many others. He also works with businesses throughout New England and around the country. “A fellow from California was in Keene for Pumpkin Fest and saw some downtown signs. A while later he called us up and asked us to make a sign for his new sushi shop in San Diego,” Poanessa says with a smile.

Along the way, Poanessa has learned how to meet the challenges of selling a high-end product.

“The purchase price is sometimes a limiting factor for people. There’s a pretty big range for us, from $200 to $10,000 a sign, but our sweet spot is around $4,000 a sign,” he says. Part of his job is to help put the purchase price in perspective, by showing

how this initial line item in a business owner’s marketing budget can be amortized over 10 years or more.

“Because the sign is always there, always advertising the business,” he notes.

Company moves again Although Signworx was thriving at its Keene location, and outgrowing its space, Poanessa held off moving for many years.

Land prices were just too high, that is, until the housing bubble burst in 2007. The ensuing recession allowed him to find an affordable piece of land, and to custom-design and build a new facility on Base Hill Road, Swanzey. The business moved in January, 2012.

The combination of the hightech tools and the new building has allowed Poanessa’s creativity to flourish. “We’ve taken on some wild signs, like the 3-D hamburger,” which was created for a new Portsmouth restaurant, The Cemita Shack. “They’re going to mount it on the top of an old Chevy Bel-Air.” He grins.

The delight Poanessa takes in his work designing and building signs hasn’t faded over the years; if anything, it’s stronger than ever. As he looks to the future of Signworx, he’d be happy for things to stay much the way they are. “We’re in the unusual position of not wanting to grow. More work and I’d have to spend more time in the office, when what’s important to me is to be able to make stuff every day,” he says.

Poanessa shakes his head in a kind of happy awe. “I never imagined the business would get to this point ...

I really get to do my dream job.” s Becky Karush is a freelance writer

from Swanzey.

Oct/Nov/Dec 2013

19

df

THE BUSINESS NEXT DOOR A snapshot of a local home business Susan Hay LaunchingU Keene sue@launchingu.com, 603-357-6111 www.launchingu.com

What do you dislike about it?

How integrated my life is with my work. This cuts both ways. It is hard to be completely away from my work with an office in my home. Every now and then I will get a call at a very odd hour from a client who was up, thinking about something he or she wanted to tell me. But that is a small price to pay and I truly enjoy working at home.

How do you inspire or motivate yourself every day?

My clients are my inspiration. They are smart, focused and serious about this transition that they are making from college to career and they are very motivated. I enjoy getting my clients to think through their passions, then teaching them the skills to make them strong candidates in the job market.

How do you separate home life from your work life?

This is not my strong suit. My family has helped me understand that just because my phone is ringing doesn’t mean I have to answer it at that moment. That is what email is for.

Photos: Ed Thomas

Susan Hay provides career coaching to college students, new graduates and early career professionals from her home office in Keene.

What did you do before you started LaunchingU? I founded a boutique executive search business — a small business with an office in downtown Keene. Before that, I worked for another executive search firm; I also worked in human resources for a variety of companies locally and in the N.Y. area.

What was your biggest challenge in starting/maintaining your home business?

It has been a bit of a challenge finding space where I can meet with clients. I have solved that problem for the immediate future by renting space at the Hannah Grimes Center while I see how much my business builds locally.

Plus, having decent technical support where you don’t have to drop your computer off and wait two days and doesn’t cost a gazillion dollars has also been a challenge.

What do you love about working from home?

I love how integrated my life is with my work. I have a relatively short attention span so now I can walk downstairs and take my dog for a walk if I need a break.

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Monadnock Small Business Journal

What is your biggest (or proudest) achievement so far?

This is the third time I have started a business and I am proud of the fact that I can get these businesses up and running. I am committed to the belief that people should do what they love and of course, I need to be able to model that if I am going to be credible as a coach. So here I am again, starting a new business — full of excitement and all the craziness that comes from starting something new.

What are you working on right now?

Right now all our business comes via word of mouth.

I expect that will continue to be the primary source of new business, but we are also looking to partner with a few colleges who have a strong commitment to this work.

What do you do for fun when you’re not working?

Time with my family and friends is my first priority. I love to play tennis. I love to get lost in a good book. I am on the (Keene) School Board which is kind of ridiculous given that I have a new business, but I love that also, so I find a way. I also try and find ways to make the world more peaceful. s — Interview by Marcia Passos Duffy.

Do you know of an interesting home-based business for this page? Let us know! Email editor@MonadnockSBJ.com.

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HINTS FROM HELAINE Q&A for your vexing business problems, by Helaine Iris

Q

1

%

Community Program

I have been working for one company my entire career. While I like my job, lately I’ve been feeling restless and bored and think that I might be better off working on my own. I do have a little bit of a nest egg to get me through about six months. But how do I know if I’m cut out to be an entrepreneur?

LOG & TIMBER HOMES

A

Solving Your QuickBooks Challenges Pamela Doyle QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisor 631 Park Ave, #112, Keene, NH 03431 (o) 603-903-1047 (c) 603-209-3035 www.solutionsfortoday.net

REGIONAL CENTER for

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING [ RCAM ]

A Collaboration Supporting Workforce Development and Training for Advanced Manufacturing and Technology

Most successful business owners are driven by a primary passion or need to create. Not just a great business, but also a great life. The benefits and freedoms associated with self-employment are attractive and take a number of capacities to sustain long-term. You need to be able to tolerate risk, be comfortable with discomfort (owning your own business often takes you out of your comfort zone), and most importantly, have a solid business idea you can demonstrate through a well thought out business plan.

A great first step would be to talk with someone you know who owns his or her own business. (Better yet, shadow this entrepreneur for a day.) Then schedule an appointment with a business coach or advisor to explore.

Q

I have been working from home for the past 10 years. It has worked out fine except when I have to meet clients. I have overly friendly pets, and frankly, I don’t always want to tidy up my house whenever a client visits.

Local coffee shops are fine occasionally, but sometimes I’d like more privacy. What do you suggest?

A

Lots of home-based business owners share your need. Two great options come to mind. First, explore your address book for a compatible business associate who may be open to sharing space with you. Perhaps your colleague has a spare office or conference room you can use or rent on occasion. The other option is to find a local business incubator to rent space per diem. Most business incubators have both long-term and short-term contracts available.

A wonderful side benefit to a relationship with a local incubator is you can connect with other business owners for resources and networking. Either way it’s a great antidote to home-based business isolation.

TO LEARN MORE:

rcam@keene.edu n 603.358.2296

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Monadnock Small Business Journal

Helaine Iris is a life and business coach with Path of Purpose Coaching. Do you have a vexing business problem? Email questions to helaine@pathofpurpose.com. Your name will be kept confidential.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS October, November & December 2013

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

10/1 (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.-noon) The Affordable Care Act and Your Small Business. Southern New Hampshire University’s Dining Center Banquet Facility, Manchester. Contact: 603-629-4697, www.cwbanh.com.

10/22 (Tuesday, 5-7 p.m.)

Keene Arts Tour Gallery Opening.

Hannah Grimes Center, Keene.

Contact: 603-352-5063, jillian@ hannahgrimes.com, www.hannahgrimes.com.

10/8 (Tuesday, 6-9 p.m.)

Social Media for Business (Basics).

Monadnock SCORE, MacMillan Building, Keene. Contact: 603-3520320, info@monadnockscore.org.

10/22 (Tuesday, 6-9 p.m.)

Social Media for Business (Advanced). Monadnock SCORE, MacMillan Building, Keene. 603-3520320, info@monadnockscore.org.

10/10 (Thursday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.)

11th Annual Governor’s Advanced Manufacturing and High Technology Summit. Radisson Hotel, Manchester. Fee: $95. Contact: 603-2245388, www.biaofnh.com.

10/23 (Wednesday, 5:30-7 p.m.)

October Business After Hours with the Rindge Chamber of Commerce.

People’s United Bank, Rindge. Contact: 603-899-5051, info@rindgechamber.org.

10/16 (Wednesday, 5:30-7 p.m.)

Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce After Hours. Langdon Place, Keene. Contact: 603-352-1303, info@keenechamber.com.

10/24 (Thursday, noon-1 p.m.)

Balancing Work and Life. Hannah Grimes Center, Keene. Contact: 603352-5063, jillian@hannahgrimes.com, www.hannahgrimes.com.

10/17 (Thursday, 2-7:30 p.m.)

Southern NH Business Expo: Rediscovering Main Street.

The Hampshire Dome, Milford.

Contact: 603-673-4360.

10/25 (Friday, 8:30-11:30 a.m.)

Constant Contact Newsletter Coaching. Schedule your one-on-one 1/2-hour coaching session with Nancy Salwen of Salwen Graphic Design.

Hannah Grimes Center, Keene. Contact: 603-352-5063, jillian@ hannahgrimes.com, www.hannahgrimes.com.

10/17 (Thursday, 5:30-7 p.m.)

Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce After Hours. Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate/ The Masiello Group, Peterborough.

Contact: 603-924-7234, info@ greater-peterborough-chamber.com.

10/18 (Friday 8-9:30 a.m.)

Combined Executive Director & Board Member Roundtable.

Hannah Grimes Center, Keene.

Contact: 603-352-5063, jillian@ hannahgrimes.com

24

10/30 (Wednesday 5-8 p.m.)

Hannah Grimes Center 8th Annual CONNECT Event. Alyson’s Orchard, Walpole. Fee: $25 early bird; $30 general admission after Sept. 30. Contact: 603-352-5063, jillian@hannahgrimes. com, www.hannahgrimes.com (see ad about this event on the back cover).

Monadnock Small Business Journal

11/4 (Monday, 5:30-7:30 p.m.)

NEARBY Keene Workshop. Hannah Grimes Center, Keene. Contact: 603352-5063, jillian@hannahgrimes.com, www.hannahgrimes.com.

11/6 (Wednesday, 6-9 p.m.)

Small Business Finances: What You Need to Know. Seacoast SCORE Office, Portsmouth. Contact: 603-4330575, www.seacoast.score.org.

11/12 (Tuesday, 6-9 p.m.)

Start Your Own Business Workshop.

TD Bank (West St.) Keene.

Contact: 603-352-0320, info@monadnockscore.org.

11/12, 11/13 & 11/14 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) New Hampshire Grants Institute: An Intensive Strategic and Technical Skill Building Experience. N.H. Audubon, Concord. Fee: $299-members; $399-not-yet-members. Contact: 603-225-1947, sdonahue@nhnonprofits.org.

11/14 (Thursday, 6-9 p.m.)

Spirit of New Hampshire Awards — Volunteer N.H. Capital Center for the Arts, Concord. Contact: 603-2717203, development@volunteernh.org.

11/19 (Tuesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m.)

Project Management Institute – Keene Chapter. NGM at 44 Main Street, Keene. Reservations required. Contact: 603-762-0235, lks@ lisasieverts.com, www.pmi-keene.org.

This list was compiled by Jillian Garcia at the Hannah Grimes Center. Please send your calendar items for the Jan/Feb/Mar 2014 issue to jillian@hannahgrimes.com.

11/20 (Wednesday, 5:30-7 p.m.)

Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce After Hours. Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services, Keene. Contact: 603-352-1303, info@keenechamber.com.

11/20 (Wednesday, 5:30-7 p.m.)

Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce After Hours. La Mia Casa, Peterborough.

Contact: 603-532-4549, info@jaffreychamber.com.

11/21 (Thursday, noon-1 p.m.)

Meditations for Busy Minds and Busy Lives. Hannah Grimes Center, Keene. Registration: $20. Contact: 603-352-5063, jillian@hannahgrimes.com, www.hannahgrimes.com.

11/21 (Thursday, 5:30-7 p.m.)

Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce After Hours. Jellison Funeral Home, Peterborough.

Contact: 603-924-7234, info@ greater-peterborough-chamber.com.

12/19 (Thursday, 5:30-7 p.m.)

Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce After Hours. People’s United Bank, Peterborough. Contact: 603-924-7234, info@greater-peterborough-chamber.com.

DECEMBER

ONGOING EVENTS

12/18 (Wednesday, 5:30-7 p.m.)

Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce After Hours. Savings Bank of Walpole, Keene. Free to Chamber members. Contact: 603-352-1303, info@keenechamber.com.

12/18 (Wednesday, 5:30-7 p.m.

Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce After Hours. Benjamin Prescott Inn, Jaffrey. Contact: 603-532-4549, info@ jaffreychamber.com.

6-month Business Start-Up Program. Hannah Grimes Center, Keene.

Accepting applications, $600 fee with 75% scholarship funding available to those who qualify. Contact: 603-3525063, jillian@hannahgrimes.com.

6-month Entrepreneur Project.

Hannah Grimes Center, Keene Accepting applications, $600 fee with 75% scholarship funding available to those who qualify. Contact: 603-3525063, jillian@hannahgrimes.com.

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Meeting Spaces in the Monadnock Region If you are planning a meeting, workshop, banquet, holiday party, get-together or a bash to celebrate your wildly successful business there’s no need to go out of the region to meet. Stay local! There are plenty of meeting facilities in the area (some may even surprise you) to host any type of business gathering — large or small. Locations — which range from rustic to formal — vary in price, catering options and business amenities so please contact the venue for more information.

Francestown Crotched Mountain Golf Club 603-588-2923 www.crotchedmountaingolfclub.com Meeting rooms: 3 Seating capacity: 20, 50 and 60 Greenfield Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center 603-547-3400 www.bchcenter.org Meeting rooms: 10 Seating capacity: 10-200 Hancock The Hancock Inn 603-525-3318 or 800-525-1789 www.hancockinn.com Meeting rooms: 2 Seating capacity: 10 & 20 Nature’s Classroom at Sargent Center 603-525-3311 www.naturesclassroom.org/sargent Meeting rooms: 7 Seating capacity: 15-160 Jaffrey Jaffrey Civic Center 603-532-6527 www.jaffreyciviccenter.com Meeting rooms: 5* Seating capacity: 15-200 *By donation only Monadnock Quaker Meeting House 603-242-9607 www.monadnockfriends.org Meeting rooms: 3 Seating capacity: 8, 10, 45 Shattuck Golf Course 603-878-2000 www.sterlinggolf.com/shattuck Meeting room: 2 Seating capacity: 40 and 225-400 26

Monadnock Small Business Journal

Keene Bentley Commons at Keene 603-352-1282 www.bentleycommons.com Meeting rooms: 2* Seating capacity: 10, 40 *No charge for nonprofits Best Western Sovereign Hotel 603-357-3038 www.bestwestern.com Meeting rooms: 3 Seating capacity: 30 each room Cheshire Historical Society 603-352-1895 www.hsccnh.org/rental.cfm Meeting rooms: 2 Seating capacity: 15, 95-150 Courtyard by Marriott 603-354-7900 or 800-627-7468 www.keenecourtyard.com Meeting rooms: 1 (which can be divided into 3 spaces) Seating capacity: up to 200 (or 50 each) Hannah Grimes Center 603-352-5063 www.hannahgrimes.com/ incubator/space-rental Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 18 Keene Country Club 603-352-0135 www.keenecc.com Meeting rooms: 5 Seating capacity: 10 to 380 Keene Public Library 603-352-0157 www.keenepubliclibrary.org /library/meeting-rooms Meeting rooms: Library: 4 Heberton: 1 Seating capacity: 6-75+, up to 300

Keene Recreation Center 603-357-9829 www.keeneparks.com Meeting rooms: 4 Seating capacity: 12-50

Monadnock Country Club 603-924-7769 www.monadnockcc.com Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 175

Keene State College 603-358-2942 www.keene.educ/conted/conference Meeting rooms: 7 Seating capacity: 15-500

Peterborough Community Center 603-924-8080 www.townofpeterborough.com Meeting rooms: 2 Seating capacity: 20-300

Lane Hotel 603-357-7070 www.thelanehotel.com Meeting rooms: 2 Seating capacity: 10, 40

Richmond YMCA Camp Takotah 603-352-0447 www.camptakotah.org Meeting rooms: 5 Seating capacity: 20-350

Papagallos Restaurant 603-352-9400 www.papagallos.com Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 80-100 Stonewall Farm 603-357-7278 www.stonewallfarm.org Meeting rooms: 2 Seating capacity: 50 and 100-150 The Pub Restaurant 603-352-3135 www.thepubrestaurant.com Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 60 Marlborough Unbridled Chocolates 603-876-4700 www.unbridledchocolates.com Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 25 Peterborough The Monadnock Center for History and Culture 603-924-3235 www.monadnockcenter.org/bass-hall Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 60-100

Rindge Franklin Pierce University 603-899-4243 www.franklinpierce.edu Meeting rooms: 60 Seating capacity: 2-1000

Troy Inn at East Hill Farm 603-242-6495 www.east-hill-farm.com Meeting rooms: 3 Seating capacity: 30, 30 and 100 Monadnock Berries 603-242-6417 www.monadnockberries.com Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 80 Walpole Alyson’s Orchard 603-756-9800 www.alysonsorchard.com Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 250 Inn at Valley Farms 603-756-2855 www.innatvalleyfarms.com Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 15

Hidden Hills Banquet Facility 603-899-5001 or 800-698-5002 www.fourstarcatering.com Meeting rooms: 3 Seating capacity: 130, 350 and 400

Walpole Mountain View Winery 603-756-3948 www.bhvineyard.com Meeting rooms: 3 Seating capacity: 16-50

Rindge Recreation Center 603-899-6847 www.town.rindge.nh.us Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 100 (room can be divided)

West Chesterfield Chesterfield Inn 603-256-3211 or 800-365-5515 www.chesterfieldinn.com Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 25

Woodbound Inn 603-532-8341 www.woodbound.com Meeting rooms: 3 Seating capacity: 15, 15 & 300

Riverside Hotel 603-256-4200 www.riversidehotelnh.com Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 125

Temple Birchwood Inn 603-878-3285 www.birchwoodinn.com Meeting rooms: 1 Seating capacity: 16

Did we overlook a meeting facility?

Let us know and we’ll post it on our social media pages and our e-newsletter.

We will also revisit meeting locations each year in the fall issue … so if we missed one you can catch us next time around. Send information on your favorite meeting facility to: editor@MonadnockMBJ.com.

Oct/Nov/Dec 2013

27

Talk of the Town (continued from page 9) Individual Solutions In Today’s Economy

Sterling Business Coaching George Sterling

Small Business Breakthroughs Free Book: Small Business Breakthroughs go to sterlingbusinesscoaching.com 206 Concord St., Peterborough, NH

george@sbcnh.com

603-924-7526

Travel wise.

Insurance Replacement Rentals Dealer Warranty Rentals 12 & 15 Passenger Vans Corporate Rates Available Locally Owned and Operated Free Pick Up Available

Quick and easy reservations.

www.usave.com

Location near you!

455 Winchester St. Keene N.H 03431

603-352-7900

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Monadnock Monadnock Small Small Business Business Journal Journal

ANNIVERSARIES

15

Tracie’s Community Farm, LLC

FITZWILLIAM — Tracie’s Community Farm, LLC is celebrating 15 years of growing food and community for the Monadnock Region.

Tracie Smith began farming in 1999 on her father’s land in Sullivan while studying environmental horticulture at UNH. Upon graduating in 2001 until 2007 Smith grew her farm from 12 community supported agriculture (CSA) shares to 150 shares. By 2007, the farm had outgrown the land and Smith found 33 acres of prime agricultural soils in Fitzwilliam that the previous owners wanted to keep as farm land. Smith worked with the landowners to put a conservation easement on the land through the Monadnock Conservancy and purchased the land in 2008.

Today the farm employs six full-time employees, provides 50 spring shares, 350 summer shares, and 100 fall shares.

Tracie’s Community Farm also has an onsite farm stand, and sells wholesale to restaurants and the Monadnock Food Co-op. Contact: www.traciesfarm.com.

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Lynn C. Rust, CPA PC

SWANZEY — Accounting firm, Lynn C. Rust, CPA PC, has marked 20 years in business this year. Since Rust opened his firm in 1993 he has grown from a small homebased business to a well-established professional firm that includes five Certified Public Accountants (CPA), an Enrolled Agent (EA), seven staff accountants and bookkeepers, and support staff and tax season interns. The firm offers a wide variety of financial services including individual and business accounting and tax preparation, estate planning, payroll, bookkeeping, auditing services, QuickBooks training and financial advising for a wide range of situations. Contact: 603-358-6565, or visit www.lcrcpa.com.

Rethinking business through greener events, promotions, and operations.

Green Event Planning Green Marketing Sustainability Consulting Speaking/Training

www.TheGreenUpGirl.com BAKER SALMON DESIGN P R I NT & W E B

Designer of the following advertisements in this issue: • Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing [RCAM] • Rivertide Consulting • Peoplesense Consulting

G R A P H I C D E SI G N CO M M U N I C ATI O N SE RV I C E S

bakersalmondesign@gmail.com | 603.924.9076 30 Main | Peterborough | Quick Turn & Longterm Projects

For Every Road You Travel... …Thomas Charters provides luxury motor coaches, each with on-board restrooms and DVD players with screens throughout: 52- and 56-passenger coaches, 40-passenger motor coach and a 31-passenger motor coach. You can sit back and relax as our courteous, professional coach drivers take you to your destination – a casino, sporting event, concerts, weddings or trade shows.

Our new Travel Services division stands ready to plan every detail of your travel – arranging for hotels, meals and entrance to venues along the way. And, if needed, on-board travel guides to smooth the way. Want to take your staff on a day trip or overnight tour?

Thomas Travel Services can handle all the details.

Helping organizations succeed.

research

rivertide C O N S U LT I N G

planning training

603.534.1111 rivertide@comcast.net PO Box 365, Peterborough, NH 03458

rivertideconsulting.com

93 Monadnock Highway, Keene, NH 03431 603/352-5550 thomas@thomastransportation.com www.thomastransportation.com Oct/Nov/Dec Oct/Nov/Dec 2013

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B U S I N E S S Please support the small businesses that support Monadnock Small Business Journal!

ACCOUNTING

Anderson & Gilbert A Full Service Accounting Firm Keene, NH 603-357-1928 anderson@taxfolks.com www.taxfolks.com Lynn C. Rust, CPA PC Helping You Solve Your Financial Puzzle Swanzey, NH 603-358-6565 info@lcrcpa.com www.lcrcpa.com White Barn CPAs Helping You be a Better Steward of Your Financial Future Marlborough, NH 603-876-6633 info@whitebarncpas.com www.whitebarncpas.com

ARCHITECTS

SISR Architecture, LLC Sustainable, Innovative & Socially Responsible Building Design Marlow, NH 603-446-7024 christina@sisr.us www.sisr.us Scully Architects Extraordinary Architecture and Planning for Our Community Keene, NH 603-357-4544 dvs@scully-architects.com www.scullyarchitects.com Weller & Michal Architects We Strive For Excellence Within Real-World Limitations ...

Because Design Matters Harrisville, NH 603-827-3840 info@wapm.com www.wapm.com

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ATTORNEYS

Beasley & Ferber The Elder & Disability Law Firm Concord, NH 603-225-5010 info@beasleyferber.com www.beasleyferber.com

CAR RENTAL

U-Save Car & Truck Rental Where The Road Leads, U-Save 603-352-7900 keenenh@rentusave.com www.usave.com

CHAMBERS

Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Enhancing the Economic Vitality and Quality of Life for All Citizens of the Greater Peterborough Region Peterborough, NH 603-924-7234 jburnett@peterboroughchamber.com www.greater-peterborough-chamber. com

COACHING/CONSULTING

AdviCoach Making Your Success a Reality Richmond, NH 603-39-3693 aconnor@advicoach.com www.connorteam.advicoach.com Heart-Centered and Profitable Coaching for Fitness, Health and Childbirth Practices Fitzwilliam, NH 978-616-9561 melanie@heartcenteredandprofitable. com www.heartcenteredandprofitable. com.

LaunchingU Career Coaching for College Students & New Graduates Keene, NH 603-357-6111 sue@launchingu.com www.launchingu.com

Monadnock Small Business Journal

Path of Purpose Coaching Inspiring Entrepreneurs to Success in Life and Business Spofford, NH 603-363-4252 helaine@pathofpurpose.com www.pathofpurpose.com PeopleSense Consulting LLC Improve Hiring, Job-Fit, Performance and Leadership Jaffrey NH 03452 603-532-5888 robin@PeopleSenseConsulting.com www.peoplesenseconsulting.com Rivertide Consulting Helping Organizations Succeed Peterborough, NH 603-534-1111 rivertide@comcast.net www.rivertideconsulting.com Solutions for Today Solving Your Quickbooks Challenges Keene, NH 603-903-1047 pam@solutionsfortoday.net www.solutionsfortoday.net The Green Up Girl Reduce Waste, Reduce Cost, Rethink Events Keene, NH 802-258-8046 cs@thegreenupgirl.com www.thegreenupgirl.com The Sarson Group Moving the Entrepreneurial Edge of New Hampshire Business Keene, NH 603-313-2055 sarsongroup@gmail.com www.sarsongroup.com

DESIGN

Baker Salmon Design Full Service Graphic Design & Communications Peterborough, NH 603-924-9076 bakersalmondesign@gmail.com

Peter Harris Creative Big Ideas for Small Companies Keene, NH 03431 603-903-0218 info@peterharriscreative.com www.peterharriscreative.com Salwen Graphic Design Full Service Website & Graphic Design for Marketing & Communication Keene, NH 603-357-4693 nancy@salwen.net www.salwen.net

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Antioch University New England Explore. Empower. Transform.

Keene, NH 877-595-9873 www.antiochne.com Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing Business and Education Developing Our Workforce Keene, NH 603-358-2296 rcam@keene.edu www.keene.edu/conted/rcam

FOOD/FARMING

Mayfair Farm A Small Scale, Diversified Family Farm Harrisville, NH 603-827-3925 info@mayfairfarmnh.com www.mayfairfarmnh.com

HOME DESIGN/BUILDING

Crockett Log & Timber Homes Green Living Since 1973 Keene, NH 800-566-7714 jdodson@crockettloghomes.com www.crockettloghomes.com

D I R E C T O R Y Mt. Monadnock Photo by Keith McKane

HOTELS

Days Inn Best Value Under the Sun Keene NH 03431 603-352-9780 jim.narkiewicz@gmail.com www.daysinn.com

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Sequoya Technologies Group, LLC Providing Complete IT Support to More Than 70 Small Business & Nonprofits throughout N.H. Peterborough, NH 603-924-7977 sales@sequoyatech.com www.sequoyatech.com

Steadman Media Group Technology & New Media Solutions Troy, NH mikel@steadmanmediagroup.com www.steadmanmediagroup.com True North Networks Straight Answers. Bright Solutions.

Keene, NH 603-624-6777 www.truenorthnetworks.com

INSURANCE

The Insurance Source, Inc. The Source for All of Your Insurance Needs Keene, NH 603-357-2219 www.insurancesource.com

MARKETING

Halvorson New Media LLC Social Media Training and Strategies for Businesses and Nonprofits Hancock NH 03449 603-525-3391 chris@halvorsonnewmedia.com www.halvorsonnewmedia.com Paragon Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Excellence Keene, NH 03431 603-399-6401 zach@paragondigital.com www.paragondigital.com

The Marcommer LLC Specializing in B2B and industrial marketing communications Keene, NH 03431 832-302-4101 marcy@marcommer.com www.marcommer.com

MEETING CENTERS

Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center Year-round Conference Center on Otter Lake Greenfield, NH 603-547-3400 info@bchcenter.org www.bchcenter.org

NONPROFIT

Hannah Grimes Center Weaving Together Business, Local Economy and Community.

Keene, NH 603-352-5063 www.hannahgrimes.com Monadnock Buy Local Helping Our Local Economy Grow Keene, NH www.monadnockbuylocal.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Edward Thomas Photography Professional photography for business; 30+ years experience.

Marlow, NH 03456 603-357-5939 ed@edthomasphotography.com www.edthomasphotography.com

PRINTING & MAILING

Beeze Tees Screen Printing For all of your apparel and promotional needs!

Keene, NH 03431 603-357-1400 info@beezetees.com www.beezetees.com Prospect Communications Driving Growth. Delivering Results.

W. Chesterfield, NH 03466 603-256-6372 mike@prospect-comm.com www.prospect-comm.com Sterling Business Corp.

Small Business Breakthroughs, Individual Solutions Peterborough, NH 03458 603-924-9401 sbc@sbcnh.com www.sterlingprintmail.com

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Applied Agility, LLC Your Project Management Edge Weare, NH 03281 603-660-6953 info@appliedagility.com www.appliedagility.com Facilitated Change Project Management Consulting and Training Harrisville, NH 03450 603-762-0235 www.lisaseiverts.com

SIGNS

Signworx Small Town Service.

World Class Results.

Swanzey, NH 603-358-1003 info@signworx.com www.signworx.com

STAFFING

The TPI Staffing Group The People You Want, with the Skills You Need and the Service You Deserve Keene, NH 603-352-4155 www.tpistaffing.com

TRANSPORTATION

At the Top John Stetser (l) and Jackie Stetser (r), of Hillsborough on Mount Monadnock recently.

Jackie Stetser, a Rabbit Ear Films Board Member, runs the Rabbit Ear Films Facebook page and assists with fundraising efforts. John, her husband, volunteers his time to help with the project. For more infomation about Rabbit Ear Films and their latest film project, “Monadnock: The Mountain that Stands Alone” visit www.monadnockfilm.com.

Would you like your climb to the top of Mt. Monadnock immortalized on this page? Send your digital photo to editor@MonadnockSBJ.com. We look forward to seeing your “At the Top” photos!

Thomas Transportation Services, Inc. For Every Road You Travel Keene, NH 03431 603-352-5550 frank@thomastransportation.com www.thomastransportation.com

WRITING

TWP Marketing & Technical Communications Our Words Mean Business — ­ On the Web and in Print Peterborough, NH 603-924-0935 write@writeplus.com www.writeplus.com Learn how to get your business listed on this page. Contact info@MonadnockSBJ.com

Oct/Nov/Dec 2013

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Don’t miss this opportunity to

CONNECT with highly engaged area residents, community and business leaders, entrepreneurs, buy-local supporters, idea generators and change agents!

8th Annual CONNECT Event Wednesday October 30, 2013 5 - 8 pm Alyson’s Orchard Walpole

CONNECT is Hannah Grimes’ annual event celebrating the vibrant and valuable connections between business, the local economy and our community.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Tedd Benson of Bensonwood and Unity Homes.

Tedd is a well-respected entrepreneur and community leader with an inspiring message to share.

ENJOY ample networking time and amazing local food and drink. Cash bar. $30 per person or $215 per table of 8. Visit www.hannahgrimes.com or call 352-5063 for tickets and more information.

Be a part of a popular event that helps our community innovate, connect and thrive!

LEAD SPONSORS:

SPONSORS: AdviCoach • Bragdon, Dowd & Kossayda P.C. • The Green Up Girl • Hoeferweb IPG Employee Benefits • Peter Harris Creative • Savings Bank of Walpole John G. Burk and Associates • True North Networks • Wendy Pelletier, PLLC

KEY PARTNERS:

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Monadnock Small Business Journal