GOVERNMENT

James Vara has joined the NH Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) as assistant commissioner. He has spent over 20 years in New Hampshire government, most recently serving as director of the Office of Legislative Services for the NH General Court. In addition, Adam Denoncour is taking on the role of municipal and property division director, succeeding Samuel Greene who recently retired.

EDUCATION

The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) will present the 2026 Walter R. Peterson Award for Education and Public Service to the Stebbins family in honor of its longstanding leadership in business and philanthropy in New Hampshire, with an emphasis on expanding access to higher education for students. The family will be recognized April 22 during Great Bay Community College’s 80th anniversary celebration.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Rachel Hagen is the new member engagement manager at the Greater Manchester Chamber (GMC). Prior to joining the chamber, she recently earned her master’s degree in global environment, politics and society from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and worked in the U.S. Senate for over three years. Hagen also served as an Ameri-Corps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) after earning her bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Southern New Hampshire University. The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce has welcomed five new members to its board of directors for three-year terms: Jocelyn Bednarski, manager, BerryDunn; Daryl Luter, president, Fulcrum; Ámbar Ruiz, liaison, Manchester Young Professionals; Michele Sheppard, president and CEO, The Granite YMCA; and Scott Spradling, president, The Spradling Group.

REAL ESTATE

Shemariah Nelson has joined Badger Peabody & Smith Realty as a commercial broker in its Franconia office. Licensed in both New Hampshire and Vermont, Nelson initially joined the firm in 2023 working out of its Littleton office, bringing with her two decades of experience in the real estate industry.

Gorham Community Learning Center has purchased the commercial building at 355 Main Street in Gorham, formerly owned by Lighthouse Credit Union. The nonprofit early learning center purchased the property to expand access to quality child care in the community. The property was listed by Don Lapointe of Badger Peabody & Smith Realty, and Jennifer Stewart of RE/MAX Northern Edge Realty represented the buyer.

Portside Real Estate Group welcomed Joey Giordano to its Portsmouth office as a sales agent. He brings more than a decade of experience serving buyers and sellers across Maine and New Hampshire, with expertise in new construction and residential development.

NONPROFITS

Easterseals NH & VT announced that Mary Hamilton, CPA, has been appointed as chief financial officer. Hamilton previously served as interim CFO and has now been promoted to a permanent role. She has more than 30 years of financial experience in the health care sector.

The Rocks, a historic property in Bethlehem owned and managed by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, has joined the NH Heritage Museum Trail. The Rocks offers year-round programs, including maple sugaring tours, heritage tours, forest education and wildlife programs. Visitors can also explore miles of trails and learn about the estate’s history through its heritage tours.

Heather MacNeill has joined GoodWork as program director, effective February 23. She was most recently the operations director for NH Civics, and held leadership roles at the UNH Entrepreneurship Center.

Liberty House was awarded a $20,000 grant from the Service Credit Union Impact Foundation and Robert Irvine Foundation to support the nonprofit’s transitional housing program for veterans facing homelessness, post-traumatic stress, substance use disorder and housing insecurity.

Granite State Independent Living has recruited two local leaders to its board of directors: Claire Gruenfelder, director of human resources at New England College; and Sara Timberlake, commercial lender for M&T Bank.

City Year NH welcomed three community leaders to its board: Dr. Paul Beaudin, president of Manchester Community College; business strategist Michael Pedler; and Michael Skelton, president and CEO of the Business and Industry Association of NH.

RETAIL

Gorjana, a Laguna Beach-founded jewelry brand, is opening a new storefront at The Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem, bringing the brand’s signature 14k gold and diamond collections to New Hampshire with its California roots.

CONSTRUCTION

ReArch Construction announced the addition of two new team members and the promotion of two leaders. Steve DeVries joined the firm as project manager along with Shawn Williams as estimating coordinator. Eric Madison and Majken Poley were promoted to senior superintendent and project manager II, respectively.

AGRICULTURE

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) has been awarded $3.45 million in funding from the USDA to directly support dairy farmers and processors with modernization, innovation, and increasing efficiency and sustainability across the dairy sector. With this latest disbursement, NE-DBIC has received a total of $52.7 million for projects extending through 2028.

LAW

McLane Middleton has expanded its New Hampshire Seacoast office at 1 New Hampshire Avenue in Portsmouth, furthering expanding key practice areas, including the firm’s Trusts & Estates practice and its Education Law practice.

Whitney A. Alexander has been named managing director of McLane Middleton’s Portsmouth office. She is also a director in the firm’s Trusts and Estates Department, where she assists individuals and families in all aspects of estate planning and trust and estate administration.

HEALTH CARE

Greater Seacoast Community Health (GSCH) recently welcomed Cara Zielinski, M.Ed., as director of development. In this role, Zielinski will lead all donor relations, fundraising and development initiatives, create and implement a multi-year development strategy, mentor and guide the development team, and other projects within the community.

Guardian Angel Senior Services, a privately owned senior home care company, recently announced the promotion of three of its staff members: Lynne Walkling was promoted to director of operations; Anne Marie Brightman is now chief operating officer for the Greater Boston area, including the North and South Shores, as well as the company’s New Hampshire offices; and Angela Rocheleau was named chief operating officer, overseeing the various office locations in central and western Massachusetts.

Granite VNA Healthy Families America Family Support Specialist Sarah Love was recently honored with NH Home Visiting Learning Hub’s Shining Star Award for her excellence in family support and strong work ethic. Love has served as an HFA family support specialist for three years, following a career in early childhood education.

Kristina Gulotta, MD, has joined the Concord Hospital Breast Care Center (BCC) as a member of Concord Surgical Associates. She initially practiced in Akron, Ohio, where she also served as a professor of surgery, teaching medical students and residents at Northeast Ohio Medical University. She is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, and is an active member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

Concord Hospital Medical Group (CHMG) recently welcomed Benjamin Houston, PA-C, to its family medicine team, tasked with providing preventive care, chronic disease management, acute care services and health education. Houston completed his medical training at Stony Brook University, N.Y., where he earned his degree and was certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

ENGINEERING

James Tangeman has recently joined Sanborn, Head & Associates as vice president, air quality & greenhouse gas emission services. Working out of the firm’s Denver, Colo., office, Tangeman will use his 35 years of experience working in GHG emissions accounting, air quality permitting and compliance, regulatory analysis and advocacy, methane emissions management and decarbonization strategy to develop advanced air quality strategies nationwide.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Lakes Region Community Developers (LRCD) recently welcomed new members to its board of directors to help carry out its mission of creating affordable housing and empowering tenants to achieve economic security: Tate Miller, commercial loan officer, Meredith Village Savings Bank; Leslie McEvoy, a tenant of LRCD’s Millview Apartments; and Shannon Casey, an associate broker Realtor with Keller Williams Coastal and Lakes & Mountains Realty.

Darren McKibben has joined St. Mary’s Bank as the member experience manager II at its North Hampton branch. He brings more than 20 years of experience to the role, helping members meet their financial goals.

Three new leaders have been appointed to Claremont Savings Bank (CSB): Sean Long, senior vice president and senior commercial banking officer; Lindsay Cota Robles, vice president and director of marketing; and Austin Haase, vice president of credit administration.

Merrimack County Savings Bank (The Merrimack) welcomed Mark Lester as AVP, branch and business development manager of its Henniker Branch. Lester has two decades of experience in the banking industry serving in AVP and VP branch manager roles, and he’s a graduate of The New England School for Financial Studies, an intensive two-year program.

Jason Belyea has joined Bank of New Hampshire as a wealth management consultant in its Wealth Management Division. In his role, he will be responsible for the sales and distribution of investment products, including wealth investment management accounts, annuities, 529 plans, life insurance and other direct purchase mutual fund accounts.

Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB) collected 1,712 mittens, hats, gloves and scarves during their 2025 Mitten Tree Drive. The items will be distributed to local schools, early learning centers and other organizations that support families in need in their local communities. The Bank has matched the contribution with $2 per item — a total of $3,424 that will be split between 11 local nonprofits addressing childhood food insufficiency.

Service Credit Union shared that staff attorney Phebe Miner has been selected to participate in the 2026 Crash the GAC (Governmental Affairs Conference) program, a national leadership and advocacy initiative recognizing rising credit union professionals. Miner was one of just 61 credit union professionals from across the country selected to advocate for the industry and its members.

MANUFACTURING

Electronic Imaging Materials, Inc. (EIM), a label manufacturer based in Keene, has created a high-temperature tag for use in steel mills, aluminum foundries and metal fabrication shops — environments where surfaces are too hot for standard adhesive labels. With a service temp range of 40°F to 1,112°F, this high temperature–resistant polyimide tag maintains stability through the extreme heat of hot metals processing.

Ryan Clouser new chief medical officer for Elliot

Elliot Health System has appointed Ryan Clouser, DO, as chief medical officer of Elliot Hospital and Transitional Care Services. Dr. Clouser returns to Elliot after serving in a similar role at The University of Vermont Health and Central Vermont Medical Center. In his new role, Dr. Clouser will oversee clinical, operational, quality and performance management for Elliot Hospital–based practices as well as Elliot Medical Group’s Primary Care and Behavioral Health services. He previously held roles including associate chief medical officer of capacity management, medical officer of the network’s care coordination system, medical director of VT Technical College Respiratory Therapy Training Program, and co-director of the MICU. He also previously worked at The Elliot as an intensive care unit physician as well as medical director of the Elliot Hospital ICU. Dr. Clouser is board-certified in critical care and internal medicine, with focused practice in hospital medicine. He also maintains UCNS board certification in Neurocritical Care and is a Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine.

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