EDUCATION
The ConVal School Board has named Bennington school board representative Michael Hoyt chair. Hoyt succeeds longtime chair Dick Dunning, who did not run for reelection. Hoyt worked for 40 years in the Franklin School District, as a high school teacher, special education director and administrator in the office of the superintendent, where he managed all state and federal programs for the district. Hoyt was also the principal of a school for kindergarten through second grade for 17 years.
Emily Marsh has been selected as the new director of communications and marketing for NHTI – Concord’s Community College. Marsh previously worked with the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce since 2019, first as events and marketing manager and then creative director in 2021. Previously, she served as events and marketing manager for Red River Theater in Concord.
HOSPITALITY
Waterville Valley Resort Association (WVRA) has appointed Sarah Van Kralingen as the nonprofit organization’s new events operations director, effective April 1. She was most recently the marketing operations manager at Waterville Valley Resort.
The Lake Estate on Winnisquam, a new 114-room independent luxury resort and spa to open in Tilton this summer, announced that two-time James Beard Foundation Award nominee and Top Chef alum Chef Chris Viaud was chosen the resort’s director of culinary arts. Chef Viaud will create and oversee the resort’s restaurants, in-room dining, wedding and banquets and private events, and will lead a team of four chefs, including a pastry chef and number of line cooks, prep cooks and bakers.
CONSTRUCTION
Alexx Monastiero, co-owner of the Gove Group in Stratham, recently accepted a Cornerstone Award, presented by the NH Home Builders Association, for a single-family construction home valued at under $1 million. The project was an Adirondack-inspired home in Nottingham that offered a blend of rustic charm and modern luxury set on 12.25 acres.
LAW
Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. has added its ninth office in Lebanon through a partnership with Schuster, Buttrey & Wing, P.A. — this is the law firm’s second partnership of 2025. The attorneys of Schuster, Buttrey & Wing, P.A. joining Shaheen & Gordon “of counsel” will be Barry Schuster, Bryce Wing and Gina Stillman. They will continue to operate from their office at 79 Hanover Street in Lebanon.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Federal benefits administrator and marketplace operator FedPoint announced that it has won three 2025 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, each in the Customer Service and Contact Center Achievement categories, for its use of AI to improve the customer experience. FedPoint received a silver award for customer service transformation and two bronze awards for achievement in customer experience and in the use of data and analytics in customer service.
St. Mary’s Bank recently welcomed Keith Rose as its new business development officer. Throughout his 15-year career, he has successfully managed multi-million-dollar portfolios, cultivated strong community partnerships, and fostered business growth through strategic financial solutions. Most recently, he served as senior vice president, market manager in commercial lending at Northway Bank.
Holy Rosary Credit Union (HRCU) has been recognized for the fifth year by MemberXP, a customer experience program offered through Credit Union Solutions Group (CUSG), as a recipient of its 2025 Best of the Best award in the new member and loan experience categories. HRCU also received the 2025 AARP BankSafe Trained Seal for the fifth consecutive year. HRCU is one of only 193 financial organizations nationally that earned the Seal, which is awarded after at least 80% of front-end staff have completed the BankSafe training and the credit union implemented policies to address suspected financial exploitation.
Merrimack County Saving Bank (The Merrimack) welcomed Mark Hurley as branch and business development manager of its Contoocook branch, where he will oversee daily operations and foster relationships with local businesses. Prior to joining The Merrimack, Hurley worked for 25 years in human resources.
Rachael Garvey has been promoted to branch relationship manager at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust’s location in Enfield. After six years of working in the hospitality industry, Garvey began her career in banking in 2019 at People’s United Bank, later working for Mascoma Bank and Ledyard National Bank. In addition, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust welcomed Anna Schleich as vice president, branch relationship manager for the Bank’s Bedford location. Previously, she held the role of AVP, relationship manager business banker at M&T Bank.
Eastern Bank has expanded its Franchise Lending group with the arrivals of senior vice president and head of specialty finance David Farwell and senior vice president of franchise finance Randi Baskin Blume. Farwell most recently served as executive vice president, head of specialty banking – franchise finance at Citizens Bank, and Baskin Blume’s most recent role was vice president, franchise finance – senior relationship manager at BMO Bank, N.A.
NONPROFITS
Bring Back the Trades (BBTT), a nonprofit dedicated to empowering the next generation of skilled tradespeople, has launched its new and improved website, BBTT.org, designed to provide students, parents, educators and industry leaders with resources, event information, scholarships and career pathways to help close the growing skilled trades gap. The website relaunch was made possible in part by Milwaukee Tool.
New Generation, a program of Catholic Charities NH, has named Brandy Rickaby as its new executive director. She was most recently the family services manager for the nonprofit, which provides safe shelter, transitional housing and stabilization services for families facing homelessness due to a lack of affordable housing combined with individual challenges such as domestic violence, financial hardship, substance misuse, and mental health barriers.
The Keene Family YMCA has named Christy Sterbenz Filby as its CEO, effective June 2. The announcement comes after the nonprofit organization launched a national search to replace Dan Smith, who stepped down from the role late last year to lead the Greater Burlington YMCA in Vermont. Sterbenz Filby brings nearly 30 years of experience to the organization, most recently serving as director of public policy and statewide initiatives at the Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs.
Amanda Littleton will join the Monadnock Conservancy as executive director on May 1. Littleton, of Chesterfield, has been district manager at the Cheshire County Conservation District for the past 18 years. She established the NH Farm Future Fund and Monadnock Menus, which connects local farmers with larger markets for their products, and also developed both the Climate Resilience grant program and the Conservation Opportunity Fund. Littleton succeeds Ryan Owens, who left the conservancy in October to lead the New England Forestry Foundation.
Nominations are currently being sought for Plan NH’s 2025 Merit Awards of Excellence, which recognizes “outstanding projects that demonstrate how the built environment can make a positive contribution to people and places and reflect the mission and values of Plan NH.” All nominations are reviewed for their connection to Smart Growth and Livability principles, their creative approach to cooperation and coordination, and their positive community impact regarding social, economic, environmental, and/or inclusivity factors. Applications are due April 15. Visit plannh.org for more.
Kelley O’Hara has assumed the role of executive director of the YMCA of Concord. Previously, she led the Merrimack Valley YMCA Andover branch as associate executive for over 8 years. Prior to that, she served the YMCA in both East Bridgewater and Keene as the director of aquatics. Kelley has her master’s of science from Antioch University in Keene and a bachelor’s of science from Widener University in Pennsylvania.
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees recently presented more than $22,000 in donations collected through the Bank’s employee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause, to 10 organizations serving communities in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Maine recipients are Farm Tomorrow, Hancock County Habitat for Humanity, Maine Maritime Museum, Pine Tree Society and Shaw Institute. New Hampshire recipients are New London Hospital and the Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity. Vermont recipients are Brandon Free Public Library, Norman Williams Public Library and Royalton Memorial Library.
Friends Forever International (FFI) has added three individuals to its board of directors: Jessica Maye, a registered nurse at Tayside Hospital in Scotland; Kate Friedrich, VP of government affairs at Thomson Reuters; and Jeff Fahey, an actor and humanitarian. In addition, FFI announced its new leadership team: chair, Tim Allison, executive director of the Foundation for NH Community Colleges; vice chair, Christine Dwyer, senior vice president at RMC Research; secretary, Darcy Peyser, attorney at Durbin Law Offices; and treasurer, Robert Gibson, enterprise sales director at Toast.
TECHNOLOGY
The TechWomen Awards honored three women in the technology industry for their achievements and contributions in the field in 2024. Caitlin Seiler, an 11th-grade student at the Academy for Science and Design in Nashua, was named the Tech Student of the Year. Jessica Carcerano-Wheeler, an educator at Cooperative Middle School in Stratham, was named the Tech Educator of the Year. And, Rebecca Woods, founder of Bluebird Leaders, was named Tech Professional of the Year.
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
The Pease Development Authority (PDA) hired Richard A. Hartley as the new assistant port director for the Division of Ports and Harbors. Hartley, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, has dedicated over two decades to maritime security, operations management and strategic planning. His career includes leadership positions such as senior liaison to the U.S. Fleet Forces Navy Warfare Development Command, director of operations for the U.S. Coast Guard in Miami, and director of operational safety and security at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Hartley succeeds Myles Greenway, who recently rejoined the U.S. Coast Guard as a port security specialist in Boston, Mass.
Groundworks, a North America-based foundation and water management solutions company, acquired Rescon Basement Solutions in Hooksett, its first location in New Hampshire. Rescon offers a wide range of services including basement waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation and foundation repair. The team at Rescon will continue to serve their customers under the Groundworks’ name and bring regional knowledge to an even wider audience.
The NH Liquor ComThe U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced its 2025 New Hampshire Small Business Award winners. Dr. Tanya Lawson, founder and medical director of Inbloom Health + Medispa in Londonderry, was awarded the SBA’s 2025 New Hampshire Small Business Person of the Year. Other NH Small Business Week Award winners are: Home-Based Award, Hailee Grisham Hampton, Hurry Slow Hat Company; Young Entrepreneur Award, Sabrina MacDowell, Pampered Pup; Veteran-owned Award, Russell Collins, Home Innovations Corporation; Woman-owned Award, Karen Jenovese, NH Swim School; Financial Services Champion for NH and New England, Rick Dassatti, SCORE; Small Business Manufacturer Award, Josh Velasquez and Adam Hamilton, Shire’s Naturals; and Micro-Enterprise Award, Bret Lincoln, Lincoln Fencing.
mission (NHLC) and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey once again holding their “Bring Back Jack” event. Each Saturday from April 5 to May 10, customers can return and recycle empty glass wine or spirits bottles at select NH Liquor & Wine Outlets for exclusive savings, such as $25 off an in-store purchase of $150 or more with a return of 12 empty bottles. For more details on the program and to view the event schedule, visit www.liquorandwineoutlets.com/bringbackjack.
HEALTH CARE
Concord Hospital Health System has welcomed Jesus Delgado as the new chief digital and information officer. With over 24 years of experience in health care IT management, Delgado previously served as system chief information officer at Community Healthcare System, a five-hospital network in northwest Indiana.
Granite VNA’s Cindy Bergeron promoted
Granite VNA has promoted Cindy Bergeron, RN, BSN, to senior director of home care. She has served as one of the agency’s home care directors since 2021. Since joining Granite VNA in 2004, Bergeron has served in various roles, including case manager, weekend clinical triage nurse, paraprofessional clinical manager, director of paraprofessional services, and, since 2021 as home care director. She will also continue to serve as clinical director for the home care south team.
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