2022 New Hampshire 200

Page 1

NEW HAMPSHIRE 200

The Granite State’s Most Influential Business Leaders THE GRANITE STATE’S MOST INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS LEADERS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

2022 EDITION

NH BUSINESS REVIEW


There’s Only One Thing That’s Unique About Dianne Mercier.

Everything.

As an industry leader, Dianne consistently demonstrates unyielding commitment to her clients, to the community and to her team. There’s only one Dianne Mercier, and we couldn’t be more proud to have her leading our New Hampshire team. Congratulations on being part of the New Hampshire 200! At People’s United Bank we take pride in being leaders in the communities where we live and work. We value our customers and employees and encourage an environment of equality and inclusion. This includes having women in leadership, women working together and expanding opportunities for female employees and future leaders.

©2021 People’s United Bank, N.A. | Member FDIC |

Equal Housing Lender


CONTENTS

Ernesto Burden Vice President/Publisher eburden@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5117 Jeff Feingold Editor jfeingold@nhbr.com, ext. 5118 Amanda Andrews Associate Editor aandrews@nhbr.com, ext. 5158

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Bob Sanders Staff Writer bsanders@nhbr.com, ext. 5136 Mista McDonnell Business Manager mmcdonnell@nhbr.com, ext. 5114 Jodie Hall Creative Services Director jhall@nhbr.com, ext. 5122 Nancy Tichanuk Senior Graphic Designer ntichanuk@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5116 Robin Saling Graphic Artist rsaling@nhbr.com, ext. 5124

The Granite State’s Most Influential Business Leaders

Kimberly Lencki Advertising Sales Director klencki@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5154 Karen Bachelder Sales Executive kbachelder@nhbr.com, ext. 5148 Cynthia Stone Sales Executive cstone@nhbr.com, ext. 5146 Emily Samatis Event & Marketing Manager esamatis@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5125 Heather Rood Business and Sales Coordinator hrood@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5110 Morgen Connor Digital Media Specialist mconnor@mcleancommunications.com, ext. 5149 Brook Holmberg Vice President, Consumer Marketing brookh@yankeepub.com Sherin Pierce Vice President, Retail Sales sherinp@yankeepub.com

150 Dow St., Manchester, NH 03101 (603) 624-1442 • www.nhbr.com Subscription Information: (877) 494-2036 or customerservice@nhbr.com NHBR (USPS 413430) New Hampshire Business Review is published 12 times a year, monthly, with an additional issue in January and June, by McLean Communications, 150 Dow Street, Manchester, NH 03101. Periodical postage paid at Manchester, NH. Subscription rates: One year, $32, two years, $55, three years, $80. Single copy $1.75. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NHBR, PO Box 37900, Boone, IA 50037-0900. NHBR assumes no responsibility for typographical errors that do not materially affect the value of the advertisement. This publication’s liability for an error shall not exceed the cost of the space occupied by the error. (ISSN: 0164-8152)

Letter from the Editor . . . . .

2

Financial Services . . . . . . . . .

Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

Healthcare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

27

Index by Category. . . . . . . . . .6

Hospitality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

45

Index by Name . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8

Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

51

Architecture/Engineering/ Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Manufacturing. . . . . . . . . . . . .

59

Media/Marketing. . . . . . . . . .

63

Nonprofit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

67

Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

75

Retail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

79

Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

83

Business and Professional Services. . . . .

13

Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19

Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 1


LET TE R F RO M TH E E D ITO R

Much more than a list Welcome to the second edition of the New Hampshire 200, the only publication that spotlights the 200 most influential people in New Hampshire’s private sector. This is a highly selective guide featuring biographical information and candid reflections on a wide range of topics, from personal challenges they have faced and how they view the future of their organizations and their industries, to telling us about their “bucket list” and a “fun fact” about themselves that most people don’t know. The answers are, more often than no,t entertaining and insightful. The result is a personal, engaging look at the 200 most influential business leaders in New Hampshire. (Remember, the list is about the influence of people outside of government, although, this being New Hampshire, more than a few people listed are engaged in the worlds of politics and public policy.) This year’s list is different than the first one we published two years ago, reflecting the changes the state and all of us have gone through in the two years since we published the initial New Hampshire 200. For those who think there are people who should be on the list but aren’t, or just have an idea about New Hampshirites who should be included in the future, we welcome any and all suggestions, since, just like the nature of influence, the list will evolve over time. Please send me any suggestions when the inspiration hits you at editor@nhbr.com.

2 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Jeff Feingold Editor NH Business Review


Your goals are a big deal

TRUST THEM TO THE RIGHT TEAM

HOW CAN WE HELP YOUR BUSINESS TODAY?

MEET THE TEAM

Capital and Cash Management Solutions

(From Left to Right) TOP ROW Jeff Dewar, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager Brian Christensen, Commercial Portfolio Manager Stephen Lubelczyk, New England Regional President Michael Huot, Mortgage Originator Jay Hood, Senior Commercial Banking Relationship Manager Amanda Bruno, Branch Manager BOTTOM ROW Marilyn Charbonneau, Senior Business Banking Officer Tara Trafton, Regional Credit Officer Amy Taylor, Cash Management Sales Representative Connor Theroux, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager Brian Perkins, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager

Local Perspective and Decision Making Working toward reaching your goals is easier when you have the help of an experienced team. For more than 160 years, we’ve been there for our clients and customers, providing customized guidance and personal service to assist you in turning goals and dreams into realities. Start a conversation with one of our experienced, local professionals today and see why the right team matters.

For questions or more information, visit nbtbank.com/nh. Concord | Keene | Manchester | Nashua New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 3 FDIC Member


M ETH O DO LOGY

The New Hampshire 200: How they were selected When we decided to compile the New Hampshire 200 list of people with the greatest impact on the state’s economy, business climate and quality of life, we set about surveying dozens of people from every region of the state, asking them who they thought were the most influential people in their areas. We talked to heads of statewide, local and regional business, professional and economic development organizations — people who we suspected would end up being on the list themselves and others who know their community and leaders of statewide, local and regional nonprofits. We did set up some ground rules. First, we chose to avoid naming any elected officials. And we tried to avoid merely naming the CEO of a large company simply because of the firm’s revenue and number of employees. Longevity

and community involvement matters, but visibility doesn’t necessarily imply influence. We strived to include people who may not be so well known but who have real influence within their professions, industries and communities – not necessarily statewide influence but people who are making an important and lasting imprint where they live and work. In the end, NH Business Review’s editorial department is entirely responsible for the list published here. I’m sure that opinions about some of the selections will be different. So, if you feel that obvious choices were omitted, please let us know, as we prepare for future editions. We look forward to hearing from you. — Jeff Feingold, Editor

NEW HAMPSHIRE 4 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition



I N D E X B Y C AT E G O R Y ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING/ _______CONSTRUCTION_______ Barry Brensinger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Burke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dylan Cruess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa DeStefano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jonathan Halle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Todd Hanson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preston Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robin LeBlanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Josh McAllister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Mulleavey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rob Prunier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 12

BUSINESS AND ___PROFESSIONAL SERVICES___ Bruce Berke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Burnett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pubali Chakravorty-Campbell . . . . . Robert Chapman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lou Kaucic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cindy Khoury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jay Lucas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Genella McDonald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James McKim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tammy Michaud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Monahan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oreste Mosca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deo Mwano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deborah Osgood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russell Ouellette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen Reno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Rondeau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Skelton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14 14 14 14 15 15 15 15 16 16 16 16 17 17 17 17 18 18 18

________ EDUCATION________ Larissa Baia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loretta Brady. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paula Buley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Coughlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Decelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jada Hebra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lucy Hodder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Huard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lucille Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul LeBlanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neil Levesque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lowell “Chris” Matthews . . . . . . . . . Dottie Morris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20 20 20 20 21 21 22 22 22 23 23 24 24 24

__________ENERGY__________ Thomas Meissner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Wayne Presby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Dan Weeks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

6 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

_____FINANCIAL SERVICES_____ Howard Brodsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joseph Carelli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandy Cleary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ron Covey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melinda Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Talitha Franggos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Greiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Keefe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Lorden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Martore-Baker . . . . . . . . . . . . Marie McKay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dianne Mercier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Morrison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joseph Murray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deborah Novotny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alison Pyott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Sedoric. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ken Sheldon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gregg Tewksbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Latonya Wallace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chuck Withee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

28 28 28 28 29 29 30 30 30 30 32 32 32 32 33 33 34 34 34 34 35 35

________ HEALTHCARE________ Greg Baxter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Brewster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Broderick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Callahan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joanne Conroy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dwight Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa Guertin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Kacavas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russell Keene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heather Lavoie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kris McCracken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Peterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connie Roy-Czyzowski . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Vailas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Justine Vogel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

38 38 38 38 39 39 40 40 40 41 41 42 42 42 43 43

________HOSPITALITY________ Emshika Alberini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Boucher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Buckley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeff Cozzens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robb Curry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Duprey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Faro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Goodwin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amy LaBelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David McGrath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rusty McLear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jay McSharry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marty Parichand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Ramsey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Ray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

46 46 46 46 47 47 47 47 48 48 48 48 49 49 49

Scott Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kim Roy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Somers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corrine Rober . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

49 50 50 50 50

___________ LAW___________ William Ardinger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Camerino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bradford Cook. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Dustin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ovide Lamontagne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joel Maiola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Merrill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anu Mullikin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D. Michael Noonan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Parent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ari Pollock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Rath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Reidy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teresa Rosenberger . . . . . . . . . . . . . Talesha Saint-Marc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Shaheen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sherilyn Burnett Young. . . . . . . . . . .

52 52 52 52 53 53 54 54 54 54 55 55 55 56 56 56 57 57

______MANUFACTURING______ Mark Caswell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Garfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Greer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rebecca Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gary Hirshberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Morison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Schwerin-Whyte . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Taylor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Verney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Worthen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Val Zanchuk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

60 60 60 60 61 61 61 62 62 62 62

_____ MEDIA/MARKETING_____ Mary Jo Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Cookson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zachary Gregg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean Owen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EJ Powers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Spradling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Tranchemontagne . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Trowbridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

64 64 64 64 65 65 65 66 66

________ NONPROFIT________ Laurel Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Apfelberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maureen Beauregard . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Blonski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JerriAnne Boggis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eva Castillo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

68 68 68 68 69 69

Diane Fitzpatrick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yvonne Goldsberry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Natalie Jutras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MaryAnn Kristiansen . . . . . . . . . . . . Donnalee Lozeau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elissa Margolin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sharron McCarthy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Ober . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathleen Reardon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristi Scarpone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marty Sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ronelle Tshiela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patrick Tufts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

69 70 70 70 70 71 71 72 72 72 73 73 74 74

________ REAL ESTATE________ Dick Anagnost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Chinburg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Choate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dean Christon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ben Gamache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carmen Reed Lorentz. . . . . . . . . . . . Renee Plummer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Powell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Reed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Scanlon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arthur Sullivan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76 76 76 76 77 77 77 77 78 78 78

__________ RETAIL__________ Joe Bellavance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Crews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jameson French . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brendan Keegan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Koutsos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda Osmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Rodgers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

80 80 80 80 81 81 81

_______ TECHNOLOGY_______ Matt Albuquerque. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Barton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Craig Benson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Bollenbach . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew Boucher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gray Chynoweth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesse Devitte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phil Ferneau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Galvin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tillman Gerngross. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kedar Gupta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth Hitchcock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeremy Hitchcock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dean Kamen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melanie Levesque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Mailhot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jake Reder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Soggu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyle York. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

84 84 84 84 85 85 85 85 86 86 86 86 87 87 87 88 88 88 88


They say you are Influential. We say, You Inspire!

Ovide Lamontagne

Jim Merrill

Talesha Saint-Marc

Teresa Rhodes Rosenberger

Influence does not come solely from the professionalism by which you practice law, it is in everything you do to BE BETTER for those you serve in the community, government, schools, healthcare, and your neighborhoods. We applaud you for sharing your ideas, asking difficult questions, pushing boundaries and, most importantly, for being authentic and caring leaders.

Congratulations on being named among the NH 200!

bernsteinshur.com New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 7


I N D E X BY NAM E ____________ A____________ Laurel Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emshika Alberini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Albuquerque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dick Anagnost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Apfelberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Ardinger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

68 46 84 76 68 52

____________ B____________ Larissa Baia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Barton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greg Baxter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maureen Beauregard . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Bellavance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Craig Benson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bruce Berke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Blonski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JerriAnne Boggis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Bollenbach . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Boucher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew Boucher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Loretta Brady . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Brensinger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Brewster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Broderick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Howard Brodsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Jo Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Buckley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paula Buley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Burke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Burnett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20 84 38 68 80 84 14 68 69 84 46 85 20 10 38 38 28 64 46 20 10 14

____________ C_____________ Kevin Callahan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Camerino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joseph Carelli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eva Castillo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Caswell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pubali Chakravorty-Campbell . . . . . Robert Chapman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Chinburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Choate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dean Christon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gray Chynoweth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandy Cleary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joanne Conroy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bradford Cook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Cookson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Coughlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ron Covey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeff Cozzens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Crews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dylan Cruess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robb Curry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

38 52 28 69 60 14 14 76 76 76 85 28 39 52 64 20 28 46 80 10 47

____________ D____________ Melinda Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dwight Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Decelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

29 39 21 21

Lisa DeStefano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesse Devitte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Duprey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Dustin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10 85 47 52

Linda Lorden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carmen Reed Lorentz . . . . . . . . . . . . Donnalee Lozeau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jay Lucas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

30 77 70 15

_____________F_____________

____________ M____________

Joe Faro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phil Ferneau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diane Fitzpatrick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Talitha Franggos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jameson French . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Paul Mailhot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joel Maiola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elissa Margolin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Martore-Baker . . . . . . . . . . . . Lowell “Chris” Matthews . . . . . . . . . Josh McAllister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sharron McCarthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kris McCracken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Genella McDonald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David McGrath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marie McKay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James McKim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rusty McLear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jay McSharry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Meissner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dianne Mercier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Merrill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tammy Michaud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Monahan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Morison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dottie Morris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Morrison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oreste Mosca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Mulleavey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anu Mullikin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joseph Murray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deo Mwano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

47 85 69 29 80

____________ G____________ Mark Galvin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ben Gamache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Garfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tillman Gerngross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yvonne Goldsberry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Goodwin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Greer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zachary Gregg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Greiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa Guertin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kedar Gupta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

86 77 60 86 70 47 60 64 30 40 86

____________ H____________ Jonathan Halle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rebecca Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Todd Hanson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jada Hebra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gary Hirshberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth Hitchcock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeremy Hitchcock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lucy Hodder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Huard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preston Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11 60 11 22 61 86 87 22 22 11

_____________J_____________ Linda Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Lucille Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Natalie Jutras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

____________ K____________ John Kacavas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dean Kamen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lou Kaucic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Keefe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brendan Keegan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russell Keene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cindy Khoury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Koutsos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MaryAnn Kristiansen . . . . . . . . . . . .

40 87 15 30 80 40 15 81 70

_____________L_____________ Amy LaBelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ovide Lamontagne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heather Lavoie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robin LeBlanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul LeBlanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neil Levesque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melanie Levesque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

48 53 41 11 23 24 87

88 54 71 30 24 12 71 41 15 48 32 16 48 48 26 32 54 16 16 61 24 32 16 12 54 32 17

____________ N____________ D. Michael Noonan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Deborah Novotny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

____________ O____________ Richard Ober . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deborah Osgood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda Osmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russell Ouellette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean Owen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

72 17 81 17 64

____________ P_____________ Jennifer Parent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marty Parichand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Peterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Renee Plummer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ari Pollock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Powell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EJ Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wayne Presby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rob Prunier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alison Pyott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

55 49 42 77 55 77 65 26 12 33

____________ R____________ Peter Ramsey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Thomas Rath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Alex Ray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Kathleen Reardon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jake Reder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Reidy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen Reno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corrine Rober . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Rodgers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Rondeau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teresa Rosenberger . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kim Roy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connie Roy-Czyzowski . . . . . . . . . . .

72 88 78 56 17 49 50 81 18 56 50 42

_____________S_____________ Talesha Saint-Marc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Scanlon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristi Scarpone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Schwerin-Whyte . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Sedoric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Shaheen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ken Sheldon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marty Sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Skelton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Soggu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Somers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Spradling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arthur Sullivan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

56 78 72 61 34 57 34 18 73 18 50 88 50 65 34 78

_____________T_____________ Thomas Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gregg Tewksbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Tranchemontagne . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Trowbridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ronelle Tshiela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patrick Tufts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

62 34 65 66 73 74

____________ V____________ Nick Vailas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Richard Verney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Justine Vogel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

____________ W____________ Alex Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Latonya Wallace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Weeks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chuck Withee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Worthen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

43 35 26 66 74 35 62

____________ Y____________ Kyle York. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Sherilyn Burnett Young . . . . . . . . . . . 57

_____________Z_____________ Val Zanchuk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62


ARCHITECTURE/ ENGINEERING/ CONSTRUCTION


ARC H ITE CTU R E / E N G I N E E R I N G /CO N STR U CTI O N Barry Brensinger Design Principal Lavallee Brensinger Architects

Thomas W. Burke Jr. Quarry Operations Manager Burke Quarry

Education: Dartmouth College (BA), Harvard University (MA) Career history: Brensinger is a founding partner of Lavallee Brensinger Architects, with offices in Manchester, Boston and Portland. The firm is the recipient of more than 60 regional and national awards for design excellence. Most important business lesson: The decisions we make at the office have consequences that ripple through our world in ways unexpected — and they reflect our values and integrity. We all need to be more insightful and responsible for our impact on others and the planet. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Knowing so many kids and families in our community are really struggling, and processing what to do about it. What has you most excited about your industry? How our buildings are designed and built has a huge impact on resources and the wellness of our communities and planet. Architecture will play an increasingly pivotal role in our lives going forward. Industry advice: Our work is important and serious business, but you can’t do it well if you’re not having fun. Enjoy yourself while making a difference.

Education: Plymouth State University Career history: Burke first began working for Burke Quarry as a boy during summers and school vacations. After obtaining his degree in business management from Plymouth State and holding different roles thereafter, Burke ultimately became the operations manager of the company, taking the reins from his father, Thomas Burke Sr., and uncle Curt Burke, who both took over for their father, Gordon Burke. Now, they have expanded the family business with a state-of-the-art facility that supplies products like gravel, landscaping stones, stone siding, loam, sand and other recycled products to local construction sites for general contractors and homeowners.

Dylan Cruess Chief Operating Officer and Principal TFMoran

Lisa DeStefano Principal DeStefano Maugel Architects

Education: Bates College (BS) Career history: Cruess joined TFMoran in 2001 and worked in several capacities throughout the firm. In 2013, ownership of the company was transferred to four senior employees, Cruess included, and he took the helm as chief operating officer. In 2019, he completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. Industry advice: Be nimble. Be grateful. It’s very important to make a difference in the communities where you live and work. TFMoran has a long history of success because we know that our people are what make the company great — it is important to value everyone on your team! Hobby/passion: Living in New Hampshire is a privilege. I am an avid hiker, so I love heading up north to be in the mountains. I’ve hiked all of the 4,000-foot peaks and I have started a few other peak lists, such as the Terrifying 25!

10 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Education: Boston Architectural Center (BArch) Career history: Lisa is the principal of DeStefano Architects, now DeStefano Maugel Architects since a recent merger. She has been the recipient of many design and business awards throughout her 26 years of practicing architecture, including Top 40 under 40, the NH Business Review Business Excellence Award and one of the 2020 NHBR top 200 most influential business leaders. Her passion is taking her talents and abilities and using them to assist with needs in the community. What keeps you up at night? My “things to do” list can keep me up at night, and I prioritize the tasks to conquer and to quiet the brain at night. Most interesting book: “Three Cups of Tea.” A story that chronicles the human spirit and what it can accomplish. Hobby/passion: Family — by blood and chosen. Bucket list item: To live in Italy for an extended period. Industry advice: Surround yourself with experts: accountants, engineers, attorneys, general contractors and of course co-workers.


ARC H ITE CTU R E / E N G I N E E R I N G /CO N STR U CTI O N Jonathan Halle Principal Architect, Managing Member Warrenstreet Architects, Inc.

Todd Hanson Principal JSA Design

Education: Roger Williams University (BArch), Southern New Hampshire University (MS), Notre Dame University (Certificate in Negotiations and Mediation) Career history: A dual-licensed architect and landscape architect in New Hampshire, Halle is NCARB-certified with registrations in Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New York and Connecticut, and LEED BD+C and EDAC Certified. In 2008, he converted Warrenstreet Architect’s legal structure to that of an employee-owned cooperative to better represent the firm’s commitment to social responsibility, growth and diversity, and to preserve its legacy. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Material costs continue to rise, availability of resources continues to decline and building trades continue to struggle to find and maintain educated talent. Fear is often at the core of procrastination, and the emotions evoked by the pandemic have made the pushing of a project forward more difficult. Hobby/passion: Animals are a big part of my life. Our firm has worked with Pope Memorial SPCA, the Manchester Animal Shelter and the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, and I serve as board chair with the Animal Rescue League of NH. Industry advice: Compatibility starts with trust and is the most critical decision in making any project successful. Personal relationships and perceptions are everything in this industry, so choose your design partners carefully.

Education: Oklahoma State University (BS, MA) Career history: Hanson began his career in Dallas before discovering the incredible quality of life in New Hampshire. He joined JSA in 1987 and never looked back. The firm’s founders provided him with strong mentorship and role models. His primary focus and passion has been developing empathy for individuals with physical or emotional challenges and creating supportive environments that help them overcome their adversities. Then, a dozen years ago, Hanson was diagnosed with a rare degenerative neuromuscular disease. It ended his ability to speak and walk. Now, having walked in their shoes, his passion is spreading awareness for a more inclusive society. Most important business lesson: It’s essential to bring passion and empathy into everything we do. Care about every day’s tasks and put yourself in the shoes of everyone who experiences your product and your approach to life. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: The pandemic forced us to think outside of the box. My commute was measured in feet and not miles. We learned to connect and be efficient in ways we hadn’t thought possible. I’m the rare person who likes Zoom meetings. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I delivered newspapers in the predawn hours before school, bused tables, bagged groceries, worked on an oil tanker, slept in train stations across Europe and ran Boston Marathons. I miss running in the rain.

Preston Hunter Vice President Eckman Construction

Robin H. LeBlanc Former Executive Director Plan NH

Education: Bucknell University (BS) Career history: After joining Eckman Construction in 2005, Hunter spent three years working on Eckman job sites across the state and then another three years working with project managers and estimators in the Bedford office. He was promoted to director of business development in 2011 and then to vice president in 2014. Community involvement has always been important to Hunter. He is currently the chairman for the board of directors of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and a member of the board of directors of Amoskeag Industries. What excites you most about your industry? The career opportunities are endless. There is something for everyone in construction. I believe there will be a new generation of talented men and women who appreciate the pride that comes with building something with your own hands. Fun fact: After graduating from college, I was a carpenter in New Orleans for a summer before heading to Park City, Utah. On my way across Colorado, I received a call from a friend suggesting that I stop by Telluride on my way. I ended up staying for three years! Industry advice: Help spread the word about the great career opportunities in the trades. Construction is not a fallback; it’s a rewarding and lucrative profession.

Education: Ohio Wesleyan University (BA), Simmons University (MS), Southern New Hampshire University (MBA) Career history: Years of teaching and positions in sales and marketing led LeBlanc to Plan NH, which focuses on how community design and the built environment can contribute to healthy and vibrant communities. In addition, LeBlanc has been with Portsmouth Listens for several years, and is part of a cohort in the Leadership Learning Exchange for Equity. She sits on AARP NH’s Executive Council and AIA-NH Forum’s editorial board. In 2019, she was recognized by the NH Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for her work. In 2022, she will step down from Plan NH and offer facilitation and consulting services to organizations of all sizes. Most important business lesson: Being an effective leader is not about power, authority and control. It’s about guiding those you work with, listening to their ideas, and helping them grow, so the organization can thrive. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Communities, and the planners and designers who shape them, are now recognizing that decisions don’t just have an economic impact but social and environmental as well. Plan NH can continue to provide information and inspiration to keep these positive. As for my future, I will guide organizations to discover new possibilities for themselves and the people they serve.

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 11


ARC H ITE CTU R E / E N G I N E E R I N G /CO N STR U CTI O N Joshua McAllister Vice-President, Lead Civil Engineer HEB Engineers, Inc.

Christopher Mulleavey President and CEO Hoyle Tanner

Education: Clarkson University (BS) Plymouth State University (MBA) Career history: McAllister began his career in early 2003 with Bohler Engineering in Sterling, Va. He returned home to the Mt. Washington Valley in 2004 to begin a career with HEB as a junior engineer. In 2008, he participated in ownership transition of the company and is now one of three private shareholders. During this ownership transition, McAllister moved into the role as vice president and the lead civil engineer, managing a group of eight civil engineers and technicians. Most important business lesson: In his book “Good to Great,” Jim Collins references hiring as “getting the right people on the bus.” Hire talented people for your company whether there is an obvious fit or not, then figure out where that person sits. What keeps you up at night? Creating opportunity for our talented young professionals. Ensuring available growth opportunities exist within our small company to allow our people to progress through their careers at their own pace. Industry advice: Develop a strategy within your business to identify and develop young professionals from New Hampshire. Get into the local schools (high school and colleges) to recruit locally. The exodus of young professionals out of the Granite State does not need to happen.

For over 53 years TFMoran’s Leaders have proudly served

the New Hampshire Communities where we live and work.

Congratulations to

Dylan Cruess!

Chief Operating Officer/Principal

TFMoran, Inc.

tfmoran.com

Bedford & Portsmouth, New Hampshire 12 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Career history: Mulleavey started as a land surveyor for CLD in Manchester in 1988. He earned his degree in engineering in 1992, graduated in 1994 and began work for the engineering firm of Earth Tech in its Bedford office. After several years he went to Dubois & King Engineering in Nashua, and in 1998 was hired by Hoyle Tanner in Manchester, where he’s been for the past 23 years. He took over as president and CEO in 2013. Most important business lesson: To be a good listener, be willing to make the hard decisions, and to trust your instincts and the people that you have surrounded yourself with. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Our employees went above and beyond and transitioned seamlessly to a remote work environment. We created opportunities by embarking on a strategic planning initiative and a company rebranding effort during the pandemic, so that when the pandemic ended we are well positioned in the marketplace. What keeps you up at night? Making sure we can continue to grow our company to provide opportunities for our employees to continue to challenge themselves and grow within the company. Industry advice: Put on your seat belt — the way we used to do business has changed, and you must be able to see opportunities to adapt and thrive.

Rob Prunier Principal, Executive Vice President Harvey Construction Corp. Education: Bates College (BS) Career history: After graduating from Bates, Prunier went to work for his uncle’s masonry contracting business in central Massachusetts. His career shifted to business development when John Stabile offered him a job with the commercial division of the Stabile Companies. Prunier helped unite The Stabile Companies with Gilbane Building Company in 1993, and he worked for Gilbane until 2002, when he began his career with Harvey. Today, he is Harvey’s principal and executive vice president. He focuses on Harvey’s day-to-day business operations, initiating new business opportunities, establishing the company’s strategic direction and maintaining its leadership position in the industry. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Keeping the network alive. I like socializing. I missed seeing people face to face, laughing, discussing business opportunities and enjoying each other’s company. But I also understood the need to keep people safe and healthy. It was a dilemma. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I have attended 100 lacrosse games a year for the past 15 years, but I never played the game. When I am not watching lacrosse, I enjoy landscaping and gardening. I started landscaping at 13 years old and still love a deep edge and the smell of mulch.


BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES


BUSIN ESS AN D PROFESSIONAL SE RVIC ES Bruce Berke President and Managing Partner Sheehan Phinney Capitol Group

Jamie Burnett President and Founder Sight Line Public Affairs

Education: New England College (BA), Franklin Pierce Law Center/UNH Law (JD) Career history: Starting in 1979 with a variety of internships and then having his first real job as legislative assistant to the New Hampshire House Majority Leader, Berke has always had the New Hampshire State House as the focal point of his career. After a two-year hitch with the BIA, he opened his own government relations firm in 1991, and then, through a joint effort with the Sheehan Phinney law firm, created Sheehan Phinney Capitol Group in 2001. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? After 30-plus years in government relations, what still excites me is the opportunity to bring our clients and elected officials together to enhance our state’s economic climate, so that businesses may responsibly operate and thrive more successfully in the Granite State. The bottom line? When you can influence policy in Concord that leads to responsible economic growth and job creation, you have had a good day!

Education: University of New Hampshire (BA, MPA, MAT) Career history: Burnett founded and has managed a successful public affairs consulting practice since 2009, specializing in government relations, strategic partnerships and reputation and political risk management. He previously served as legislative director to U.S. Senator John E. Sununu and as legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Judd Gregg in Washington, D.C., and he has advised political candidates for Congress, Senate, governor and president, including Mitt Romney. Following the 2016 election, Burnett co-directed the transition for Governor-elect Chris Sununu. Burnett has served on numerous nonprofit and civic boards, including as chair of Amoskeag Health. Today, he is a trustee and vice chair of the University System of NH. Industry advice: Kindness matters. Integrity matters. Quality is always more important than quantity: quality of your work, your clients and your relationships. If you surround yourself with good people and focus on doing good things, it will all come together nicely in the end. What keeps you up at night? The loss of civility in America. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I make awesome mixtapes, and I worked at Water Country for eight summers in high school and college. Bucket list item: NHBR’s 200 list. Nailed it.

Pubali Chakravorty-Campbell Chief Human Resources Officer Granite Recovery Centers

Robert Chapman President Chapman Scrap Metal Recycling & Demolition

Education: Boston University (BA), Southern New Hampshire University (MBA) Career history: Pubali took the path less traveled, and she says it made all the difference. With a rich and diverse 20-plusyear career grounded as an entrepreneur, business operator and human capital manager, the fact she did not have a linear path is her greatest accomplishment. Choosing to join a global family business then starting her own company at an extremely young age led to establishing herself as a reputable workforce development operator and strategist, resulting in a highly successful transition into a consultancy, which led to her beloved current position as a healthcare CHRO for Granite Recovery Centers. Most important business lesson: The most important time to push, grow, expand, market, sell and compete is when business is booming. Of course, it is important to celebrate the wins and acknowledge successes, but not at the expense of losing momentum and letting competitors gain traction. Bucket list item: A learning trip around the world living and learning global human capital management: 12 months, 12 countries, 12 companies, 12 mentors. While I’m not working and studying, I’m drinking in the culture, people, food and life in places I have never been. P.S. Not doing this trip alone ... Life is more fun with a partner.

14 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Education: Telstar School, plus over 40 years of hands-on training, which continues every day. Career history: Chapman began working in the scrap metal industry as a teenager with his father. Over four decades later, he’s been able to continue to grow it into a family business, expanding into the hauling division. What has you excited about your company’s future? I have been able to bring my sons into the business and work with them. Now I see my grandchildren showing interest in the business — potentially another generation in the business — and that feels good. What keeps you up at night? Access to workforce. Our skilled labor pool is aging, and as they retire, I fear the next generation will not be available. We need to work together to provide opportunities and resources to the younger generation so they stay and work within the state long term. Industry advice: The metal markets are constantly changing and are not predictable. Pay attention to triggers and learn how the markets respond to them. Accept that your strategy today might not work tomorrow, so be prepared and be ready to adapt.


BUSI N ESS AN D PROFESSIONAL SE RVIC ES Lou Kaucic Founder & CEO Coaches Collective International

Cindy Khoury Blogger See Beauty in Everyone

Education: John Carroll University (BA), Cleveland Institute of Art Career history: Kaucic empowers individuals from all walks of life to shatter self-limiting beliefs in order to define and achieve personal greatness. Imaginative, yet grounded, thinking has fueled his work to help organizations transform their approach to human resources, something he accomplished as chief people officer at Applebee’s International, the world’s largest casual-dining concept. Today, Kaucic leads Coaches Collective International and shares his experience and expertise through several for-profit and nonprofit boards, including Canterbury Shaker Village and Child & Family Services of NH. With a passionate belief in the importance of balance in life, he serves as a trusted, results-oriented resource to C-suite executives; mentors felons in the New Hampshire state prison system; and coaches a diverse array of clients. He is a graduate of the Coach Certification Program at Hudson Institute of Coaching in Santa Barbara, Calif., and his extensive studies have included coursework at the Coaches Training Institute, the Hoffman Institute and the Gestalt Institute. Hobby/passion: My two beloved Corgis, eclectic jazz and chill music, walking in New Hampshire woods and on frozen lakes, international travel on and off the beaten track, “Catan” and “Ticket to Ride India” board games, great documentaries, art museums, Miles Davis with a good cabernet, and Brene Brown.

Education: Middlesex Community College (AS) Career history: U.S. Air Force active duty and National Guard service member at Malmstrom AFB and Otis ANG; co-owner/ operator of Khoury’s Karate Academy; dental hygienist in the U.S. Coast Guard and at private practices in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Virginia and Georgia as her family relocated; Les Mills, YogaFit and ACE-certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor at national facilities for Gold’s Gym, YMCA and military fitness facilities; and real estate agent with Keller Williams. Currently, she’s the property manager of Cindy Khoury Properties, LLC and is a blogger and nano-influencer at SeeBeautyinEveryone.com. She’s also a contributing writer for Seacoast Moms and is co-leader of Women’s Business League Exeter Chapter. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: In addition to fear of the illness itself, I felt sad and hurt that people asked if we had Covid-19 and treated us rudely or were scared to be near us because we are Asian. It made my fear of contracting the virus even bigger, because I was afraid we would be ostracized. What would people be surprised to learn about you? That my eyebrows have had a lifetime of their own. They have accidentally taken on more shapes and facial expressions than publicly permissible, so they are retiring from active duty.

Jay Lucas Chairman The Lucas Group

Genella McDonald President Stibler Associates, LLC

Education: Yale University (BA), Harvard Business School (MBA), Harvard Law School (JD) Career history: Lucas was one of the early partners at Bain & Company. As an entrepreneur, he later founded The Lucas Group, a strategy consulting firm working with private equity investors and growing companies. Most recently, he founded LB Equity, investing capital and helping entrepreneurs grow businesses in the wellness, beauty and personal care space. What has you most excited about your company’s future? We love to invest and work with entrepreneurs who are building companies with a purpose, a positive mission not only to create value but also to have a positive social impact, perhaps broadly defined, with an emphasis on sustainability and encouraging personal growth. Industry advice: Focus on the customer. Over-deliver, over-satisfy. Focus on excellence. Hobby/passion: The Sunshine Initiative. Together with my wife, Karen, we help to revitalize our wonderful small towns and communities — starting in my hometown of Newport, then expanding to other towns throughout New Hampshire and ultimately across our great nation. Most important business lesson: Patience, listening and positive energy. With a positive “can-do” approach, there is no such thing as a problem that cannot be solved.

Education: Hamilton College (BA), Suffolk University (MA) Career history: As president of Stibler Associates, McDonald leads one of the nation’s outstanding design firms. Handling projects for the corporate, healthcare, hospitality and education sectors, Stibler Associates has a 39-year history of award-winning, signature projects in New England and beyond. A native of New Hampshire, McDonald has studied art and design in Boston and Paris. She has a distinguished record of civic and professional involvement and exhibits a long-term commitment to the creative economy and the positive impact that design excellence has upon our communities. Most important business lesson: Always assume goodwill. Our founder, Phyllis Stibler, lived this mantra, and we keep it alive and well at Stibler Associates. What keeps you up at night? Climate change. The interior design profession plays an important role in supporting sustainability, but it is past time for everyone to come together and make big and important changes in support of our planet. Industry advice: I know I’ve said this before, but collaboration is critical! It is not just a buzzword but a real and tangible practice. We work closely as a team in our office, with our clients and with our many project partners. New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 15


BUSIN ESS AN D PROFESSIONAL SE RVIC ES James McKim Managing Partner Organizational Ignition

Tammy Michaud Principal BerryDunn

Education: Dartmouth College (AB) Career history: McKim helps organizations achieve their peak performance through the alignment of people, business processes and technology. He is recognized as a thought leader in organizational performance, the use of neuroscience and program management. He has led organizations such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise, FIRST, Hawkeye Data LLC and Digital Equipment Corp. to deliver award-winning product launch and performance enhancement solutions that increased company efficiency and revenues. He has also played an active role in shaping public policy affecting the manufacturing, healthcare and technology industries, having served on several boards, including the Software Association of New Hampshire, NH PBS, Economic Vitality NH and the Manchester NAACP. Industry advice: If you are a small to medium-sized organization that can’t reach your goals or have projects in jeopardy, the team at Organizational Ignition can help. We are experts who identify the problems you are facing and cost-effectively remove roadblocks to your success. What keeps you up at night? Discrimination against people of color. At Manchester NAACP, we don’t advocate through partisan politics, but by calling out injustice, by speaking truth to authorities and those in power in the public and private sectors, and by providing connections to resources and expert advice that help people of color live their lives to the fullest.

Education: University of Southern Maine (BS) Career history: Michaud provides audit and consulting services in the nonprofit, healthcare and affordable housing industries. She started her career with BerryDunn 34 years ago as a staff accountant in the Bangor, Maine, office, and transferred to the Manchester, NH, office 16 years ago. She leads the firm’s nonprofit practice and is co-lead of the Home Health and Hospice practice. She currently serves on BerryDunn’s Board of Directors. Her commitment to serving nonprofits has led her to participate on several nonprofit boards throughout her career. What has you most excited about your company’s future? BerryDunn’s commitment to offering complimentary, value-added services in the industries we serve. We have an incredibly innovative team that understands what our clients need beyond tax and audit services. This couldn’t be done without our learning and development culture that is focused on inspiring and helping our employees and clients grow. Truly amazing! Hobby/passion: Traveling that includes a balance of adventure, culture and at least one thing outside my comfort zone. Industry advice: Be curious. Embrace lifelong learning. Practice your social skills. Respect everyone. Work hard. Be nice to people. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

James “Jim” Monahan President The Dupont Group

Oreste “Rusty” Mosca Managing Director Nathan Wechsler & Company PA

Education: Rhode Island College (BA) Career history: For the past 28 years, Monahan has worked with the Dupont Group, a Concord, NH-based public affairs firm. He began as an associate in 1993 and advanced to vice president before acquiring the company from its founder, Ed Dupont, in 2016, upon retirement. Monahan founded the firm’s public relations division, White Birch Communications Group, and focuses on areas including energy, healthcare and transportation. He advocates on public policy matters before the NH legislature, state agencies and the executive branch of state government, as well as some work with the federal government. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Applications of new technologies during the pandemic will certainly alter many aspects of the government affairs and communications industry. New Hampshire has the potential to build a super broadband infrastructure, which could be used to address major policy challenges including workforce, healthcare and the work-life balance. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: The apparatus of government transformed during the pandemic. New formal and informal methods of policy development as well as major relief programs emerged. Rapidly understanding these changes and crafting new advocacy methods proved to be a necessary but complex challenge during the pandemic. Hobby/passion: I’m an endurance athlete and I train and compete in longcourse Ironman Triathlons.

Education: University of New Hampshire (BS) Career history: Mosca has worked as a CPA since 1985 in the public space, with three years at Deloitte, Haskins & Sells (Big 8), and then for over 30 years at Nathan Wechsler and Co. He became managing director of the firm in 2014, and still holds the position to this day. Mosca is proud to have served in officer positions on various boards, including as the current chair of Leadership NH. Industry advice: This is an industry that offers great careers if you are willing to be always challenged, constantly learning, not afraid to make mistakes and happy to talk in public. This is a great job! Plus, you get to work with amazing, entrepreneurial clients. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? The young leadership and the industry moving to more consulting roles as opposed to the traditional CPA roles firms have had in the past. What keeps you up at night? Workforce and people choosing other professions. Most important business lesson: Talk less, listen more. Work hard and make no excuses. Enjoy what you do and be humble. Bucket list item: Visit every major sports’ baseball and hockey stadiums.

16 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


BUSI N ESS AN D PROFESSIONAL SE RVIC ES Deogratias “Deo” Mwano Owner/Principal Deo Mwano Consultancy LLC

Deborah “Dr. Deb” Osgood CEO Osgood and Associates, Inc.

Education: New England College (MBA, BA) Career history: In the midst of working at the State Department and a couple of tech startups, Mwano was always involved with his community, volunteering and partnering with different organizations, focusing on underserved communities with issues related to refugees, housing and social justice. He brought people together to talk about issues that divided us, using his coaching skills to facilitate the conversations. He started his own business encouraging organizations to maximize their positive impact internally and externally through organizational culture/alignment and DEI initiatives. Today, his consultancy firm offers multi-discipline services including speaking, training, creating engaging content, leading workshops and integrating performance and visual arts into schools. What keeps you up at night? Knowing that many people hide their true self because of the environment their employers create (intentionally or unintentionally). We are not showing up with our authentic self and missing the opportunity to learn about what makes us all unique. We are becoming more and more artificial in our engagement and drawing further apart. Industry advice: Don’t minimize people’s experiences. Honor them and their stories. Take the time to listen without interjecting your thoughts or experiences. Don’t be afraid to confront the negative perspectives/behaviors that make the culture of certain businesses.

Education: Franklin Pierce University (Ph.D.), Southern NH University (MBA), New Hampshire College (BS) Career history: Osgood specializes in entrepreneurship, helping thousands of individuals to start, grow and succeed in business across the U.S. and in select underdeveloped countries through her books, online resource communities, training programs, workshops, success coaching, radio programs and public speaking. IBM refers to her as the “Oprah of small business development.” Her training programs have been applied by academic institutions and workforce and economic development agencies to assist marginalized populations in creating their own jobs through self-employment. What excites you about your industry’s future? The continued transformation in how business and individuals view work, which is driving new and innovative ways for creating our own jobs through independent contracting and related entrepreneurial opportunities. Our company is helping more individuals to choose where and when they work and how much they get paid, so they can enjoy prosperity and quality of life versus one at the expense of the other. What keeps you up at night? The level of fear that exists across the globe today and how to counter it by empowering more individuals to take a leadership role in their lives and work. Fun fact: I love new adventures, including zip-lining across a waterfall in Canada, galloping through the Australian rainforest in the pitch black on horseback (horses can see in the dark), and running the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C.

Russ Ouellette President/CEO Sojourn Partners

Stephen “Steve” Reno Executive Director Leadership New Hampshire

Education: Plymouth State University (BS), Southern New Hampshire University (MBA), School of Advanced Studies at University of Phoenix (DBA) Career history: Ouellette began his career in paper industry manufacturing and advanced to executive management in finance at Raytheon’s headquarters. He later transitioned to a senior organizational development role for 4,000 people worldwide that quickly became a passion. From a perspective of organizational development, he was self-taught until he completed a doctorate in leadership and a coaching certificate from Coaches Training Institute. Sojourn Partners launched in 1999, delivering unique human dynamic coaching across every industry and level. What has you most excited about your company’s future? The pandemic accelerated Sojourn’s impact and created a clear understanding of the importance of organizational development, culture and relational coaching. Humans can create cultures that are productive while supporting everyone’s well-being. What keeps you up at night? I’m concerned about the effects of division and tribalism. To me, it emphasizes how far we still need to go. Industry advice: The power that professional coaches and practitioners have is immense and can change the world. We need to move this work forward to reach as many upcoming leaders as possible to have a deep societal impact.

Education: St. John’s College (BA), University of California Santa Barbara (MA), University of California Santa Barbara (Ph.D.) Career history: Teaching and administration, University of Leicester (UK), 1970–1979; visiting scholar, Harvard University Center for the Study of World Religions, 1979–1980; associate provost/interim dean of College of Arts and Science, University of Southern Maine, 1980–1989; provost, then president, Southern Oregon University, 1989–2000; chancellor, University System of New Hampshire, 2000–2009; fellow, Harvard Center for the Study of World Religions, 2009–2010; executive director, Leadership New Hampshire, 2010–present. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? The health of a society rests upon the education of its people (at all levels and at all ages). But it’s not simply the acquisition of knowledge that is needed; it is also the development of a sense of responsibility for one’s community that is critical. Fun fact: I am a recent co-author (with our grandson’s other grandfather) of a children’s book, “Araf the Giraffe.” Industry advice: Never lose sight of an educator’s responsibility not just to teach but also to teach by good example. Favorite part of living in New Hampshire: The size of our state, the ease with which we can get around, and the natural beauty that is ours to enjoy but also to protect. I also love the many friendships and professional associations that have become mine through living in New Hampshire. New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 17


BUSIN ESS AN D PROFESSIONAL SE RVIC ES Chris Rondeau CEO Planet Fitness Education: University of New Hampshire (AS) Career history: In college, Rondeau was hired to work the front desk at the first Planet Fitness location in Dover. Throughout the years, he played a critical role in developing and refining the unique business model that revolutionized the fitness industry, working his way up through the ranks to CEO. Under his leadership, Planet Fitness entered the public markets and has experienced tremendous growth. Today, it’s a franchising powerhouse with over 14.8 million members and 2,100+ stores. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: I felt it was our responsibility to keep our community moving during the pandemic. When our locations closed, we launched a series of free, live, daily workouts that united millions of people, helping to maintain their physical and mental well-being. Our challenge continues to be reinforcing the critical importance of exercise. What has you most excited about in your industry’s future: That future has to be a “bricks with clicks” strategy. This combination of a high-quality, in-person fitness experience with online content, is necessary to engage and service members moving forward. We’re a purpose-led brand with health at the heart of who we are. Industry advice: Lead with the future member in mind. We need to make fitness accessible and unintimidating — help people want to get active and stay active for their long-term health.

Congratulations Talitha Franggos, from the rest of the team at Cross Insurance, on being named one of New Hampshire's Top 200 Influencers! Cross Insurance is a family owned insurance agency with over 50 branches throughout the Northeast. With over 1,000 employees and counting, our friendly and knowledgeable team is ready and capable to provide insurance solutions to fit your unique situation.

www.crossagency.com 110 Elm St., Manchester, NH 03101 800.969.3218 18 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Timothy Sink President Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Education: Notre Dame College (BM), Institute for Organizational Management, University of Colorado Career history: During his first chamber of commerce job in Manchester, Sink was able to double the size of membership. In concert with his team in Concord, he has built the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce into the largest chamber in New Hampshire, measured by the number of dues-paying members. Most important business lesson: We are in the people business, and providing outstanding customer service is crucial. Membership in the Chamber is voluntary. We have to prove ourselves to our members every day. Industry advice: Stay connected to other chambers of commerce throughout the region and the country. Foster closer working relationships with your peers. Chambers are constantly coming up with innovative ways to serve their members and communities. There is so much we can learn from one another, and there are state and regional chamber executive organizations that make this possible. Use them! What would people be surprised to learn about you? I’m the 11th in a family of 12 kids, only two of whom are New Hampshire natives. Hobby/passion: I play tenor sax and flute in two different jazz bands: The Tall Granite Big Band and The Jazz Dogs.

Michael Skelton President and CEO Greater Manchester Chamber Education: Saint Anselm College (BA) Career history: Skelton currently serves as president and CEO of the Greater Manchester Chamber, a position he’s held for the past seven years. The GMC is New Hampshire’s largest business advocacy organization, representing nearly 800 businesses across Southern New Hampshire. He previously served as media spokesperson for Public Service of New Hampshire (now Eversource), the state’s largest electric utility, where he was responsible for representing the company in front of local, state and national media. Prior to joining PSNH, he served as vice president of economic development and advocacy for the GMC. He is a past member of the Board of Directors and former co-chair of Stay Work Play-NH, a member of the Board of Directors of Amoskeag Industries, a member of the Board of Trustees of Manchester’s Palace Theatre, and was appointed by Governor Sununu to serve as a board member for the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority.


EDUCATION


E D U C AT I O N Larissa Baia President Lakes Region Community College Education: University of Florida (MA, PhD), Brandeis University (BScEcon) Career history: Baia began her professional career as adjunct faculty in politics at Lynn University and later moved into higher education administration in enrollment management and student affairs. She began her work in community colleges at Manchester Community College in 2008 as associate vice president of enrollment management, moving to Lakes Region Community College in 2012. Baia become president of LRCC in 2018 after serving as interim president for one year. Most important business lesson: Be willing/open to explore unexpected possibilities. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Higher education inherently is a space for learning and innovation and that is incredibly energizing. What keeps you up at night? Not being able to reach the thousands of students whose lives could be transformed through higher education. Interesting book: “In the Name of Salomé” by Julia Alvarez Industry advice: The public higher education sector can be more effective and impactful if we work collaboratively to address the current and future needs of the workforce and eliminate historical inequities that continue to plague our communities.

Sister Paula Marie Buley President Rivier University Education: Villanova University (MBA), Georgetown University (MA), University of Pennsylvania (EdD) Career history: Prior to coming to Rivier University, Sister Buley served as executive vice president for administration at Seton Hall University, executive vice president and treasurer at Mount St. Mary University and vice president for finance at Immaculata University. Most important business lesson: Be prepared. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? The impact of technology on teaching and learning. Fun fact: I was a lifeguard and taught swimming. Interesting book: “A History of American Higher Education” by John Thelin Industry advice: I believe that higher education is still part of the American dream and that colleges and universities have to continue messaging that their work has deep impact in developing future leaders, not only as members of a workforce but also as citizens who actively participate in democracy. Favorite part of living in New Hampshire: The greater Nashua region has wonderful recreation, transportation and retail resources that can engage every family.

20 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Loretta L.C. Brady Professor of Psychology at Saint Anselm College Director at Community Resilience and Social Equity Lab Education: Saint Anselm College, (BA, MA, PhD), Fordham University (GSAS) Career history: Dr. Brady’s career spans many different roles, including a web designer, retail customer service rep, nurse’s aid, group home clinician, organizational trainer, clinical director, addiction therapist, pain psychologist, mediator, entrepreneur, project manager, professor, writer and therapist. As a licensed clinical psychologist and professor, her work has focused on developing culturally responsive and socially equitable interventions and programs with marginalized communities. She works on cultivating workforce expertise in DEIB and applying evidence-based models of accessible mental and behavioral health resources for corporations and communities. Most important business lesson: Your well-being is your most valuable and finite resource. Steward it and nurture a healthy respect for limits — your own and other people’s. Bucket list item: I hope my students thrive in building their careers and lives. I hope to positively serve on a corporate board to support community resilience and social equity. Industry advice: Lead as though you understand how vital individual sustainability is to cultivating what is required for organizational sustainability. Fostering the fire in others while helping them learn to balance the burn is a key to helping you and your team grow.

Jamie Coughlin Director Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship at Dartmouth Education: Princeton University (BA) Career history: Jamie is the founding director of Dartmouth’s internationally awarded Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship, where he helped build, launch and financially endow its entrepreneurial program and center for students, faculty, staff and alumni. What has you most excited about your company’s future? We’re living in an entrepreneurial renaissance, where access to tools, talent, markets and customers are more readily available than ever before. What is so exciting about my work and the Dartmouth opportunity, is the impact we have had and will have on generations of students and faculty who are building new ventures that will touch the world. Fun fact: I had the privilege of inheriting my father’s and grandfather’s name, as James Earl Martin Coughlin III. Subsequently, I’ve had the honor of bestowing that upon my second child, my son, the next in line, who takes the name James the IV. The torch has been passed. Industry advice: Entrepreneurship and building entrepreneurial communities require patience, grit and many helping hands. Overnight successes that end up in the headlines are oftentimes masked by a 10- to 15-year reality, in which the entrepreneur is quietly building and grinding away. Be patient, build what people need and enjoy the process.


E D U C AT I O N James W. Dean Jr. President University of New Hampshire Education: Catholic University of America (BA), Carnegie Mellon University (MS, PhD) Career history: Dean has ties to UNC Chapel Hill, with previous experience as an associate professor of management, the dean of Kenan-Flagler Business School, and the executive vice chancellor and provost, a role he stepped into in 2013. He was appointed as the president of UNH in 2018, and is an ex officio member of the USNH Board of Trustees. Most important business lesson: Make sure that your organization has a clear strategic vision and that you have a strong team surrounding you. What has you most excited about your organization’s future? I am excited about our progress toward UNH’s strategy to be among the top 25 public universities in the nation in the most important measures of success. Industry advice: Stay focused on your primary strategy, while understanding that the higher education landscape is undergoing dynamic changes and challenges that require strategic planning and action. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I am a dedicated clarinetist and enjoy performing with UNH students and faculty on occasion, including at UNH hockey games. Hobby/passion: I am an avid cyclist and enjoy riding along The Great Bay and throughout the Seacoast.

“Find a job that you love so much that you can fully integrate it into your professional and personal life.” — Michael Decelle, Dean, University of New Hampshire, Manchester

Michael Decelle Dean University of New Hampshire, Manchester Education: University of New Hampshire (BS), Cornell University (MEng) Career history: Decelle’s career has been in three separate acts: first joining AT&T Bell Laboratories after graduating from UNH and working as a design engineer for almost 10 years, then advancing through the ranks to lead a number of global organizations. Next was leaving the big company world to work at a series of venture-funded tech startup companies, five of which he led as president and CEO. Finally, he joined UNH as the dean at Manchester, where he has been for five-and-a-half years. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I was a very competitive skier during my high school years here in New Hampshire. In my senior year, I was the top-ranked all-around skier in both alpine and Nordic. Industry advice: Find a job that you love so much that you can fully integrate it into your professional and personal life. Work takes so much time out of your week that work-life balance is almost a quaint concept. Do something you would want to do even if you were not being paid to do it and don’t sweat those days or weeks when you need to dedicate your time to family and friends. Work should be fulfilling, not a chore.

“Nashua Community College recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, and continues to deliver innovative academic programs, career training and support to the Greater Nashua Community. I’m proud to be part of this legacy as college president for the past 25 years” - Lucille Jordan With more than 50 associate degree, certificate, and career training programs; NCC can prepare students of all ages to enter the workforce or to continue their education in a bachelor’s program and beyond. •

• • •

Flexible day, evening, weekend & online class schedule Transferable credits Strong industry ties Vibrant Student Life

• •

Tutoring services Dual enrollment pathways for high school students such as Running Start & Early College

505 Amherst St. | Nashua, NH 03063 | nashuacc.edu | 603.578.8908

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 21


E D U C AT I O N Jada Hebra Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Southern NH University Education: Vassar College (BA), Columbia University Journalism School (MS), Southern New Hampshire University (MS) Career history: Hebra began her career with a quest to change the world at ABC News in NYC, but soon realized that mainstream broadcast media was not the best way to have social impact. Working on the education beat for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings inspired her to leave broadcast journalism for education in the private secondary industry in New Hampshire, most recently at SNHU — a school that works to upend the systemic inequities that perpetuate intergenerational wealth and education gaps. Most important business lesson: Rules without relationship breeds rebellion. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Higher education has the power to radically change people’s lives for the better and have an impact on the health of our democracy. That’s incredibly exciting to me. What would people be surprised to learn about you? My fondest lifetime memories will include singing with Dan Zanes at his annual benefit concerts in Concord to raise money for his mother’s Friendly Kitchen. Industry advice: Design at the margins, not for the average, and everybody will win.

Lucy Hodder Professor of Law, Directory of Health Law and Policy UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law and Institute for Health Policy and Practice Education: Princeton University (BA), Georgetown University Law Center (JD) Career history: Hodder began her legal career at the San Francisco law firm of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison. In 1993, she moved to New Hampshire and served as an assistant attorney general in the Civil Bureau of the NH DOJ, with a focus on health and human services. She joined Rath, Young and Pignatelli in 1998 during a transformative time in healthcare, where she helped build and chair the Healthcare Practice Group. She served as Gov. Maggie Hassan’s legal counsel and senior health policy advisor as the state implemented the Affordable Care Act, then transitioned to teach as a professor and serve as the director of health law and policy at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law and the Institute for Health Policy and Practice. What keeps you up at night? Our healthcare system has become a rapidly expanding industrial complex that needs a new direction — a real challenge! What would people be surprised to know about you? I finished hiking New Hampshire’s 48 4,000-footers this summer and one of my favorites was actually Owl’s Head Mountain! Hobby/passion: On a gloomy day, making a perfect sourdough bread. On a nice day, any outdoor adventure in New Hampshire.

22 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

“Higher education has the power to radically change people’s lives for the better and have an impact on the health of our democracy.” — Jada Hebra, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Southern NH University

Susan Huard Interim Chancellor Community College System of New Hampshire Education: Framingham State University (BA), University of Connecticut (MA, PhD) Career history: Most of Huard’s career has been in education, with some brief stints in retail and manufacturing. She has also taught English, reading, French and geography in grades 7-12. She discovered community colleges decades ago and has been a faculty member, department chair, division director and dean in New York and New England. As president of Manchester Community College, she oversaw renovations and the construction of a new building that made the college the vibrant place it is today. She is most proud of the work MCC did to serve its city and create partnerships with businesses including NHADA, Eversource and Hitchiner. She is completing a year-long interim position as chancellor of the Community College System of New Hampshire, where she has led the seven colleges through the challenges of the pandemic and the proposed merger with the state’s university system. What keeps you up at night? The need to speed up the change process and bring all parties along, while at the same time preserving what is essential to claim identity as a higher education institution. There was a time when colleges and universities fully charted their own course. Now there are multiple external voices that need to be included and their needs/concerns addressed with thoughtful and timely responsiveness.


E D U C AT I O N Lucille Jordan President Nashua Community College Education: The Ohio State University (MA, MS) Career history: Jordan has had the honor and joy to serve as the president of Nashua Community College for 23 years. During her tenure, the college has grown from 450 students to 2,100 students; added a wellness center — Judd Gregg Hall, an academic building for health, sciences and humanities — a 300-seat, state-of-the-art auditorium; and the Walter Peterson Library. She was selected as the recipient of New England Board of Higher Education’s award for Excellence in Education for 2018. Most important business lesson: To embrace the notion that equity and equality are the same. What has you most excited about your company’s future? A significant challenge for many of our students is the exceptionally high cost of books, often causing some students to extend their time to degree completion. In an effort to reduce this burden on our students, we have embarked upon open educational resources, where there is no cost for books. This fall, students in all of our English Composition classes were not required to purchase our books, and it is our goal to have 50 percent of our courses OER by 2021. Hobby/passion: My passion is my Labrador retrievers that compete in obedience, hunting and conformation. My hobby is weaving.

Paul LeBlanc President Southern New Hampshire University Education: University of Massachusetts Amherst (PhD), Boston College (MA), Framingham State University (BA) Career history: LeBlanc has been president of Southern New Hampshire University since 2003. Under his leadership, SNHU has grown from 2,800 students to over 150,000 learners and is the largest nonprofit provider of online higher education in the country. SNHU is widely seen as one of the most innovative institutions in the world, helping expand access to higher education and unlock opportunities for learners across the globe. Before arriving at SNHU in 2003, Paul served as the president of Marlboro College in Vermont for seven years. Prior to that, he spent three years heading an ed-tech startup for Houghton Mifflin Company. Most important business lesson: It’s all about people and culture. You can have a great product/service, a great plan, a great infrastructure, but poor talent and a dysfunctional culture can and will undercut it all. Industry advice: Remain focused on students and their success. What excites you about the industry’s future? The way technology is transforming an industry that has remain largely unchanged for hundreds of years. Virtual and augmented reality are going to revolutionize how we learn. Add in AI and machine learning, the use of data, and quantum computing, and we can reinvent education to serve more people, more effectively, and at lower cost.

CONGRATULATIONS TO NEW HAMPSHIRE’S BEST! Exceptional leadership builds strong teams and thriving communities—the foundation of the Granite State. Congratulations to the New Hampshire 200 for their award-winning achievements, contributions, and support of our friends, neighbors, and peers! Connection is proud to recognize our great state’s business leaders and empower their teams with the latest IT solutions and services—from cybersecurity technologies to cloud-powered apps that keep NH’s workforce connected and secure.

1.800.800.0014

|

www.connection.com

© 2021 PC Connection, Inc. All rights reserved. Connection® and we solve IT® are trademarks of PC Connection, Inc. C1542985-1021

UNH congratulates James W. Dean Jr., President of UNH; Michael Decelle, Dean of UNH Manchester; and Prof. Lucy Hodder, Director of Health Law and Policy at the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, for being named among the state’s most influential business leaders by the NH Business Review.

James W. Dean Jr.

Lucy Hodder

Michael Decelle

Thank you for leading New Hampshire’s flagship university to new levels of excellence. unh.edu

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 23


E D U C AT I O N Neil Levesque Executive Director NH Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College

Lowell “Chris” Matthews Associate Professor Southern New Hampshire University

Education: Wheaton College (BA) Career history: After working in state and federal politics for several years, Levesque came to Saint Anselm College to be the executive director of the NH Institute of Politics. In addition, he previously served in a dual role as the college’s chief of staff. Outside of the college, he sits as the vice-chair of the Pease Development Authority and as a long-time board member of Catholic Medical Center. During his tenure, with the contributions of many, the institute has grown to be a national center for politics including offering an abundance of signature events, a survey center, research, debates, journalism, TV broadcasting and historic exhibits. Levesque says a rewarding aspect of his work involves connecting business leaders with elected officials. He has found that many of the issues faced by the state are solved quietly by people who have long-standing relationships with one another. Most important business lesson: Politicians are hard-working, patriotic people who are committed to making life better for their fellow citizens, both Democrats and Republicans. When I state this in a speech, I usually get booed. Primarily, the public usually sees the commercialization and combat of politics in the media. That is not reality. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I am a Coast Guard-licensed captain, and I love lobstering and fishing for giant bluefin tuna.

Education: Argosy University (DBA), Roosevelt University (MBA), University of Delaware (BAA) Career history: Prior to joining SNHU, Matthews served as the director of fundraising events for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and as an adjunct professor at Roosevelt University. He excels in experiential teaching, creating opportunities for students to tackle real-world problems outside the classroom. Matthews leads Project AIM, an SNHU initiative that provides education for incarcerated learners. As the Honors Programs director, he oversees students who are conducting research on various projects to change the world. He also holds leadership roles for several nonprofits in the state. Most important business lesson: The only constant thing in life is that things will always change. We must continually adapt to new situations and environments. Organizations that refuse or even fight change will eventually cease to exist and become irrelevant. Change represents growth, and growth is never comfortable. Industry advice: Innovation is where need meets opportunity. Higher education is at a pivotal point of redefining how an individual obtains a degree and who is granted the privilege to do so. There is an urgent need to provide equitable educational pathways for all. The opportunity is to do this in a way that dismantles systems of oppression.

Dottie Morris Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity Keene State College

“You are never too old to learn and never too young to teach.” — Dottie Morris, Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity, Keene State College

24 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Education: Dillard University (BA), Texas Southern University (MA), Washington State University (PhD) Career history: Previously, Morris was the associate dean for student learning at World Learning School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vt.; director of student affairs for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Antioch University New England in Keene, NH; staff psychologist and coordinator of the Employee Assistance Program at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo.; K-5 school counselor at Pullman School District in Pullman, Wash.; and neuropsychology testing specialist at Dr. Francisco I. Perez & Associates in Houston, Texas. Most important business lesson: “You are never too old to learn and never too young to teach.” The greatest gift is having students use their voices to challenge me to engage in ongoing evaluation of my perceptions, beliefs and assumptions. What has you most excited about your organization’s future? Watching young people grow, gain confidence and take the lead. I love talking to students about their hopes and dreams for the future and supporting them in the process. Their excitement about their ability to have an impact is refreshing. Industry advice: Think about ways to maximize the potential of all young people. Ignite the flame inside of them.


ENERGY


ENERGY Tom Meissner Chairman, President and CEO Unitil Corporation Education: Northeastern University (BSEE), Northeastern University (BSME), University of New Hampshire (MBA), Dartmouth College (Tuck Executive Program) Career history: Meissner has worked in the utility industry for over 35 years, including all areas of electric and gas energy delivery. He joined Unitil in 1994 as a design engineer and then advanced to director of engineering, senior vice president of operations and engineering, COO, and most recently CEO. Previously, he worked for 10 years at Public Service of New Hampshire (now Eversource), where he held positions in engineering and operations. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Our industry is undergoing a tremendous evolution due to clean-energy alternatives, climate imperatives and changing customer preferences. I believe we are well positioned to chart a new course for our company, customers and communities. Most important business lesson: For any business, the key to long-term success is to get the most out of your people and harness the skills, talents and ideas of everyone in the organization. No one person is smart enough or creative enough to have all the answers. Industry advice: Be prepared to be fast, flexible, creative and adaptable. What worked in the past isn’t going to work in the future.

Wayne Presby President Mount Washington Railway Company Education: Franklin Pierce University (BA), UNH School of Law (JD) Career history: Presby has owned, operated and built several major businesses over the past 38 years. He has owned and operated the Mount Washington Cog Railway from 1983 to present, and owned and operated the Mount Washington Hotel and Resort, Bretton Woods Ski Area, and golf courses and related properties from 1991-2006. He operated the construction company responsible for building more than 200 condominiums; operated water and utility systems; and built and operated White Mountain Biodiesel from 20082018. During his career, he has owned and operated businesses that have generated more than $1 billion in total revenues. Most important business lesson: Listen to your customers and learn from history and your mistakes. If you think you’re the smartest guy in the room, change rooms so you can learn something. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I sleep very little, and it’s not unusual to find me working in the railroad maintenance shops at 3 a.m. in the morning. Stop in and we’ll have coffee. Hobby/passion: Restoring the most iconic tourist attractions in New Hampshire and the projects needed to accomplish that goal. Industry advice: Think big. Be persistent. Don’t let government regulations and naysayers keep you from accomplishing what you believe in.

Dan Weeks Co-Owner and Vice President of Business Development ReVision Energy

“Our industry is undergoing a tremendous evolution due to clean energy alternatives, climate imperatives and changing customer preferences.” — Tom Meissner, Chairman, President and CEO Unitil Corporation

26 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Education: Yale University (BA), Oxford University (MPhil, Marshall Scholar) Career history: Weeks mowed his first lawn for pay (25 cents) when he was six. After a decade of raking leaves, mowing lawns and mucking stalls at New Hampshire farms, he graduated into the comparatively lucrative trades of washing windows, playing organ and teaching circus arts. After high school, he tried to up his teaching game as an English instructor in China and AmeriCorps volunteer in D.C. public schools. Now, he specializes in teaching his kids to eat their vegetables. Along the way, he’s been lucky to help launch and lead three nonprofit organizations focused on government reform; write a book on democracy and poverty (and a few too many op-eds); serve on civic and nonprofit boards; and help grow ReVision Energy into the region’s leading clean-energy company with 300 employee-owners across New England. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Crisis and opportunity go hand in hand. In response to the climate crisis, businesses and communities are turning to clean energy like never before, laying the foundation for the green industrial revolution that will save us billions of dollars while adding millions of jobs. Bucket list item: Dancing with my wife atop Table Mountain as we celebrate our 70th wedding anniversary, circa 2080, with more great-grandkids than we can track in a peaceful, solar-powered South Africa.


FINANCIAL SERVICES


FI NANCIAL SERVIC ES Howard Brodsky Chairman, Co-Founder, & Co-CEO CCA Global Partners Education: Wesleyan University (BA) Career history: Brodsky has helped CCA Global Partners grow into an $11 billion worldwide cooperative, with businesses throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, including more than 3,000 retail locations, 20,000 child care centers and 1 million small businesses benefit from CCA Global’s leadership. Brodsky was awarded the WAC’s Global Leadership Award; inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame and the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame; received the Rochdale Award; and was the first American to win the Nobel Prize of Cooperatives. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Family businesses are the very heart of our country, and our company levels the playing field to give them the same opportunity as large international companies. What keeps you up at night? Inequality has only increased during the pandemic. We need to make the world more inclusive and have opportunity exist for all. I believe businesses need to be a force of good, and capitalism with a conscience is our future, not just capitalism for its own sake. Industry advice: Family businesses are facing a world based on technology and sophisticated marketing, and they need scale to compete. A cooperative uniquely brings that scale to them.

Joseph “Joe” Carelli State President NH & VT Citizens Bank Education: University of Massachusetts (BS) Career history: Carelli has served as the state president of New Hampshire and Vermont and regional head of New England portfolio management for Citizens Bank since 2011. He oversees a $7.65 billion franchise with 87 branch locations across the two states. In his role, he leads and coordinates transparency among Citizens’s leadership team to ensure delivery and execution of goals and objectives across several business lines, including wealth, mortgage, retail delivery, public affairs, and commercial and business banking. Previously, Carelli served as executive vice president and director of commercial banking for New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont from 1992 to 2011. Prior to that, he served in leadership roles at New Heritage Bank and First Bank in Massachusetts. Carelli serves on the boards of several NH organizations, including the Palace Theatre board of trustees, Granite United Way and Saint Anselm College’s School of Ethics in Business and Governance Advisory. He is a member of the Business and Industry Association of NH’s finance committee and executive committee. He has served as board chair for the NH Bankers Association and has previously served on the boards of Stay Work Play NH, World Academy and the Nashua Center for the Handicapped.

Sandra Cleary Founder/CEO SLC Group Holdings, LLC

Ronald Covey President and CEO St. Mary’s Bank

Education: Florida Institute of Technology (BS) Career history: Cleary began as an engineer, working on missile guidance systems for TRW Inc., now Northrop Grumman. She later became program manager at Litton Guidance and Control of Woodland Hills, Calif., before starting her own venture with CruCon Cruise Outlet. Since founding SLC Group Holdings, Cleary has received accolades including Girls Inc.’s Women of Achievement Award, CLIA Hall of Fame Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Cruise Industry and the 2018 Business Leader of the Year by Business NH Magazine. Most important business lesson: Everything is negotiable. It’s important to remember that in negotiations, both sides should have something to contribute to the deal. If you find that you are contributing more, then it is up to you to level the playing field. You control your destiny. Industry advice: Surround yourself with a team that will disagree with you and give you another point of view on all aspects of your business. I appreciate when my team can be honest with me, even when I may not want to hear the answer. Hobby/passion: I love to cook and try new recipes. I’m passionate about advocating for charities that support children and animals, two demographics that need a voice.

Education: University of New Hampshire (BS), Southern New Hampshire University (MBA) Career history: Covey began his career as a commercial credit analyst, progressively working up to EVP/manager of the Commercial Banking Group for Citizens Bank, responsible for Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Later, he became EVP/ director of commercial banking at People’s United Bank. Covey became president and CEO of St. Mary’s Bank, a $1.4 billion credit union, in 2008. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Keeping my family, employees and members safe. Financial services continued to be essential during the pandemic; delivering those services in a safe environment became critical — quickly deploying the tools and resources for digital banking, virtual customer service transactions and remote working environments. What keeps you up at night? Cyber threats, schemers, bad actors and conmen taking advantage of our members, many of them elderly on fixed incomes. We put a lot of emphasis and staff training into identifying potential scams and protecting our members from fraudulent activity. Hobby/passion: My passion is my family and alpine skiing. Unfortunately, the pandemic put a damper on skiing last season.

28 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


FINANCIAL SE RVICES Melinda Davis Founder and Wealth Advisor Davis Wealth Advisors

Talitha Franggos Broker/Owner Cross Insurance/Humble Warrior

Education: University of Florida (BS), Boston College (MS), College for Financial Planning (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor Career history: Davis began her career in corporate finance, and after a bad experience with a financial advisor, decided to use her financial knowledge to help successful, busy families not have the same experience she had. She started at Morgan Stanley, and after many years found that leaving a broker dealer and serving as a fee-only advisor, where she could be a true fiduciary for her clients, was the right thing for her. Davis’s past experience in corporate finance led her to work with many entrepreneurs and their families because she could understand both their business and family financial needs. Her goal is to simplify the complexities of wealth for her clients and help them align their values with their investments and giving. She now acts as a personal CFO to families. Starting her own firm four-and-a-half years ago has also allowed her to grow a team that can serve more clients in this holistic way. Hobby/passion: I love hiking. I grew up in Florida and have been living in New Hampshire since I graduated from college. I love climbing to a peak and seeing the view from the top. Bucket list item: Hiking Machu Picchu.

Career history: Franggos has been a commercial insurance broker in New Hampshire for 19 years, and has her ACSR designation in this field. She created a workers’ compensation self-insured group to better serve her healthcare and social service clients five years ago. She received the Union Leader 40 Under 40 in 2020, and 95.7 WZID’s 20 Outstanding Women of 2020. She was the board member of the year in 2019 for her work with the Manchester Boys & Girls Club, where she is the current president-elect. Interesting book: “Mindset” by Carol Dweck What would people be surprised to learn about you? I eat ice cream four times, maybe five times a week. It feeds my soul. Industry advice: To find the practice of daily meditation. It is truly my ace and secret weapon in all the things I do. Bucket list item: Owning a villa in Tuscany.

proudly congratulates

LATONYA WALLACE PORTSMOUTH BRANCH MANAGER

on being named one of NH’s Top 200 Most Influential Business Leaders

Member FDIC

firstseacoastbank.com firstseacoastbank.com New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 29


FI NANCIAL SERVIC ES William “Bill” Greiner Board Chair/Founder Primary Bank

Joe Keefe President Impax Asset Management LLC

Education: Brandeis University (BA) Career history: In 2000, Greiner founded Greiner Investments, a firm that develops and invests in real estate and makes passive business investments. He had previously founded the private hedge fund Rockmont Management Partners. In 2007, he became an investor/owner in Great NH Restaurants. Most important business lesson: If you treat your employees and customers with respect, it goes a long way. When a problem arises, look for solutions from your team instead of looking for reasons or people to blame. Toughest challenge to overcome: Personally, the toughest challenge was watching my father battle cancer and then move on when he was gone. It was a helpless feeling to know that little to nothing could be done. It made me more aware of things around me and gave me the ability to appreciate things even more than before. It also imparted on me that you shouldn’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Hobby/passion: Fly fishing in great places like Quebec, Yellowstone and Alaska. I enjoy introducing others to fly fishing, as it is a great way to relax and enjoy life. Bucket list item: To catch a fish in all 50 states in one calendar year on a fly rod.

Education: University of Virginia School of Law (JD), College of the Holy Cross (BA) Career history: Prior to joining Impax in 2005, Keefe was president of NewCircle Communications, which specialized in corporate social responsibility and public policy communications. He was named one of the 10 Leaders of ESG and Impact Investing by InvestmentNews in 2019; 20 Most Influential People in Sustainable Investing by Barron’s in 2018; 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics five times by Ethisphere magazine; and top feminist men of 2015 by Financial Times for his work to help women succeed in business and beyond. What has you most excited about your company’s future? We invest in companies that we believe are well positioned for the transition to a more sustainable economy, including management of such issues as climate change and environmental challenges, as well as human capital issues like diversity, inclusion and equality. We’re seeking to invest in the next economy, not the last one, and in companies that will be part of the solution rather than the problem. Interesting book: “Thinking Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman

Linda Lorden President Merrimack County Savings Bank

Susan Martore-Baker President Cambridge Trust Company of NH

Career history: Lorden’s career in banking spans 41 years, beginning as a teller at Concord Savings Bank in 1980 and moving into positions of increasing responsibility within the branch banking system. In 1998, she joined Bow Mills Bank and Trust. Lorden was named senior vice president, senior retail banking officer when Merrimack County Savings Bank acquired Bow Mills Bank and Trust in 2007. During her tenure at the Merrimack, retail deposits grew by over $225 million, and market presence expanded by opening new locations in Hooksett. In 2018, she was named president of the Merrimack. Lorden is a trustee for Concord Hospital and Capital Region Health Care, and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness. She also serves as secretary for the NH Bankers Association Board of Directors and as a member of the Legislative Committee. Most important business lesson: Treat your employees, customers and community members with respect and compassion, surround yourself with good people and empower them to do their jobs. Get involved in the communities you serve. Biggest challenge during the pandemic? Keeping our employees and their families safe, while meeting our customers’ needs as we maneuvered through pandemic-related challenges.

30 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Education: Furman University (BA), Southern New Hampshire University (MBA) Career history: Martore-Baker began her career in banking in South Carolina before graduating from college, and has continued in the trust and investment business for 41 years. Formerly a trust administrator and business development officer, she has always had a passion for assisting clients during good times and bad with sound financial advice and guidance. She established a trust department at a small bank in Keene and has also worked at large institutions like State Street Global Advisors. The recent merger of Optima Bank with Cambridge Trust provided the opportunity for Cambridge Trust to evolve from solely a wealth management entity in New Hampshire to a full-service private bank with office locations throughout southern New Hampshire. She has been instrumental in that business transformation. Most important business lesson: In business, you won’t win every time, but it is the lesson you learn from losing that puts you in a position to win the next time. Learn from your defeats, and it will make you stronger and more successful in the future.


Congratulations, Linda! You Exemplify Merrimack style! Merrimack style is treating everyone with dignity, care, respect and compassion. In 2021, Linda was honored as: • Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year • NH Bankers Association Community Banker of the Year • NH Business Review’s NH200 Also in 2021, the Merrimack was awarded: • Concord Area Peoples Preference (CAPPIEs), 1st Place Best Bank (for the 11th year in a row!) Linda Lorden, President of the Merrimack

• Union Leader Readers’ Choice, 1st Place Best Bank

Congratulations, Gregg!

The entire NHMB family is proud to work with Gregg—we have seen his influential leadership abilities on display, every day. Gregg R. Tewksbury, President & CEO of NHMB

NHMB is a shared services organization providing operational support for three premier independent mutual savings banks and a financial advisory and trust company. The first relationship of its kind in northern New England, NHMB companies share support services to provide overall efficiencies and best in class solutions for customers. Through this strategic alliance, each affiliate is positioned to leverage each other’s strengths as they work together to advance a shared vision of maintaining and enhancing community banking standards and values.


FI NANCIAL SERVIC ES Marie McKay President Bigelow & Company Certified Public Accountants, PLLC Education: Southern New Hampshire University (BS) Career history: McKay has been with Bigelow & Company from 1983 to present day. She started as an intern and is now the managing partner. Most important business lesson: Be patient. It isn’t easy for me, but I have learned that problems are solved over time, challenges are overcome over time and opportunities generally present themselves when you seek them. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Being a professional woman, business owner and a mother has been the most rewarding and challenging experience of my life. Wouldn’t change a minute. What has you most excited about your company’s future? As a CPA, I have the opportunity to work with many business owners in a very strategic way. Entrepreneurs invest their money, energy and resources into their business. Helping them succeed is very rewarding. What keeps you up at night? The many competing expectations. Fun fact: I have designed and constructed a couple of houses. Hobby/passion: My family, boating, hiking and, of course, laundry! Industry advice: Think strategically and help others.

Dan Morrison CEO Cambridge Trust New Hampshire Education: San Francisco State University (BS) Career history: Morrison has four decades of business experience, including positions with First Signature Bank & Trust in Portsmouth, World Savings in Oakland, Calif., and Bank of America in San Francisco. He joined Cambridge Trust upon its merger with Optima Bank & Trust in 2019. He was previously co-founder of Optima Bank & Trust and served as Optima’s chairman, president and CEO. He is currently chairman of York Hospital’s board of trustees, and serves on the boards of Cambridge Trust and its parent company, Cambridge Bancorp. Industry advice: Volunteer and get involved in something you care deeply about. You will meet people and likely discover that you have shared passion and common interests. Those meaningful relationships are good for business and your professional career. People prefer to do business with people they know and trust. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: The cancellation of all travel and in-person events. Shaking hands, talking and laughing together are important parts of life and business. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I’ll be retiring at the end of 2021, but will continue to serve on boards. I plan to travel and spend more time with family.

32 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Dianne Mercier President, NH People’s United Bank Education: Southern New Hampshire University (BS) Career history: Mercier’s banking career began as a teller at Amoskeag Bank in Manchester, after which she spent the next seven years learning the retail business. The ability to learn, try new things and advance made it a great incubator for her career. After seven years, she took advantage of the opportunity to learn banking and finance with businesses. She’s remained in that field for the past 30 years. Most important business lesson: Not to be so certain about things. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? The capacity and opportunity for growth, advancement and challenge. Interesting book: Absolutely anything by Malcolm Gladwell. Hobby/passion: I love yoga, though I admit to being more enthusiastic than talented. Industry advice: Think more about the experiences you want to have than the job title. Favorite part of living in New Hampshire: We count on each other to show up when help is needed, and for all the years I have been working here, I’ve never been disappointed.

Joe Murray Vice President, Government Relations & Public Affairs Fidelity Investments Education: Ithaca College (BS) Career history: At the beginning of his career, Murray worked in journalism at several local television affiliates in the Northeast as a reporter, writer, producer and managing editor. He later joined Fidelity Investments, where he has been leading government and public affairs initiatives as they relate to Fidelity’s presence in New Hampshire. Over the years, he has served on several nonprofit boards and currently serves as board chair of Friends of Aine, a local organization that provides grief services to children coping with the loss of a loved one. What has you most excited about your company’s future? I am excited about how deeply Fidelity is committed to making saving more attainable through innovation, digitization and by reaching out to younger and more diverse customers and prospective employees. Bucket list item: Connecting with an illustrator and publishing the children’s book I wrote nearly two decades ago when I was a new dad. Industry advice: Focus on the hard work of “listening to understand.” This will cultivate strong and trusted relationships, which will make tasks easier, leading to more beneficial outcomes.


FINANCIAL SE RVICES Deborah Novotny Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending Enterprise Bank Education: Mount Saint Mary Academy Career history: Novotny began her career as a teller at Nashua Trust Company before working at Bank of New Hampshire for 22 years, where she was promoted to branch manager. She took on the challenge of opening a new Ocean Bank (People’s United Bank) branch in Nashua. After a short time, she was promoted to small business lender. In 2013, she was given the opportunity to work for Enterprise Bank and Trust’s commercial team. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? I’m excited about how technology is transforming the banking industry. Traditional banks have been pushed to adhere to consumer trends, and startups have transformed the way our clients want real-time access to their bank. While Enterprise Bank offers both traditional services and mobile banking, we are continuously providing our clients top-end service while maintaining our community bank vision. Industry advice: The most important aspect of banking is creating a rapport with customers and being part of the community. I’m an active board member with several nonprofits and sat on several city committees for 35-plus years. You will find that the rewards you gain far exceed the career benefits.

Alison Pyott Partner, Chief Client Service Officer, Senior Impact Wealth Manager Veris Wealth Partners Education: UNH’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics (BS), Merrimack College (Certificate in Financial Planning) Career history: Pyott leads Veris’ Women, Wealth and Impact strategy. She has spoken internationally on impact and gender lens investing and has co-authored several papers on gender lens investing. Prior to Veris, Pyott was the director of client and shareholder services for Citizens Advisors, and worked in client service and management positions at John Hancock Signature Services. In addition to over 20 years of financial services experience, she worked for the United Way of the Greater Seacoast, where she managed community investment and outcome measurement programs. Pyott serves as a member for Invest for Better | Women Lead the Way, the Seacoast Women’s Giving Circle and others. Most important business lesson: Patience. Good ideas need fertile ground and other’s expertise to come to fruition. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Impact investing is one of the fastest growing areas of investing. It’s exciting to see individuals, families and organizations realize that they can have an impact with their wealth. Bucket list item: Ride in the bowsprit net of a large sailboat.

Here to Help New Hampshire Businesses Grow Service Credit Union is proud to help NH businesses grow and thrive with customized business banking solutions. Get in touch to learn how we can help you meet the future of business with confidence.

servicecu.org/business 800.296.4644 INSURED BY NCUA

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 33


FI NANCIAL SERVIC ES Tom Sedoric Executive Managing Director The Sedoric Group of Steward Partners Education: University of Vermont (BA) Career history: Sedoric works with family, institutional and multigenerational investors on wealth planning and investment strategies. He has been recognized in the national financial press for years, but the greatest accomplishment, he says, is that his organization makes people’s lives better through a disciplined process that strives to improve outcomes for the better. Sedoric has had many mentors, including Rohe Pennington, Paul Volcker, Gloria Steinem, Ron Shapiro, Ian Bremmer and Dick Morse, whose pictures all hang on his office’s “mentor wall.” Biggest challenge during the pandemic: I am grateful for how well our team adapted to working virtually, serving families and growing dramatically amidst a pandemic. Most important business lesson: Surround yourself with smart, dedicated and resourceful colleagues. As my mentor Rohe Pennington used to say, “Hire good people, give them the tools they need to succeed, and get out of their way.” What keeps you up at night? Society’s under-investment in our democracy, financial literacy and basic civics education. Industry advice: It’s impossible to be a fiduciary when working for a bank. Few understand the importance of tax planning.

Bill Stone President and CEO Primary Bank Education: University of New Hampshire (BS), Southern New Hampshire University (MBA) Career history: Stone began his career in banking more than 40 years ago. He has worked for a handful of New Hampshire-based community banks and served in a variety of capacities, including in the mail room, as a teller, credit analyst, loan officer and ultimately, president and CEO. He has served as president and CEO of Primary Bank, based in Bedford, since its founding in 2015. Most important business lesson: Team members are the most valuable asset to your business. Local matters — the New Hampshire community is predominately made up of small businesses and supporting local is important. Stay true to your values. Superior service is a given. You must provide the unexpected — a lesson learned from Howard Brodsky. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Protecting the health of our team members while continuing to serve our clients. As many companies did, we pulled together, and by remaining flexible and creative, we were able to successfully service both existing and new clients without much disruption. Industry advice: Set a mission for your business that addresses and serves a need within your marketplace and remain true to that mission.

34 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Ken Sheldon State President Bank of America Education: Babson College (BS), Bentley College (MBA) Career history: Sheldon has worked in commercial banking since 1983, with nearly 32 years at Bank of America. He was elevated to the position of state president in 2011, working across the region to connect Bank of America’s business lines to deliver integrated financial services to individuals, families and businesses. Sheldon enjoys working with his colleagues in the private bank, consumer, commercial and investment banking areas to deliver the power of Bank of America for the benefit of the local economy and community. Most important business lesson: Character counts – there’s nothing like adversity to test one’s character. Be honest. Be fair. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? The investment in technology will make the industry more convenient, efficient and safer. I’m also excited about helping to implement Bank of America’s 5-year $1.25 billion commitment to social justice and economic opportunity locally. What keeps you up at night? Recessions and cybersecurity. Bucket list item: Tour Switzerland. Industry advice: The economy and banking are cyclical. Build your customer relationships for good times and for the tougher times.

Gregg Tewksbury President and CEO New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp Education: University of New Hampshire (BS) Career history: Tewksbury spent nearly 10 years in the ‘90s with CFX Corporation, followed by seven years as Merriam-Graves Corporation’s CFO and 12 years leading Savings Bank of Walpole (SBW) as CEO. When SBW joined forces with NH Mutual Bancorp in 2018, he joined NHMB as CEO. Most important business lesson: The success of your company is due to the aggregate work of many rather than the few at the top. It’s important to give credit for success to others and accept the responsibility of failure. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Our company is the composite of a holding company — three mutual banks and a wealth management company that solely exists for the economic well-being of our customers and the communities we serve. Without shareholders, we’re excited about being laser focused on this mission. We believe we can become the most meaningful company in our state. Bucket list item: I’ve been fortunate to have been a spectator at three of the four majors in professional golf. My wife and I want to complete the cycle by attending the British Open at some point in the next few years.


FINANCIAL SE RVICES Latonya Wallace Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager First Seacoast Bank Education: Kaplan University (AAS) Career history: Wallace began her career as a teller in Portland, Maine, and has dedicated more than 19 years to various retail banking institutions, becoming a trusted community banker with a focus on community engagement. Wallace founded Purseverance 207, a nonprofit organization that supports women who find themselves in transition. She sits on the Portsmouth Library’s Board of Trustees and serves as a board member for the Black Heritage Trail of NH and as an incorporator and vice-chair for the Business Alliance for People of Color (BAPOC-NH). She was also a recipient of the 2021 AmplifiHER annual award from NH Women’s Foundation. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: The pandemic was difficult for so many, but for me, I gained so much positive. The pandemic allowed me uncover a strength I didn’t realize existed in me. It has given me confidence in finding creative ways to continue my existing relationships and building new ones. Industry advice: Invest in culture. An investment in culture can provide a boost to revenue, improve your branding and establish yourself as an important place to work. There is an increased need for businesses to make a tangible impact on society and invest in the well-being of their employees.

Specializing Specializing in trusted in trustedin Specializing Specializing inrelationships trusted trusted relationships relationships relationships with closely held with closely held with closely held with closely held companies in in companies in companies companies in New Hampshire. New Hampshire. New Hampshire. New Hampshire.

500 CommerCial Street manCheSter, nh 03101

500 market Street, Suite 5 PortSmouth, nh 03801

500 CommerCial Street Street 500 market treet,SS uite ,5Suite 5 500tel C:ommerCial 500 mSarket treet 603.627.7659 t el: 603.433.7383 manCheSter , nh 03101 , nh 03801 PortSmouth manCheSter , nh 03101 PortSmouth , nh 03801 tel: 603.627.7659 tel: 603.627.7659 tel: 603.433.7383 tel: 603.433.7383

We value your business.

We value your business. We value your business. We value your business.

Charles Withee President and Chief Lending Officer BankProv Education: UMass Lowell Manning School of Business (BS), Georgetown University’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking (EMBA) Career history: Withee’s career in commercial banking began 36 years ago, centered principally in New Hampshire. He has been with BankProv (formerly known as The Provident Bank) since 2004. Previously, the bank had $270 million in total assets. Today, it has more than $1.6 billion, centered in commercial and industrial loans for small to medium-sized businesses, many in New Hampshire. His responsibilities include building a first-class team of commercial banking professionals and leading them to success. Most important business lesson: Treat everyone with respect, including family, co-workers, clients, the cleaning people, your dry cleaner, people that wait on you in restaurants and everyone else you come into contact with. A culture of respect leads to success and happiness. What has you most excited about your industry? Banking has been changing very quickly over the past few years and that pace will quicken over the next few years. We have built an amazing team so that we can stay ahead of the changes and remain successful. What keeps you up at night? Keeping our talented team happy and successful.

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 35


OUR PEOPLE REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY Congratulations to our own Oreste “Rusty” Mosca, CPA on being named to this year’s New Hampshire 200! We applaud you for your continued dedication to our clients, our firm, and our community.

Concord (603) 224-5357

Keene (603) 357-7665

Lebanon (603) 448-2650

www.nathanwechsler.com

Congratulations Ron Covey, St. Mary’s Bank President and CEO

Recognized as one of New Hampshire’s 200 most influential business leaders. Our warmest congratulations for this well-deserved honor. The Nation’s First Credit Union | stmarysbank.com | 888-786-2791

NHBR-RonCovey_NH200Ad10-21.indd 1

36 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

11/3/21 3:55 PM


HEALTHCARE


H E A LT H C A R E Greg Baxter President, Elliot Health System Chief Clinical Officer, SolutionHealth

William “Bill” Brewster Vice President Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Point32North

Education: St. Michael’s College (BS), University of Vermont (MD) Career history: Dr. Baxter completed his residency in emergency medicine at UMass Medical Center, serving as a flight physician and chief resident. He spent five years as an EM physician at UMass Memorial Medical Center and Elliot Hospital. Baxter spent eight years as vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer before becoming president of the Elliot Health System in 2018 and chief clinical officer of SolutionHealth in 2020. He has achieved the American College of Surgeons Level 2 trauma center designation and opened the Solinsky Center for Cancer Care at The Elliot. Most important business lesson: High-functioning teams require effort to ensure alignment and must be capable of identifying and resolving conflict. Aligned, capable teammates can move mountains. Industry advice: The healthcare industry needs to refocus and redouble efforts to support clinicians. Our doctors, nurses, advanced care providers, clinical support and administrative staff were under tremendous pressure before the pandemic. We need to be aware of this stress and change what we can while advocating for the changes that we can’t control.

Education: University of Vermont (BA), George Washington University (MD) Career history: Dr. Brewster has practiced primary care for over 30 years. He was the medical director of Seacoast Redicare and an occupational medicine clinic in Somersworth before joining Harvard Pilgrim Health Care in 2012, where he worked as the utilization management medical director, chief medical officer for Benevera Health, then HPHC vice president in 2016. Brewster retired in August 2021 but will continue to serve on nonprofit boards such as the NH Medical Society. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Addressing the health equity issues that became evident within populations of color, or people with lower income levels having worse outcomes and lower vaccination rates than the rest of our population. Most important business lesson: Empower your team to create and operationalize processes rather than doing it yourself. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Our combination with Tufts Health Plan and creating Point32Health will allow us the scale and efficiency to be more innovative and better serve our members and employer customers. Industry advice: Prioritize customers’ and staff’s needs first and ensuring your mission and value statements are driven by that.

John T. Broderick, Jr. Sr. Director, External Affairs Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Kevin Callahan President and CEO Exeter Health Resources

Education: College of the Holy Cross (BA), University of Virginia School of Law (JD) Career history: From 2004 to 2010, Broderick served as chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Prior to that, he worked with private law firms and served as associate justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Broderick also spent time working in higher education as an adjunct professor at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and dean of the UNH School of Law. As Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s senior director of external affairs, he created the R.E.A.C.T. Mental Health Awareness Campaign in collaboration with the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, the New Hampshire Department of Education, the Vermont Agency of Education, and other agencies and civic leaders. Most important business lesson: I have come to appreciate the wisdom of others and the benefits of really listening to others. Surrounding yourself with good people smarter than you who believe in your mission and remaining flexible are keys to success. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I met President Kennedy in the White House Rose Garden when I was in the eighth grade on the morning of the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba.

Education: Seton Hall University (BA), George Washington University (MHSA) Career history: After graduate school, Callahan undertook a postgraduate fellowship at a health system in Massachusetts and then joined Exeter Health Resources in 1981, becoming executive vice president and subsequently president and CEO. He remarks, “Over the 40 years that I have been at Exeter Health Resources, there have been many accomplishments that we have achieved as an organization; no one accomplishment is mine — it is the team’s accomplishment that I am a part of.” Most important business lesson: More assumptions are wrong than they are right. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: The pandemic has disrupted every corner of our society, reminded us how fragile our lives can be and demonstrated how much we took for granted. For the organization, the challenge was keeping staff physically and emotionally safe and caring for patients 24/7 without exception. What has you most excited about your company’s future? The continuing evolution of our organization in the face of seismic changes occurring throughout the healthcare delivery system. Industry advice: The transformation of healthcare will touch every part of society. Understand why, embrace the transformation and adapt.

38 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


H E A LT H C A R E Joanne M. Conroy, MD CEO & President Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health Education: Dartmouth College (BA), Medical University of South Carolina (MD) Career history: Dr. Conroy was previously CEO of Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Mass. She served for more than six years as chief healthcare officer for the Association of American Medical Colleges, and worked in several executive capacities at the Atlantic Health System in New Jersey and the Medical University of South Carolina. She was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare, and elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: I lost my husband, DJ, to cancer in April 2020. My 97-year-old mom had a stroke two weeks later. As the leader of the largest NH health system, I’m concerned about the emotional and psychological health of our team and how they balance work, home and community. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Covid-19 has pushed healthcare to be more innovative, and DHH will continue to think outside the box to deliver world-class care. Industry advice: Leaders must empower teams to do their jobs by reinforcing trust in their abilities. Leaders should always be learners and active listeners.

Dwight Davis Owner and President Senior Helpers of Southern New Hampshire Education: University of Houston (BS) Career history: A first-round draft pick in the NBA, Davis played professional basketball with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. In 2014, he and his wife, Gayle, founded Senior Helpers of Southern New Hampshire, which provides in-home care in four NH counties. A member of the State Workforce Investment Board since 2008, he helped launch the first Home Health Aid Apprenticeship and LNA Apprenticeship programs in the state. He serves as president of the Black Heritage Trail of NH, and is a board member of Cambridge Trust and Prospero Health. What has you most excited about your company’s future? We’re excited about partnering with the Community College System of NH to offer educational opportunities to our team and those who want to work in healthcare, in order to make a difference in the way that in-home care is delivered, and be an advocate for the elderly, veterans, people of color and people with disabilities. Industry advice: Know where to go for assistance. If you have a client who’s a veteran, know your VA contacts. If a staff member is having issues with child care, know who to reach out to. Have an open line of communication with other businesses.

The Team You Trust. The Leader We Count On. Elliot Health System President Greg Baxter, MD, has led our organization through a period of tremendous change, ushering in new partnerships and clinical advances and spearheading Elliot’s exemplary response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful for his talent, leadership, and dedication to both our staff and the patients we serve. Congratulations to Dr. Baxter on his recognition as one of the Top 200 Business Leaders in New Hampshire.

ElliotHospital.org

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 39


H E A LT H C A R E

“Businesses succeed and fail, often in spite of your best efforts. At the end of the day, what defines you is whether you have conducted yourself with integrity and operated honestly.” — Heather Staples Lavoie, President and CEO, Geneia

John Kacavas Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health Education: St. Michael’s College (BA), American University School of International Service (MA), Boston College Law School (JD) Career history: Kacavas is the former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire (2009-2015); former assistant attorney general, senior assistant attorney general, and chief of the homicide unit at the NH Attorney General’s Office (1993-1999); former trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice (1999-2000); and founder of former Manchester law firm Kacavas Ramsdell & Howard (2002-2009). He’s been awarded the inaugural Robert E. Kirby Award (1996) by the NH Bar Foundation. Most important business lesson: Cultural alignment is the most important organizing principle for any business, large or small. A broadly shared vision facilitates strategic direction and allows a business to adapt to changed circumstances with agility but without sacrificing institutional identity. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: The healthcare sector continues to confront pandemic-related challenges unabated. Perhaps the biggest challenge has been to balance the use of new technologies to deliver healthcare with patient expectations. Industry advice: In healthcare we need to stay strong; we’re not done yet. Bucket list item: To come up with a bucket list.

40 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Lisa Guertin President Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire Education: Southern Connecticut State University (BA), Boston University (MBA) Career history: Guertin’s career began with eight years at The Travelers in Hartford and in various field offices including Matthew Thornton Health Plan, which became Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in NH. Guertin is a frequent guest lecturer on health insurance and leadership at the Tuck Business School at Dartmouth, The Dartmouth Institute, Leadership NH and various civic organizations. She serves on a variety of boards and is a current trustee for Southern New Hampshire University. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Anthem has the opportunity and the responsibility to impact health in New Hampshire. Through our scope, digital innovations and data capabilities, we are uniquely positioned to focus on improving whole-person health and addressing the factors driving disparities in our healthcare system and in society as a whole. Industry advice: Don’t just embrace change — drive it. By being innovative and open to ideas, we can find solutions that lower healthcare costs, increase access to quality care and ensure better health outcomes for consumers.

Russell G. Keene President & CEO HealthFirst Education: Park University (BS), Plymouth State University (MBA) Career history: Keene started his healthcare journey as vice president of financial services and CFO at Androscoggin Valley Hospital for several years, becoming CEO in 2002 for 13 years. After a brief tenure at North Country Healthcare in Berlin as president and CFO, he became president of HealthFirst in 2019. HealthFirst provides primary healthcare to anyone in the Twin Rivers and Lakes Regions of New Hampshire, promoting high-quality primary healthcare, integrated behavioral health, treatment, prevention and education services to area residents. HealthFirst aims to coordinate and cooperate with regional healthcare and specialty providers to ensure the people of their community have access to the fullest possible range of healthcare and prevention services.


H E A LT H C A R E Heather Staples Lavoie President and CEO Geneia

Kristen McCracken President/CEO Amoskeag Health

Education: Notre Dame College (BA), Southern New Hampshire University (MBA), University of New Hampshire (Hon. Doctor of Science) Career history: Lavoie has more than 30 years in healthcare, leading startups, health plans, consulting firms and provider organizations. She has directed initiatives on strategy, transparency, diversification, product innovation and analytics. Previously, she co-founded and served as vice president of product development, delivery and engineering for Choicelinx Corp., through its successful exit to CIGNA Health Care. She dedicates her professional time to a number of worthy causes, including Granite United Way, past board chair; UNH Manchester, advisory board member; Harrisburg University of Science and Technology; Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, advisory board; New Hampshire Tech Alliance, board member. Most important business lesson: Businesses succeed and fail, often in spite of your best efforts. What defines you is whether you have conducted yourself with integrity and operated honestly.

Education: Mount Holyoke College (BA), Rivier College (MBA) Career history: McCracken’s early career was in the field of social services. For 10 years, she worked to provide direct services to clients, particularly working with Spanish-speaking individuals. She began in domestic violence and rape crisis services, moved into working with HIV/ AIDS patients in the early ‘90s, and then worked as a substance use disorder clinician at a methadone clinic in Lawrence, Mass. When she moved back to New Hampshire in 1996, she became a crisis outreach counselor at her current organization, Amoskeag Health, where she’s been for 25 years. Most important business lesson: Balance your passion and drive with humility. Hire people that are smarter than you and listen to what they say. You are never too old to learn, and the older I get, the more I realize how much there is to learn. Hobby/passion: I am an avid geocacher. I have a group of three other friends that spend many free hours traveling the country (38 states so far) to find geocaches. We have been penned the “Geocacher Losers Club (GLC)” by one of our member’s teen daughter. It stuck! It’s a great deal of fun: hike, bike, kayak and geocache!

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 41


H E A LT H C A R E

“The performance and success of any organization results from the quality and investment in its people. No business plan is realizable without the understanding, adoption and shared ownership of it among all staff.” — Michael Peterson, President & CEO, Androscoggin Valley Hospital

Michael Peterson President and CEO Androscoggin Valley Hospital Education: Husson University (MS), University of Maine (BS) Career history: Peterson has served small and rural communities in northern New Hampshire and Maine for 33 years in various roles in nonprofit hospital system settings. The past six years, he’s been CEO and part of the team at AVH, which was recognized as one of the best places to work in healthcare nationally in 2020. Prior to being named CEO, he was chief operating officer, chief administrative officer, chief information officer, vice president of patient services, corporate director of IT, among other roles in multiple healthcare systems. He currently serves on multiple boards of charity organizations and is an active Rotarian. Most important business lesson: The performance and success of any organization is a direct result of the quality and investment in its people. No business plan or vision is realizable without the understanding, adoption and shared ownership of it among all staff. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Maintaining and nurturing a sense of hope and optimism for the team and the community we care for in the face of such palpable uncertainty and anxiety. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I used to have really long hair and play bass in a touring rock band, and have opened for multiple national headliners back in the late ‘80s, early ‘90s.

Connie Roy-Czyzowski Vice President of Human Resources Northeast Delta Dental

Nick Vailas Founder and CEO Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center

Education: Notre Dame College (BA) Career history: After a few years of working as a college recruiter, Roy-Czyzowski’s activism and interest in politics led her to work on the staff of U.S. Senator John Durkin. Later on, she worked as the City of Manchester’s Affirmative Action Officer, focusing on recruiting to increase the number of women and individuals of color in city employment. After 17 years in municipal government, she joined Northeast Delta Dental, where she’s been for 25 years, collaborating with the CEO to create and maintain an employee-focused culture at one of NH’s best companies to work for. Most important business lesson: There are always, at least, two sides to a story. Never make a decision before you have demonstrated deep curiosity and listened carefully to all sides. Industry advice: Always have the courage to do what’s right. It is possible to be loyal to both employees and management. Take good care of your employees and, in turn, they’ll take good care of your customers. Hobby/passion: Traveling and learning about different cultures, people and environments opens my mind, expands my thinking and reinvigorates my curiosity about the world.

Education: University of Michigan (MS) Career history: A science teacher and football coach, Vailas began his career in healthcare in 1984 when he opened a sports medicine rehab practice. In 1993, he opened Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center, one of the first ambulatory surgical centers in New Hampshire. Since then, he has opened three similar facilities and over a dozen rehab facilities throughout southern New Hampshire. In 2003, he served as New Hampshire’s Health and Human Services Commissioner and was chair and a member of the Health Planning and Review Board. Toughest challenge: Government regulations in healthcare. Most important business lesson: Your ego serves no purpose in managing and leading people. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Our companies bring great value to the healthcare marketplace. Fun fact: I have a passion for farming. I raise bison and elk. Hobby/passion: Spending time in the great outdoors and football. Bucket list item: Traveling in an RV visiting various historical sites including Custer National Park. Industry advice: Always create a win-win business relationship with your partners and associates. Favorite part of living in New Hampshire: My family.

42 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


H E A LT H C A R E Justine Vogel CEO The RiverWoods Group

Alex Walker President and CEO Catholic Medical Center

Education: Rutgers University (BS), State of New Jersey (CPA) Career history: Vogel has served with RiverWoods from 1994 to present day in various roles such as director of accounting, CFO, COO and now CEO. Previously, she was an accountant in public accounting and insurance. Most important business lesson: The first job of a leader is to define reality, and the last is to say thank you. I learn and relearn that every day. Industry advice: We are about to face challenging times; lots of people to serve and fewer people to serve with. We need to work together, create alliances, challenge any ego-driven behavior, because we will be better together. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Besides the impact and risk of the virus to our senior living residents, the hardest was watching the toll it took on our employee team — the vigilance, the loss, the struggle — and wishing there was more I could do as a leader to lighten my team’s burden. Hobby/passion: Taking a problem that matters and mulling it over in my head, thinking about the people I can learn more about it with, creating different scenarios. And I like to do that while hiking.

Education: University of Massachusetts (BA), Northeastern University School of Law (JD) Career history: Prior to his current role, Walker was CMC’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. He was also senior vice president for strategic development and general counsel. Before joining CMC in 2012, he was a partner at the law firm of Devine Millimet & Branch and served as president of the firm for six years. He has been honored with the Pastoral Counseling Services Good Samaritan Award, the Harvard Pilgrim Foundation’s Community Service Award, the American Hospital Association’s Grassroots Champion Award and the NH Hospital Association’s Leslie A. Smith President’s Award. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: We had to make big, consequential decisions throughout the pandemic without the luxury of time and with imperfect information. That meant getting comfortable with being uncomfortable and always being ready to adapt quickly as conditions on the ground changed. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps right out of high school. I was only 17 and my mother had to sign my papers. That formative experiences still influences my values and leadership today.

• Business Excellence Award • Superior In-Home Care • Dependable, Trustworthy, Experienced Caregivers • Complimentary Assessments • Full Range of Services, 24x7

For More Information:

• • • •

Senior Gems® Program Parkinson’s Program Veteran’s Program Serving Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham & Strafford Counties

603.583.4580 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 43


New Hampshire Institute of Politics

NH’s Leading Business advocate Our mission is to promote a healthy climate for job creation and strong New Hampshire economy.

Where history is being made every day.

New Hampshire Institute of Politics

become a bia member www.anselm.edu/nhiop

biaofnh.com or

For over 20 years, Peter’s leadership of the Palace Theatre has brought Broadway to NH, paved the way for an ever-growing, successful Forever Emma Youth Theatre, initiated the renovation of the Spotlight Room, and resurrected the revival of The Rex. Thank you and Congratulations Peter Ramsey for your incredible dedication to the performing arts and the Palace Theatres!

Manchester, NH 603.668.5588 PalaceTheatre.org 44 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Peter Ramsey President / CEO, Palace Theatres


HOSPITALITY


H O S P I TA L I T Y Emshika Alberini CEO and Founder EA Food & Beverage, LLC Education: The Sages Colleges (MS) Career history: In the early 2000s, Alberini moved from Bangkok, Thailand, to New York to attend graduate school and worked for Fortune 500 companies like SEIKO and General Electric for several years. She founded Chang Thai Cafe in Littleton in 2008 in honor of her late sister, and her recipes have been included in national publications. During the pandemic, Alberini launched ready-to-drink nitro Thai tea and coffee, which have been featured in national media publications such as Beverage Magazine. What has you most excited about your company’s future? My readyto-drink beverages fit in today’s world where people don’t have time to cook or go to a restaurant. I’d like to develop more products that are accessible to my clients near and far. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I appeared on Food Network’s “Chopped” with Martha Stewart. Industry advice: Forbearance; being patient is important. In a changing world, we need to adapt, which may take longer than we think. Focus helps everyone be more productive and make things happen. Flexibility is needed when plans change, especially with work-life balance. Make sure you have fun and are doing what you love.

Tom Boucher CEO and Owner Great NH Restaurants T-BONES, Copper Door, CJ’s, Cactus Jack’s Education: Merrimack College (BS) Career history: Boucher graduated from Merrimack College with a bachelor’s degree in 1987. He earned a full academic scholarship to attend Villanova University, but forwent this opportunity because he fell in love with the restaurant business. Over the next five years, he worked his way up through T-BONES to become general manager. Tom was then brought on as a founding partner of Cactus Jack’s, which opened in 1995. He held the store’s general manager position until 1998, when he took on additional responsibilities as the director of marketing and subsequently director of operations for T-BONES & Cactus Jack’s. In 2004, Tom became CEO. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: The past year and a half has been the most challenging in my professional career. The uncertainty in those first few weeks left us not knowing how we would keep our doors open. I will remember the evening of March 16, 2020, for the rest of my life — having to lay off some 600-plus employees via our private Facebook group page was something I never imagined having to do.

Michael Buckley President Michael Timothy’s Dining Group

Jeff Cozzens CEO, Co-Founder Schilling Beer Co.

Career history: Buckley started as a dishwasher in 1976 in Brookline and worked at many different restaurants along the way, including a stint in Germany’s Black Forest when he was 20. He was executive chef at Levi Lowell’s before launching his own restaurant with his wife, Sarah, in 1995. They now own and operate seven different operations — the newest one being Buckley’s Bakery & Cafe in Hollis. Most important business lesson: Be a positive coach for all members of your team and encourage all members of the management team to do the same. It’s the only good way to build a business that can enrich the lives of those who work for you. Industry advice: Develop a core of strong leadership and emphasize positive coaching and team building. Our industry is facing a serious labor challenge, and retaining good staff is imperative to survival. Don’t be afraid to lead by example, even if it means you have to jump in the dish pit once in a while. Working in the trenches helps build solidarity among the crew and builds respect. What’s next? We are looking forward to expanding our Surf concept, exploring locations in northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.

Education: Wheaton College (BA), Michigan State University (BA), University of St. Andrews (MLitt) Career history: Cozzens started his career as a counter-terrorism professional right after 9/11, a role he held for over a decade, leading the Al-Qaeda portfolio at the U.S. Army Chief of Staff’s think tank and advising the military. In 2013, he decided to fulfill his dream of brewing his own beer and co-founded Schilling Beer Co. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: The pandemic brought out the best in our team. We pivoted constantly, always thinking outside the box and simply got it done. What has you most excited about your company’s future? As a brewery owner, I’m pleased to see American craft beer drinkers embrace lagers once again. In terms of Schilling’s future, watching our team refine and develop our methods and liquids across the board continues to be humbling and exciting. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I’m distantly related to American frontiersman, congressman and soldier Davy Crockett. I grew up hearing stories about him whittling with his feet up on the family wood stove in Tennessee. Industry advice: Never forget the people and communities that have supported your business. Craft breweries and Granite State communities should always be the best of friends!

46 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


H O S P I TA L I T Y Robb Curry Co-Owner Madear’s Southern Eatery & Bakery Education: Southern New Hampshire University (BS) Career history: Curry co-owns Madear’s Southern Eatery and Bakery with his life partner, Kyle Davis, with whom he co-founded Queen City Pride NH. Prior to moving to New Hampshire, he owned and operated Madear’s Cucina, a catering company that specialized in southern and Italian cuisine. He’s been in the restaurant industry for more than 20 years, working his way from his mom’s bar to beverage director for a small restaurant group in Newton, Mass. He still offers consultant services, bar classes and hugs in heels whenever time permits. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? I’m most excited to see our industry go back to the basics of hospitality. With the pandemic, it’s shown a lot of restaurant owners that to survive, you have to keep yourself on the front line. A lot of owner/operators are back in the kitchens, cooking, bartending and even hosting and serving. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I think with my personality. Most would be surprised that my favorite movie is still “The Little Mermaid.”

Joe Faro Founder & Owner Tuscan Brands Career history: With more than 27 years of experience in the food industry, Faro grew up appreciating the true artisan craftsmanship behind creating great food. While he started working at his parents’ bakery as a child, it was at the University of New Hampshire that Faro’s ambition surfaced. Faro entered his concept for Joseph’s Gourmet Pasta and Sauces into the UNH Whittemore School’s Holloway Prize Competition, and won second place. Over the next 18 years, Faro grew Joseph’s Gourmet Pasta and Sauces from a college business plan to a company with more than $60 million in revenue. In 2006, Faro sold the company to Buitoni, a division of Nestlé Prepared Foods. After a brief retirement, Faro was onto his next project: Tuscan Kitchen and Market in Salem, NH — a brand now recognized throughout New England for creating a true artisan Italian experience. Tuscan Brands has since expanded into Burlington, Mass., Portsmouth, NH, and Seaport Boston. Joe’s newest development, Tuscan Village, has transformed the historic Rockingham Park into a 3-million-square-foot, mixed-use regional destination including, but not limited to, 900 residential units, 800,000 feet of retail, two hotels, 1 million square feet of office space and two regional medical centers, at Exit 1 in Salem.

Stephen Duprey President and Owner The Duprey Companies Education: Public Policy New College (BA), Cornell University School of Law (JD) Career history: Duprey was associate and partner at Sulloway & Hollis from 19781987 and is currently owner and president of The Duprey Companies. He practiced land-use law, helping nonprofits and for-profit developers permit and finance affordable housing, then transitioned into commercial and hospitality development and management. Most important business lesson: Always have a plan B, and a plan C and a plan D. Interesting book: “Empire of the Summer Moon” by S. C. Gwynne, a fascinating, hard-to-believe true story about the last of the Comanches. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I served as John McCain’s Secretary of Fun from 2007-2018. Industry advice: Be positive. Hospitality has a great future in New Hampshire. Hobby/passion: Fly fishing – zen on New Hampshire streams.

Eric Goodwin Managing Member The Friendly Toast & Goodwin Recruiting Education: Plymouth State College Career history: Goodwin is the founder and president of Goodwin Recruiting, which is a leading expert in the hospitality industry, offering management recruiting, feedback programs, support in recruiting and exit interviews and more. In 2014, Eric was named Restaurateur of the Year by the NH Lodging and Restaurant Association. In 2019, Business NH Magazine ranked Goodwin & Associates Hospitality Services a Top Family-Owned Business. Most important business lesson: If you take care of your team and provide them with all the resources and support they need to be successful, then your business success will take care of itself. What has you most excited about your company’s future? The Friendly Toast will have five new locations in the next year, and we’re taking our all-day brunch and bar concept to new locations throughout New England. Our culinary-driven focus and positive team culture has created momentum for us. Industry advice: Businesses should focus on offering exceptional employee experiences with higher pay and benefits, more traditional work hours and quality of life, and a respectful and engaging workplace culture that connects your team to your business’s vision.

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 47


H O S P I TA L I T Y Amy LaBelle Founder and Winemaker LaBelle Winery Education: Western New England College (BA), Temple University School of Law (JD), University of California at Davis (Certificate of Enology) Career history: Prior to opening LaBelle Winery, LaBelle served as senior legal counsel and then vice president of legal affairs at Fidelity Investments, where she practiced tax and benefits law in the context of mergers and acquisitions and employee benefits. Previously, she was an associate at various large law firms in Boston. LaBelle learned winemaking after an epiphany led her toward a path to opening LaBelle Winery. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Paying bills and taking care of my staff, 90 of whom were furloughed. I used daily communication and transparency to ensure my team was cared for, and that they would come back energized. What has you most excited about your company’s future? LaBelle Winery is opening our new winery facility in Derry dedicated to méthode champenoise sparkling wine production. We’re also eager to produce more educational television content with both PBS and other networks on wine and culinary pursuits. What keeps you up at night? The lingering effects of the pandemic on consumer confidence in hospitality businesses and the lack of staff concern me, but they don’t keep me up at night.

Rusty McLear President Meredith Bay Corp. Education: University of Notre Dame, Windham College Career history: McLear’s hotels and other developments have transformed Meredith, the Lake Winnipesaukee town where he has also lived for over 45 years. In 1979, he founded Old Mill Properties, and from 1983 to 2019, he was president and CEO of Hampshire Hospitality Holdings, which developed and owned the Mill Falls at the Lake and Marketplace resort complex, which includes Church Landing, Inn at Mill Falls, Bay Point at Mill Falls, Chase House and Mill Falls Marketplace. The properties were sold in April 2019 to TPG Hotels & Resorts. He was involved in a downtown Claremont rehabilitation project, creating the Common Man Inn & Restaurant in an old mill building. In 2013, he co-founded Granite State Hospitality, which developed and owns the Hooksett Welcome Centers on Interstate 93. Industry advice: The bigger you get, the more responsibilities you have, but you can’t get into these things and be scared all the time. I’ve had failures. Everything hasn’t been a bed of roses. But if you get into something, plan it well and execute it well, there should be a positive outcome.

48 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

David McGrath Executive Vice President and General Manager New Hampshire Motor Speedway Education: Metropolitan State University (BA) Career history: McGrath joined the speedway in November of 2011 and held various positions, including director of advertising and promotions, vice president of marketing and promotions, and vice president of corporate sales prior to being named executive vice president and general manager in 2015. Most important business lesson: Learn something new every day; it will help you grow professionally. Don’t be the smartest one in the room; surround yourself with a team of smart people. Toughest challenge: Changing property restrictions through the court system, so we could adapt to new challenges and opportunities, allowing us to grow our business. For over 20 years, NHMS had two NASCAR Cup Series race weekends per year, and when we went to one, that opened up challenges and opportunities for new events. Fun fact: I’m the youngest of 11 children, which includes eight brothers and three sisters. Industry advice: The foundation of building great teams is to learn your people and treat them how they want to be treated.

Jay McSharry Owner Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café, Moxy, Dos Amigos Burritos, Vida Cantina and other Seacoast restaurants Education: University of New Hampshire (BA) Career history: Nearly a decade after graduating from UNH in 1990, McSharry, a prolific restaurateur, returned to NH’s Seacoast to fulfill his vision and open Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café. Building on the restaurant’s success, McSharry went on to open numerous establishments in the region, including Dos Amigos, Moxy, Vida Cantina, The Franklin, The Railpenny Tavern, Mr. Kim’s, Luigi’s West End Pizzeria, and the recently acquired Street 360. Every establishment uses a composting system to keep unnecessary waste out of traditional landfills, and Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café features solar-powered hot-water panels. His seafood restaurants participate in the Coastal Conservation Association of NH’s oyster shell recycling program, an initiative that ensures local oyster populations have beds to thrive in. Serving on the boards of Share our Strength Seacoast and the Greater Seacoast Chamber of Commerce, he worked with a team to revitalize the Taste of the Nation Hunger Relief Gala and created Restaurant Week Portsmouth. He’s served on the board of The Music Hall, where he and his partners are loyal supporters, as well as Discover Portsmouth Center, Strawbery Banke Museum’s Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond and the NH Charitable Foundation.


H O S P I TA L I T Y Marty Parichand Founder Outdoor New England & Mill City Park

Peter Ramsey President and CEO The Palace Theatre

Education: UMass Amherst (BS), Fairfield University (MS) Career history: Parichand spent over 10 years as an avionics engineer and a program manager for a major aerospace company. He had a young family and was leading major programs and projects for the company. The consequences of that dedication were neglect to the other areas of his life that he valued. It took substantial change in his world to promote growth and the need for action, which led to the creation of Outdoor New England and Mill City Park. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? The future of our community in Franklin is by far the most exciting. Our mix of trails, whitewater and outdoor recreation is unparalleled. The Winnipesaukee River is the reason our mill buildings are here. The river will re-power our community through free outdoor recreation. This will reshape every facet of our community! Industry advice: It has to be about more than a trip, an overnight stay or dinner. I believe that the power of any hospitality experience lies in the personal connection, the human element. We have a great opportunity to connect the world around us to the things we love.

Education: Keene State College (BA), University of New Hampshire (MA), University of New Hampshire School of Law (JD) Career history: Ramsey was the founder and producer of Lakes Region Summer Theatre in Meredith. He became president and CEO of the Palace Theatre in 1999 and worked with the Palace board of trustees and civic leaders to reopen the theatre in 2000 after it had been closed. The Palace began to produce summer theatre for children, professional theatre year-round and invited many presenting shows to perform on its stage. Along with Mayor Joyce Craig and the City of Manchester, he worked to renovate and restore the Rex Theatre in October of 2019. He worked alongside the Palace board of trustees and volunteers to eliminate debt and create an endowment and a solid financial basis for the long-term growth of the Palace Theatre. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Remaining positive. Laying off 50 employees, but keeping the Palace open and operating was especially difficult. What would people be surprised to learn about you? When I was young, we lived next door to a summer theater. I’d fall asleep on summer nights with my window open, listening to the live music coming from the theater. My love for theater never left me.

Alex Ray Founder and Owner The Common Man

Scott Rice Owner Woodstock Inn Brewery

Education: Culinary Institute of America, Johnson & Wales University (honorary) Career history: Alex worked as a dishwasher and cook in North Conway during high school, including a summer as a cook at the Poland Spring Hotel in Gray, Maine. While at CIA, he worked night jobs in a manufacturing plant mid-week and at a French restaurant on weekends. He then started a career in institutional hospitality and landed a job running the cafeteria at Sanders Associates in Nashua. After discovering he wasn’t “corporate material,” he switched to selling restaurant equipment throughout New England. Then he saw an ad in the Sunday paper looking for someone to run a small motel and breakfast nook on Little Squam Lake. A year later, he opened the first Common Man restaurant in Ashland. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Encouraging those in our restaurant and hospitality business to continue growing and loving our family businesses. Fun fact: I’m the most frugal person I know. All of my clothes come from thrift stores. I turn off lights, air conditioning, etc. everywhere I go. Hobby/passion: I love and appreciate commercial architecture and repurposing old buildings.

Education: UMass Amherst Career history: Rice first entered the hospitality industry when he worked as a dishwasher in his hometown of North Attleboro, Mass. After college, he furthered his industry experience at the Jack O’Lantern Resort as a desk clerk, quickly moving up to a management position, which continued after college, teaching skiing in the winter and managing the resort in the summer. In 1982, Rice struck out on his own by purchasing an abandoned house that became The Woodstock Inn. Transformation and renovation took over 14 years, evolving the business into the Woodstock Inn Brewery, which has become a destination for all ages, with 39 guest rooms, a 30-barrel brewery, a function facility for events and some of the tastiest food in the North Country. Rice currently serves on various boards including NH Made, NH Workman’s Comp Trust Board, and the Town of Woodstock Planning Board, and is a past chairman of the NHLRA Board of Directors, for which he received the Lifetime Achievement Award. He also serves as a selectperson for the town of Woodstock.

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 49


H O S P I TA L I T Y Kim Roy General Manager Doubletree by Hilton Manchester Downtown Career history: Roy began in the hospitality industry as a busgirl at the Holiday Inn on Front Street. She worked in various positions there until 1983, when she was hired as administrative assistant to the general manager. From 1983 to 2004, she worked as front office manager, controller, rooms division manager, director of operations to the general manager. She has seen the property through three brand transitions and extensive renovations. Most important business lesson: In the service industry, we need to create a culture embracing employee satisfaction and in turn they will embrace delivering excellent guest service. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: It was heartbreaking to experience the building empty. We needed to mine for unique opportunities to remain solvent, while being reduced to a staff of 31. The toughest day was the day we had to lay off 80 percent of the team. Staffing has become the biggest challenge. Visitors are arriving faster than we can employ new team members. Hobby/passion: Being a good steward of the earth. Whether it’s by composting, attempting to eradicate invasive species, planting native species, recycling, raising bees, installing nest boxes — anything to assist Mother Nature.

Mike Somers President and CEO New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association Career history: At the NH Lodging and Restaurant Association, Somers is responsible for the association’s long-term strategy and performance, its day-to-day operations and driving its legislative efforts. Since joining in 2008, Somers has guided the association and its members through unprecedented industry challenges, including the Great Recession and the Covid-19 pandemic. Previously, Somers served as the tri-state manager for Southern Wine and Spirits and general manager of the former CR Sparks in Bedford. Most important business lesson: Leadership is only as strong as the team around you. Without a dedicated team, moving forward becomes challenging. I’ve been blessed with an incredible team that has worked tirelessly with me throughout the last 18 months. We could not have accomplished all that we did without their passion and commitment. Industry advice: The challenges we face will require innovation and real out-of-the-box thinking. Consider automation where you can build and drive a culture of family and community with your team. You can’t do this without them! Don’t give up. You have faced down the worst challenge, and you beat it.

50 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Tim Smith President and General Manager Waterville Valley Resort Education: Gogebic Community College (AS), Northern Michigan University (BS) Career history: Smith is a self-described “professional ski bum” with nearly a quarter century working in the industry. After working at a family-operated ski hill in his hometown, he went to school for ski area management. He bounced around a bit after graduation, working at — and eventually helping start up — small, independent Midwestern ski areas, and working in Colorado Vail Resorts. In 2008, he made his way to Crotched Mountain, where he helped develop the Crotched Rocket high-speed lift and expanded ski terrain. He was recruited to Waterville in 2014, where he has continued his passion for ski area development, while also rejuvenating one of New Hampshire’s greatest resort communities. Most important business lesson: Business is all about people. Toughest challenge: Maintaining balance in my life. As a business leader, community leader, an industry leader, a husband and a father, it can be hard to keep a healthy balance. Thankfully, my family is full of ski bums, so I find a lot of opportunities to multitask. Bucket list item: Heli-ski in Alaska.

Corrine Rober President Bear Rock Adventures Education: Curry College, UMass Boston Career history: Rober’s career started in her early 20s when she opened a fitness studio in North Conway and then a family restaurant, Margarita Grill. Bear Rock Adventures, an outdoor adventure outfitter, started in 2013 with ATV rentals. It has expanded to snowmobile rentals, glamping, lodging and and an extensive adventures retail space in Pittsburg. She has remained highly committed to the marketing and development of business opportunities in the Great North Woods through working with local clubs, organizations, leaders and the chamber of commerce to facilitate change and the promotion of tourism in the region. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Our business has found a unique pocket of adventure that fulfills the desire to explore without risk or extra effort. It also highlights one of the most beautiful parts of our state to new visitors and has been instrumental in increasing tourism in an area that has been struggling economically for several decades. We’re committed to “living adventurously and exploring responsibly.” What keeps you up at night? Finding ways to be a respectful community-based member while seeking growth opportunities for economic vitality.


LAW


L AW William F. J. Ardinger Shareholder Rath, Young and Pignatelli, P.C.

Steven Camerino Executive Director and CEO McLane Middleton, P.A.

Education: University of New Hampshire (BA), Harvard Law School (JD) Career history: Ardinger is a tax, corporate and business transaction attorney, representing clients in private transactions, regulatory affairs and lobbying matters before federal and state governments. Before joining Rath, Young and Pignatelli, P.C., in 1989, he was with Patton, Boggs & Blow in Washington, D.C. Most important business lesson: Treating all persons with respect and acting with honesty and integrity. Business success is premised on the old saying: “My word is my bond.” What keeps you up at night? Ensuring that New Hampshire continues to provide an excellent legal and business environment that attracts businesses, entrepreneurs and skilled workers to our remarkable state. What has you most excited about your company’s future? The successful recruitment of bright colleagues who will become leaders in their fields. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I met Tony Blair when he was visiting the U.S. long before he became prime minister.

Education: Dartmouth College (AB), Columbia University School of Law (JD) Career history: From 1983 to 2015, Camerino was the shareholder and managing director of the Concord office, and chair of the Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Practice Group at McLane Middleton. He served as the president and CEO of the NH Electrical Cooperative from 2015 until August of this year, when he was named CEO of McLane Middleton. Most important business lesson: It’s about the people. To achieve success, hire the right people and motivate them by conveying the importance of a company’s strategic vision and the value of achieving it. Each employee needs to understand the significance of their role in moving toward that vision. Hobby/passion: Skiing. It’s a passion that was passed down from my father, who grew up in pre-war Italy. As a boy, he and his family hiked up the Dolomites and skied down into the valley below. He emigrated to the U.S. at the start of WWII, and joined the 10th Mountain Division. I fell in love with the sport in the ‘60s when our family began coming to New England every winter. My kids learned to ski at a very early age, and they know their own passion for skiing today serves as a direct connection to their grandfather.

Bradford Cook Senior Shareholder and Past President Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green, PA

Sarah Mattson Dustin Executive Director NH Legal Assistance

Education: University of New Hampshire (BA), Cornell University Law School (JD) Career history: Cook has practiced law with Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green since 1973 in general practice and then focusing on nonprofits, including charities, educational institutions, churches, and corporate and estate planning and probate law. Over the decades, he has helped many institutions grow and prosper, and has been Secretary of the Board at SNHU for many years. He has been general counsel to Easterseals New Hampshire, and provided service to hundreds of New Hampshire families in their estate planning needs and, upon a relative’s death, the probate of estates. “Helping people and important institutions are the greatest accomplishments an attorney can have, and I have been very lucky to have been able to help, with the incredible help of colleagues here at this fine firm.” Most important business lesson: In business, as in life, the reliability of a person’s word is the most important trait he or she can have. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Having to work remotely and not interacting with clients face to face was the biggest challenge.

52 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Education: Harvard University (BS), Harvard Law School (JD) Career history: For 14 years, Mattson Dustin has been with NH Legal Assistance, a statewide nonprofit law firm providing civil legal aid to people with low incomes and older adults. She first worked as a staff attorney and Skadden Fellow and later oversaw NHLA’s legislative and regulatory advocacy, becoming executive director in 2018. She serves on the Board of Directors for Merrimack County Savings Bank and chairs the Board of Trustees for the Hopkinton Public Schools Foundation. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: We needed to deliver civil legal aid to as many people as possible — helping clients secure domestic violence protective orders or obtain unemployment insurance — at a time when many of our staff members were facing challenges such as school and child care closures. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Many jurisdictions are experimenting with “right to counsel” programs (i.e., ensuring that every tenant facing eviction has a lawyer), which reflects a growing recognition that delivering on America’s promise of equal justice depends on improved access to legal information and representation. What keeps you up at night? NH’s affordable housing shortage makes has pushed people into substandard or dangerous housing situations, which can profoundly affect their lives.


L AW Linda Johnson Director McLane Middleton, P.A. Education: Rivier University (BS), Boston University School of Law (JD) Career history: Johnson has worked for law firms for almost 50 years. As a teenager, she was a babysitter for attorneys and clients of a prominent Manchester law firm where her mother was a legal secretary. She went on to receive a college degree in paralegal studies and ultimately became a lawyer. Johnson initially focused on litigation, then employment law and now education law for independent schools. She has been at McLane Middleton for over 29 years, working to promote diversity and inclusion as well as the rights and opportunities of women, girls and the disadvantaged. Industry advice: Look for the opportunity in every day. Cultivate relationships. Maintain high standards of professionalism, courtesy and integrity. Treat everyone with respect. Be passionate about life and work. Maintain a positive outlook. Show your joy. Join your circles together. Be grateful. In short: work hard, do some good and have fun! Hobby/passion: Traveling the world with my children. There are so many fascinating places, cultures and people to visit.

McLane.com

CONGRATULATIONS TO NHBR’S NEW HAMPSHIRE 200 MCLANE MIDDLETON HONOREES:

Steve Camerino

Linda Johnson

Joel Maiola

Jennifer Parent

Chief Executive Officer

McLane Middleton GPS

Director, Litigation Dept.

Director, Litigation Dept.

MANCHESTER, NH / CONCORD, NH / PORTSMOUTH, NH WOBURN, MA / BOSTON, MA

Ovide Lamontagne Senior Of-Counsel Bernstein Shur Education: Catholic University of America (BA), University of Wyoming College of Law (JD) Career history: Lamontagne was the clerk for Judge James E. Barrett in US Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit; an attorney and shareholder with Devine Millimet from 1986-2013, specializing in complex commercial transactions and litigation; legal counsel for the NH State Senate in 1991; chair of NH State Board of Education from 1993-1996; Republican nominee for governor in 1996 and 2012; general counsel for Americans United for Life from 2013-2015; shareholder of Bernstein Shur from 2015-2021; and is member of the Board of Directors for Bernstein Shur, CASA, Daniel Webster Council, Easterseals NH, St. Mary’s Bank, BIA, Friends of NH Drug Courts, Greater Manchester Chamber, Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund and the Campaign for Legal Services. Awards include Distinguished Citizen of the Year, DWC; Charles Whittemore Award, CMC; and Guardian Angel Award, Catholic Charities NH. Most important business lesson: Put your clients’ interests first and do the best work you can for them and everything else will follow. Be honest, straightforward and compassionate with everyone in your business and professional life. Take them, but not yourself, seriously.

providing customized financial solutions through collaboration. Your business is unique. Our approach should be too. Our team of experts will work with you to find the right solution for your business.

Commercial Lending Solutions

Fully-insured Business Banking

Cash Management

We’re not just a bank. We’re your partner. Learn more at bankprov.com.

your deposits are insured in full.. bankprov.com | 877-487-2977

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 53


L AW Joel Maiola Senior Advisor McLane Middleton GPS

Jim Merrill Managing Shareholder, NH Bernstein Shur

Education: Keene State College (BS) Career history: From 1986 through 2008, Maiola served as chief of staff to the Honorable Judd Gregg as he represented New Hampshire as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, governor and in the U.S. Senate. Over those two decades, Joel gained invaluable experience and an intimate understanding of how to interact and communicate at all levels of government and beyond. Coupled with an understanding and firsthand knowledge of the political process, he has enjoyed bipartisan relationships on both the state and national levels, affording him the perspective and understanding to successfully build consensus and promote solutions. Most important business lesson: New Hampshire is a state where reputation and how you interact with people matters. Being trustworthy and thoughtful in how you approach people and issues is key to being successful. What has you most excited about your company’s future? I’m very lucky to be part of New Hampshire’s top law firm and partnering with Rich Sigel heading up McLane Middleton GPS. We can be bipartisan in our approach to representing a wide variety of clients that allows us to build consensus and find workable solutions to many of our state’s most complex problems.

Education: Gettysburg College (BA), University of New Hampshire (JD) Career history: After graduating from college, Merrill served on Gov. Stephen E. Merrill’s staff for over two years. Shortly thereafter, he attended law school and practiced real estate and land-use law after graduating while also developing a public affairs practice. Since 2008, he’s focused exclusively on serving clients as a public affairs, communications and government relations strategist. Over two decades, he has served as a senior advisor to the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush, Mitt Romney and Marco Rubio in New Hampshire. For over eight years, he has served as state director for the Bernstein Shur Group, and for nearly two years he has served as managing shareholder for Bernstein Shur. He is a trustee for the Nackey Loeb School of Communications and a member of the board of advisors for the Saint Anselm College Institute of Politics. He is also a past director of Easterseals NH, the Daniel Webster Council and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. Most important business lesson: My dad taught me several great lessons: To be humble, to be honest, to work hard and to never be afraid to ask for either help or work, because as he would say, “the worst anyone can do is tell you no,” which is better than not asking and not knowing.

Anu Mullikin Shareholder, President-Elect, Chair of the Trusts and Estates Practice Group Devine Millimet & Branch, P.A.

D. Michael Noonan Managing Partner Shaheen & Gordon, P.A.

Education: University of Massachusetts Lowell (BS), Boston University School of Law (JD), University School of Law, Graduate School of Tax (MLT) Career history: Mullikin began her career at Devine Millimet as a summer associate during law school. She later became a shareholder of the firm in 1999, becoming the chair of the Trusts and Estates Practice Group a few years later. She is a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the New Hampshire Estate Planning Council, and was recently elected to serve as president of Devine Millimet, effective January 2022. Industry advice: The private practice of law is hard but extremely rewarding. It takes time to develop expertise and build a client base, but once you do, you will have a long and satisfying professional career. What keeps you up at night? The difficulty in retaining employees at all levels and hiring people to replace employees. It takes a strong value proposition coupled with flexibility and out-of-the-box thinking, but I am very confident that the leadership in my law firm is committed to breaking the cycle of “hire, lose, replace” that many law firms have encountered in recent years.

54 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Education: University of Massachusetts at Amherst (BA), Boston University School of Law (JD) Career history: Noonan has been practicing law in New Hampshire since 1990. He joined Shaheen & Gordon after graduating law school and was elected a partner seven years later, beginning his first term as managing partner in 2007. He represents victims and their families in personal injury and wrongful death cases. What has you most excited about your company’s future? I’m thrilled by the number of young, new lawyers that have joined us in the last year. It’s exciting to watch the next generation grow and shape the company’s future. They are already helping to lead another exciting development: our increased focus on issues around diversity, equity and inclusion. What keeps you up at night? There’s a lot to learn in this new era. The challenge is matching up old employment frameworks with a workforce that has a different and evolving point of view. We need to figure out how to change to accommodate new mindsets without losing our focus and identity. Industry advice: Pay attention to the changes in the workplace. We can’t go back to the old “normal.” It’s time to be mindful, listen to employees and keep up with the changes.


L AW Jennifer Parent Director and Chair of Litigation Department McLane Middleton, P.A. Education: Boston College (BA), Suffolk University Law School (JD) Career history: Parent has worked with McLane Middleton since 1995. She’s been part of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Association, and was president for the National Conference of Bar Presidents, the NH Bar Association, the NH Women’s Bar Association and the New England Bar Association over the years, earning many distinctions and awards along the way. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Emerging technologies in the legal profession are opening doors to new opportunities. We continue to experience innovative ways to service clients and provide access to justice through technology. It is exciting to consider what is possible for the profession. Industry advice: Mentors are important. I am fortunate to have had, and continue to have, a number of mentors in my life. Having people who believe in you, encourage you, and want to see you succeed professionally and personally is invaluable. Most important business lesson: Nothing has highlighted the importance of adapting to unexpected change more than this pandemic. How we respond to change can make all the difference.

Ari Pollack Attorney and Shareholder Gallagher Callahan & Gartrell PC Education: Colgate University (BA), Boston University (JD) Career history: Pollack has worked as an attorney in private practice since law school. His current practice focuses on land-use law and environmental permitting. He represents commercial and residential developers, land-planning consultants and clients on a wide variety of real estate-related matters. Additionally, he is a registered NH lobbyist advocating for the NH Homebuilders Association and other private clients. Pollack serves as a commissioner for the Concord Housing and Redevelopment Authority, as chairman of the Legal Action Committee for the National Association of Homebuilders, and on the Government Affairs Committee for the Concord Chamber of Commerce. What keeps you up at night? Technologic advancement. While the convenience of technology offers many efficiencies, I worry that communications and interactions are losing a personal touch. Email and texting already lacked warmth. Internet-based conferencing seems to suffer from the same challenges. Industry advice: Slow down and think. It can be too easy to adopt the opinions or strategy of others. Don’t be afraid to start at the beginning, ask basic questions and make sure that the steps already taken also made good sense. Most important business lesson: Keep trying. Obstacles are inevitable, but strategic thinking and determination often leads to success.

“Mentors are important. Having people who believe in you, encourage you, and want to see you succeed professionally and personally is invaluable.” — Jennifer Parent, Director and Chair of Litigation Department, McLane Middleton, P.A.

Thomas Rath Founding Shareholder Rath, Young & Pignatelli, P.C. Education: Dartmouth College (BA), Georgetown University Law School (JD) Career history: After graduating from Georgetown Law, Rath clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Clarkson Fisher in Trenton, New Jersey. In 1972, he joined the NH Attorney General’s office as a prosecutor, eventually becoming deputy attorney general and then attorney general. He began private practice in 1980 and in 1987 helped found Rath, Young & Pignatelli, P.C. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? New Hampshire is an exciting place to practice because our economy is changing rapidly and attracting companies whose legal needs challenge all of us to match their innovation and creativity with representation with equal qualities. What keeps you up at night? I worry that we value speed over reflection, that in moving ahead we forget our basic values and that our technology limits our willingness to actually talk to each other. Hobby/passion: Biggest passions are my family, this firm and the Red Sox. My hobby is traveling with my wife, Chris. Bucket list item: I would like to go to Augusta to see The Masters and find a parking place in Portsmouth.

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 55


L AW

“Work hard, understand your business, know what you don’t know and learn it or get others to help, be honest and friendly, and treat everyone with respect.” — Sherilyn Burnett Young, Co-Founder, Chairman and Past President, Rath, Young & Pignatelli, P.C.

Teresa Rosenberger President Devine Strategies Education: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA) Career history: Rosenberger has worked in the federal government, nonprofit sector, legal community, publicly traded telecommunications industry and management consulting fields, and has served on local, state and regional boards. Most important business lesson: Communicate with and listen to your colleagues, clients and anyone you engage with for business. You’ll learn a lot by talking with them and listening. Respect, even if you do not agree with, others and their ideas. Toughest challenge: I had an accident resulting in a traumatic brain injury. I had to relearn how to walk, talk, cook, drive and work. I had to learn to ask for and accept help from others while regaining my confidence to reenter the workforce. Trust, perseverance and community put me back together. Hobby/passion: Travel. I love seeing and understanding different regions of the world, their culture and their people. My favorite trips have been trekking the gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda and also exploring Bhutan. Favorite part of living in New Hampshire: The people. This is a state of real community where we roll up our sleeves to help make it a better place to live, work and play for all.

56 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

James “Jim” Reidy Attorney Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green, P.A. Education: Assumption College (BA), Northeastern University (MPA), New England School of Law (JD) Career history: For over 32 years, Reidy has practiced on the management side of labor and employment issues at Sheehan Phinney. He is the co-chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice group, handling workplace issues for clients and conducting training sessions. He serves as a media source in his practice area, and has been recognized by Best Lawyers USA, Chambers USA, NE Super Lawyers, the BIA, the GSHRC and others. Most important business lesson: I have learned the importance of truly listening to clients before offering advice. The temptation is to size up a matter and, based upon years of experience, offer quick advice, but every matter is unique and clients deserve our undivided attention. Interesting book: “The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics” by Daniel James Brown. It’s one of the most compelling tales of real-life courage, perseverance and triumph I have ever read. Industry advice: Put in the time to understand the law and get to know your clients, their business, their concerns and unique needs. And with that information, provide timely, practical and cost-effective services.

Talesha Saint-Marc Shareholder Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A. Education: Franklin Pierce College (BA), Northeastern University School of Law (JD) Career history: Directly after law school, Saint-Marc completed a two-year legal clerkship for the New Hampshire Superior Court. The following year, she was honored to clerk for New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice Carol Ann Conboy. She joined Bernstein Shur in 2012. In 2019, she was promoted to a shareholder, and in 2021, she became the co-chair of the firm’s labor and employment group. Throughout her career, she has received several honors and recognitions, including the Sumner T. Bernstein Pro Bono award, the Union Leader’s 40 Under 40 (2019), Super Lawyers Rising Star (2018-2021), Chambers USA’s 2020 Up and Coming Labor & Employment and Ranked in Chambers USA (2021) Labor and Employment Law. Most important business lesson: Be respectful, be prepared and be persistent. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I love game shows, and I applied to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune when I was younger. I was told I made it through the initial rounds and that my name would be added to the lottery, but I haven’t received a call from Pat Sajak or Vanna White yet!


L AW William “Bill” Shaheen Shareholder, Director Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. Education: University of New Hampshire (BA), University of Mississippi (JD) Career history: Shaheen has been practicing law throughout New Hampshire for the last 48 years. In 1977, President Carter asked him to serve as U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire, a position that Shaheen held for four years. In 1981, he was appointed by Governor Gallen to be the District Court Judge for the Durham District Court, and held that position for 15 years. Also in 1981, Shaheen opened a firm with Steve Gordon, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., which has since grown to be the fourth largest in the state. Most important business lesson: As a lawyer, when people come to you with problems, you have to make their problems your own. You’re responsible for getting them through the tough times and need to dedicate your full measure. Success follows that. If you’re passionate about what you do, you do it well. Industry advice: We should always keep in mind that our industry is law and that’s more than a profession. Whether you receive compensation is not the primary concern. Once you have engaged with a client, getting paid is secondary; helping them is first and foremost. I think sometimes we forget that.

Sherilyn Burnett Young Co-Founder, Chairman and Past President Rath, Young & Pignatelli, P.C. Education: Cornell University (BA), UNH School of Law (JD) Career history: Young’s greatest source of pride is the founding and nurturing of law firm Rath, Young & Pignatelli, P.C. The firm was created in 1987 with only four attorneys and continues to grow. They attract talented and ambitious attorneys, and many of them have gone on to do other important work, such as becoming a U.S. Congresswoman, a federal district court judge, several NH state judges and legal counsel to governors. The firm’s accomplishments are tethered to a strong commitment to work-life balance, as most of their professionals have families of their own, and live in NH to enjoy their time outside of work. Rath, Young & Pignatelli is a family-friendly firm, yet they remain committed to obtaining the best outcomes for their clients. Most important business lesson: To be honest and forthright in your business relationships. Don’t let problems fester because you are avoiding conflict. It only gets worse. Fun fact: We started the firm when I had three children under age 3 (youngest were identical twins). It was a crazy time! Industry advice: Work hard, understand your business, know what you don’t know and learn it or get others to help, be honest and friendly, and treat everyone with respect.

Congratulations

We are proud to have you as our friends, colleagues and shareholders. Thank you for your continued exemplary service to our clients and community. Bradford E. Cook

James P. Reidy

Shareholder 603.627.8110

Shareholder 603.627.8217

Estate Planning | Non-Profit Law

Employment Law

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 57


Congratulations to our colleagues who have been selected among the State’s most influential Business Leaders Thomas D. Rath Sherilyn Burnett Young William F. J. Ardinger Rath, Young and Pignatelli, P.C. www.rathlaw.com

Concord (603) 226-2600 Nashua (603) 889-9952 Boston (617) 523-8080 Montpelier (802) 552-4037


MANUFACTURING


M A N U FA C T U R I N G Mark Caswell Site Head/General Manager Lonza Biologics

Kathy Garfield President Keller Companies, Inc.

Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS, Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership) Career history: Caswell worked in the biotech industry after leaving the military. He’s held various roles in engineering, maintenance and operations at the site and corporate levels. He works to transform organizations from site focus to corporate engineering and drive cultural efforts to focus on employee engagement. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? We are a contract manufacturing organization. We continue to see our industry grow and with the emergence of new modalities, there are always opportunities to bring key vaccines and medicine to the market in support of our customers’ goals. What keeps you up at night? Our ability to find good candidates to support our growth. Affordable housing is a big issue for people moving to the area, which a lot of businesses are struggling with as well. Industry advice: We need to continue to look for innovative ways to deliver new treatments to improve people’s lives. The pandemic demonstrated that we have the ability to rapidly meet the needs of critical crises. We need to take the same approach for other critical healthcare issues such as cancer.

Education: Colby College (BA) Career history: In prior years, Garfield was a municipal bond trader for Shawmut Bank and Tucker Anthony in Boston. Her career began at her family’s businesses in 1997, working with her grandfather and founder, Robert Keller, Sr. Her first job was investment manager and later promoted to treasurer, corporate secretary and now president of Keller Companies, Inc. and Robert R. Keller & Associates, Inc. She is also the treasurer and vice president of Kalwall Corporation, Structures Unlimited, Inc. and Keller Products, Inc. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Our businesses were deemed essential, so the biggest challenge was to keep our employees, vendors and customers safe. My team worked tirelessly to make sure we followed ever-changing rules, provided proper equipment/PPE and made remote work possible. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Architecture now understands that light is a critical component of human health. Kalwall provides diffuse daylight for people who live and work under our panels. We try to make the world a better place — one healthy, day-lit building at a time. Industry advice: I’m not sure we’ll ever have enough people to fill the job vacancies, so my advice would be to automate everything possible.

David Greer CEO Wire Belt Company of America

Rebecca Hamilton Co-CEO & Family Owner W.S. Badger Company

Education: University of Maine (BS) Career history: Wire Belt Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned manufacturing business Greer is proud to have been leading since 1990. The company grew internationally with the purchase of Wire Belt Company LTD in the U.K. in 1996 and Wire Belt Company Osterloh, GmbH, in Germany in 1998. He is chairman emeritus of the board of advisors for the UNH Center for Family Enterprise, from which he received a Lifetime Achievement Award, and is a board member of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire. Most important business lesson: It all begins with having clear values, sharing them and living them every day. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: How to keep our wonderful culture alive and growing while many worked from home and we couldn’t hold group functions. Hobby/passion: Playing in USA Volleyball National Championships and Huntsman World Senior Games annually. Industry advice: Read. Get out and talk with people. Show your passion.

Education: University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Hawaii at Manoa Career history: Hamilton is a second-generation owner and co-collaborative executive officer, leading marketing and sustainability initiatives at W.S. Badger Company, a natural and organic personal care manufacturer known for its unique company philosophy, pioneering family-friendly benefits and B Corp community engagement. Hamilton and her co-CEO and sister, Emily Schwerin-Whyte, were recognized as the Alnoba 2021 CEO Environmental Leadership Award recipients. An advocate for issues concerning the environment, ingredient transparency and societal change, Hamilton has spoken at the White House, addressed the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in support of organic and regenerative agriculture, testified before Congress on safer cosmetics and raising the minimum wage, and attended Senate and House briefings on Capitol Hill in support of family-friendly workplace practices and chemical reform. Hamilton also spearheaded the passing of Benefit Corporation legislation in New Hampshire, a for-profit status that incorporates the pursuit of positive environmental and social impact in addition to profit. She is currently serving a three-year appointment to the National Women’s Business Council, a nonpartisan federal advisory committee, charged with discussing potential solutions to the challenges facing national women business owners and recommending solutions to the administrator of the SBA, Congress and the president.

60 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


M A N U FA C T U R I N G Gary Hirshberg Co-Founder and Chief Organic Optimist Stonyfield Farm Education: Hampshire College (BA) Career history: Hirshberg led Stonyfield from its 1983 infancy as a seven-cow organic farming school to $365 million in annual sales when he stepped down as “CE-Yo” at the end of 2011. He is the author of “Stirring It Up: How to Make Money and Save the World” (Hyperion, 2008), and frequently speaks on topics including sustainability, organic agriculture and the profitability of green business. Most important business lesson: When the chips are down and you’re surrounded by skeptics, believe in yourself and your vision. “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” What would people be surprised to learn about you? I played in the first-ever intercollegiate ultimate Frisbee game (and scored the very first goal) on Mother’s Day, 1973. Interesting book: Nelson Mandela’s “A Long Walk to Freedom,” which is really a testament to faith, persistence and determination. It’s an inspiring read. Hobby/passion: I am passionate about helping organic farmers and young entrepreneurs who seek to help create a better, healthier world. Also, hiking, biking and being outdoors, especially in the wilderness. Bucket list item: Hearing a U.S. president declare organic to be a national priority.

“When the chips are down and you are surrounded by skeptics, you simply must believe in yourself and your vision.” — Gary Hirshberg, Co-Founder and Chief Organic Optimist, Stonyfield Farm

John Morison Chairman & CEO Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Emily Schwerin-Whyte Co-CEO & Family Owner W.S. Badger Company

Education: University of New Hampshire (BA) Career history: After graduating from UNH in 1976, Morison was employed by the Cabot Corporation in Kokomo, Ind., first as an inside sales rep then as a sales manager for the Benelux countries and France before becoming the manager for Latin American sales based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Since he joined Hitchiner as production control manager for Ferrous Operations, his other roles have included new business development manager, vice president of sales, president, international operations, president and CEO, and now chairman and CEO. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Determining the best course of action to ensure a safe work environment for all employees. What has you most excited about your company’s future? The implementation of new technologies that will allow the company to compete in our industry’s largest market. What keeps you up at night? The real prospect that the market for automotive investment castings will cease to exist during the next five to 10 years. Industry advice: Recognize that change is inevitable and that change isn’t necessarily bad.

Education: Oberlin College (BA) Career history: A second-generation family owner and co-CEO (collaborative executive officer), Schwerin-Whyte co-leads Badger’s strategic visioning and oversees its sales and product development. The company has received numerous awards and recognition, including Real Leaders, New Hampshire’s Business of the Year 2019, B Lab’s Best for the World and landing a spot on Forbes’ Small Giants list. Schwerin-Whyte and her co-CEO and sister, Rebecca Hamilton, were recognized as the Alnoba 2021 CEO Environmental Leadership Award recipients. Schwerin-Whyte has been a part of Badger since its founding, helping to pack boxes while in high school, and after graduating college, learning the operational side of the family-owned and family-run business before taking on leadership roles in customer service, marketing, sales management and product development. When she joined Badger full time, the company had only 25 employees. Today, it is a 90-plus person business, a leader in the natural products industry and a beacon within the B Corp movement for social responsibility and environmental sustainability. She is proud of the family-friendly benefits Badger provides and believes that businesses thrive when they operate responsibly, treat employees like family and invest in their communities.

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 61


M A N U FA C T U R I N G Thomas Taylor President & CEO Foxx Life Sciences

Richard G. Verney Chairman and CEO Monadnock Paper Mills

Education: Southern New Hampshire University (MBA), Ferris State University (BS) Career history: Taylor is an authority on practices and innovation in the medical and pharma market, holding over 30 patents and dozens of registered trademarks. Prior to founding Foxx in 2013, Taylor served in many roles, including as president of Roush Life Sciences and Nypro Medical Products Group; vice president at MilliporeSigma; director of sales and marketing at Pall Corporation (Gelman Sciences); board member of the BIA and Medical Products Outsourcing; former chairman of Mass Medic; and advisory board member for Nypro Forbes India, Radius Product Development and NPA. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Staying open, as we can’t operate remotely. We did everything possible for our employees’ safety to continue manufacturing for our pharmaceutical and vaccine customers. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Foxx’s growth came during the shift from stainless steel to single-use manufacturing, and is now a world leader in this new technology. The opportunities are endless. Fun fact: I made a YouTube channel with my wife, named “How to Have Fun Outdoors,” to promote work-life balance.

Education: Brown University (BA) Career history: After graduating from Brown in 1968, Verney began his career at Monadnock Paper Mills Inc. in Bennington in 1969, working for his father, Gilbert Verney, who purchased the then129-year-old company in 1948. Today, he serves as chairman and CEO of the 200-year-old paper manufacturer, the oldest continuously operating paper mill in the country. During his tenure, Verney has put the company’s focus on innovative products and reducing or eliminating environmental impacts and costs, working hard to make sure that the company’s supply chain is as sustainable as possible. Over his 50-year career, he has participated on several boards as a trustee, director, executive committee member, chair, vice president and trustee emeritus for educational, healthcare, business, trade and conservation organizations. Industry advice: The question is no longer “what did you do 10 years ago?” but “what are you going to do moving forward?”. And I think that question is only going to get louder. Living peacefully with the environment — more and more people are getting it. You can make a good hard case that sustainability is economically rewarding. You have to be able to think further than the next quarter or the next six months. We’ve learned it can be profitable.

David Worthen CEO Worthen Industries

Val Zanchuk President Graphicast, Inc.

Education: University of Washington (BA) Career history: Before becoming CEO of Worthen Industries, Worthen held various roles including instructor at Outward Bound, store manager for a Seattle outdoor retailer, operations manager for an Alaskan rafting company and a sailboat captain in the Caribbean. Worthen had been a business unit manager at Worthen Industries for over 20 years prior to becoming CEO. Most important business lesson: We are all about customer satisfaction and are generally customer driven, but sometimes you have to drive the customer to change. Not all that is measured is important, and not all that is important is measured. Have fun! Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Worrying and seeing others profoundly impacted. Our employees are amazing; they went above and beyond during this time. Sales plummeted, which required a lot of faith in the future and trust in our abilities to adapt and grow. Thankfully, sales are now very strong. Industry advice: Change is hard, particularly for manufacturers. In order to evolve for the future, you have to take risks that will sometimes fail and probably cost a lot of money, but that is better than being the buggy whip company.

Education: Lehigh University (BS, MSE) Career history: Zanchuk started out in R&D at Phelps Dodge Copper Corp., and then moved to a plant engineering job at New Jersey Zinc Company. He spent 12 years at Air Products and Chemicals in Allentown, Pa., developing markets for metallurgical applications of industrial gases. Zanchuk moved to New Hampshire to eventually become president of TAFA, Inc., a thermal spray equipment and materials company in Concord. During his 13 years there, he helped grow the business six-fold and sold the company three times. He left TAFA to become the majority owner of Graphicast, a Jaffrey-based manufacturer of industrial parts, where he’s been for 20 years. Zanchuk has served as chair of the BIA, and currently serves on boards representing educational, cultural and business interests. Most important business lesson: People don’t make mistakes, they make decisions. Some are better than others. Industry advice: Manufacturing is on the leading edge of applying technologies such as AI, data analytics, collaborative robots and others. It is an exciting place to be, but we still have to overcome the perceptions of this being a dirty and dangerous industry. Be an advocate for manufacturing in your community.

62 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


MEDIA AND MARKETING


M E DIA/MARKETING Mary Jo Brown Founder and President Brown & Company Design

Matt Cookson President & CEO Cookson Communications

Education: University of New Hampshire (BFA) Career history: In 1991, at age 26, Brown started Brown & Company Design, after working in the magazine industry, where she had worked her way up to an art director for two NH-based lifestyle publications. In 1997, she started Big Brown Books. Most important business lesson: Listening carefully is a key component to success. Always under-promise and over-deliver. Sometimes the question is more important than the answer. Honesty is always the best policy. Take good notes in meetings. Hobby/passion: My daughter and I have traveled a lot together. We’ve been swimming with manatees, volunteering in Central America, sketching at the Salvador Dali Museum in Spain, cruising on a tanker through the Panama Canal, and dog sledding in Alaska. Always up for an adventure, we’ve stayed in lighthouses, castles, tree houses, Scottish sheep farms, an old Norweigan fishing hut and in “Penny’s” spare room in the Aran Islands. While we have missed traveling recently, we are so thankful for all of our great adventures! Bucket list item: One? Are you kidding?

Education: University of Connecticut (BA, MA) Career history: Cookson has worked in communications roles in government, higher education, and the private and nonprofit sectors. Positions have included press secretary for a member of Congress, assistant director of government affairs at UConn, director of public affairs at PC Connection, associate vice chancellor at the University System of NH and executive director of the NH Tech Alliance. He founded Cookson Communications in 2010, and has been named to NHBR’s NH 200 list twice. He is also a 2003 Leadership NH alumnus and completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business entrepreneurship program. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Connecting with staff and clients. The disruptions were significant, but we adjusted our services to their rapidly changing needs. What has you most excited about your company’s future? It’s the confluence of an acceptance that the quality of messaging content is critical, and having outside partners is now a preferred model for many. It’s a win-win model with no geographic boundaries. Industry advice: Build relationships with your partner organizations. Develop a level of mutual trust, so the work becomes more valuable. Put ethics first, and ensure your team takes time off.

Zachary “Zac” Gregg Founder & Managing Partner Vital Design

Sean Owen CEO wedü & Talient Action Group

Education: George Washington University Career history: After years of success building companies across industries, Gregg founded Vital Design in 2001. Over two decades, Vital has become a national leader in website design/development, lead generation, digital marketing, paid digital marketing and e-commerce platform development. As managing partner, Gregg provides business and marketing insight to his clients, including VISA, Hitachi, Accenture, HubSpot, Reebok, Lindt, Welch’s, Sig Sauer and Montage Resorts, to name a few. With over 75 employees, Vital has offices in Portsmouth, Boston and San Francisco. Vital was recently recognized as one of Inc. Magazine’s 233 Top Places to Work in America, in addition to earning top spots on The Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing Private Businesses year after year. With Gregg’s vision, Vital has been able to get consistent, successful results for its clients worldwide. Gregg has been able to advise, lead and execute plans for companies that make a difference and help them achieve their loftiest goals. He’s currently board chair for the NH Film Festival and a board member for Cross Roads House.

Career history: Owen’s career has always focused on marketing and business growth. From the early days of print and direct marketing to the current work in the digital realm, he’s always concentrated on building a team of talented individuals who can explore unique and creative ideas. Most important business lesson: If you can constantly innovate in your field, you will have a highly engaged team and successful clients. Whether by yourself or the talent you surround yourself with, always be sure to plan, execute and measure correctly. Being the best doesn’t happen without paying attention to every detail of all business aspects. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: You can generally plan for your intended course and be ready to pivot should that be required. With the pandemic, there were more variables than we’ve ever faced before. Concentrating on our team and communications, being in sync on the next steps and pivots made us come out stronger. What keeps you up at night? New ideas. The hardest thing to do is slow down the flow of ideas to concentrate on executing the initiatives already started. The “what-if” scenarios that run through my head at night are fun, but not great for sleep patterns.

64 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


ME DIA/MARKETING E.J. Powers Partner Montagne Powers Education: Saint Anselm College (BA) Career history: Powers has successfully developed and executed strategic communications campaigns designed to help clients reach and influence audiences in their backyard, across the country and around the world. He provides strategic counsel and support to CEOs, high-ranking government officials, senior executives, and marketing and communications teams in a variety of industries, including wine and spirits, tourism, telecom, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, government, tech and nonprofit. Powers has secured coverage in prominent media outlets to help clients stay out of the spotlight while complex crisis communication situations. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Our team’s ability to take on a tremendous amount of complicated, serious work and perform at a high level excites me about our ability to serve more companies and causes throughout the region and beyond. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Navigating our busiest and most successful year while being first-time parents. Fun fact: I’m a shareholder of the Green Bay Packers and will be exercising the limited power this wields to ensure Aaron Rogers retires in green and gold.

“You’re only as good as your word, so keep your promises and make sure every client believes you are working the hardest for his/her best interests.” — Scott Spradling, President, The Spradling Group

Scott Spradling President The Spradling Group

Scott Tranchemontagne Partner Montagne Powers

Education: Syracuse University (BS) Career history: Spradling first arrived in New Hampshire in 1993 and took a part-time job at WGIR-AM, working as a board operator and newscaster on weekends, eventually moving to full-time radio reporting for WGIR-AM and WGIR-FM. In July 1996, he took a new post at WMUR, where he quickly became political director and news anchor for the next 12 years. In 2008, he struck out on his own with The Spradling Group, a strategic communications business designed to operate between media, politics and business, and has worked with dozens of clients since then. Most important business lesson: You’re only as good as your word, so keep your promises and make sure every client believes you are working the hardest for his/her best interests. Fun fact: I’m the lead singer of the 10-piece Scott Spradling Band. We perform year-round, mainly for fundraisers and private affairs, and we play everything from old Chicago to Billy Joel, Elton John and Maroon 5! Industry advice: Don’t burn bridges — this is a small state and people remember. Treat everyone with kindness and respect and doors will remain open to you. Favorite part of living in New Hampshire: The accessibility of NH’s leadership to build meaningful relationships that benefit everyone.

Education: University of New Hampshire (BA) Career history: Tranchemontagne was a journalist from 1988 to 1994, but left his position as the morning news anchor at WGIR-AM and Rock 101 FM to join a Manchester ad agency, where he remained for 13 years, learning the advertising and marketing trade, primarily focusing on public relations and political campaign consulting. In 2007, Tranchemontagne launched Montagne Powers with his business partner, E.J. Powers. Together, they have built a leading strategic communications firm that has worked with or currently represents some of NH’s most recognized companies and organizations in healthcare, hospitality, banking, higher education, utilities, manufacturing, technology, nonprofit and real estate development. Industry advice: Learn how to write very well and concisely. Good, tight writing is where effective communications begin, whether it be notes, talking points, speeches, press releases, social media posts or marketing materials. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: There was a great deal of uncertainty, which is very unsettling for business owners and employees alike. But I was very proud of the way our company adapted quickly to serve our clients, many of whom needed our communications services more than ever before. Most important business lesson: The more people you know, the more opportunities you’ll have.

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 65


M E DIA/MARKETING Jamie Trowbridge CEO Yankee Publishing

Terrence Williams President and COO The Keene Sentinel

Education: Dartmouth College (BA) Career history: Trowbridge has worked at Yankee Publishing for 33 years. He started by managing the production department, then worked on business development, became the publisher of Yankee, and since 2000 he’s been the CEO. Yankee Publishing was started by his grandfather, and now it’s owned partially by family members and partially by its employees through an ESOP. Most important business lesson: Persistence. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Yankee Publishing’s transition to employee ownership. It’s currently an 86-year-old business with 11 family shareholders who sold 30% of the company to an ESOP in 2019. The family is committed to selling 100% of the company to the ESOP over time and preserving the independence of the business. What keeps you up at night? The media industry continues to change at a terrific pace. It’s impossible to keep up with every new development, and it’s challenging to decide where to invest. Interesting book: “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson. How he built the Equal Justice Initiative and all he has accomplished to improve the lives of prisoners in the U.S. is really impressive.

Education: University of New Hampshire (BS) Career history: Williams has worked as a reporter with Foster’s Daily Democrat and The Lowell Sun; city editor for the Lowell Sun; metro editor for The Telegraph; managing editor, publisher and president for The Telegraph; and president and COO for The Keene Sentinel. He’s the recipient of several community and public service awards, including Nashua Telegraph 20/20 Leadership Award; The Max Silber Award from the Greater Nashua United Way; Journalist of the Year from the Nashua Police Athletic League; Ronald J. Krause Award from the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce; Citizen of the Year from the Greater Nashua Salvation Army; and the John Sias Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Nashua. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Providing trusted local news is still what excites me most about my job and the future. What keeps you up at night? How to continue to provide that trusted local news in an age of great market disruption leads to insomnia. Industry advice: Invest in news and tell readers/viewers/listeners why you’re doing it. Stay innovative.

Congratulations to all NH 200 honorees. Proud to be in good company.

Scott Tranchemontagne & E.J. Powers, Partners

66 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

www.montagnepowers.com


NONPROFIT


NONPROFIT Laurel Bistany Adams President Regional Economic Development Center Education: New Hampshire College (AS), Harvard University (BS), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS) Career history: Adams’ career has been dedicated to helping NH residents start and grow their businesses. Through that work, she has been privileged to be a part of the Leadership NH Class of 2016, the NH Union Leader 40 under 40 and the SBA Financial Services Champion of the Year. Most important business lesson: People need a chance. In particular, foreign-born immigrants and refugees face unique challenges when they relocate and reestablish themselves. If we give them the tools to start and grow businesses, they will do well. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? New Hampshire continues to thrill me as a place to live and work. I believe we have all the best amenities but a small-town feel that really fosters economic development and business growth. What keeps you up at night? Worrying about our clients’ businesses; the last recession and the pandemic have been most challenging. In particular, my service-industry clients are dealing with staffing shortages, the increased cost of food and the pressure of consumer confidence. The resiliency of these businesses is incredible, but I worry about their stamina.

Michael Apfelberg President United Way of Greater Nashua Education: University of Heidelberg, California Polytechnic State University (BA, MBA) Career history: Apfelberg worked in production, quality assurance and training for 20 years, which included co-authoring with his father a definitive text on the applications of statistical quality control in printing and publishing. After that, Apfelberg and his wife founded their own retail small business in Nashua, focusing on school uniforms, embroidery and screen printing. They earned the distinction by the Nashua Chamber as Small Business of the Year in 2012 and sold the business in 2015. At that point, Apfelberg transitioned his professional career to the nonprofit sector as leader of the United Way of Greater Nashua. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Creating a balance between what our organization does to address critical gaps in service and create broad-based collective impact. We’ve collaborated with a broad network of partners, but there have been instances where we tepped up into roles which are new, addressing needs unmet by other agencies. For example, distributing face masks to our nonprofit partners and the community at large wasn’t being done by anyone else, so we stepped up to distribute over 300,000 masks in greater Nashua.

Maureen Beauregard President and CEO Easterseals NH

Tom Blonski President and CEO Catholic Charities NH

Education: University of New Hampshire (BS, MA) Career history: Beauregard began her career as a child protective caseworker, and she’s never stopped advocating for the vulnerable and fragile citizens of New Hampshire. She founded and led Families in Transition through a series of mergers, acquisitions and strategic growth to become the state’s largest organization providing shelter/housing, food and related services to families and individuals. As the president and CEO of Easterseals NH, she led a talented team in guiding the organization through the pandemic. She initiated the first formal strategic planning process in the organization’s history. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Balancing the needs of vulnerable clients and exhausted yet dedicated staff during a time when the ground was often shifting beneath our feet. Centering the best interests of all parties to ensure services continued, whenever they could, safely and responsibly. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? The pandemic forces us to reimagine how we deliver services and our thinking around the workplace, technology and safety. There is much more to explore and our strategic planning process is allowing us to do just that. Hobby/passion: I love using my pedal kayak on Bow Lake. I get to see loons, eagles and their babies, and lots of other wildlife.

Education: Trinity College (BA), University of Connecticut (MBA), University of Notre Dame (Executive Certificate in Leadership & Management) Career history: Dince 2006, Blonski has been helping to expand Catholic Charities into one of NH’s largest private nonprofits. Under Blonski’s leadership, Catholic Charities continues to bring meaningful change to residents facing food insecurity, poverty, mental health challenges and other forms of hardship, while also expanding programs to address veteran homelessness, isolation among the aging population and transitional housing for single mothers facing homelessness. Blonski serves on the NH Supreme Court’s Character and Fitness Committee and the Board of Directors for the NH Center for Nonprofits, and is coordinator for Seacoast Family Promise. Industry advice: Get the “right people on the bus” and surround yourself with people smarter than you. Most important business lesson: Humility or, in Rotarian terms, “Service above self.” Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Learning how to adapt to a new world order where policies would change day by day. We had to be nimble, creative, supportive, empathic and over-communicative with staff, families and stakeholders.

68 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


NONPROFIT JerriAnne Boggis Executive Director Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire Education: Southern New Hampshire University (BS), Rivier College (MA) Career history: Boggis was office manager at Green Table Productions, where she was responsible for office activities and project development for Thomas Moore, a HarperCollins best-selling author. She was director of diversity programs and community outreach at the University of New Hampshire, where she developed and managed diversity-based programs and co-created the Black New England Conference, now in its 15th year. She was director of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, where she developed and implemented major programming, including the Elinor Williams Hooker Winter Tea Talks and Juneteenth Celebration. Additionally, she formed The Harriet Wilson Project to memorialize the NH author and mother of the African-American novel, Harriet E. Wilson. Most important business lesson: Perseverance, as they say, is truly the key to success. Bucket list item: Years ago, I created a bucket list of 100 things that I had to accomplish in this lifetime. Some of my deepest desires I had to let go — item No. 48, have dinner with Maya Angelou. Some I have faced and accomplished like a champion — item No. 78, go sky diving.

Eva Castillo Director NH Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees/Welcoming New Hampshire Education: Instituto Universitario de Nuevas Profesiones, Western Michigan University Career history: A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Castillo has a long history of working with and advocating for immigrants. She moved to the United States in 1975 to study at Western Michigan University, and she began her career at the nearby Hispanic American Council. In 1984, she moved to New Hampshire to work at the New England Farm Workers’ Council, and later at the Latin American Center in Manchester. She joined the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition in 2007 as organizer for the New Hampshire Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees project, eventually becoming director. She later took on direction of the Welcoming New Hampshire initiative. Castillo is also part of the steering committee for the New Hampshire Health Equity Initiative and the New Hampshire Immigrant Integration Initiative, and is a former member of the Manchester Police Commission, among many other activities. In 2017, she was honored with the 2017 Martin Luther King Award from the Martin Luther King Coalition, and in 2016 received an Americanism Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution, given to naturalized Americans who have shown outstanding civic engagement.

“Follow your passion! Working in the nonprofit sector is about creating community change. Seek out a mentor or become a mentor. Collectively, we can do so much more.” — Diane Fitzpatrick, CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Manchester

Diane Fitzpatrick CEO Boys & Girls Club of Manchester Education: New England College (BA, MEd) Career history: Fitzpatrick has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, marketing and B2B development. Over her career, she has held various positions, such as a kindergarten teacher and dean of admissions at New England College, in addition to working at the NH Center for Nonprofits. She currently serves on the boards of St. Mary’s Bank, Greater Manchester Chamber, Manchester Proud Council and the Manchester Regional Advisory Board for NH Charitable Foundation. What has you most excited about your company’s future? The BGCM has an incredible board of directors and staff dedicated to making a difference in the lives of the kids we serve. Our organization will continue to create partnerships that will help us tackle the challenges our kids and families are facing. The nonprofit sector is strong here in Manchester. This strength will continue to guide us to work collectively to support our kids. I’ve loved being a part of a team that continues to bring new solutions to our schools, nonprofit partners, families and kids. Industry advice: Follow your passion! Working in the nonprofit sector is about creating community change. Seek out a mentor or become a mentor. Collectively, we can do so much more.

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 69


NONPROFIT Yvonne Goldsberry President Endowment for Health

Natalie Jutras Director of Development Boys & Girls Club of Manchester

Education: Brown University (BA), Columbia University (MPH, MSUP), George Washington University (PhD) Career history: Goldsberry serves as president of the Endowment for Health, a statewide nonprofit foundation dedicated to improving the health of New Hampshire’s people. Previously, she was vice president of population health at Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene, and served as administrator of the Community Public Health Development Unit for the NH Division of Public Health Services. Goldsberry has also held leadership positions at Home Healthcare Hospice and Community Services in Keene, Washington Business Group on Health, and George Washington University Center for Health Policy Research in Washington, D.C. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Navigating ethical issues while following the guidance of science, and supporting our staff to move our office operations entirely remote and then slowly reopen. Industry advice: Philanthropy provides funding to help solve some of the most important community problems. We can take risks that other organizations can’t by giving grants that fill funding gaps or support operating costs without expectation of financial returns.

Education: Saint Anselm College (BA), Wagner College (MBA) Career history: Jutras has held several titles through the years, but they all centered around people and community. She finds that working for the good of others is powerful and sustaining, and considers it an honor to help raise much-needed money for an organization whose sole purpose is to serve children well. Jutras helps to empower her organization and others to create safe spaces for kids to be kids, supporting them to be the best version of themselves. Most important business lesson: The most valuable thing someone can give to you is their time. The time and talent people share in the service of others can create endless opportunities. What has you most excited about your company’s future? I appreciate our CEO’s passion for best serving our members. She is aware of the social, economic and emotional factors they face daily and works tirelessly for the Club to have a more extensive reach and footprint in Manchester. Industry advice: Be YOU! Authenticity is an incredible gift to those around you. You’re not always going to get it right, but if you’re genuine, thoughtful and open to learning, professional and personal growth will follow.

Mary Ann Kristiansen Executive Director Hannah Grimes Center

Donnalee Lozeau Executive Director Southern New Hampshire Services

Education: Gustavus Adolphus College (BA), New York University (MPA) Career history: Kristiansen is the founder and executive director of the Hannah Grimes Marketplace and the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship, and co-founder of the Radically Rural Summit. Most important business lesson: Keep thinking that implementing that new idea is quick and easy. Even though it isn’t, it does make sure things get done. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Managing ongoing change and making decisions that were just a best guess. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? How resilient our local business community has been in the face of great change. We are well positioned to keep up with change and keep up the level of innovation that we are now well practiced at. What keeps you up at night? Not being able to get everything done in a day. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I’m camping out in a greenhouse this summer with my cat. Industry advice: Lots of great things are happening in the New Hampshire entrepreneurial ecosystem, and we should leverage all of that to work more strategically together.

70 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Education: Rivier University (DHL) Career history: Lozeau’s career has always focused on public service. She’s held many positions over the years, including working in the restaurant and catering industry, co-owning a couple restaurants, being elected as a state representative and serving as deputy speaker to Speaker Donna Sytek, and being mayor of Nashua. She is now the executive director of Southern NH Services, the Community Action Partnership for Hillsborough and Rockingham counties, serving people of low income on their path to economic stability. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: As a majority of our services are federally or state funded, the typical face-to-face service model that ensured compliance was turned upside down. The sheer amount of what had to be done thoughtfully, safely and quickly, along with launching new assistance — such as the CARES Act Housing Relief Program and Emergency Rental Assistance Program — with no “playbook” was daunting. Industry advice: Those working in the nonprofit sector should partner with each other. While we are operating a business, we should not be competitors. Duplication of efforts negatively impacts the limited dollars to carry out our work. Together, we can help those we serve reach their goals.


NONPROFIT Elissa Margolin Director Housing Action NH Education: McGill University (BA), American University Washington College of Law (JD) Career history: Margolin works to improve state and federal policy so everyone in New Hampshire has a place to call home. Since its founding in 2009, Housing Action NH has successfully secured appropriations for the Affordable Housing Fund, increased funding for NH’s homeless shelters, increased advocacy for federal resources, helped pass accessory dwelling unit legislation, created the Housing Appeals Board, successfully advocated for pandemic-related resources for housing stability and homeless shelter services, and protected the Workforce Housing Law. Margolin is the current chair of 3S Artspace, a volunteer with The Dance Hall, a SongWorks educator for Arts in Reach, a TEDx speaker and more. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: When we realized that residents and staff in homeless shelters needed quick resources and operational support, and that renters would need help paying rent. Industry advice: My two cents for advocates: Listen to your stakeholders’ needs; translate those needs into quality policy proposals; back up “asks” with solid data and good messengers; meet policymakers where they’re at; and respect the process.

Sharron McCarthy CEO Girls Inc. NH Education: Nichols College (MS) Career history: Sharron worked in publishing for over 30 years, working for weekly, daily and monthly publications around New England. Previously, she was the publisher of New Hampshire Magazine, NH Business Review, Parenting NH, New Hampshire HOME and custom publishing projects. After serving three years as a board member, McCarthy joined the nonprofit Girls Inc. NH as CEO in 2020, using her business connections and management, event and business development skills to grow the organization. Most important business lesson: Nothing replaces hard work and defined goals. Success comes through effectively managing people who are engaged and focused. Positive attitude, aptitude and energy combine to create great co-workers. Relationships are key, and confidence and decision-making are critical management skills. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Not having the girls in our centers for a few months was very difficult. We quickly adapted to virtual programming and came up with drive-thru care packages for girls and their families, it was tough knowing they were often not in ideal situations. Industry advice: Place great value on your team. Respect differences and encourage ideas. Give credit where it’s due, along with positive feedback. Let people know when they’re off track.

Congratulations for Leading Dwight, JerriAnne, Laytona, James and Deo! – BAPOC-NH AND THE CREW

Congratulations from the MBGC Board Natalie Jutras Director of Development

Diane Fitzpatrick Chief Executive Officer

555 Union Street Manchester, NH (603) 625-5031 www.mbgcnh.org

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 71


NONPROFIT Richard Ober President and CEO New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Education: Plymouth State University (BA) Career history: Before being appointed president of the NH Charitable Foundation in 2010, Ober was executive director of the Monadnock Conservancy and vice president at the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. He has served on many nonprofit boards and public commissions, including several gubernatorial appointments. As an independent journalist and author, Ober’s work has been published in books, magazines and journals. He has been grateful for recognitions and awards from the Environmental Protection Agency, the state of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University and Antioch New England. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Our foundation, philanthropy and the broader nonprofit sector are increasingly focused on the fundamental inequities that keep the country from realizing its true potential and highest values. Addressing systemic racism, declining social mobility and the increasing wealth gap will define more of our work in the coming years. That is deeply challenging, critically important and exciting all at the same time. Industry advice: Stay in it for as long as you are passionate about the work and satisfied that you are doing it the best you can, but not a day longer.

Kathleen Reardon CEO New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits Education: College of the Holy Cross (BA), Wesleyan University (MALS) Career history: As CEO of the NH Center for Nonprofits, Reardon is dedicated to advancing the visibility and strength of our state’s nonprofit sector. In 2020, she was appointed to GOFERR’s stakeholder advisory board, where she successfully advocated for the creation of a dedicated nonprofit relief fund that awarded $40 million. Prior to her work at the Center, Reardon held leadership roles at Citizens Bank in corporate giving, public affairs and community development. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards and is currently the vice chair of the board for the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Nonprofits showed their resilience and determination in the face of the pandemic. They stepped up to meet increased needs, adapted programs, built new partnerships and will continue to be wellsprings of hope for our communities. Bucket list item: To visit all our national parks.

72 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

“Your voice is your most important tool. When you speak up, people will listen, and when people listen, things will start to change.” — Ronelle Tshiela, Co-Founder, Black Lives Matter Manchester

Kristi Scarpone Director of Corporate Relations and Field Development Strategy For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Education: University of New Hampshire (BS), Notre Dame College (MEd) Career history: Scarpone started her career as a kindergarten teacher, which set her on a path of compassionate, service-oriented work, such as fundraising for organizations like the American Heart Association, Transplant Recipients International Organization and the American Lung Association. Scarpone later transitioned into nonprofit coaching and consulting, working with various global nonprofits. In 2015, she joined FIRST, the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM education, and has served on the board of directors for Families in Transition, Girls at Work and Global Force for Healing. Most important business lesson: During the pandemic, many of the “currencies” the nonprofit sector typically operates on — donations, volunteerism — were stressed in ways we have never experienced. The power of “relationship capital” emerged, and we were able to continue our work and fulfill our missions. Never underestimate the currency of people’s grace and ingenuity. Industry advice: Ground yourself in the power of your mission, and be a conduit for generosity and contribution.


NONPROFIT Marcia “Marty” Sink President & CEO CASA of NH Education: Springfield College (BS), Saint Anselm College (LLD) Career history: Sink has been the CEO of CASA of New Hampshire for the past 32 years. She has devoted her time to working alongside a dedicated group of individuals who helped launch CASA and guide it through various stages of growth, with hundreds of volunteers serving over 10,000 young victims of child abuse and neglect. Most important business lesson: I have learned that staying true to your mission is critical, while also being open to change as the world around us changes constantly. Compassion, justice and integrity are three values I hold dear. Industry advice: Build strong relationships. We are forever students and can learn from each other. The NH culture offers us the unique opportunity for important relationships to form, strengthen and be sustained while we pass through various stages of our organizations’ growth. Exploring and creating new connections continuously is one of the keys to remaining strong. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: The pandemic forced me to strengthen my leadership skills and look differently at the way we delivered CASA’s essential service. A strong team and lots of creativity was critical to keeping our ship afloat.

Ronelle Tshiela Co-Founder Black Lives Matter Manchester Education: University of New Hampshire (BA) Career history: Tshiela is co-founder of Black Lives Matter Manchester, and in 2020 she served on the NH Commission on Law Enforcement, Accountability, Community and Transparency. She also serves as vice chair of the Mayor of Manchester’s Multicultural Advisory Council. Tshiela has received several honors, including being named 2020 Progressive of the Year by the NH Young Democrats. She was also named a 2020 AmplifiHER honoree by the NH Women’s Foundation. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Organizing a cause for racial justice while balancing the interests of my community, knowing that the pandemic has disproportionately affected Black people. What keeps you up at night? While I am excited/proud of the work that my organization does, I worry about the world we will leave behind for others if we can’t make substantive change. Industry advice: Your voice is your most important tool. When you speak up, people will listen, and when people listen, things will start to change.

Helping People. Changing Lives. Southern New Hampshire Services (SNHS) is one of five nonprofit Community Action Partnerships in New Hampshire and serves Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties. Using data derived from community assessments SNHS develops programs designed to provide low-income community members with vital services, and to connect them to opportunity. SNHS meets the urgent and immediate needs of individuals and families in many areas including employment, nutrition, housing and education, while working to address the causes of poverty within the community. Addressing problems and barriers which prevent individuals and families from moving toward self-sufficiency is central to the mission of SNHS. As Executive Director of Southern New Hampshire Services, Donnalee Lozeau exemplifies the culture of “helping people, changing lives.” As a lifelong citizen of New Hampshire, and with previous experience as Mayor of the City of Nashua, Citizen Legislator and Deputy Speaker of the NH House of Representatives, Donnalee brings a wealth of community collaborations and partnerships, along with a passion for helping to improve the lives of others, to the Community Action network in New Hampshire. The Board of Directors and staff of SNHS congratulate Donnalee on receiving this recognition and thank her for her continued support and dedication to the Promise of Community Action.

Toll Free:

(800) 322-1073 Find us at

www.snhs.org CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2021 NH200

LIFE IS BETTER IN COMMUNITY Discover the financial advantages of a New Hampshire retirement. Choose a hassle-free life filled with friends, adventure, and the promise of excellent health care if and when you need it. Visit today: RiverWoodsGroup.org

RiverWoods Exeter, NH residents Betsy, Pam, & Lourrie New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 73


NONPROFIT Patrick Tufts President and CEO Granite United Way Education: Missouri State University (BS), University of New Hampshire (MS) Career history: Tufts serves as president and CEO of Granite United Way, NH’s largest United Way and the collaborative merger of six separate United Ways with over 22,000 donors and volunteers. This United Way serves 80 percent of New Hampshire and a large part of Vermont and raises $12 million annually to serve these communities. Prior to his current role, Tufts was the vice president of resource development at the United Way of Greater Portland. During that time, he was responsible for the strategic direction and implementation of annual campaigns that rose over $26 million from 2003 to 2005. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: I witnessed many instances where people came together and lifted struggling communities. I am so proud of the way NH organizations stepped up for each other. At Granite United Way, I saw the needs shift to some of the most basic, with countless mobile food pantries keeping dinner tables full to the 350,000 calls that came in through our 211 NH information and resource line. Most important business lesson: Don’t be afraid of making mistakes; just don’t make them twice!

Michael Wilson Chief Financial Officer New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Education: Bates College (BS), London School of Economics (MS) Career history: Wilson leads the NH Charitable Foundation’s investment and finance functions, managing more than $1 billion in investments across the full range of asset classes. He has held senior finance and operations positions in the business and nonprofit sectors in the U.S. and in England. He spearheads the Foundation’s program on impact investing and speaks frequently on the topic at national nonprofit conferences. Most important business lesson: Try to maintain a long-term perspective, as the gyrations of business, society and the media can encourage too short term a view. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Nonprofits provide critical services in our society and will continue to do so. It is a blessing to be able to work in the sector. Bucket list item: Living in a world where we are acting on climate change. We must not leave this burden for future generations. Industry advice: Our work is founded on trust. Regularly act on and think about what you need to do to sustain that trust.

Congratulations, Maureen Beauregard! Thank you for your unwavering dedication to the people Easterseals serves throughout New Hampshire. Your ongoing commitment to improving lives is an inspiration. On behalf of your friends and colleagues at Easterseals New Hampshire, congratulations on being recognized as one of the Top 200 Business Leaders in New Hampshire!

74 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


REAL ESTATE


R E A L E S TAT E Dick Anagnost President The Anagnost Companies

Eric Chinburg President Chinburg Properties

Career history: Anagnost is the transformational leader and a dynamic force in the ongoing renaissance of Manchester, as he helps to revitalize the state’s largest city and change its skyline. The president of Anagnost Investments, Inc., Anagnost has over 37 years of demonstrated achievements in industrial, commercial, residential and land development. Through a public-private partnership with the city, he spearheaded the conversion of many significant properties in the downtown and renowned Millyard districts. Toughest challenge: We have made multiple attempts to solve the affordable housing crisis. This is probably New Hampshire’s largest problem when it comes to attracting an educated and competent workforce, which in turn brings businesses to support our state. What has you most excited about your company’s future?: Two of my three sons have graduated college and are positioning themselves to take over the family business. My third son is in college with the same goal. This ensures the perpetuation of our companies for the next generation. Fun fact: I was born in Manchester and am a product of the Manchester school system. Interesting book: “Alexander the Great.” I read it during a trip to Greece for my son Alexander’s wedding.

Education: University of New Hampshire (BS) Career history: Chinburg Properties began building single-family homes in 1987. In 1996, Chinburg began creating downtown housing, via urban infill projects. Over the past 25-plus years, the company has preserved numerous historic mills and schools in many New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts communities. In addition to preserving these iconic structures, invigorating downtown economies and providing much-needed housing, Chinburg projects are known for unique design aspects that creatively incorporate original materials. Toughest challenge: Managing the company through the Great Recession and having to make the hard decisions to survive, including reducing our workforce by two-thirds. It was a very rocky road, but the company survived and became stronger and more disciplined. It now employs over 140 people and many more subs and vendors. Most important business lesson: Under-promise and over-deliver. Return calls and emails within 24 hours. Communicate with your customers. What has you most excited about your company’s future? I love being part of a talented team that looks forward to continuing to change the landscape for the better and continuing to create unique places for people to live, work and play.

David Choate Executive Vice President Colliers International

Dean Christon Executive Director and CEO New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority

Education: Lafayette College (BA) Career history: Choate has been involved in commercial real estate for almost 40 years, with transactions over $400 million in leases and sales. Before entering the real estate field, he ran two different chambers of commerce, including the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, which brought him to New Hampshire. Prior to his chamber work, he worked in retailing in Boston and started his professional career teaching French at two New England private schools. Most important business lesson: Treat everyone with respect and bend over backwards to try and fulfill even the smallest request, because it will come back to you in spades. Some of my largest clients today are a result of a willingness to work with them when their initial, small requirement was of no interest to my competitors. Industry advice: I think people entering or remaining in commercial real estate need to always remember that service and responsiveness are key to maintaining relationships and repeat business. Hobby/passion: I love the challenges real estate presents on a daily basis. The “art of the deal” allows me to utilize many different skills and interact with a wide variety of people.

76 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Education: Saint Anselm College (BS), University of Massachusetts Amherst (MPPA) Career history: Before joining NH Housing Finance Authority in 2007, Christon previously served as chief operating officer and assistant executive director at NHHFA. He also was staff director for the Joint Committee on Review of Agencies and Programs for the New Hampshire General Court. Most important business lesson: Be introspective and continually challenge key assumptions. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? NH’s strong economy is dependent on the availability of a diverse and adequate supply of housing. Increased understanding among public and private thought leaders in our state makes me more optimistic that we can work together as a community to help reduce the impediments to housing development that have led to high prices and limits on choice. Industry advice: People have many misconceptions about “affordable” and “workforce” housing. If you’re going to work in this area, you need to be patient and persistent. Favorite part of living in New Hampshire: The small size of our state and the accessible nature of our government makes it possible for people to come together to address issues effectively and encourages a culture of civic engagement.


R E A L E S TAT E Bernard “Ben” Gamache Owner Gamache Properties Education: Southern New Hampshire University (AS) Career history: Gamache started in real estate when he was 18 with the purchase of his first building, financed by St. Mary’s Bank. His father taught him how to do plumbing, heating and construction repairs, so he could do his own repairs on the buildings he was buying and keep the cost of ownership at a minimum. Over the next 10 years, he acquired over 1,800 apartments and built a management company to manage the properties. He entered the commercial real estate industry by acquiring malls, office buildings and mills. Toughest challenge: Maintaining good rental occupancy and keeping operational costs down through the late ‘80s and early ‘90s recession that New Hampshire experienced. Most important business lesson: Learn to maintain conservative investment values and work at keeping your clientele happily living and working in your properties. Industry advice: If you choose to enter real estate by apartment rentals, buy two buildings — one to rehab, fill and sell, the other one to rehab and keep. Then, with the money that you have from the one you sold, buy two more, rehab and sell one and keep the other. Repeat 10 times, and in five years you’ll have 10 buildings in inventory and enough cash flow to live off of.

Carmen Lorentz Executive Director Lakes Region Community Developers Education: The George Washington University (BA), University of Maryland (MA) Career history: Early in her career, Lorentz focused on U.S. policy in Latin America. She worked as a consultant in upstate New York for several years before moving back to New Hampshire in 2011 to be the executive director at the Belknap Economic Development Council. In 2014, Governor Hassan appointed her to be director of the Division of Economic Development at the Department of Resources and Economic Development. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Seeing people influenced by misinformation. We need to stop fighting with each other and focus on the real enemies. Bucket list item: Traveling around Asia. I’ve never been to that part of the world. Industry advice: As a nonprofit, everything comes back to your mission. If you are doing work that is valued by your community, funding and support will flow from that. Don’t be afraid to refresh your mission as things change. Don’t be tempted to do things that may generate short-term gain but detract from your mission.

Renee Plummer Vice President of Marketing Two International Group

Peter Powell Owner/Broker Peter W. Powell Real Estate

Career history: Plummer started out working at McDonald’s as a teenager. She also worked at her father’s pharmacy, “but he was always firing me for talking too much.” Plummer made cold calls for a local newspaper, sold hamburgers out of a stand on Cocoa Beach, sold clothing at Peck & Peck on Madison Avenue, saved up for her first pair of Gucci loafers, sold janitorial services in New York City, worked the front desk at the Waldorf Astoria, went to great restaurants, booked conventions and always had fun. Most important business lesson: The many ways I judge a person include going with my gut. I have this little voice in my head that tells me what to do. I haven’t been wrong. How to deal with it is the question. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: I am usually an upbeat person but this pandemic really got to me. I found myself sitting on our couch one evening just staring at the TV. I realized I needed to do something. I hated how I was feeling, like I was living in a communist country. The town was lifeless, restaurants were closed, businesses were closing up, there was no traffic, kids were sad. It felt like an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” My sanctuary was Market Basket.

Education: Colby College (BA) Career history: Following an intense period as interim editor, reporter, photographer and “other” for a small NH weekly, Peter accepted a position working for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was appointed by Sen. Norris Cotton to the Minority Professional Staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, where he served on four of its subcommittees from 1969 to 1972. He returned to New Hampshire to chair a U.S. Senate campaign, and stayed to pursue four goals: move to the North Country, build his own home, be close to the land and see if he could make a living. He began his real estate business in 1974 and continues in active practice throughout the region. What would people be surprised to learn about you? When I came to the North Country in 1973, I built my home with my own hands, hammer and nail. I had always wanted to do so, from digging the foundation to driving the last nail. After 48 years, with additions and outbuildings — aided by other hands, of course — I can say I am almost there. Hobby/passion: Public policy, family, home, and working on and with the land. I am blessed to be surrounded by great natural beauty, and feel a mission to protect and preserve as much of it as I can.

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 77


R E A L E S TAT E Michael Reed President Stebbins Commercial Properties, LLC Career history: Reed has been a commercial investment real estate broker and president since 1985 with Stebbins Commercial Properties LLC, with over $450 million in transactions. He is the founder and past director of the NH Commercial Investment Board of Realtors (CIBOR); recipient of the prestigious Commercial Investment Board of Realtors Community Service Award; recipient of the prestigious Easterseals Eugene Van Loan III Leadership Award; current member of the board of directors of The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, Manchester Development Corporation and the Palace Theatre; past chairman of the board of directors at Easterseals NH and the Moore Center; and was voted the Best Commercial Real Estate Broker and a winner of Business Excellence in Real Estate by NH Business Review. Most important business lesson: Treat all individuals with dignity and respect and endeavor to understand their needs and desires as it relates to their particular business goals. Industry advice: Be involved with your community. I did so early on in my career, not realizing that the friendships that were made would ultimately help me in my business endeavors. My advice to anyone starting out would be to get involved by serving others, specifically nonprofits in the community.

Dan Scanlon Senior Associate Colliers Education: Marquette University (BA), Suffolk University (JD) Career history: Scanlon worked in the office of legislative services from 1978-1980; in private law practice from 1980-1990; as a real estate title abstractor from 1990-2000; and has been a commercial real estate broker ever since. Most important business lesson: Seek first to understand, then to be understood. In other words, LISTEN! Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Lack of direct contact with people, especially groups. Human connection is very important to me, especially body language and eye contact. I missed the intimacy that comes from that contact. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I was born in New Orleans. No, that doesn’t give me cred as a musician. I left when I was only about a year old. My dad was in the Navy, stationed there, when I was born. Hobby/passion: Music is No. 1, in terms of playing, listening and attending live shows. It’s what moves me the most emotionally. Baseball is No. 2, with running and hiking a close 3 and 4. Bucket list item: To visit every MLB stadium in the country. Industry advice: You never know it all, and every transaction is different, both in terms of the facts and the people. Maintain an attitude of lifelong learning.

Arthur Sullivan Principal, Co-Owner Brady Sullivan Properties

Congratulations,

Renee!

All of us at Two International Group are so proud that you've been selected as one of the NH200 Most Influential. Thank you for all you do!

TWOINT ER NATIONALGRO UP.COM 78 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Education: Keene State College Career history: At the age of 10, Sullivan sold newspapers with his brother in Manchester. By age 12, he and his brother would shovel snow for all their neighbors before they went to school. By his early teens, Sullivan worked at his father’s neighborhood convenience store, and at 16 he started his own cleaning business, which continued until he was 20. In 1979, Sullivan bought his first of many multifamily and commercial investment properties, which prompted him to partner with Shane Brady to create Brady Sullivan Properties. Most important business lesson: Success comes with the ability to pivot and reinvent your business plan. Brady Sullivan Properties has been fortunate to have this opportunity multiple times throughout our history. I encourage creating opportunities where others don’t see them, and sometimes these higher-risk projects are the most successful for your business and the community. What has you most excited about your company’s future? We see what others don’t see as opportunities for redevelopment of large-scale properties as a means of creating positive change in underdeveloped buildings and neighborhoods. Industry advice: Be humble but tenacious and never give up.


RETAIL


R E TA I L Joe Bellavance, Jr. President Bellavance Beverage Co.

Andy Crews President and CEO AutoFair

Education: University of Vermont (BS), Boston University (MBA) Career history: Bellavance is the fourth generation to lead Bellavance Beverage Co., having worked a variety of positions within the company, including delivery helper, night loader and sales representative. He can still be found delivering beer or building displays during busy holiday weeks. What has you most excited about your company’s future? The potential for my two children to join a really amazing Bellavance Beverage team and work in an industry of super people and products. Most important business lesson: There is never a good time, but there is always a right time. Industry advice: The beverage industry can be a lot of fun and is full of people passionate about delivering refreshment. Don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves, and always remember to represent yourself and your products responsibly. Fun fact: I build custom fishing rods. Interesting book: “Leadership Is an Art” by Max De Pree Favorite part of living in New Hampshire: The quality of life and easy access to a variety of outdoor pursuits, combined with New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” attitude.

Education: DeKalb Technical College (AS) Career history: Crews is a veteran of the United States Marine Corp., with over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry. He was named the Greater Manchester Chamber’s Citizen of the Year in 2015, Time Dealer of the Year in 2015 and Business Leader of the Year by Business NH Magazine. Crews is a NH Lottery Commissioner, past chair of Granite State Children’s Alliance and a trustee for GraniteOne Health. He currently serves on the boards of the National Automobile Dealers Association, NH Automotive Dealers Association, Primary Bank, Citizens Count and Swim With a Mission. Under Crews’ leadership, AutoFair has been recognized as a NH Veteran-Friendly Business at the platinum level by the NH Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Service in conjunction with NH Employment Security, which identifies businesses in the state that appreciate and empower citizens who currently serve or have served in the military. Most important business lesson: Put your team first and never be afraid to make a decision. What keeps you up at night? Politicians making poor decisions without realizing the impact on businesses and their employees. Industry advice: Focus on growth through retention. Bucket list item: Seeing the Aurora Borealis in Finland.

Jameson French CEO Northland Forest Products, Inc.

Brendan P. Keegan CEO Merchants Fleet

Education: Trinity College (BS), University of Edinburgh Career history: French worked for a Liverpool, England, timber agency after graduate school in Scotland. He returned to the family business in 1979 and developed an export market for Northland Forest Products, which currently exports to 23 countries. French has served as past chair of American Hardwood Export Council, the Hardwood Manufacturers Association and the Hardwood Federation. He also chaired the Forest Stewardship Council (USA Board) and the Society for the Protection of NH Forests. Most important business lesson: Cultivate and nurture long-term relationships with customers, suppliers and employees. Maintain consistent quality control. Always focus on the long term. What keeps you up at night? We all need to make changes in our energy production and usage. Time is running out for action. Industry advice: Stay focused on the environment credentials of our products. Convince the next generations that solid American hardwoods in quality products (floors, furniture, cabinets) are a great way to sequester carbon and consume less. Focus resources on recruiting millennials and Generation Z.

Education: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (BA), George Washington University (MBA), Harvard University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Chicago (Executive Certificates) Career history: Keegan is a growth enthusiast, business transform leader and a technology innovator. Currently, he is CEO of Merchants Fleet, the fast-growing and most ESG-focused fleet company on the planet. He is a six-time president and CEO of private equity, venture capital and family-owned businesses, ranging from 500 to 10,000 employees around the globe. He’s been named a Distinguished Fellow by Dartmouth College, a Fast Company Fast 50 Executive, the World’s Most Innovative CEO, NH Business Executive of the Year and an Inc. 5000 company leader. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Merchants is committed to leading flett electrification across America and taking responsibility for impacting society through sustainability for generations to come. Hobby/passion: Building fearless leaders from youth to late-stage professionals. I believe we were all born fearless, and each one of us has the ability to become a leader. We must have the courage to fail, the faith to succeed.

80 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


R E TA I L John Koutsos President Alec’s Shoes

Amanda Grappone Osmer Owner Grappone Automotive Group

Education: Whittemore School of Business and Economics at UNH (BS) Career history: Koutsos has worked at his family’s business while in junior high school, and he’s still there 48 years later. Koutsos learned about the business from his father, and aims to take that knowledge and apply it to the challenges of our times. Most important business lesson: Consistent growth is necessary to keep everyone energized and engaged. It’s also necessary to attract, retain and incent quality employees that care about the business and its customers. What has you most excited about your company’s future? We’ve grown our business into the headwinds of direct-to-consumer competition while doing business much the same as in the past. Even with online shopping, we’re seeing new customers coming from farther away to seek the guidance that the human touch can provide, that they can’t find elsewhere. Industry advice: There’s always opportunity for those willing to find it. You have to know your business, have confidence in your abilities and surround yourself with people that share your vision.

Education: University of New Hampshire (BA), Plymouth State University (MA) Career history: Grappone Osmer started off her career as a foreign language and math tutor for high school students, followed by becoming a support staff member for wilderness experiential education at Outward Bound. For the next 25 or so years, she worked in virtually all positions in all Grappone Automotive stores, culminating in becoming an owner. As a fourth-generation family member at Grappone, she now leads the company’s communications, marketing and leadership development efforts. Most important business lesson: Humility is the root of true success. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Making sure our team members were informed and cared for. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Unleashing the power of our team’s innate potential. What keeps you up at night? My rooster. Bucket list item: I want to work with my husband to establish a yearround sports/coaching facility for kids and their families. Industry advice: Be patient, humble, kind and open-minded.

Dave Rodgers Owner Rodgers Ski & Sport Education: Plymouth State College (BS) Career history: Rodgers Ski & Sport has been in business for over 40 years, starting from the back of a pickup truck to the two current locations in Lincoln, NH, and Scarborough, Maine. It has become one of the largest, if not the largest, operations in the Northeast. Most important business lesson: It’s always healthy to keep a good customer relationship and make the customers know that we are thankful for their business. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Keeping a safe and healthy environment for employees and customers alike. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? The pandemic has made more people want to be outside, even in winter. The industry is thriving. Hobby/passion: Skiing and bicycling. Industry advice: Customers are important to any business — make sure you treat them right.

BEST THAI FOOD in the North Country

THE CHANG THAI EXPERIENCE The Best of Traditional Thai Cuisine with a Dash of Contemporary Flair. All dishes are prepared with the freshest ingredients, including cilantro, lemon grass, basil, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and ginger — delivered weekly. Fresh herbs make all the difference, and we believe you’ll taste it! Tuesday – Friday Lunch / 11:30am – 3pm Dinner / 4:00pm – 9pm

Saturday – Sunday Lunch / Dinner 12pm – 9pm

77 MAIN STREET / LITTLETON, NH (603) 444.8810 • changthaicafe.com

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 81


Congratulations Tammy Michaud on being named to the New Hampshire 200!

berrydunn.com 82 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


TECHNOLOGY


TE C H N O LOGY Matt Albuquerque President and Owner Next Step Bionics and Prosthetics Inc. Education: Stonehill College (BS) Career history: Albuquerque’s first job after college was working as a technician in a local orthotics and prosthetics company, followed by his second job, after receiving a certificate in orthotics and prosthetics, was working for a national prosthetics company. In 1996, he started Next Step. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? The amount of sophisticated technology making its way into prosthetics is exciting. With accelerometers, gyroscopes and advanced surgical techniques, we are making a significant impact on how people with amputations function on an everyday basis. What keeps you up at night? That the cost of all of the technology in healthcare will outpace our ability to pay for it. Fun fact: I like to listen to Christmas music all year long. It is quite uplifting to listen to “Winter Wonderland” on a hot steamy day. Industry advice: Keep your eye on the most important thing, take “complete care” of someone who has had an amputation. Always try to do the “right thing” for them, which sometimes is not the most obvious or profitable option.

Craig Benson Collaborator Radianse Education: Babson College (BS), Syracuse University (MBA) Career history: Benson was the founder, chairman and CEO of Cabletron Systems and the 79th governor of the state of New Hampshire. Most important business lesson: Listen. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: No rules made it difficult to maintain a business. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Technology is in everything we do going forward. What keeps you up at night? The discourse in this world makes it harder to collaborate. Industry advice: Know your industry better than anyone else, then share it.

84 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition

Ryan Barton CEO Mainstay Technologies Career history: Barton held various parttime jobs while providing technical support for anyone he could reach. He started the business when he was young, 17 years ago, and has “tried hard to learn from each of the plethora of mistakes I made along the way.” Most important business lesson: You can’t fake authenticity. If you want to be trusted, have character and competence. If you want a great culture, care about your team. If you want a lasting company, pursue what is meaningful. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Businesses need more out of their technology. Mainstay transforms risky IT into a secure experience. We serve a growing need, and we do it with a phenomenal team. I’m most excited at seeing teammates achieve more of their potential. What keeps you up at night? Are we aligning our decisions for clients, team, company and community so we help people flourish? Are we defining success by our impact on people? Are we balancing the immediate needs with building a long-term, 100-year company? Industry advice: Be a leader who genuinely cares about others. Seek the best for your clients and team, and all other success measures will follow.

Thomas Bollenbach Chief Technology Officer Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute Education: University of Waterloo (BS), University of Notre Dame (PhD) Career history: Prior to joining ARMI, Bollenbach served as vice president of Research and Development at Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, where he led the development of cell- and biomaterial-based tracheal, bronchial and esophageal implants. He joined HART from Organogenesis, where he implemented preclinical programs for bioengineered living skin, and maintained strong cross-functional interactions with clinical operations, manufacturing and business units to provide scientific support to corporate strategies. Most important business lesson: How to communicate appropriately to a wide variety of scientific and non-scientific stakeholders. Industry advice: We’re going to have to overcome some huge challenges if we’re going to make advanced cell, tissue and organ technologies available to patients. No single organization has the ability to address those challenges alone. Embrace interdisciplinary partnerships as a mechanism to overcome them. Interesting book: “Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage” by Alfred Lansing


TE C H N O LOGY Matthew Boucher President & COO Airmar Technology Corp.

Graham “Gray” Chynoweth CEO Minim, Inc.

Education: Princeton University (BSE) Career history: Before his 12 years at Airmar, Boucher worked for a decade at Goldman Sachs within the investment management division in New York, where he specialized in credit analysis and trading of investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds and credit derivatives. Boucher is chair of the board of directors for Easterseals NH, and previously served as chair for the NH Municipal Bond Bank for nine years. Most important business lesson: One’s success as a leader is primarily based on helping those around you be successful. What has you most excited about your company’s future? A silver lining of the pandemic is a renewed enthusiasm for boating and fishing, activities that drive a majority of Airmar’s sales. Our company’s challenge is to meet our customers’ record demand and growth requirement. Fun fact: I volunteered as an emergency medical technician and crew chief in New Jersey for over 10 years. Industry advice: All NH manufacturers are facing similar challenges. How do we satisfy market demand in a tight labor market and disruptive supply chain environment? New, out-of-the-box strategies and tactics are required. We cannot be afraid to fail as we attempt to overcome these unprecedented headwinds.

Education: University of California (BA), University of Geneva (Certificate, Transnational Law), Duke University (MA, JD) Career history: Chynoweth has seen Minim grow to around 100 people with $50 million in revenue. He is an investor at Millworks Fund and 10X Venture Partners. He manages seed-stage investments in more than 25 companies across software, AI and biotech. Chynoweth was a founding executive/CMO at ARMI|BioFabUSA. He was COO at Dyn, Inc., a company that grew to around 500 people and $100 million in annually recurring revenue before it was sold to Oracle for over $600 million. He is currently a board member at NH Public Radio and was a founder and board member at Stay Work Play NH. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? Home networks have never been more important for living, earning and learning. I’m excited to see the home router go the way of the mobile phone and become an intelligent device that makes every connected home safe and supportive for life and work. What would people be surprised to learn about you? I serve as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserves. Interesting book: “The Influence of Sea Power Upon History” by Alfred Mahan. It delivers revolutionary insights into military strategy with lessons that can be applied to business.

Jesse Devitte Co-Founder and General Partner Building Ventures

Phil Ferneau Managing Partner and Co-Founder Borealis Ventures

Education: Indiana University (BS) Career history: In previous years, Devitte was an executive of software company Softdesk, which was acquired by Autodesk in 1996, and he was also president of the Software Association of NH. Devitte is a board member at the NH Charitable Foundation and a co-founder of eCares, Borealis Ventures and Building Ventures. Industry advice: Invest in the teams driven by a meaningful purpose that can build great companies, which will last the test of time to make a sustainable difference in our world. What keeps you up at night? Our warming planet and whether or not we have enough time along with the commitment to alter our course enough to preserve our way of life for future generations. Most important business lesson: It’s all about backing the people who can make it happen. What has you most excited about your company’s future? Investing in the teams and technologies that can help design, build and operate to deliver a better-built world for all.

Education: Dartmouth College (AB, MBA), University of Virginia (JD) Career history: Ferneau co-founded Borealis Ventures in 2002 and leads the firm’s healthcare investing, including successful NH startups Adimab, Avedro, Avitide and GlycoFi (acquired by Merck). Over the years, Ferneau has expanded the firm’s reach beyond New Hampshire to opportunities across the U.S., U.K. and Ireland. While focusing on life sciences and digital health, he also launched the firm’s entry into animal health as a founding investor in Vets First Choice. Ferneau joined Borealis from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, where he was the founding executive director of the Center for PE/VC and remains an adjunct professor. Most important business lesson: Technologies and markets can be different, but building great companies comes down to the people. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? The pandemic has raised broader awareness of the importance of supporting innovation to develop needed therapies and deliver efficiencies in healthcare delivery. I’m enthusiastic about the inspiration and sense of urgency I see in the new generation of healthcare entrepreneurs.

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 85


TE C H N O LOGY Mark Galvin Co-Founder, President and CEO MMS Analytics, Inc., dba TALON

Tillman Gerngross Co-Founder & CEO Adimab

Education: McGill University, U.C. Berkeley Haas School of Business Career history: Galvin consulted the White House and helped create the recent transparency initiatives that are transforming healthcare in the U.S. Prior to co-founding TALON, Galvin established two NH-based technology accelerators that launched over a dozen companies. He also founded four NH-based, VC-backed tech startup companies and led them to growth rates that ranked each in the 100 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., as measured by the Inc. 500. Most important business lesson: Make sure everyone’s personal goals are aligned with the company’s success. Help people find roles where they can make significant contributions while achieving their personal goals. When someone can’t find a spot that accomplishes the company’s and their personal goals, help them find a job somewhere else. What has you most excited about your company’s future? That a small group of passionate people working from Portsmouth can have such a huge impact on the nation’s broken healthcare system. By questioning the status quo and driving disruptive innovations, it’s amazing what a small team can accomplish.

Career history: Gerngross is co-founder and CEO of Adimab, a Lebanon-based biotech company whose yeast-based discovery platform functions as a synthetic human immune system to create antibody therapeutics for diseases, including cancer as well as autoimmune and infectious diseases. Gerngross is also a professor of bioengineering at Dartmouth College. Previously, he was co-founder and CSO for GlycoFi (acquired by Merck in 2006); venture partner for SV Health Investors; co-founder and chairman for organizations Arsanis (merged with NASDAQ:XFOR in 2019), Avitide and Alector; and co-founder and president for Amagma Therapeutics and Adagio Therapeutics, both in Waltham, Mass., and for Ankyra Therapeutics in Boston, Mass.

Kedar Gupta Partner CEVG Ventures

Elizabeth Hitchcock Partner Orbit Group

Education: State University of New York at Stony Brook (MS, PhD), Lindenwood College (MBA) Career history: Gupta is co-founder of GT Solar ARC Energy, SC Fluids, Grid Sensor and Novolux, and is a current board member of 6K Inc. and SunDensity. He has won various prestigious awards at the local, state and federal levels, and is an active participant in seed-level investing in numerous tech startups. He’s also involved with multiple philanthropic organizations and activities. Most important business lesson: Be humble. Treat people with care and think of big ideas that can provide positive impact for everyone. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? The best is yet to come. We can brighten our future with innovations. What keeps you up at night? How to manage the current pandemic environment which has curtailed our social interactions. Being worried about family, friends and relatives all over the world for their safety and well-being. Industry advice: Keep having faith in what you are doing, but do it with kindness and care.

Career history: Hitchcock is a prominent entrepreneur, philanthropist and small business owner. She is the co-founder of IoT startup Minim, developer of The Factory on Willow — a new live-work space built specifically for young entrepreneurs — and owner of The Bookery, Manchester’s local independent bookstore. Hitchcock has been a staple in the NH community for years and is always looking for ways to move Manchester forward. She also provides guidance and insight to NH-based startups through her work at Orbit Group and as the general partner of the Millworks Fund. Most important business lesson: Always sit at the table. If you’re invited to be at a special business meeting, an investor roundtable or to meet a new person, seize the opportunity. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? I’m most excited for Manchester’s future and the future of development in our city, from better transportation options to more places we want to hang out downtown. I think there is still a lot of opportunity here, and we’re on the precipice of making another great leap. Bucket list item: I’d love to hike the Great Wall of China with my daughter, Catherine.

86 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition


TE C H N O LOGY Jeremy P. Hitchcock President Orbit Group Education: Worcester Polytechnic Institute (BS), Rivier University/Granite State College (Honorary Doctorate) Career history: From his WPI dorm room in 2001, Jeremy co-founded Dyn, which was an internet data company that was acquired by Oracle in 2017. His company, Minim, an AI-driven Wi-Fi management and IoT security platform, makes a connected home safe and easy to use. Minim went public on NASDAQ in 2021 and he still serves as its chairman. Currently, he’s focused on a dual-use fund called New North Ventures. Along with his wife, Liz, he opened an independent bookstore, and also serves at Manchester Moves, focusing on improving bike and walkability in the greater Manchester area. He has served on the boards of Southern New Hampshire University and the Community College System of New Hampshire, the latter of which he served on for 12 years (three years as the chairperson). Currently he’s on the NH Tech Alliance Board. Most important business lesson: Regardless of industry, people make or break anything. What has you most excited about your industry’s future? The pace of innovation (faster is better) is being replaced with how technology can make life better. That’s a healthier dynamic. Industry advice: Do good work and think long term. Keep smiling and pay it forward.

Dean Kamen Founder DEKA Research & Development Corp. Career history: Kamen is an inventor, entrepreneur and advocate for science and technology, helping to expand the frontiers of healthcare worldwide. In 1976, he founded his first medical device company, AutoSyringe, Inc., to manufacture and market the first wearable infusion pump. Working with leading diabetes researchers, Kamen pioneered the design and adoption of the first wearable insulin pump. He sold AutoSyringe to Baxter Healthcare Corporation and founded DEKA Research & Development Corporation, where he developed the HomeChoice peritoneal dialysis system for Baxter International Inc., allowing patients to be dialyzed at home. Under his leadership, DEKA teams have developed various products, including the LUKE advanced prosthetic arm, to improve the quality of life for returning injured soldiers, for DARPA, and the iBOTTM personal mobility device. He also founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989, an organization dedicated to motivating more than 1 million young people in more than 100 countries to understand and enjoy science and technology. Another nonprofit effort is the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI), which focuses on the large-scale manufacturing of engineered tissues and technologies to benefit existing industries and grow new ones. In 2017, ARMI launched BioFabUSA, a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense.

“Be humble. Treat people with care and think of big ideas that can provide positive impact for the people.” — Kedar Gupta, Partner, CEVG Ventures

Melanie Levesque President TCS of America Enterprises, LLC Education: Southern New Hampshire University (MBA), Daniel Webster College (BBA), Community College System of NH (AS) Career history: Levesque’s career started at Digital Equipment Corporation, which promoted innovation and invested in their employees. Afterwards, she joined NEC as a training manager. In 1998, she was hired by AT&T as a data project manager, where she found that the complex world of telecommunications ignited her interests and problem-solving skills. Embracing core values of service, innovation and growth, Levesque’s business partner Trudy Gendron and consultant Cindy Perkins formed TCS of America Enterprises LLC. Together, they brought telecommunications expense management and revenue recovery from concept to market, serving commercial and government clients. Most important business lesson: Work with people that complement your skills. My skills of strategic vision, persistence and management are complemented by my business partner Cindy Perkins’ strong data analytics and technical skills. Hobby/passion: Civil service. Solving problems in both the business environment and community is extremely rewarding. Industry advice: Look for opportunities to assist your clients and make their job easier. When you make them shine, you shine!

New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition 87


TE C H N O LOGY Paul Mailhot Chief Operating Officer Big Network

Jake Reder CEO Celdara Medical

Education: Central Connecticut State University (BS, MS) Career history: Prior to joining Big Network, Mailhot was the COO of ARMI|BioFabUSA and was vice president of sales at Global Rescue in Lebanon. Additionally, Mailhot was part of the Dyn leadership team, where he was responsible for business operations and later, Americas sales. Mailhot spent 19 years in various leadership positions at Autodesk, Inc., including sales, sales management, academic programs, learning and training and business development. He has spent many years serving the New Hampshire business community by serving on a number of boards, including the NH Tech Alliance, AlphaLoft, and Live Free and Start. He currently serves on the Great Manchester Chamber of Commerce Board, as well as on the UNH Manchester Advisory Board. What keeps you up at night? If you work hard and lead your teams with intention and loyalty, you will sleep well at night. What would people be surprised to learn about you? My first-ever international business trip took me from Connecticut to Okinawa then to Frankfurt, then to London and back to Connecticut. All in two weeks in the early ‘90s. No cell phone, just an MCI calling card.

Education: University of Waterloo (BSc), Purdue University, Ludwig Maximilian University (PhD) Career history: Reder is co-founder and CEO of Celdara Medical, which has been a regular in the top 10 fastest-growing companies in the state, with the fastest rate of average annual growth three years in a row. Reder also serves as director of the New Ventures Office he founded at Dartmouth College, and on the boards of Javelin Oncology, CairnSurgical, Virtici, MBV and the NH Academy of Science. Most important business lesson: The concept of value creation and capture. What are you doing that creates value for the world? Can you create more? Faster? With less risk? Can you create a business model that allows you to capture some fraction of the value created? What has you most excited about your industry’s future? ur ability to understand the basic science underlying disease has enabled unprecedented insights and abilities. Many diseases are moving from “deadly” to “chronic” to “curable,”so it’s conceivable that someday humans may not die of disease. Favorite part of living in New Hampshire: Where else can you find smart, interesting and diverse people; wilderness just outside the door; no taxes; and an 11-minute commute?

Nick Soggu CEO SilverTech

Kyle York CEO and Managing Partner York IE

Education: Merrimack College (BS), University of New Hampshire (MS) Career history: Before starting SilverTech, Soggu was employed at Digital and Lotus right out of graduate school. From there, he started SilverTech, which has grown organically for over 20 years, acquiring a number of firms along the way. Soggu now operates as CEO for two separate companies focused on digital and marketing services: SilverTech, with offices in Manchester, NH, and Indianapolis, Ind., and Pannos Marketing in Manchester. SilverTech employs over 110 people across its three offices. Most important business lesson: I’ve always strived to look forward and never in the rearview mirror — I’m always looking ahead. The ability to change and adapt are two core principals of successful businesses. Biggest challenge during the pandemic: Adapting to a new normal — one without travel and being able to physically see and meet our clients and our team members at our offices. Professionally, it was about making sure we continued to collaborate and communicate in an efficient manner. Fun fact: I have repaired and own over 30 full-size arcade games from the 1980s. Recently, I’ve started a collection of 10 pinball machines that I’m repairing and restoring.

Education: Bentley University (BS) Career history: York began his career at WhippleHill selling SaaS before it was called SaaS. Afterwards, he joined Dyn, where he became the first head of go-tomarket. He helped scale Dyn to $100 million in annual recurring revenue. Dyn was acquired by Oracle, where he became general manager of the Dyn Global Business Unit. He’s been an active investor and advisor to startups for the last decade. In 2019, York co-founded York IE, a vertically integrated strategic growth and investment firm that is helping reshape the way startups are built, scaled and monetized. What has you most excited about your company’s future? We have only begun to scratch the surface on the impact we can have with companies here in NH and around the world. We have proven that there is a new type of model for strategic growth, and I am super excited to see how many companies we can help achieve success. What keeps you up at night? I always want to deliver value to everyone within the York IE network, from our founders to our investors to our team. That’s a big responsibility that I don’t take lightly. That being said, I sleep pretty well. I love what I do. I wake up every morning energized and ready to make an impact and conquer the world.

88 New Hampshire 200 | 2022 edition



and leads to a healthier community.

The path to HaPiness starts with business leaders coming together A

B

Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s New Hampshire 200. We’re proud to partner with influencers like you, who are leaders in your industry and share our commitment to community. Stay healthy. Stay HaPi.

Congratulations to this year’s New Hampshire 200 winners a

company

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care includes Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England, and HPHC Insurance Company.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.