EDUCATION
New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account (EFA) program is being recognized in EdChoice’s 2024 Yearbook Superlatives in three categories: including the most popular educational choice program in the country, the “Biggest Legal Win” for NH’s Superior Court ruling against a state constitutional challenge to EFAs, and having the most effective implementation of an educational choice program in the U.S.
NONPROFITS
The Brook casino in Seabrook will mark its five-year anniversary since being acquired by Nevada-based Eureka Casinos. In 2023, The Brook donated over $8 million in 2023 to area nonprofits, that provided 10,829 meals via Rockingham Nutrition & Meals on Wheels; seven life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses via Make-A-Wish New Hampshire; 89 trainings for 130 schools on suicide prevention via Connors Climb; 4,000 weekend, holiday and school break meals for children and their families via End 68 Hours of Hunger; 310 flights via Angel Flight, a nonprofit organization arranging air and ground medical transportation for patients in critical situations; and more.
Bank of America has selected Manchester-based Friends of Aine as its 2023 Neighborhood Champion in New Hampshire. Friends of Aine will receive a $50,000 grant as well as the opportunity to participate in virtual leadership training delivered by experts in the nonprofit sector on topics such as human capital management, increasing financial sustainability and storytelling.
Boyd Smith recently received the 2024 State Leadership Award for New Hampshire from the New England Water Works Association, which recognizes the contributions of the recipient to their state association and to the water works profession. Smith served as president and CEO for NH Water Works Association (NHWWA) from 2020-2023, where he made key industry connections and helped revise and improve the structure of NHWWA and its board of directors, legislative oversight, and educational and training options.
Waypoint — a statewide, nonprofit organization providing human services and advocacy to New Hampshire residents of all ages — has named Colleen Kelty as the new director of impact, promoted Erin George-Kelly to director of innovation and strategic initiatives, and added Cindy Stewart as Interim development director. These three individuals bring decades of experience to Waypoint’s leadership team and will help the organization further its mission to empower New Hampshire citizens.
CONSTRUCTION
North Branch Construction in Concord recently welcomed Holly Bourassa as the firm’s new safety director, succeeding Rich LeVinus upon his retirement. Bourassa brings over eight years of construction industry experience, responsible for weekly job-site visits, establishing work-site safety plans and employee training.
AUTOMOTIVE
Advantage Truck Group (ATG) has named its 2023 Pete DePina Legacy Award winners for New Hampshire, recognizing one individual from each of its NH locations for making an impact on their fellow employees, customers and the company: Ian Schulte, diesel technician, ATG Lancaster; Stacie Bennett, administrative assistant, ATG Lebanon; Tony Palmer, back parts counter associate, ATG Manchester; and Sal Huerta, parts administrator, ATG Seabrook.
ENGINEERING
Tighe & Bond, an engineering, design and environmental consulting firm, has acquired Cape Cod-based Coastal Engineering Co., Inc., a civil, structural and waterfront/marine engineering firm that specializes in projects located in environmentally sensitive areas. John Bologna, Coastal’s former CEO and president, will now serve as vice president within the firm’s Building Services Business Line.
Caryn MacDonald has joined civil and environmental engineering firm Fuss & O’Neill as a project manager in the firm’s Environment and Facility Services Business Line. Caryn brings nearly a decade of environmental consulting and construction project management experience to the firm, including assessment and remediation of sites, and working on impacted soil and groundwater waste sites, as well as vapor intrusion investigations.
GOVERNMENT
NH Secretary of State David M. Scanlan has named both State Representatives Jonah Wheeler, D-Peterborough, and Valerie McDonnell (R-Salem) as recipients of the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award for 2023. Established by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) in 2021, this award recognizes young leaders with a passion for social justice and civic education, and a desire to improve the quality of life in their local communities.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has announced the assignment of staff from the New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) to its various standing committees, including: Christian Citarella, chair, Casualty Actuarial and Statistical Task Force; NHID Commissioner DJ Bettencourt, vice chair, the NAIC/Consumer Liaison Committee, the Consumer Participation Board of Trustees, the Health Insurance and Managed Care Committee, and the Property and Casualty Insurance Committee; Jennifer Li, Life Actuarial, Health Actuarial, Long-Term Care Insurance, and Valuation of Securities task forces; Patricia Gosselin, Accounting Practices and Procedures, Capital Adequacy, Examination Oversight, and Reinsurance task forces; Joshua Hilliard, Antifraud Task Force; and Michelle Heaton, Regulatory Framework Task Force.
ARCHITECTURE
Market Square Architects in Portsmouth recently welcomed Ben Brown as the firm’s first associate. Currently serving as director of business development and marketing, Brown will continue in this role while also advancing the firm’s operational and strategic planning efforts.
REAL ESTATE
Engel & Völkers, a global luxury real estate brand, opened its newest shop in Portsmouth, spearheaded by license partner Dean-Poritzky and supported by Vice President and Marketing Director Paige McVay. The new shop will provide real estate services to the Seacoast, Lakes Region and White Mountains regions, as well as the southern coast of Maine.
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Masiello Group has welcomed Stephanie Cajdric and Melissa Carr to its North Conway office. Originally from Concord, Mass., Cajdric started with a career in the dental industry, but now brings expertise in customer service, marketing and sales to her new role at Masiello Group. Carr became licensed in 2011 and a broker in 2015, with a background in property management.
HOSPITALITY
Aroma Joe’s has opened its newest location in Seabrook at 270 Lafayette Road. The 900-square-foot drive-thru location is owned and operated by franchisees Dana Spence and Harry Wesson, and features handcrafted coffee and espresso drinks, AJ’s RUSH Energy Drinks and all-day food options. High Points Bakery, dba Bonilla Bread, will be opening on Bethlehem’s Main Street this spring in the former Lloyd Hills building. Owner and head baker, Casey Bonilla, was awarded a Community Development Block Grant from the Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN) for $5,000 through the NH Community Development Finance Authority. The bakery will sell breads, scones, muffins, and gluten-free items, plus breakfast sandwiches made with their own bread. Over the summer, lunch sandwiches and soup to-go will be added to the menu.
HEALTH CARE
Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire (VNH), a member of Dartmouth Health, collected more than 110 books for young readers, from infants to teens, as well as $200 in gift cards for book purchases as part of VNH’s annual holiday gift collection. The books were distributed during December and January to over 100 families in the Maternal and Child Health program.
Dr. Alexander Hennig has joined Concord Hospital Orthopaedics in Laconia. He is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine. Most recently, he practiced at Advanced Orthopedics in Gilford, NH, an affiliate of Frisbie Memorial Hospital. Dr. Hennig specializes in arthroscopic and open treatment of conditions and injuries, involving the shoulder, elbow, knee, hip and ankle. His other interests include rotator cuff repair, shoulder instability, knee ligament reconstruction, meniscus and cartilage repair as well as fracture care.
Federal benefits administrator FedPoint has opened the application window for its annual nursing scholarships, ending on March 8. The company will award four $5,000 scholarships for graduating high school seniors who will be attending an accredited nursing program in the fall of 2024.
Applicants must reside in New Hampshire, Maine or Massachusetts. Additional details about the scholarship, eligibility requirements, decision criteria and important dates are available at fedpointusa.com/scholarships.
TECHNOLOGY
The NH Tech Alliance is now accepting nominations for the 9th Annual Tech-Women of the Year Awards, celebrating technology-focused women who drive innovation and influence technology at companies and schools. The awards will honor three exceptional women in the technology industry – Tech Student of the Year, Tech Educator of the Year, and Tech Professional of the Year – for their achievements and contributions in the field in 2023. Nominations close on March 3. Visit nhtechalliance.org/tech-women-awards for more information.
LAW
Attorney Robin Melone recently joined the law firm of Pastori | Krans, where she will focus on employment law, family law, civil litigation, and Title IX and workplace investigations. Robin has been practicing since 2004, and is admitted to practice in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
Alan F. Rumrill, executive director of the Historical Society of Cheshire County, announced that he will retire in October of 2024 after 41 years on the job. After his retirement, Rumrill intends to continue working part time at the Historical Society of Cheshire County as a senior historian and as a resource for historical research and use of the society’s collections.
Terrapin Tours, a group travel company based in Woodstock, NH, has raised over $2,500 to support their Student Travel Scholarship Program, which provides travel scholarships to New Hampshire high school students. Part of Terrapin’s “Give Back” initiative, the program helps students experience the joy, wonder and education that comes from traveling.
BUSINESS SERVICES
The Greater Manchester Chamber recognized Howard Brodsky, co-founder and chairman of CCA Global Partners, as its next Citizen of the Year, for a lifetime devoted to community service and business leadership. Brodsky will be honored on April 4 at the Chamber’s Citizen of the Year Celebration, 5 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Bradford C. Paige, president and CEO of Kennebunk Savings, will retire on December 31, 2024. Lex Meagher, senior executive vice president and chief credit officer, will assume the president’s role and will become CEO upon Paige’s retirement. An attorney and member of the Maine State Bar Association, Meagher joined Kennebunk Savings in September 2011 as associate general counsel after serving as a law clerk at both the Maine Superior and Maine Supreme Judicial courts, where he was subsequently promoted to several leadership positions.
Baker Newman Noyes, an accounting and advisory firm, has promoted two individuals to senior-level positions: Chris Currie, CPA, and Linda Sanborn, CPA, MBA, both promoted to managing director in the Tax Practice.
Ethan Layfield was recently promoted to business development administrative assistant at Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB), where he will assist business customers with account requests, cash management services and reporting.
Granite VNA pres./CEO to oversee advocate consolidation
Granite VNA President/CEO Beth Slepian has been named to a Transition Board of Directors that will oversee the consolidation of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). Slepian has served on the NAHC Board of Directors since 2021, and has been with Granite VNA for 10 years, serving first as vice president of Education and Clinical Compliance, before becoming president and CEO in 2015. Prior to joining Granite VNA, Slepian spent 19 years in management and patient care at Northeast Rehab Home Care in Salem, NH.
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