LAW
Devine Millimet welcomed John S. Galle to the firm’s Manchester office as an associate, and is also the newest member of the corporate team with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, real estate and taxation. Galle participated in the firm’s 2023 Summer Associate Program and was offered a full-time position upon graduation. He recently graduated magna cum laude from Franklin Pierce School of Law in Concord, attaining his Juris Doctor.
The law firm of McLane Middleton announced that Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly has recognized the firm in the publication’s inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Spotlight, which recognizes law firms and organizations that have shown a strong commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the local legal community. In addition, the firm has achieved certification under the Mansfield Rule, a national initiative through Diversity Lab to help close the gender and diversity gap in the legal profession.
NONPROFITS
New Generation, a program of Catholic Charities NH, was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Eastern Bank Foundation to help more New Hampshire mothers and children overcome the challenges of homelessness and build self-sufficient futures with stable housing and jobs. Once housed, families receive ongoing stabilization services to prevent recurring homelessness.
Clayton Adams, President and CEO of Mascoma Bank; Jay Doherty, principal at Lavalee|Brensinger Architects; and Vance Freymann, regional director, New Hampshire for Consigli Construction Co., Inc., have joined the board of directors for New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts (NHBCA), a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to facilitating partnerships between business and art. Board members at NHBCA are leaders from a wide range of fields representing organizations committed to promoting and investing in New Hampshire’s arts and culture.
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (CMNH) was recently awarded a $140,000 grant via a partnership between Granite United Way and the Community Development Finance Authority. CMNH will use the funding to provide play-based learning kits of materials, activity guides and training, workshops and ongoing support for 100 at-home providers throughout the state, impacting the 846 children that they serve.
Franklin Savings Bank recently granted $9,000 to Belknap Association for Natural Resources Conservation to support their initiative to reduce the cost barrier for veterans, so they can buy fresh food for themselves and their families. Additionally, the program will help support local farmers during the post-tourist season, a time when their harvests are most plentiful. Vendor farmers who accepted the vouchers will be reimbursed with Franklin Savings Bank Fund for Community Advancement grant funds.
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation welcomed new members to its board of directors: George Bald, the former Commissioner of the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development; Peter Bergh, retired partner at Prince Communications; Jada Keye Hebra, senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Southern New Hampshire University; Dottie Morris, associate vice president for institutional equity and diversity at Keene State College; and Jenny Williams, a joint venture partner with hotel development firm Norwich Partners.
Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB) made a $5,000 donation to NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire in support of HOMEteam, which provides essential education and resources for local residents to help them make good financial decisions when it comes to purchasing or maintaining a home.
Community Action Partnership Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties (CAPHRC) announced that Ryan Clouthier, COO, and Cara Aliberti, financial analyst, were both recognized as certified community action professionals (CCAP) at the recent National Community Action Partnership Conference held in Seattle, Wash. This is a hard-earned professional credential that requires an invitation to test along with a portfolio of work accomplishments. In addition, Katie Dunfey, innovation and strategy director, Donnalee Lozeau, CEO, and Deborah Gosselin O’Shea, board member, were also recognized at the conference for earning their CCAP recertification.
HOSPITALITY
Keri Laman, president of the Tidewater Catering Group, will be honored with the 2024 Granite State Outstanding Women’s Leadership Award by the Daniel Webster Council at a celebration on November 14 at LaBelle Winery in Amherst. Laman was chosen for her demonstrated, professional and community leadership, like those taught in Scouting, which leads to success.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Eastern Bank has named Kimberly Dee executive vice president, consumer banking director. She will also serve on the Bank’s Management Committee, comprised of Eastern’s most senior executives. Dee most recently served as executive vice president and head of the retail branch network of Citizens Financial Group, where she was a member of its Executive Leadership Group.
Merrimack County Savings Bank (The Merrimack) is now collecting cold weather essentials for its Annual Mitten Tree Drive. Now through the end of December, The Merrimack will be collecting handmade or storebought mittens, gloves, hats and scarves at any of the bank’s nine locations. For each item collected, The Merrimack will also donate $2 to various nonprofits across its service area.
Franklin Savings Bank granted $10,000 to the Community Wellness Center to support the cost of roof repairs, which will ensure continued availability of the fitness and exercise facility for seniors, special need, cardiac and pulmonary patients, and others who require medical supervision in a safe environment.
Bank of America has launched SafeBalance Banking for Family Banking as a bank account that offers parents the tools and resources to help their children practice healthy financial habits and learn to manage their money through a secure digital experience. Family Banking can be opened through the Bank’s online banking or the mobile banking app, and allows parents to maintain oversight of their child’s spending and supervise the account. TD Bank was ranked No. 1 for the eighth consecutive year in number of approved U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans in its Maine-to-Florida footprint for the SBA’s 2024 fiscal year. TD was also awarded No. 1 rankings in eight states for 7(a) loan units — Eastern Pennsylvania, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina and Washington, D.C. — and is ranked the No. 2 SBA lender nationwide.
Merrimack County Savings Bank (The Merrimack) recently welcomed Marc Fils-Aime as branch and business development manager of its Concord branch at 1 Integra Drive. Previously, Fils-Aime served in a similar role for Meredith Village Savings Bank in Center Harbor. He also serves as a board member for Interlake Community Caregivers and the Lakes Region Visiting Nurse Association, and is co-chair for the Sandwich Fair Kids Tractor Pull.
Brian Harrington has joined Merrimack Valley Credit Union (MVCU) as vice president of finance and treasury. He began his career in banking at State Street and subsequently held roles at other large financial institutions including Liberty Mutual, Citizens Bank and Amundi US (formerly Pioneer Investments), where he developed valuable skills in financial planning and analysis, budgeting and strategic planning.
ENGINEERING
Rebekah Gebru and Sarah Foy have returned to Hoyle Tanner as full-time employees after completing internships. Gebru studied civil engineering at University of Massachusetts – Lowell and interned with the firm’s aviation division in 2022. Now working in the municipal engineering division as an environmental engineer, Foy recently received her environmental engineering degree from the University of Vermont, and interned with the firm in 2023 and earlier this year.
Pennichuck Water recently named Erin Holmes its new director of engineering. Previously, she worked as the watershed management bureau administrator for the NH Department of Environmental Services, focusing on coastal resiliency planning, water-quality monitoring, stream crossing work, and working on long-term planning strategies for the removal of invasive species.
HEALTH CARE
Bariatric surgeon Dr. Dymtro “Dima” Havaleshko recently performed his 2,000th robotic surgery at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Havaleshko is a board-certified general surgeon, and fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, who specializes in weight loss, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries, and robotic abdominal surgeries.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Granite VNA earned 5 out of 5 stars for the months of July, August and September 2024 in CMS’s “Care Compare” rating system. This rating, based on a scale from 1 to 5, reflects Granite VNA’s commitment to providing the highest quality of care and service to the community, with 5 being the highest possible score.
Concord Hospital Health System welcomed Bruce Carrier as its new chief human resources officer. Previously, he served as chief human resources officer at University of Michigan Health-West/Metro Health. In his new role, Carrier will oversee strategic human resources initiatives, talent acquisition, employee relations, organizational development, compensation and benefits, and compliance with accrediting bodies and local, state and federal laws.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Consolidated Communications, a leading fiber and business solutions provider, recently announced Al Maitino joined the company as senior vice president of commercial sales, and Chris McGregor joined as vice president of the Consumer Call Center. Prior to his current role, Maitino served in senior sales leadership roles at Lightpath Fiber Networks and Lightower/Crown Castle Fiber, EMC (now Dell EMC) and One Communications (formerly Conversent Communications). McGregor previously served in senior customer service roles at Charter Communications, and WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone.
RETAIL
F.W. Webb Company has completed its wholesale store relocation from Keene to neighboring Swanzey. The new facility will also feature Frank Webb Home’s latest retail showroom. Next to the facility, a 1.3-acre storage yard contains a wide range of products, with ample space for large pipe, gas tanks, rooftop HVAC units, and more. The store offers willcall, free delivery and an expanded service counter. Contractors can also utilize four convenient loading bays.
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC announced the retirement of industry veteran Michael Papaleo as executive vice president and chief procurement officer, but he will continue to work with C&S as a strategic advisor through the coming year. He initially joined C&S in 1997 and has been responsible for providing quality service to C&S’s retail customers, inventory management, trade relations, margin performance, merchandising and marketing and the ISQL operation. Prior to C&S, Michael was with Twin County Grocers for more than 14 years in merchandising and procurement.
CONSTRUCTION
Engineers Construction, Inc. (ECI), a Vermont-based heavy civil construction company, has officially transitioned to 100% employee ownership through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The company employs over 200 people, including seven registered professional engineers and 50 employees with technical degrees. As part of this transition, Ben Dow, an engineer and longtime leader at ECI, will step into the role of president/CEO. Dow has been with the company since 1988, holding nearly every position in the organization throughout his tenure.
REAL ESTATE
Two new businesses have opened their doors in downtown Claremont at 43 Pleasant Street: Brick House Management, a full-service residential and commercial property management firm, and Downtown Realty, a Bedford-based commercial real estate brokerage firm. Brick House Management will manage some of the region’s most iconic buildings including the Union Block Apartments at 1 Pleasant Street, the Kite Hill Commons at 66 Myrtle Street, the Baker’s Block at 37-45 Pleasant Street, and several other properties throughout Claremont and Newport. Downtown Realty will provide commercial leasing and sales services throughout the region and supporting Brick House Management in its efforts. Downtown Realty was founded in 2021 with the goal of providing whiteglove sales and leasing services to small and medium-sized commercial property owners throughout northern New England.
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 here.
Julie Lenzer Chief Innovation Officer
Advance Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) Education: Computer Science from Texas A&M (BS), Stanford University, University of Maryland (MPS)
Career history: Immediately before joining ARMI, Julie was the University of Maryland’s chief innovation officer, overseeing technology transfer and the Small Business Development Center. In 2014, Julie was appointed director of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the U.S. Economic Development Administration. As a senior advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, she led the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship and was tapped to represent the U.S. as the innovation lead at the G20 in China.
Business lesson: Hire for cultural fit; skills can be learned but cultural fit is harder to change and can be disruptive to an organization.
Biggest challenge: Receiving my master’s degree in machine learning.
Most excited about: ARMI and its members are solving hard problems to disrupt how we treat chronic disease and traumatic injury. We can see regenerative solutions reaching patients soon.
Hobbies/passions: For the past 10 years, I have served on the board of the Girls Scouts of Central Maryland in various capacities and currently serve as the board president.
Industry advice: The Manchester-Nashua ReGen Valley will be THE place to be if you’re looking to start or expand your regenerative manufacturing or related business based on shared resources, an emerging talent pipeline and a burgeoning ecosystem supported by community partners.
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