NH Business Review will host five senior executives from throughout New Hampshire to discuss their career journeys, including the successes and setbacks that led them to where they are now, during its “Leadership Unscripted” event on Thursday, June 5.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from highly accomplished business leaders at the event, which will take place from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Rex Theatre in Manchester. Tickets cost $49 each (including breakfast) and can be purchased at www.nhbr.com/leadership-unscripted-event.
Participants include JerriAnne Boggis, executive director, Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire; Tom Boucher, CEO & owner, Great NH Restaurants Inc.; Dr. Paul LeBlanc, board chair, Human Systems and “chief bottle washer” and former president, Southern New Hampshire University; Amanda Grappone Osmer, owner, Grappone Automotive Group; and Diane Mercier, former president, People’s United Bank. The event will be moderated by Mike Cote, editor of NH Business Review.
“I can’t think of a better way to kick off a workday than gathering inspiration from this impressive panel of senior executives,” said Mike Cote, editor of NH Business Review. “Guests will have the unique opportunity to hear directly from these highly esteemed leaders as they share their stories, complete with high and low points, of how their careers unfolded and how they were able to ascend to leadership positions.”
“Leadership Unscripted” panelists include:
JerriAnne Boggis, executive director, Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
JerriAnne Boggis is a writer, educator and community activist who works to correct the historical record on the racial complexity and richness of New Hampshire’s diverse past. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2022 Social Innovation Leader Award in the non-profit sector by the Entrepreneurs Fund of New Hampshire, the Ona Judge Award by the Human Rights Society in 2021, and named as one of the ten most influential women of the century in New Hampshire by the Seacoast Press in 2020.
Tom Boucher, CEO & owner, Great NH Restaurants Inc. – T-BONES, Cactus Jack’s, Copper Door
Tom Boucher is a seasoned leader in the restaurant industry. Over his first five years with T-BONES, Boucher demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership, progressing through various roles and ultimately becoming a general manager. As a founding partner of Cactus Jack’s in 1995, Boucher played a pivotal role in establishing the restaurant and served as its general manager until 1998. His expertise led him to take on expanded responsibilities as director of marketing and later as director of operations for both T-BONES and Cactus Jack’s.
In 2004, Boucher ascended to the role of CEO, where he has been instrumental in shaping the company’s strategic direction. In 2008, he acquired ownership of the company and brought his long-term team of leaders on board as partners to work alongside him. Under his leadership, Great NH Restaurants has successfully expanded to encompass three distinct brands, which include nine thriving restaurants. His innovative approach includes the establishment of T-BONES Meats & Sweets, a commissary that enhances operational efficiency, and the creation of the non-profit organization www.FEEDNH.org, reflecting his commitment to community engagement.
Dr. Paul LeBlanc, board chair, Human Systems, and “chief bottle washer” and former president, Southern New Hampshire University
Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc is the board chair for Human Systems, a new AI and Education company he co-founded with noted researcher George Siemens. Until June 2024, he served as president of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). He remains at SNHU as a researcher, writer and advisor. Under the 20 years of Paul’s direction, SNHU has grown from 2,800 students to more than 250,000 and is the largest nonprofit provider of online higher education in the country, and the first to have a full competency-based degree program untethered to the credit hour or classes approved by a regional accreditor and the U.S. Department of Education.
LeBlanc is considered one of America’s most innovative educators. In 2012, the university was #12 on Fast Company magazine’s “World’s Fifty Most Innovative Companies” list and was the only university included. Forbes Magazine has listed him as one of its 15 “Classroom Revolutionaries,” and Washington Monthly named him one of America’s ten most innovative university presidents. In 2018, LeBlanc won the prestigious IAA Institute Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence in Higher Education, joining some of the most respected university and college presidents in American higher education. He has also received the Ernest L. Boyer Award (NACU), the Distinguished Alumnus Award (AASCU), the Ray Schroeder Leadership Award (UPCEA), The Zemsky Medal (U Penn), and the Alumnus of the Year Award from his alma mater, Framingham State University. He was named 2022 Citizen of the Year in his home city of Manchester, NH.
Amanda Grappone Osmer, owner, Grappone Automotive Group
Amanda Grappone Osmer is the fourth generation of her family to own and help operate Grappone Automotive, established by her great-grandparents as a single gas station in 1924. Today, Grappone represents five new car manufacturers with sales, service, and retail and wholesale parts departments. Grappone employs about 375 team members and is located in Bow, NH. Team Grappone operates in an environment in which the whole person is asked to show up and participate at work with the company’s mission in mind: to build lifelong relationships with team members, guests and the community by serving with integrity, kindness and respect.
In 2017, Osmer launched Leadership Grappone, a nine-month program that seeks out the company’s emerging leaders and challenges them mentally, emotionally and physically to uncover their true leadership potential. Faith and volunteer work are central to Osmer’s life purpose, and she has served on many nonprofit and advisory boards in her career. One project near to her heart is the co-founding of The Dewey School, a nature-based preschool located at Canterbury Shaker Village.
Diane Mercier, former president, People’s United Bank
Diane Mercier spent 36 years in banking prior to retiring in 2022. She joined banking as a teller and concluded her career as president of People’s United Bank in NH. Mercier spent the majority of that time specializing in commercial finance in support of business creation and growth, and championing local not-for-profits in service of community needs.
“I live in New Hampshire with my husband, John, after having raised two beautiful people, Robert and Sarah, both of whom are now raising their own two beautiful people, our four grandchildren,” Mercier says. “John and I love to travel and spend time on Bow Lake. I love to walk, do yoga, and when my better self prevails, I meditate. We have beautiful dogs in our past and future, just not right now.”
Mercier continues to be involved with Rivier University in Nashua, the Greater Manchester Boys & Girls Clubs, and has “taken up the Queen City Rotary as a joyful hobby.”
“Leadership Unscripted” is sponsored by Bank of New Hampshire and the Business Industry & Association of New Hampshire.
For more information on the event, visit www.nhbr.com/leadership-unscripted-event.
About NH Business Review:
NH Business Review is the only statewide business journal as well as one of the most respected sources of business information, news and features in the Granite State. With more than 50,000 readers, NH Business Review’s print and online publication provides breaking news, essential business information and analysis.
