FINANCIAL SERVICES
Gary W. Pelletier, an independent financial advisor at Northeast Planning Associates in Nashua, has again been recognized by Forbes as one of the 2024 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors for the seventh consecutive year. He has been providing corporate, estate and financial planning for individuals, families and businesses for nearly 40 years.
NBT Bank earned a place on Forbes’ 2024 World’s Best Banks list, which was released on April 16, rated on overall recommendation and satisfaction, trust, terms and conditions, digital services, customer services and financial advice. NBT was one of only 68 U.S. banks to be included on the list out of tens of thousands of banks globally that are eligible to be considered.
Logan Young, CFP, BFA, CRPS, a financial advisor with Lamb, Petersen & Mann Advisory Group, private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC in Concord, recently obtained the Certified Financial Planner certification. Individuals with the certification agree to meet ongoing continuing education requirements and uphold the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct developed by the Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards, Inc.
Ledyard National Bank has recently launched a new health care banking program designed to provide specialized financial solutions tailored specifically for medical professionals such as doctors and dentists, optometrists, medical residents and fellows, estheticians, veterinarians and other eligible medical professionals. Offered through Ledyard’s Private Banking division, the initiative’s offerings include specialized loans for medical equipment, practice acquisition, practice expansion and even mortgage and relocation loans.
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has been recognized by Forbes as one of the “World’s Best Banks” for the second consecutive year.
The annual list was developed based on responses from more than 49,000 individuals surveyed about their satisfaction with their current or former financial institution.
CONSTRUCTION
Timberline Construction Corp. is now the third founding member of New Hampshire Life Sciences (NHLS), joining Novocure and Novo Nordisk in launching the state’s first-ever statewide life sciences association built for the industry, by the industry. Having completed ground-up buildings and laboratory renovations for over 20 years, Timberline has worked with top life science companies spanning the East Coast, on projects ranging from biotechnology, pharmaceutical, R&D, cGMP, manufacturing, chemical, semiconductor, robotics, battery, health care, medical device and tech development spaces.
Julia Stantic, assistant project manager at North Branch Construction, recently received the LEED Green Associate credential from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED Green Associates are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and implement green building practices within the workplace and community.
AUTOMOTIVE
Merchants Fleet has hired Brian Piern as vice president of regional sales. Piern’s career has spanned 15 years in the commercial fleet industry in senior sales roles at GE Capital, Element Fleet Management, XL Fleet, and most recently chief commercial officer at Lion Electric. In addition, Jessica Starke as regional sales manager for the Central region of the company’s Truck & Van Rental Division.
REAL ESTATE
Stebbins Commercial Properties LLC has sold a 2,500-square-foot office building located at 303 Belmont St. in Manchester. Mike Reed, president of Stebbins Commercial Properties LLC, represented the seller, Baughman Living Trust, and Keller Williams Coastal Realty represented the buyer, Vitaly Yaroshenko. According to the Registry of Deeds, the sale price was $290,000.
Badger Peabody & Smith Realty Austin Hale recently earned his Maine real estate license, expanding his ability to serve clients in both New Hampshire and Maine. Hale initially joined the company in 2023 and works out of Badger’s North Conway office.
NONPROFITS
The New England Legal Foundation has appointed Tara DeSisto as its new development director. She was previously the director of development for the Libertarian National Party in Alexandria, Virginia, and was a consultant with High Wire Strategies. The New Hampshire Public Health Association (NHPHA) Board has appointed Tory Jennison, Ph.D., RN, as their new interim executive director. She brings more than 25 years of experience to the role including complex system and population health consultation on strategy, facilitation, program design, and evaluation in a number of essential public health spaces.
Easterseals NH & VT has named Jeffrey Zwillenberg as chief administrative officer. He was most recently the chief development and marketing officer at Families in Transition. He is currently a community advisory board member at New Hampshire Public Radio.
Granite VNA recently appointed Daniel Kaplan, vice president of information technology at Associated Grocers of New England, and Maura Weston, J.D., of MM Weston & Associates, to its Board of Trustees. Kaplan and Weston joined the board on April 9, bringing diverse experience in IT, public policy and more to the agency.
With support from New England Biolabs, United Way of Greater Nashua donated 23 commercial freezers, with a value of $46,000, to local food pantries, including the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua and Souhegan Valley, Hudson Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County, Nashua School District, Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter, Salvation Army, SHARE Outreach, Southern NH Rescue Mission, St. Joseph Hospital Employee Pantry, Tolles Street Mission and Harbor Care Safe Haven. The donated freezers will enable these organizations to better store and distribute perishable food items to benefit individuals and families in need.
Marisa DiBiaso, vice president and senior civil engineer at Hoyle Tanner, has been elected to the board of directors for the NH Good Roads Association (NHGRA) for a three-year term. While on the board, DiBiaso hopes to build connections between the engineering community and the transportation construction and maintenance industry by promoting events and membership.
LAW
Fifteen attorneys practicing with McLane Middleton have been named to the 2024 edition of New England Super Lawyers, with an additional 10 attorneys included as Rising Stars. The 2024 New England Super Lawyers are: Patrick C. Closson (business/corporate), Steven J. Dutton (business litigation), Bruce W. Felmly (civil litigation defense), Joseph A. Foster (bankruptcy business), Wilbur A. Glahn III (business litigation), Dennis J. Haley, Jr. (business litigation), Scott H. Harris (business litigation), Linda S. Johnson (schools and education), Barry Needleman (environmental litigation), Daniel J. Norris (business/corporate), Jennifer L. Parent (business litigation), Mark C. Rouvalis (environmental litigation), Gregory H. Smith (environmental), Jeremy T. Walker (business litigation), and Mark A. Wright (intellectual property). The 2024 Rising Stars from McLane are: Alexandra S. Cote (estate and trust litigation), Kolbie R. Deamon (business/corporate), Viggo C. Fish (energy and resources), Whitney A. Gagnon (estate and probate), Christina L. Krakoff (estate and probate), Jacqueline A. Leary (family law), Caitlin G. McCurdy (estate and probate), Amanda E. Quinlan (business litigation), Graham W. Steadman (general litigation), and Rebecca S. Walkley (environmental litigation).
Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green PA has welcomed Patrick J. Queenan back to its Litigation Department, returning from the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section, where he prosecuted and investigated white-collar criminal cases across the country. Queenan will work out of the firm’s Boston, Mass., and Manchester, NH, offices.
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
The NH Liquor Commission (NHLC) recently promoted Michael Derderian to the role of spirits marketing and sales specialist and Steven Gagnon to the role of chief systems officer. Derderian has worked at NHLC for more than 30 years, serving in multiple roles across various NH Liquor & Wine Outlet locations, including store clerk, regional store supervisor and most recently, store manager. Gagnon is a 31-year retail industry veteran and has worked at NHLC for nearly 10 years as a regional store supervisor and most recently, an assistant administrator of store operations.
Aroma Joe’s has opened its newest location in Manchester at 1095 Hanover Street inside the Mobil gas station’s convenience store, owned and operated by Robert and Tracy Hanson. This 340-square-foot drive-thru and walk-in location features handcrafted coffee and espresso drinks, unique flavor infusions, signature AJ’s RUSH Energy Drinks and all-day food options. In addition, Dave Tucci has been named Aroma Joe’s president and will retain his current title of COO. He joined Aroma Joe’s in 2021 as the director of franchise development and operations, later transitioning to his current role in 2022.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded over $2.2 million to the Greater Nashua Continuum of Care to ensure ongoing support for up to 89 units of permanent supportive housing and services for individuals and families, including veterans, who are homeless and living with disabilities within Nashua and surrounding towns.
EDUCATION
In just three months, the NH Department of Education (NHED) has disbursed more than $1 million in scholarships so that Granite State children can attend camp this summer and improve their overall well-being. The award, now totaling $1,100,983, will continue to be distributed until COVID-relief funding is exhausted, and will allow at least 1,777 students to participate in a memorable and fun summer camp experience at about 170 participating camp locations.
TECHNOLOGY
Red River, a technology transformation company serving government and enterprise customers, has appointed Brent Pugh as its chief financial officer. He has over 20 years of experience in the U.S. and international aerospace and defense industry, most recently serving as the CFO for CAE’s Defense and Security business. He has also served in financial leadership positions across several organizations including L3Harris Technologies and public accounting firms Arthur Andersen and KPMG.
Uprise Partners, a technology solutions provider, was recognized for its innovation, experience and expertise in customized IT and cybersecurity solutions as a first-time Tech Elite 250 award winner. The 2024 Tech Elite 250 is awarded to technology providers who have achieved the highest partner program levels and hold certifications from global technology companies including Adobe, Dell Technologies, Microsoft, Google and VMware.
BUSINESS SERVICES
The Upper Valley Business Alliance (UVBA) added four new members to its board of directors: John Scott, CFO, Hypertherm; Dr. Teresa Malcolm Deane, VP of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, Dartmouth Health; Jeffrey Marks, SVP/chief marketing officer, Ledyard Bank; and Timothy McNamara, Mayor of the City of Lebanon.
HEALTH CARE
Richard (Rik) Cornell, vice president of community relations and development, has announced his retirement from The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester. Initially joining the company in 1973, Cornell will finalize his work in May but will stay on as a part-time clinician and trainer.
Michelle Poirier-Langille, SANE program coordinator at Concord Hospital, was awarded the Thrive Survivor Support Center Resilience Award. She first joined the health system in 2012 as an emergency department psychiatric nurse where she became a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) in 2013, then later assumed the role of SANE program manager. She was elevated to her current role as ED nurse manager in 2022. Poirier-Langille is a nationally certified sexual assault nurse examiner and intimate partner violence examiner from the International Association of Forensic Nurses.
NEW HAMPSHIRE 200
Editor’s note: NH Business Review is spotlighting selected 2024 New Hampshire 200 honorees from various industries. See the entire list and book at nhbr.com
Sheryl McQuade, Regional President New England, TD Bank
Education: Lehigh University (BS), Western New England University (MBA)
Career history: Sheryl’s 37-year career in New England banking has spanned roles in commercial and retail banking including sales strategy, commercial lending, credit underwriting, risk adjudication, retail store management and community engagement.
Most important business lesson: After many years working tirelessly to be the best banker for my customers, I realized there was a whole village behind me instrumental in delivering for me and my customers.
Most excited about: Building banking apprenticeship and internship programs for college graduates, individuals returning to/just entering the workforce and those desiring to change their field of interest.
Fun fact: My father was a symphony conductor and my mother was a professional pianist and organist. I didn’t inherit the music genes; however, my daughter is a vocalist and music therapist. My son is self-taught on guitar and is a songwriter.
Hobbies/passions: Paddleboarding; pontoon boating; kayaking; e-bicycling; snowshoeing; hiking; traveling; pickleball; watching food shows while running on my treadmill.
Checked-off bucket list item: My son and I found our way to Cape Town, South Africa, spending four days diving with sharks with a Discovery Channel Shark Week commentator from Apex Tours after I bought a safari vacation by auction.
Industry advice: Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Take risks and be courageous with your career decisions. Trust your gut. Always be curious. And show your work and help others succeed around you. We over I.
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