NH Business Review recognized 16 business owners and operators for their initiative, creativity and determination at the 18th annual Business Excellence Awards virtual event, on Oct. 6, presented by Citizens.
Among them was former Chief Justice John Broderick, who was inducted into the NH Business Review Business Excellence Hall of Fame.
NH Business Review thanks presenting sponsor Citizens for an evening that demonstrated the resilience, imagination and optimism of individuals who represent the Granite State’s community of entrepreneurial minds and collective community action. Also, sincere thanks is in order to silver sponsors Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health; general sponsors Tufts Health Freedom Plan, Connection, Melanson, Knob Creek, NH PBS, Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire; and nonprofit partner CASA New Hampshire.
Meet this year’s winners:
John Broderick, senior director external affairs at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health
HALL OF FAME
In a career spanning nearly five decades, John Broderick has had a lasting impact on the social, civic and cultural fabric of New Hampshire.
His law background has ranged from working as an attorney in a private practice — including as partner in a firm he started with the late Governor Steve Merrill — to associate justice and later chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. A role he held from 2004 to 2010, as chief justice, John focused on making justice more accessible, affordable and understandable. He later served as dean of UNH School of Law.
In recent years, John has stood before more than 70,000 students in more than 80 New Hampshire and Vermont high schools, where he shares his personal story to start conversations on mental health.
Since early 2016, John has led the charge as a mental health crusader, first as chairman of Change Direction NH and today through an initiative sponsored by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, called REACT.
REACT educates people on the signs of mental illness and how to help themselves or someone else, in an effort to end the social stigma of mental illness.
Charla Stevens, director and chair of the Employment Law Practice Group at McLane Middleton
EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES — LARGE ORGANIZATION
Charla is one of the most trusted advisors for HR professionals in the state. Her extensive background includes addressing litigated and non-litigated employment issues such as discrimination, harassment, employee classification, and wage and hour claims.
Her background is impressive, but more profoundly Charla stands out as an attorney who urges employers to be proactive in their compliance with ever-changing employment laws and to do the right thing, regardless of whether they are forced to by law.
Through articles published by the American Bar Association, Charla has encouraged her peers to not accept that a victim of sexual harassment remain silent as part of a settlement agreement. She recognizes that by talking with co-workers about proven misbehavior, it could protect colleagues from a similar fate. And Charla has urged businesses to stand up, admit there is a problem and be part of the solution.
Charla helps make New Hampshire a better place.
David Weed, assistant vice president of business services at Service Credit Union in Portsmouth
EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES — LARGE ORGANIZATION
An industry veteran with 32 years of commercial lending experience, David spent the past 10 years building Service Credit Union’s business services department from the ground up.
He leads by example, always focusing on providing business members with best-in-class services and a product set that exemplifies Service Credit Union’s commitment to the success and growth of the New Hampshire business community.
When the pandemic hit, David led the process to develop procedures to process Paycheck Protection Program loans quickly and efficiently. Through his leadership, Service Credit Union was able to approve more than 300 applicants, totaling more than $11 million in loans. A vast majority of these applicants were small, local businesses.
Whether it’s helping grow programs, providing funding to projects that support local jobs or serving as a member for several chambers, David’s commitment to the success of New Hampshire businesses is unmatched.
David Schleyer, founder and principal of Elm Grove Companies in Manchester
EXCELLENCE IN REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION — SMALL ORGANIZATION
At the young age of 22, David dove head first into the world of entrepreneurship and real estate development. Starting small with the purchase of his first multifamily, David quickly found a passion and dedicated his early 20s to growing his own New Hampshire-based real estate and property management firm.
Fast forward 12 years, that single property purchase has turned into Elm Grove Companies — a full-service real estate development firm, managing 1,500 apartments with five regional offices and more than 60 employees.
In time, David learned he truly thrived in redevelopment and revitalization of historic buildings.
In 2016, David took a building from 1892 and developed it into New Hampshire’s first micro-living apartments, with efficiency and convenience in mind. David oversaw every detail of the The Flats @ Hanover Street, which draws attention for its on-site café and appealing quarters for single millennials.
Jason Walker, CEO and co-founder of Waypoint Robotics in Nashua
EXCELLENCE IN TECHNOLOGY — SMALL ORGANIZATION
Jason’s understanding of market needs and ability to assemble a team united in one vision has boosted Waypoint Robotics to rise above established competitors.
Waypoint Robotics is breaking into the manufacturing and logistics industries with its series of fully autonomous, industrial-strength mobile robots that complement the workforce rather than replace it. Quick and easy deployment of autonomous mobile robots has improved workflow and material movement in challenging environments.
Waypoint recently beat an industry veteran to win a key deal with a New England manufacturer. Waypoint was also recently chosen as the lead autonomous mobile robot partner for a government-funded project with Siemens, FedEx and Yaskawa.
These achievements are indicative of Jason’s focus on the end user as the starting point for design and engineering decisions.
Paula Marie Buley, president of Rivier University in Nashua
EXCELLENCE IN NONPROFIT — LARGE ORGANIZATION
During her eight years as president, Sister Paula has transformed Rivier University by introducing innovative educational programs and transforming the appearance of the campus by restoring many ailing buildings and gateways.
Sister Paula recently worked with Rivier’s board to construct a state-of-the-art Science and Innovation Center that will open this fall.
To meet the significant shortage of trained behavioral health professionals, Sister Paula formed the Center for Behavioral Health, partnering with the region’s healthcare providers and obtaining a million-dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support psychiatric nurse practitioners in their last semester of clinical training.
Throughout her 25-year career in higher education, Sister Paula has communicated and collaborated with students, staff, faculty and board members. She stresses the importance of being respectful of tradition but also taking risks in order to thrive.
Charlie Ermer, vice president of business operations at Palmer Gas & Oil in Atkinson
EXCELLENCE IN CONSUMER SERVICES — LARGE ORGANIZATION
A third-generation employee of a nearly 90-year-old family-owned and -operated propane and oil delivery and service company, Charlie unknowingly prepared Palmer Gas & Oil for one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.
It was Charlie’s foresight to create an intranet containing standard operating procedures and providing access to documents that made the transition to work from home smooth for employees and customers.
Charlie had enacted these steps years earlier in case of a utility outage, weather event or high volume of calls.
Thanks to his preparation, aside from some procedural changes to accommodate social distancing guidelines, Covid-19 had little impact on how Palmer Gas & Oil has operated.
Charlie knows well every aspect of Palmer’s operations, and it is his advanced planning that has helped the company again and again navigate whatever challenge crosses its path.
Wendy Tirollo, CEO of TRM Microwave in Bedford
EXCELLENCE IN TECHNOLOGY — SMALL ORGANIZATION
This year marks 10 years since Wendy took the helm of defense and aerospace manufacturer TRM Microwave.
Under the mentorship of her husband and TRM’s former CEO and founder Tony Tirollo, Wendy found her own leadership style as she prepared to lead the company forward in the wake of Tony’s long-term health concerns and passing in 2016.
In 2017, Wendy was faced with an unbelievable challenge. A design issue caused the company’s biggest product line to go down. As TRM’s team worked to diagnose and solve the problem, Wendy quietly funded paychecks out of her own pocket for four months.
At a point when morale was waning, at the suggestion of her chief financial officer, Wendy spoke to the entire company of her commitment to the TRM family.
It provided the stamina the team needed to continue its all-hands-on-deck approach, and the supplier TRM worked with started calling them a partner.
Possibly the greatest success story of all time, TRM is opening its expanded facility this month in Bedford, providing additional manufacturing and production capacity that poises the company for significant growth.
Mark Stebbins, chairman and CEO of Procon in Hooksett
EXCELLENCE IN REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION — LARGE ORGANIZATION
It is Mark who has built Procon’s reputation as a leader in the construction industry and generous supporter of its community nonprofits.
Mark is the third generation to lead Procon, which is celebrating 85 years in business.
Under his leadership for the last 40 years, Procon has grown from a company that only performed construction services with sales of less than $5 million to designing and building projects throughout the Northeast with $200 million in revenue.
Procon has 95% repeat business — a statistic that is virtually unheard of in the construction industry — and employee turnover of less than 6%.
Mark prides himself on the family atmosphere at Procon, and truly cares about his employees and his community at large. When Covid hit, Mark offered Granite United Way a $100,000 challenge match to help those most in need. He also worked with the Manchester Boys & Girls Club to completely renovate Camp Foster and also gave $1 million toward their goal with a challenge match.
Mark knows the value of success is enjoying it with those around us.
Mark Lennon, founder and CEO of IRN — The Reuse Network in Concord
EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES — SMALL ORGANIZATION
It is Mark who helped develop New Hampshire’s first statewide recycling plan. Even as the recycling coordinator for the State of New Hampshire, he felt too far removed from being a direct agent of change. And so, in the late 1990s, Mark left government and established the for-profit IRN – The Reuse Network.
Mark determined a mismatch in the surplus furnishings nearly always thrown away by large Boston colleges and the huge need for furniture among large national and international charities involved in disaster and poverty relief.
For less money than it costs to throw away, IRN is paid by the owners of the furniture to make it go away and be put to good use. Since 2002, IRN has shipped more than 90 million pounds of usable furniture and equipment to nonprofits in 62 countries and 43 U.S. states.
IRN is a small company, so it was a significant challenge when, in 2008, one dishonest employee left the company with massive debts, no cash and no access to credit. IRN’s most sensible course was to declare bankruptcy, but that’s not Mark’s way. Once again establishing profitability and slowly paying off its debts, IRN will have made its final payment to the last of its 2008 creditors in January 2021.
Rochelle Lindner, DMD of Lindner Dental Associates in Bedford
EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE — SMALL ORGANIZATION
Dr. Rochelle’s compassionate patient care and vision for incorporating cutting-edge technology has defined Lindner Dental since she joined her husband in starting the adult practice in 1986.
Her advice and collaboration is very much sought after by colleagues and various organizations in her field. She played an important role in the dissolution of the Catholic Medical Center and Elliot Hospital Merger, working tirelessly to help resolve ethical concerns that arose.
Dr. Rochelle is described by her colleagues as ethically pure, and she is extremely well respected not just for her knowledge but also for her integrity and impartiality. For over 20 years, she served on the faculty of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
Her ability to build strong and sincere relationships with patients over the years is unparalleled.
At the end of this year, Dr. Rochelle will be retiring from a long and successful dental career, but there is no doubt she will be as active as ever in our community.
Nichole Raftopoulos, president and founder of Nvest Financial Group in Portsmouth
EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES — SMALL ORGANIZATION
Nichole takes an investor-centric approach to developing financial plans and managing her clients’ portfolios, ensuring her investors have access to a product mix and support services that are cutting edge.
When shutdown orders drove the market into a recession, Nichole and her team took steps to ensure their clients stayed calm and focused on their long-term goals.
She and her team personally called their clients. And Nichole started a weekly webinar series for clients and their friends and family where she talks about Covid and updates regarding the market. These steps ensured clients felt supported, connected and informed, which is at the heart of how Nichole operates her firm.
Nichole is often tapped to speak at industry conferences because of her uncanny ability to take difficult subject matter and make it easily understandable.
One of her many drives is to educate and empower women of all ages to join the financial industry. She has mentored and led members of her staff to become fully licensed financial advisors.
Rachel Guill, deputy vice president and general manager of Countermeasure & Electromagnetic Attack Solutions at BAE Systems in Nashua
EXCELLENCE IN TECHNOLOGY — LARGE ORGANIZATION
Rachel embarked on her career when there were very few women in the defense industry. In 1984, she began in an entry-level position as a teenager fresh out of high school.
In her 30 years at BAE Systems, Rachel rose through the ranks while attending night school to earn advanced degrees and raising two children. As if that weren’t challenging enough, Rachel achieved this while navigating professional demands including participating in military briefings at the Pentagon on very short notice.
One of Rachel’s greatest professional tests came in late 2017, when she was summoned last minute to the War Room at the Pentagon by the deputy secretary of defense. Under Rachel’s guidance, the Defense Department raised the ceiling on the contract for a key munition, and BAE Systems was able to quickly provide some much needed help to our men and women on the battlefield.
Karen Woods, administrative director of Cottage Hospital in Woodsville
EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE — LARGE ORGANIZATION
Karen joined Cottage Hospital 18 years ago as a radiology technologist. Her detail-oriented manner, consistent ability to move any project forward and open communication boosted her to the ranks of assistant manager, then department leader and finally as administrative director, where she has served since 2014.
At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Karen worked closely with the New Hampshire National Guard unit to implement a surge plan at Cottage Hospital.
It was Karen who was approached four years ago by local first responders seeking substance abuse resources. Karen played a substantial role in forming the Haverhill Area Substance Misuse Prevention Coalition, which she chairs. She helped secure a federal grant that provides $125,000 in funding each year for a five-year period for the coalition.
Her organizational efficiency and compassionate approach to lend a hand wherever needed has earned her the admiration of her colleagues who strive to be like her.
Norm Bouthilette, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua
EXCELLENCE IN NONPROFIT — SMALL ORGANIZATION
The Boys & Girls Club owes the last 21 years of success to Norm’s leadership. Norm joined the club in 1976 as its athletics director and became CEO in 1999.
His commitment to making the club a leader in the community has driven the organization to new heights in establishing ongoing services, programs and initiatives.
Recognizing the threat of the opioid epidemic to New Hampshire youth, Norm joined forces with the Eluna Network to establish Camp Mariposa Nashua, a special overnight camp for children ages 9 to 12 who come from families affected by substance abuse or suicide. The camp combines clinical therapeutic sessions with mentorship and traditional camp activities to build resiliency and prevention.
It’s among Norm’s many initiatives and best practices that he shares with leaders of other youth serving organizations across the state and the nation. Norm believes children should have an equitable chance at success no matter what their circumstances.
Helen Williams, owner of 2 Home Cooks in Dover
EXCELLENCE IN CONSUMER SERVICES — SMALL ORGANIZATION
Helen’s dream of owning a restaurant was written on a paper napkin. She was not familiar with running a restaurant, but she had a passion for cooking.
In the beginning, she navigated many challenges after her business partner walked away. The first year is the hardest and many restaurants fail, but her efforts did not go unnoticed by locals.
Helen took the concept of a mom making food in her kitchen with love for her family and turned it into a household name.
2 Home Cooks has become a community staple, full of food, fun, laughs and customers who appreciate it all. Helen has hosted community events like the End 68 Hours of Hunger campaign and raised funds for the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.
Upon the restaurant’s fifth anniversary, Helen was given the opportunity to expand her restaurant, and she took the leap to double in size. Despite the challenges of this time, every weekend seats are filled, and complimentary coffee is served to customers waiting in line to enter.
