NONPROFITS
Associates at Fidelity Investments in Merrimack recently donated the equivalent of 150,000 meals to the New Hampshire Food Bank via a virtual food drive, where food items were collected. Fidelity also hosted a New Hampshire Food Bank Mac Off, where hundreds of associates came together to package macaroni and cheese meals.
Granite Outdoor Alliance — a coalition of over 120 New Hampshire outdoor businesses, nonprofits and outdoor enthusiasts dedicated to building the outdoor economy — recently appointed four new members to its board of directors: Kyla Brustin, North & Central Regional Director, NH Business Development Center; Jada Lindblom, Ph.D., community and economic development field specialist, UNH Cooperative Extension; Dr. Elizabeth A Burakowski, research faculty member in the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space and Affiliate faculty in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of New Hampshire; and Ryan Flynn, a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual and adjunct professor of professional sales and marketing at Southern New Hampshire University.
The Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation (formally Northeast Credit Union Foundation) has named Emily Moore as its director of advancement. Moore has nearly 20 years of nonprofit development experience in various roles with the University of New Hampshire Foundation, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Foundation and most recently The Music Hall.
New Generation, which provides paths to permanent housing and stability for New Hampshire mothers and children experiencing homelessness, has received a challenge grant of up to $36,750 from the Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities. The grant will support New Generation’s safe shelter, transitional housing and stabilization services for pregnant women and mothers with children who are homeless due to the lack of affordable housing, and face challenges such as domestic violence, financial hardship and substance misuse.
The Manchester Historic Association has received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, designed to support small museums in serving communities throughout the U.S. The grant will allow MHA to organize and rehouse its textile collection to improve preservation and access.
NH LAKES recently awarded the 2024 John F. Morten Memorial Award for Exemplary Lake Stewardship to Bayard Tracy, a Chesterfield resident and steward of Spofford Lake. Bayard has been an advocate for Spofford Lake, having served on the Spofford Lake Association board of directors and the water testing committee, written grants for the association, and helped coordinate the Lake Host courtesy boat inspection program. Bayard has been instrumental in bringing the lake association and the Town of Chesterfield together to work to restore and preserve the health of Spofford Lake, and he has partnered with NH LAKES to help other communities throughout the state adopt measures to protect lake health.
BUSINESS SERVICES
Nominations are now being accepted for the Greater Manchester Chamber’s Citizen of the Year. The award honors an individual who has exemplified exceptional leadership and service and has made a significant impact on the Greater Manchester community. Submit a nomination by October 18 at manchester-chamber.org/citizen-of-theyear-celebration.
The Southern New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has honored George Fredette, SFC Engineering Partnership Inc. president emeritus, as the recipient of the 2024 William A. Brown Distinguished Businessperson Award in recognition of Fredette’s impact on enhancing business environment of the Southern NH area. Over the years, he has held various leadership roles, including chairmanships of the NH Joint Engineering Society, the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee, and the Town of Salem’s Economic Development Action Committee. Fredette has also been involved in the Windham Economic Development Committee, the New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and Business Network International. He served as the Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council #7572 and is currently a district deputy as well as chair of the Greater Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
Lenshipz Services — a property management, lawn mowing and pressure-washing company — has launched in Seabrook, bringing a customer-centric approach to property care across New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. With a mission to enhance property value and curb appeal, Lenshipz is dedicated to enhancing property value and aesthetics through high-quality, reliable and customer-focused services.
Federal and military benefits administrator and marketplace operator FedPoint announced that Michael Crones, the company’s chief information officer, has been elected to the board of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)’s New England chapter. Crones has been a member of NDIA New England for the past 10 years, and will continue to help further the organization’s mission to promote a strong, diverse security ecosystem in New England.
GOVERNMENT
Lindsey Stepp of Holderness was recently re-nominated by Governor Chris Sununu and confirmed by the NH Executive Council on August 7, to continue serving as commissioner of the NH Department of Revenue Administration (NHDRA). AS NHDRA’s first female commissioner, Stepp began her tenure in December 2017 after previously serving as assistant commissioner for nearly two years. Stepp’s new four-year term runs through September 1, 2028.
MARKETING
Montagne Powers, a full-service public relations and strategic communications firm, recently promoted Ryan Lessard to senior account executive. Lessard initially joined the firm in 2022 as an account executive. In previous roles, Lessard worked as a correspondent for the NH Union Leader and as a freelance journalist for several local news publications, including Manchester Ink Link, Business NH Magazine, New Hampshire Magazine and NH Business Review. Lessard also previously worked as the lead news reporter for The Hippo and as an on-air correspondent for NH Public Radio.
LAW
Thirty-one attorneys from Shaheen & Gordon have been recognized in the 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. Those attorneys named as Best Lawyers in America were: Ronald L. Abramson, Stephanie K. Annunziata, Joseph A. Cherniske, Tracey Goyette Cote, Christine M. Craig, Steven M. Gordon, Cathy J. Green, Timothy M. Harrington, Crystal M. Maldonado, Heather V. Menezes, Francis G. Murphy, D. Michael Noonan, Sean T. O’Connell, Jared P. O’Connor, Brian M. Quirk, James D. Rosenberg, William H. Shaheen, Benjamin Siracusa Hillman, Randall E. Smith, Alexander E. Spadinger, Laura T. Tetrault and Lawrence A. Vogelman. Those attorneys honored as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch are Kirsten J. Allen, James Armillay, Olivia Bensinger, Leah Cole Durst, Samantha J. Heuring, Brittani L. Pelissier, Julianne M. Plourde, Danielle Pomeroy and Lyndsay N. Robinson. WITH PIC: McLane Middleton attorney Jennifer L. Parent has been named to Benchmark Litigation’s Top 250 Women in Litigation for the sixth consecutive year. As director of the firm’s Litigation Department, chair of its Business Litigation Practice Group and member of its Management Committee, Parent has over 28 years of experience litigating and resolving disputes for companies and business owners in a wide range of complex commercial and business cases and employment matters.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust recently announced the winners of its Brand Behavior Awards, which recognizes employees who demonstrate behavior that exemplifies the bank’s core values, as nominated by their peers. Winners are: Communication Award, Saxon Tinto and Crystal Wood; Initiative Award, Mark Giordano and Bonnie Poland; Positivity Award, Michelle Siggers and Beth Zullo; Professionalism Award, Melanie Bowden and Kevin Gendreau; Quality Award, CJ Carver and Nancy Silva; and Teamwork Award, Kathleen Buck and Nicole Bunker.
New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp (NHMB) has welcomed Jaime L. Frederes as SVP and residential lending officer, replacing retiring Mark Danahy. Previously, Frederes was VP area lending manager for Bank of America and more recently SVP residential and consumer lending officer for Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. Amy Cassin has joined Bangor Savings Bank as vice president, business banking senior relationship manager, at the bank’s Elm Street branch in Manchester. She brings more than two decades of experience in the health insurance and banking industries, including her most recent role with TD Bank as small business banking relationship manager.
Merrimack County Savings Bank (The Merrimack) has promoted Hillary Madore to branch services manager at its Henniker location. Madore joined The Merrimack in 2022 as a universal banker at the bank’s main office in Downtown Concord.
HEALTH CARE
Monadnock Community Hospital (MCH) in Peterborough has been named one of the 20 Most Beautiful Hospitals in the United States for 2024 by Soliant Health for its architectural design, aesthetics and creating a welcoming atmosphere.
MCH’s facilities feature advanced medical technology, patient-centered design and healing outdoor spaces that promote patient recovery and overall well-being. The hospital’s services include primary care, emergency services (24/7), gastroenterology, rheumatology, surgical services, cardiology, birthing suite, behavioral health, orthopedics, full laboratory and radiology.
Granite VNA, a home health and hospice care provider, recently introduced a virtual nurse program with three virtual visiting nurses, connecting patients with skilled home and hospice care nurses through telephone and video calls for regular check-ins, reinforcing education, supporting case management and more.
Elliot Health System’s Elliot 1-Day Surgery Center has earned an Orthopaedic Advanced Certification for its Total Joint Program from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. Certification involves both an onsite survey and ongoing compliance to high standards.
Rick Visconte has been named senior director of cancer care services at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Working closely with medical director Dr. Arul Mahadevan, Visconte will oversee the center’s coordination and collaboration with clinical cancer leaders across Mass General Brigham. Visconte has more than 20 years of combined experience in nursing and clinical leadership, business development and operations. He has a master of science in nursing, is a registered nurse, and is board-certified as a nurse executive advanced.
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has been named on Newsweek’s 2024 list of “America’s Best Neurological Hospitals,” which includes the top 175 neurological hospitals in the country. The rankings were compiled by market and consumer data company Statista using a nationwide online survey, hospital quality metrics, results from patient experience surveys, and Statista’s patient reported outcome Measurers (PROMS) implementation survey.
HOSPITALITY
Several charitable gaming facilities in the state are officially rebranding as Revo Casino and Social House, a multi-location project that will make way for new amenities, including live entertainment and new dining experiences. The properties include Filotimo Casinos in Manchester and Dover, Wonder Casino in Keene, and Lebanon Poker Room & Casino in Lebanon, which are owned and operated by New Hampshire Group (NHG). Part of NHG’s mission is to support and amplify the positive impact of statewide nonprofits, so contributions through Revo’s charitable gaming facilities will drive more support to area nonprofits.
REAL ESTATE
Shayna Pryor has earned her real estate license from the State of New Hampshire and has joined the firm of Badger Peabody & Smith Realty as a sales associate in the Gorham office, joining other agents Don Lapointe, Jeff Gagnon and her mentor, Kate Frisk.
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
Randy Pierce, President & CEO Future In Sight
Education: University of New Hampshire (BS, honorary L.H.D.)
Career history: Randy’s engineering background with Digital Equipment Corporation established the essential problem-solving foundation of his life. He unexpectedly became blind, inspiring a focus and vision on community needs, so he founded “2020 Vision Quest.” That led to his present career as the president and CEO of Future In Sight. He says it is fulfilling to ensure there are teaching, tools and services able to transform the lives of the 28,000 people in NH who experience profound sight loss or blindness.
Business lesson: Proper positive attention to staff is essential before you can ensure proper positive attention for clients.
Biggest challenge: Exciting and inviting positive steps to culture amid a staffing crisis requires patience and steady demonstration of deserving the trust essential to those changes.
Most excited about: The opportunity to create confidence, competence and connection for the blind and visually impaired of NH invigorates me. Working with a team of equally passionate people encourages me for a better Future In Sight.
Fun fact: I was awarded “Best Eyes” in school!
Favorite story: My book, “See You at the Summit,” connects the help of people in my journey to my ability to matter today.
Industry advice: Competence is the best advocacy, transparency gifts you control over all the messaging and kindness is king. Delegate to promote growth not avoid responsibility. Put off procrastination and do the work now.
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