The Dish | December

Boston Billiard Club & Casino is a charitable gaming organization that donates 35% of their house proceeds to qualifying local non-profit organizations daily. To date, we have donated over $15M in charitable contributions, and we ’ re so happy to have the Education Foundation of NHLRA featured for the week of 1/30-2/5! Our casino is home to various table games like Roulette & Spanish 21, one of the top poker rooms of NH, andover150brand-newHHRgamingmachines(andgrowing!).

Members Around Town

Martingale Wharf celebrates the holidayswithashinygoldmartini!

May23 │ 8a.m.-5p.m. ChurchLanding,Meredith

We’re excited to host Empowerment Through Connections for a second year, designed to celebrate women in the hospitality and tourism industry, provide an opportunity to connect with anddeveloppeerrelationships,andtoaddressyourtop-of-mindtopicswithagroupofindustry professionals. We’re hard at work to create a valuable and inspiring agenda. Here is a sneak peakoftheday.

Our morning will start with continental breakfast and our guest speaker, Debra Schuler. Her session,"PuttingThingsFirst,"willprovidepracticalstrategiesandtoolstohelpincreasefocuson yourmostimportantprioritiesandreduceand/oreliminatetheunimportant.

Living a more productive and balanced life starts with recognizing and accepting that not doing everything that comes across your path is not only acceptable, it’s wise. Highly effective people know that sometimes choosing to say “ no ” or “not now ” to certain personal and professional demandsisnecessaryinordertofocusontheirhighestprioritiesandgoals.

After lunch outside by the lake, we'll return with a presentation and panel hosted by the NH CenterofNonprofits."GetOnBoard"willinspireanewgroupofleaderstoconsiderboardservice at local nonprofits. This session will conclude with a panel of current NHLRA, NHLRAEF, and community board members as well as highlighting how you can become directly involved with thenextgenerationoftheindustrythroughboardwork.

The afternoon will conclude with NHLRA Board Member and Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for Duprey Hospitality, Sherri Ferns. You’ll leave Sherri’s interactive session with ideas onhowtobringeverythingthroughoutthedaytogether.

To wrap up, for anyone who would like to network or clink glasses to cheer a good day, we will gatherupstairsatLakesideGrill.

Please contact Amie Pariseau at apariseau@nhlra.com with questions or to inquire about sponsorship.

Fundamentals of Hospitality Management: Fundamentals of Management and Leadership (Class 1 of 3)

March 7, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Granite State College, Concord

Fundamentals of Hospitality Management: Effective Communication (Class 2 of 3)

March 21, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Granite State College, Concord

Fundamentals of Hospitality Management- Confidently Handle Conflict (Class 3 of 3)

April 4, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Granite State College, Concord

May 23, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Church Landing, Meredith

2022 Top 10 List of Wage and Hour Violations in New Hampshire (and how to avoid them in 2023)

By Attorney Jim Reidy, Sheehan Phinney

TheCOVID-relatedchallengesof2020and2021maybebehindusbut2022had its own unique challenges especially in the area of wage and hour laws and regulations. Every year around this time we review the Top Ten /most common wage and hour violations from the last year. Again, while COVID seemed to subside a bit this year, employers still had many wage and hour challenges related to COVID shutdowns, furloughs and accommodation as well as some post-COVID issues. Those included, but were not limited to, timekeeping for remote workers, meal breaks, short breaks, reporting time pay, payout of PTO and vacation time, salary proration, workplace safety issues and other compliance issues that may have been overlooked because of COVID-related staffingshortagesorothermorepressingconcerns.

Most employers spent the bulk of 2022 focused on post-COVID related issues and getting their workplaces back on track. While organizations of all sizes and types were recalibrating to adjust to novel workplace issues and staffing challenges, inspectors from USDOL and NHDOL were out again conducting in person workplace inspections. While many of those inspectors gave employers some grace because of COVID-related challenges, they still focused on enforcement of those protective those statutes. As a result many employers werecitedforviolationsofstateorfederalwagelaws.

Because the stakes for noncompliance with state and federal wage and hour laws are higher than ever before employers need to pay attention to these violations to stay in compliance and to avoid expensive civil penalties and wage adjustment orders from those enforcementagencies.

Nowlet’sbecarefuloutthere!

Our thanks again this year to Lexi Rojas, Rudy Ogden, Wesley Gardner andthestafffromNHDepartmentof Labor, Wage and Hour Division, as they provided useful information for thisyear’slist.

And many thanks to Sandy Rolph and Liz Teasck for their assistance withthispresentation/outline.

This outline is intended as a general summary only and is not a substitute for specificlegaladvice.

NH Department of Education Supports Career Development with Career-Focused Programs

By New Hampshire Department of Education

The New Hampshire Department of Education's Bureau of Career Development is eager to support career pathway development and exploration for New Hampshire learners through programs such as Career and Technical Education, work-based learning, New Hampshire Career Academy, and more. Partnerships with communitystakeholders,

including local industries, are essential for the success and continuation of these programs. NHED has developed exciting incentive programs such as the New Hampshire Career Academy, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Tax Credit and Work! As Learning, a wage match program, to express gratitude for thesupportitreceivesfromindustrypartners.

The CTE Tax Credit allows businesses to donate time, money, and goods to CTE centers to receive a tax credit against business profit taxes up to 50% for salaries of students and supervisors participating in work-based learning experiencesandupto100%forsuppliesandequipmentdonatedforrelateduse toaneducationalprogramofferedbytheregionalCTEcenter.Inaddition,atax credit of up to 50% of the cost of the development of apprenticeship and training programs offered by the regional CTE center, including the compensation of employees and direct supervision and training of students in a CTE center program, is available; this tax credit is available through June 30, 2026,andisagreatopportunityforNewHampshirebusinesses.

CulinarystudentsatWhiteMountainsRegionalHighSchoolrecentlycreated holidaypiesaspartofitsCareerandTechnicalEducationprogram

Work! As Learning is a unique wage match reimbursement for New Hampshire employers offering paid internships to New Hampshire learners for graduation credit.Employersreceive50%ofwagespaidtostudents,upto$15anhour,with a maximum reimbursement of $3,600 a total of 480 hours of interning. NHED hascontractedwithAwatotoadministerandmarketthisprogram.Awatohelps employerseasilysetupanaccounttoreceivereimbursementandconnectwith schools to offer opportunities. Awato also offers students an opportunity to explore career pathways and participate in vocational assessments, which is a win-winforbothstudentsandemployers.

Work! As Learning and the CTE Tax Credit may be combined if the student participating in Work! As Learning is a CTE student. Wages not reimbursed through Work! As Learning would be eligible for the tax credit for the student, andthesupervisingemployee’swageswouldbeeligibleforthetaxcredit.

As we aim to create bright futures for New Hampshire youth, please reach out to Nicole Levesque at nicole.m.levesque@doe.nh.gov or 603-271-3397 for more information about work-based learning, CTE Tax Credit, and Work! As Learning. For more details about Awato, or to become a Work! As Learning employer, pleasereachouttoColtonBriggsatColton@awato.co.

NH Relief for Ukraine Fund Exceeds $1 Million Goal Thanks to Thousands of Donors Throughout Granite State

By Erica Murphey

As the war rages on in Ukraine, the people of New Hampshire have sent their support and crucial humanitarian aid to Ukrainians via donations to the NH Relief for Ukraine Fund, surpassing thefundraiser’s$1milliongoal.

The fund was started in May by Alex Ray, owner of The Common Man hospitalityfamilyinNewHampshire,

with a commitment to match every donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to $1 million. With The Common Man’s promised match, more than $2 million has been allocatedtoproviderelieftoUkrainianrefugeesinPolandandthosestilllivingin war-ravagedUkraine.

A committed group of volunteers and others joined Ray in this statewide charitable endeavor, including former New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, The Common Man family, WMUR-TV, iHeart Media, Granite United Way, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, and the Rotary Clubs of Plymouth, NH and Warsaw, Poland.

“We asked the people of New Hampshire for help, and their answer was overwhelming,” said Ray. “Ukrainians are headed into a brutally-cold winter in already uncertain conditions – unreliable power, limited or no heat, and unstable living conditions. Your donations are providing warmth and sustenance.Youaresavinglives.”

In the six months since the fundraiser began, more than 2,500 unique donors contributed more than $1.2 million through the fund’s fiscal agent, Granite United Way. Donations are securely transferred to Polish Rotary District #2331 to ensure the funds go to their intended purposes. The partnership with Polish Rotary was developed through Ray’s membership in the RotaryClubofPlymouth,NH.

Ray and members of the NH Relief for Ukraine committee visited Poland and Ukraine in May to assess the immediate needs of Ukrainian refugees and establish project goals for the fund. As donations came in, they were quickly wired to provide timely assistance for food, shelter, and other vital needs. The group returned to Poland and Ukraine in October to check on the progress of theprogramsthatwerefunded.

“We met heroes who were building a network for the delivery of humanitarian aid,”saidSusanMathison,amemberoftheNHReliefforUkrainecommitteeand Plymouth, NH resident who joined Ray on both trips. “We saw thousands of people stacked bed-to-bed in refugee centers, orphanages full of children traumatized by their losses, and we met Ukrainians determined to do whatever ittakestohelpeachothertoremain,Ukrainian.”

To date, the NH Relief for Ukraine fund has assisted in the purchase and delivery of more than 700 tons of food to orphanages and refugee centers throughout Ukraine; funded a trauma counseling center for children; purchased and deployed a Bloodmobile, which supplies field hospitals throughout Ukraine; distributed hundreds of generators; is striving to provide more than 10,000 sleeping bags to give extra warmth this winter; and assisted with repairs and supplies for orphanages and centers for childrenwithdisabilities.

Ray and members of the fundraising committee are planning another visit to Ukraine in December to participate in a convoy that will deliver supplies, giftsandholidaytreatstochildren living in orphanages across the region. Ray will dress in a traditional “Father Frost” wardrobe tobringsomecheerandsmilesto children facing such difficult conditionsthisholidayseason.

Donations to NH Relief for Ukraine will be accepted until December 31 and can bemadeonlineviafiscalagentGraniteUnitedWayatwww.graniteuw.orgorby texting NH4UKRAINE to 41444. Checks made out to Granite United Way with NH Relief for Ukraine in the memo line can be mailed to: Granite United Way, 22 Concord St., Manchester, NH 03101. More information about the effort and a donationlinkcanalsobefoundatwww.cman4ukraine.org.

Eagle Mountain House & Golf Club Announces Leadership Changes

By Lindsay Rice

The historic Eagle Mountain House & Golf Club in the White Mountains of New HampshirehasannouncedtheadditionofGeneralManagerJoelBourassaand Executive Chef Stan Shafer. After an extensive search, long-time local and industry veteran Bourassa is joining the executive team following the welldeserved retirement of Craig Boyer, who managed the property for more than fiveyears.

“Craig has enjoyed a stellar career in hospitality, including his time at Eagle Mountain House, for which we are very appreciative,” said Joe Collier, President and Founder of Mainsail Lodging & Development. “True to form, Craig has agreed to assist Joel to ensure a smooth transition in management. We wish himallthebestinhisretirement.”

An accomplished hospitality executive, Joel Bourassa brings more than 20 years of experience in management, marketing and sales to his new position as general manager. Prior to joining Eagle Mountain House, Bourassa was Chief Operating Officer with The Berry Companies, where he was responsible for two popular resorts in the White Mountains ofNewHampshire.Duringhistimethere,

JoelBourassa,General Manager

Bourassa helped the company attain its best year in more than four decades, despite the pandemic. A native of nearby Lincoln, New Hampshire, his career also includes time as Regional Director of Resorts for Vacation Resorts International;GeneralManagerofInnSeasonResorts;andInternationalDirector of the Ski New Hampshire Association. Joel is also a member of the Board of Directors for Union Bank, a publicly traded community bank system in New HampshireandVermont.

“Being a local, Joel has great relationships in the community and truly understands the Jackson lifestyle. We couldn’t be happier to have him leading theteam,”saidCollier.

StanShafer,ExecutiveChef

Joining Bourassa to oversee the resort’s culinary program, Stan Shafer brings more than 20 years of culinary experience to Eagle Mountain House, where he previously worked for nearly a decade (2001-09). He most recently tapped into restaurant management as bar manager at 99 Restaurant in North Conway, New Hampshire, before making his way back into the kitchen. Before that, he was a chef at local Conway eateries Red Jacket and Deacon Street. Chef Shafer will utilize his wealthofknowledge,creativityand

enthusiasm to oversee all culinary direction and kitchen management, while crafting exciting new recipes and menu items for the resort and Eagle Landing Tavern.

Chef Shafer will also work directly with banquet staff to create custom menus for special events at Eagle Mountain House, which offers more than 5,000 square feet of unique, flexible space, including the newly renovated Carriage House. With natural light, large private deck and other amenities, the Carriage House is an ideal setting for memorable weddings, anniversary celebrations, corporateconventions,elegantdinnersandmore.

“At Mainsail, we love when a valued employee returns, especially someone as talented as Chef Stan,” added Collier. “With Joel’s impressive hospitality background and experience in property renovations, and Stan’s familiarity with theresort,they’reidealadditionstoourteam.”

16 Centre Street Concord, NH 03301 | (603) 228 - 9585 | nhlra.com