Business Excellence Awards

Nominations are now closed.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a candidate for the 2026 Business Excellence Awards. Submissions closed on Friday, July 31, 2026.

2026 Reception and Ceremony

Please join us to celebrate this year’s recipients and Hall of Fame inductee. This event is open to everyone and past recipients are highly encouraged to attend.

Business Excellence Awards
Thursday, October 8, 2026 | 5-8 p.m.
Grappone Conference Center
Concord, NH

2026 Honorees

• Business and Professional Services (Large): John H. Sokul Jr. of Hinckley Allen
• Business and Professional Services (Small): Christopher Brackett of Greater Nashua Technology Consulting, LLC
• Consumer Services (Large): Jared Maraio of Winnipesaukee Flagship Corp.
• Consumer Services (Small): Erik Mogensen of Black Mountain NH & Entabeni Systems
• Financial Services (Large): Jerry Kadish of Beacon Payments
• Financial Services (Small): Cydney Shapleigh of NHTrust
• Health Care (Large): Susan Santana of Southern New Hampshire Health
• Health Care (Small): Brittany Barberian of Compass of Hope
• Manufacturing (Large): Thomas Taylor of Foxx Life Sciences
• Manufacturing (Small): Evan LaBelle of Autotiv Manufacturing Corporation
• Nonprofit (Large): Dawn Zimmerman of The Moore Center
• Nonprofit (Small): Sandra Pierce-Jordan of Birchtree
• Real Estate and Construction (Small): Tim Englebert, AIA of Randall-Paulson Architects
• Social Equity (Small): Kastle Harper of Rhythm & Roots Studio
• Technology (Small): Michelle Strasburger of AI Rebooted
• Hall of Fame Inductees: Ken and Grace Solinsky

2026 Hall of Fame Inductees

Ken and Grace Solinsky

From humble beginnings, Ken and Grace Solinsky built success through hard work, determination and a shared entrepreneurial spirit. For 12 years in Northern Virginia, Ken worked as a civilian engineer for the Department of the Army, advancing to Product Manager, GS-15. Grace began a career in elementary education and then worked in real estate and as a contract specialist for the U.S. Navy.

After moving to New Hampshire in 1986, Ken and Grace founded Insight Technology, growing it into the leading producer of night-vision and electro-optical systems for individual soldiers, with 1,300 employees and more than $330 million in annual revenue.

In 2005, they founded Rochester Precision Optics to preserve a critical domestic precision-optics supply for key Insight programs. Their entrepreneurial work continued in 2015 with OnPoint Systems, creator of the SpotOn GPS Fence, and in 2019 with the formation of Envision Technology that develops and produces products for Defense and National Security. Ken has also been a director of Primary Bank since its inception in 2014.

In 2023, Ken and Grace began developing the Village on Technology Hill, a community comprising 440 apartments, a 220 children childcare facility, a village store, and more than 250,000 square feet of industrial space for SpotOn and Envision. A place where life is as it should be.

Through their philanthropic endeavors they support healthcare, veterans’ services, advanced education, and animal welfare. Their journey reflects a shared vision of using business success to create additional meaningful businesses, employment opportunities, and contribute to their community.