2017 BOB Award winners

NH Business Review Staff,

New Hampshire Business Review is delighted to share the results of our ninth annual BOB Awards, which honor the Best of Business in New Hampshire for 2017. The mission of the BOB Awards is to find the Granite State’s most stand-out businesses: the ones that offer the best customer service, that pay attention to details, that are willing to go above and beyond to ensure an exceptional customer experience. In other words, BOB-winning businesses offer nothing less than outstanding products and services. Since BOB voters are other businesspeople, being named a BOB business really says something about the high caliber of the winners. But the BOB Awards truly celebrate all businesses in New Hampshire; a place that nurtures the Best of Business every day.

Best Marketing Agency: ​Your Creative Solutionist
617-283-5585
www.yourcreativesolutionist.com
After working in creative for Disney for 15 years, Peter Jude Ricciardi founded a boutique creative agency that focuses on creative services, brand strategy and development, and experiential and consumer engagement. Your Creative Solutionist closely works with its clients and develops, designs and imagines a brand story that attracts the attention of customers and keeps them coming back for more.

2017 BOB Awards editors' picks

Best Business Advice for 50 Years: Merrimack Valley SCORE
275 Chestnut Street, Manchester
603-666-7561
www.merrimackvalley.score.org
With over 65 former business executives volunteering their time, the Merrimack Valley chapter of SCORE continues to provide free business advice and assistance to all interested aspiring and active entrepreneurs who pass through its office. Supported by the Small Business Administration and run as a nonprofit, SCORE assists with every aspect of running a business, from developing business plans and marketing strategies to ISO certification.

Most Impressive Medical Breakthrough: Microcatheter Components
82 Fitzgerald Drive, Jaffrey
603-532-0345
www.microcathco.com
With over 30 years of experience in manufacturing, sisters Diane Fukuda and Karen Wirein formed a small team that specializes in manufacturing extrusions, or small tubing, that are sold to medical device manufacturers for use in a range of applications, including treating blood circulation problems to pediatric and neonatal care. Working with the researchers at the National Institutes of Health, Microcatheter Components is active in developing ground-breaking designs.

Best Incubator for Tomorrow’s Pediatric Treatment: New England Pediatric Device Consortium
10 Water Street, Lebanon
603-678-8260
www.nepdc.org
Supported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Orphan Products Development, NEPDC is one of nine consortia across the country developed to provide expert advice and seed funding to help commercialize technologies for pediatric clinical care. With several regulatory hurdles and a challenging pediatric market, the NEPDC has assisted medical products that show great promise to help serve children’s medical needs, including a pediatric asthma monitoring device and UNYQ, a scoliosis brace recognized by the White House at its Human-Centered Design event.

Best Global Entrepreneurial Resource: Knowledge Institute for Small Business Development
11 Court Street, Unit 230, Exeter
603-658-0340
www.kisbd.com
The Knowledge Institute for Small Business Development has a history of working across the U.S. – from Native American reservations to inner city schools to New Hampshire’s Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation – helping individuals cultivate their passion and develop it into an entrepreneurial venture. Recently it has embarked on its greatest endeavor yet: building a high-level program and pathway for 10 million Nigerian college students to start their own business – a move that could redefine Nigeria’s economy. In May 2016, KISBD held a conference in New Hampshire for a group of Nigerian educators and government officials who returned to their country with “10 Steps to Venture Success,” a set of interactive exercises being incorporated into a virtual platform for Nigeria.

Best After-work Activity: Pats Peak Adult/Corporate Racing Series
686 Flanders Road, Henniker
603-428-3245
www.patspeak.com/Shop/Adult-Corp-Racing.aspx
From January to March, teams of five to seven individuals from Granite State businesses race side by side on two courses in a friendly competition. The top five teams head to the finals, which is followed by a dinner banquet – but participants are more focused on helping each other increase their speed and having fun.

Best Effort to Support NH’s Seafood Industry: NH Community Seafood
1 Peirce Island Road, Portsmouth
207-899-6042
www.nhcommunityseafood.com
NH Community Seafood is a cooperative of fishermen and consumers who have joined together to protect the ocean, sustain New Hampshire’s fishing industry and support the local economy. From May to December, NH Community Seafood offers the freshest fish available in the waters.

Best Way to Integrate NH’s Immigrant Workforce: Language Bank
340 Granite Street, 3rd Floor, Manchester
844-579-0610
www.thelanguagebank.org
Founded in 2001, Language Bank provides professional language interpretation and translation services for organizations and businesses that serve people with limited English proficiency. It is part of Ascentria Care Alliance, the 140-year-old nonprofit formerly known as Lutheran Social Services of New England, whose social services include the resettlement of refugees and immigrants in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Language Bank both employs immigrants and eases their transitions into their new lives in the United States.

Best Place to Learn About NH’s Sheep and Wool Industry: Sheep and Wool Festival
www.nhswga.com
In its 41st year, the festival operates essentially all day the weekend of May 13, at the Deerfield Fairgrounds. Over 90 vendors sell breakfast sandwiches with lamb sausage, yarns, crafts, sheepskins and other goods, as well as teaching workshops on spinning and felting. Held by the NH Sheep and Wool Growers Association, the festival recognizes an industry that once flourished in the Granite State and is seeing a revival.

Best Effort by Company to Revive NH’s Welder Workforce: Filtrine Manufacturing
15 Kit Street, Keene
603-352-5500
www.filtrine.com
In response to the need for welding skills in the region, Filtrine — a manufacturer of drinking fountains, water filters and process chillers — created a series of courses that equip people throughout the community with welding skills. The courses began over 20 years ago and continue today through the Keene Community Education Program. Community members of high school age and up can learn skills using the Filtrine facility and equipment over a 10-week period.

Best Attempt to Change Culture on Mental Health in NH: Campaign to Change Direction NH
www.changedirection.org/nh/
Campaign to Change Direction NH is a statewide campaign to make the five most common signs of mental illness as widely known as the signs of a heart attack or stroke. Those are: personality change, agitated, withdrawal, poor self-care and hopelessness. Last year, the campaign hosted several mental health forums for the public throughout our state to raise awareness and increase understanding about mental illness, the mental health infrastructure in New Hampshire and the success of treatment.

Best New Idea to Change the World: Gretchen Ki Steidle
1950 Lafayette Road, Suite 200, Portsmouth
603-643-0400
www.globalgrassroots.org
In 2004, Gretchen established and now leads Global Grassroots, a nonprofit that helps teams of women in Africa provide safe, clean water access to their communities and at the same time solve several social issues that impact women and girls, including sexual violence and exploitation. Global Grassroots has trained over 700 change agents who have designed over 100 organizations making an impact.

Best NH Contributor to Global Data Networking: UNH InterOperability Lab
21 Madbury Road, Suite 100, Durham
603-862-4181
www.iol.unh.edu
Moving into a new 27,000-square-foot facility in downtown Durham in early 2016 gave the IOL a new presence on UNH’s campus and solidified its role as an economic driver for the university and the region. Run by a full-time team of 23 with 100 undergraduate student interns and 15 paid graduate students, the IOL works on 100 to 150 products a week from corporate tech firms to test their compliance with global industry standards. Not only does it provide a ready workforce with skills, but the IOL is also playing a role in getting students interested in STEM early, with workshops for schools in the Seacoast area.

Best Approach to Understanding Customers: Storyline
175 Water Street, Suite 3, Exeter
603-580-4450
www.storylinellc.com
Led by founder Peter Kotsonis, Storyline assists in a critical step in the product development process: understanding customers. Storyline sits down with consumers to see their world through their eyes, discovering what really drives consumer attitude and behavior towards a given product or service that provides meaningful insight to companies. The result is a product or service that is more closely aligned with consumer wants and needs.

Most Enduring Software Developer: Dick Lilly
603-926-9696
www.lillyworks.com
At 85, Dick Lily has witnessed the evolution of the software industry. In 1991, he launched VISUAL Manufacturing, the first manufacturing software to offer a graphical user interface. As CEO of Hampton-based LillyWorks Inc., a family-owned company founded in 2015, Lilly continues to produce innovative products including the recent release of Protected Flow Manufacturing, a supplemental software that simplifies shop floor execution and planning.

Best Way to Address the Skills Gap: Sector Partnership Initiative
www.nhworks.org/Sector-Partnership-Initiative/Overview/
With the launch of the Manufacturing Sector Partnership last summer and Technology Sector Partnership in the fall, the Department of Resources and Economic Development through NH Works is bringing a variety of business, education and government stakeholders together to determine innovative methods to ensure workers are prepared for careers in these critical sectors. The initiative will also include the hospitality and health care industries, with announcements for meetings forthcoming.

Best Effort to Expand NH’s Global Trade: Export Expansion Fund
www.nhexportassistance.com
Launched in 2013, the Export Expansion Fund provides funding to firms in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont seeking new international markets. The partnership, which involves The Provident Bank as well as the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Granite State District Export Council and other state partners, provides funding to help offset costs of the Commerce Department’s U.S. Commercial Service programs. The programs help U.S. companies explore international trade opportunities by providing trade counseling, business matchmaking services and market intelligence in over 75 markets worldwide.

Best Digital Marketing Agency: SilverTech
196 Bridge Street, Manchester
603-669-6600
www.silvertech.com
From award-winning digital marketing to website design and custom application development, SilverTech identifies opportunities to maximize revenue, performance, profit and results. Its full range of digital lifecycle services – including business intelligence and analytics, CMS and systems integration, content and social strategy, managed hosting, marketing automation, responsive design, SEO and more – deliver user experiences and digital marketing strategies that drive customers from lead to loyalty.

Best Public Relations Agency: ​Calypso Communications
20 Ladd Street, Suite 200, Portsmouth
603-431-0816
www.calypsocom.com
Calypso is a boutique agency providing creative and strategic writing, PR and design to organizations facing business challenges, large or small. Calypso excels at crafting clear messages from complex issues and industries with leadership experienced in energy, private equity, technology, health care and the hospitality sectors.

Best Video Production Company: New Sky Productions
25 Front Street, Nashua
603-816-9500
www.newskyproductions.com
With additional offices in Portland, Ore. and Seattle, Wash., New Sky Productions utilizes outstanding cinematographers and editors and state-of-the-art equipment to deliver compelling storytelling pieces that connect businesses more directly with their client base, increasing both sales and consumer engagement.

Best Managed IT Service: Mainstay Technologies
201 Daniel Webster Hwy., Belmont
603-524-4774
www.mstech.com
Since 2004, Mainstay Technologies has served the growing IT needs of small organizations in New Hampshire. Ranking among the top half of Inc. Magazine’s 5,000 fastest-growing firms, Mainstay focuses on building trusted client relationships, providing free training seminars, IT security and best practice seminars and technology audits to decide if Mainstay is a good fit.

Best Accounting Firm: Howe, Riley & Howe, CPA
660 Chestnut Street, Manchester
603-627-3838
www.hrhcpa.com 
For more than 50 years, Howe Riley & Howe has offered tax, audit and litigation support and accounting consulting services through the use of the most up-to-date technologies. Whether a for-profit company or a charitable organization, Howe Riley & Howe has experienced staff to assist with your accounting needs.

Best Architectural Firm: ​DeStefano Architects
23 High Street, Portsmouth
603-431-8701
www.destefanoarchitects.com
Founded in 1995, D|A is a full service architectural firm with clients in both the private and public sectors and projects varying from one-of-a-kind custom residences to large-scale, multi-use developments. D|A designs buildings as a single integrated system — a key strategy in sustainable design. The collaboration of architect and owner with engineers and contractors results in a building that ages well and is energy efficient, healthy, safe, affordable and comfortable.

Best Engineering Firm: ​TFMoran Inc.
48 Constitution Drive, Bedford
603-472-4488
www.tfmoran.com
TFMoran Inc. is a regionally recognized land planning, civil engineering and landscape architectural firm that has provided continuous service to private and public clients since 1968. Committed to responsible, sustainable development, TFMoran is a leader in green technology and claims many of the region’s “firsts,” including the first commercial use of porous pavement, the first green roof, the first commercial use of bio-retention, the first commercial use of grass-pavers and xeriscape plantings, among many others.

Best General Contractor: Harvey Construction
10 Harvey Road, Bedford
603-624-4600
www.hccnh.com
Harvey Construction has built a solid reputation based upon trust, technical competence and the determination to serve clients with ingenuity and speed. Its expertise in the construction of sophisticated facilities includes educational facilities, hospitals, government buildings, office buildings and other structures.

Best Electrical Contractor: ​Longchamps Electric Inc.
700 Harvey Road, Manchester
603-625-5954
www.longchampselectric.com
Longchamps Electric Inc., now one of the largest electrical and communications systems contractors in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, was founded more than 30 years ago by master electrician Robert O. Longchamps. Longchamps is a full-service electrical contractor capable of handling projects of all sizes and scope. The firm also provides design-build services as well as project fast-tracking, on-call services, telecommunications and back-up generator installation.

Best Mechanical Contractor: Granite State Plumbing & Heating
10 N. Riverdale Road, Weare
603-529-3322
www.gsphinc.com
Granite State Plumbing & Heating Inc. has been providing HVAC and mechanical systems installation and service since 1983. Today, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Comfort Systems USA, Granite State Plumbing and Heating focuses on the mid-market commercial industrial and institutional sectors, while caring for customers, employees and the environment. 

Best Corporate Moving Company: Ray the Mover
1 Allard Drive, Manchester
603-669-7170
www.raythemover.net
Established in 1937 by Raymond Allard, Ray The Mover is a third-generation family-owned and -operated business. As a premium service mover, it utilizes a large fleet of modern vans and equipment, palletized warehousing and carefully selected van crews. The company has a network of over 300 destination agents throughout the United States to assist corporate clients. Additionally, Ray The Mover is one of the top-rated military carriers in New England, serving military personnel who are being relocated throughout the country.

Best Cell Phone Provider: Verizon Wireless
Locations throughout New Hampshire
140 West Street, New York, NY
800-837-4966
www.verizonwireless.com 
Verizon Wireless has the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless network as well as coverage in more than 200 countries. With a variety of plans tailored to businesses, Verizon Wireless can keep your company connected to customers down the street or across the country. In the past several years, Verizon has expanded its “lightning-fast” 4G LTE network into many New Hampshire towns and cities.

Best Telecommunications Provider: Comcast
1701 JFK Blvd., Philadelphia, PA
1-800-COMCAST
www.comcast.com
Comcast Corp. is one of the nation’s leading providers of cable, entertainment and communications products and services, with 21.7 million cable customers, 14.7 million high-speed Internet customers and 6.1 million Comcast Digital Voice customers. Backed by industry-leading, 24/7 business-class support, Comcast provides advanced communication solutions to small and mid-sized organizations to help them meet their business needs through its Comcast Business Services.

Best Commercial Real Estate Broker: Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan
168 S. River Road, Bedford
603-232-8282
www.metro.yourworkoffice.com
Based in Austin, Texas, Keller Williams Realty Inc. is the largest residential real estate company in the United States by agent count. Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan runs offices in Bedford, Concord, Keene and Londonderry. Its commercial real estate arm, KW Commercial, delivers industry-leading education, top-of-the-line technology and unparalleled support to its agents and brokers, helping them to make your commercial transaction swift, efficient and, most importantly, profitable.

Best Waste Removal Company: Waste Management Inc.
Offices in Londonderry, New Hampton and Rochester
1001 Fannin Street, Suite 4000, Houston, Texas
800-847-5303
www.wm.com
Waste Management provides solid waste collection services as well as transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services to New Hampshire and across the country. Waste Management also is a leader in waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy practices in the United States.

Best Waste Removal Company (Local): ​Pinard Waste Systems
32 W. River Road, Hooksett
603-623-6937
www.pinardwaste.com
New Hampshire-based Pinard Waste Systems is the largest privately owned waste-handling company in the state. Headquartered in Hooksett, it is known for its customer service and proactive approach in fostering environmentally sound practices.

Best Art Gallery for Corporate Art: Art 3 Gallery
44 W. Brook Street, Manchester
603-668-6650
www.art3gallery.com
Art 3 Gallery is a premier New England retail fine art gallery offering custom framing and corporate and residential art consulting services. Located in a restored townhouse in the historic Millyard, the gallery includes one of the largest collections of art by New Hampshire, New England, national, and international artists.

Best Executive Search Firm: KBW Financial Staffing & Recruiting
5 Bedford Farms Drive, Suite 304, Bedford
603-792-2345
www.kbwfinancial.com
KBW is the leading provider of finance and accounting staffing services for companies and job seekers in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, specializing in permanent, temporary and temporary-to-hire services. Since it was founded in 2005, KBW has grown rapidly throughout the region, often being named to Inc. 5000’s list of fastest-growing private companies.

Best Staffing Service: The Nagler Group
5 Bedford Farms Drive, Suite 304, Bedford
603-637-1492
www.naglergroup.com
The Nagler Group is a leading staffing firm focusing on administrative and human resource recruiting for employers and job seekers in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It offers a full suite of temporary and direct-hire staffing services with a dedicated staff focusing exclusively on the local community.

Best Courier and Delivery Service: Granite State Shuttle Service
760 Central Avenue, Dover
800-633-9222
www.granitestateshuttle.com
Established in 1987 with two couriers and two vehicles, Granite State Shuttle Service has grown to over 150 vehicles, ranging from small sedans to larger cube trucks, and over 150 employees who strive to ensure its customers are professionally served. It provides pickup and delivery service to virtually all of New England on a daily basis, covering the entire state of New Hampshire, the Interstate 95 corridor from Kittery to Portland, Maine, along with areas of Vermont and Massachusetts.

Best Private Golf Course: Wentworth By The Sea Country Club
60 Wentworth Road, Rye
603-433-3050
www.wentworthbytheseacc.com
With ocean views and natural landscaping, the original 18-hole Donald Ross championship course and two newly constructed greens provide an upscale golf outing in a private club setting. Guests are offered ongoing guidance and advice from professional staff, hole escorts and access to a golf practice facility.

Best Public Golf Course: ​Atkinson Resort & Country Club
85 Country Club Drive, Atkinson
603-362-8700
www.atkinsonresort.com
Set amongst the pristine, rolling hills, the Atkinson Resort & Country Club has been a place of solitude for city travelers since the 1800s. In addition to the 18-hole par 72 public golf course, is a practice facility designed to help golfers improve their game. The facility consists of 15,000 square feet of grass tees, 12,000 square feet of putting greens, multiple bunkers and a 65-yeard short-game practice hole.

Best Hotel for Business Travel: Bedford Village Inn
2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford
603-472-2001
www.bedfordvillageinn.com
The Bedford Village Inn & Restaurant provides luxury accommodations in a historical setting. With early town records indicating the grounds were the former site of The Gordon Farm, the inn retains the quaintness of those times, with original and reproduction antiques, woodwork and wallpaper that adds grace to function. With modern amenities and world-class cuisine within reach, the inn and restaurant meld the old and the new.

Best Sporting Event to Take Clients to: New Hampshire Fisher Cats
1 Line Drive, Manchester
603-641-2005
www.nhfishercats.com
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats were founded in October 2003 as the AA Eastern League Affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. In the first season, the Fisher Cats played at historic Gill Stadium, located on Manchester’s east side, and won the 2004 Eastern League Championship. The team moved to its current home in 2005 at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester on the banks of the Merrimack River. The ballpark, which seats 6,500 people, regularly hosts theme nights to support local nonprofits.

Best MBA Program: University of New Hampshire
105 Main Street, Durham
603-862-3000
www.gradschool.unh.edu
University of New Hampshire offers a full-time, fast-track MBA, an Executive MBA, as well as a flexible, part-time MBA (with classes offered on the Manchester and Durham campuses and online), which lets working professionals earn their degrees at their own pace in as little as 20 months or as long as six years. Instituted in 1996, the part-time MBA is the university’s most popular MBA offering.

Best Online Degree Program: Southern New Hampshire University
2500 N. River Road, Manchester
800-668-1249
www.snhu.edu
Southern New Hampshire University offers more than 180 accredited online programs leading to undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates. Programs are designed to be flexible, fitting in with students’ schedules and budgets, while maintaining the school’s tradition of academic excellence.

Best Local Bank for Small Business: Bank of New Hampshire
Locations throughout New Hampshire
62 Pleasant Street, Laconia
603-524-1212
www.banknh.com
Formerly Laconia Savings Bank, Bank of New Hampshire changed its name in 2012 to better reflect its statewide focus. It is New Hampshire’s largest independent bank and, since its inception in 1831, has grown to 24 offices statewide. Because the bank is a mutual organization, it doesn’t answer to stockholders and can focus on the success of its customers, communities and employees. 

Best Regional Bank for Small Business:
Best Regional Commercial Lender:
TD Bank
Locations throughout New Hampshire
1701 Marlton Pike East, #200, Cherry Hill, N.J.
888-751-9000
www.tdbank.com
One of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., TD Bank offers a broad array of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services to nearly eight million customers through its extensive network of 1,300 convenient locations. TD provides business solutions to companies of all sizes. Its small business banking division offers hassle-free accounts and personalized services, as well as a dedicated small business representative with every account. Its commercial banking division offers treasury management services, loans and lines of credit, leasing and equipment finance, and more.

Best Investment Firm: Fidelity Investments
Locations throughout New Hampshire
1 Spartan Way, Merrimack
603-791-5000
www.fidelity.com
Fidelity Investments is one of the world’s largest providers of financial services. Founded in 1946, the firm is a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing and many other financial products and services to more than 20 million individuals and institutions, as well as through 5,000 financial intermediary firms.

Best Credit Union: St. Mary’s Bank
200 McGregor Street, Manchester
603-669-4600
www.stmarysbank.com
Founded in 1908 as the nation’s first credit union, St. Mary’s Bank has been offering an alternative to traditional banks ever since. As a credit union, St. Mary’s members own the institution, meaning decisions are made based on the best interests of the members. St. Mary’s offers a diverse array of financial products for businesses, including checking and savings accounts, commercial loans and SBA financing.

Best Electricity Provider:

​Eversource Energy
780 No. Commercial Street, Manchester
603-669-4000
www.eversource.com
Eversource Energy is New England’s largest energy delivery company, with approximately 3.7 million electric and natural gas customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. More than 8,000 men and women are actively working to prevent problems before they arise and fix errors in good and bad weather, making sure the energy that powers the region is always there.

Best Fuel Provider: Palmer Gas and Oil
13 Hall Farm Road, Atkinson
603-898-7986
www.palmergas.com
Touting to provide the friendliest, simplest and safest service in Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts, Palmer Gas & Oil remains a family-owned business that has grown from its quaint beginnings in the early 1900s. Its automatic delivery, easy building and maintenance plans make it easy to keep your tank full and your equipment in tip-top shape.

Best Solar Energy Company: Granite State Solar
197 N. Main Street, Boscawen
603-369-4318
www.granitestatesolar.com
Founded in 2008 as a design, sales, distribution and integrator of ‘hybrid’ energy systems, Granite State Solar provides customized energy solutions and services that conserve energy, save money and reduce your carbon footprint. Granite State Solar covers all of New Hampshire and Green Mountain Power in Vermont.

Best Florist: Jacques Flowers
712 Mast Road, Manchester
603-625-5155
www.jacquesflowers.com
Jacques Flower Shop has been a family-run business since its inception in 1910. For 100 years, the Jacques/Lagasse family, and currently the Godbout/Lindh family, have provided the Greater Manchester area with beautiful fresh flowers and plants. Its skilled design team facilitate about 150 weddings per year and delivers its products around the world.

Best Networking Event: Tri-City Expo
www.tricityexpo.com
Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce,603-224-2508
www.concordnhchamber.com
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, 603-666-6600
www.manchester-chamber.org
Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, 603-881-8333
www.nashuachamber.com
The Tri-City Expo, an annual collaboration between the Manchester, Concord and Nashua Chambers of Commerce, features more than 200 exhibitors from all over the state, and welcomes more than 1,200 attendees.

Best Corporate Event Caterer: Tidewater Catering Group
250 Commercial Street, Suite 2021, Manchester
603-668-6111
www.tidewatercatering.com
Tidewater Catering Group is a full-service, off-premise catering and event planning company located in Manchester’s historic Millyard. Tidewater can cater large corporate events or the most intimate affair, paying close attention to every detail of your event. Its team of experienced professionals works with you to accommodate and adapt to all your requests in food and service, ensuring that every detail of the function is perfectly executed.

Best Small Venue for Meetings and Events: LaBelle Winery
345 Route 101, Amherst
603-672-9898
www.labellewineryevents.com
With outstanding service and cuisine, group wine tastings, vineyard and wine cellar tours, in-house audio visual, custom furnishings and much more, LaBelle Winery offers several amenities to add a unique atmosphere for a corporate event. LaBelle Winery’s corporate sales associates help assist in planning the perfect event; one that is creative and memorable. 

Best Medium Venue for Meetings and Events: Grappone Conference Center
70 Constitution Avenue, Concord
603-225-0303
www.grapponeconferencecenter.com
With the largest ballroom and function space in the Concord area, the Grappone Conference Center is an ideal destination for your corporate event. All meeting rooms offer high-speed Internet access, individual lighting, sound, heat and air conditioning controls. Its dedicated team of event planners and culinary experts assist with every detail of your event, from technical audiovisual needs, complex floor plans to unlimited food and beverage possibilities. Its Granite Ballroom comfortably accommodates up to 500 guests.

Best Large Venue for Meetings and Events: Omni Mount Washington Resort
310 Mount Washington Road, Bretton Woods
603-278-1000
www.omnihotels.com/MtWashington
As grand as the history behind it, Omni Mount Washington Resort is a favorite New England retreat and host to dozens of political, business and artistic gatherings. In January 2009, Omni Mount Washington Resort opened the Presidential Wing, one of the largest meeting spaces in northern New Hampshire, with a total of 30,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as a 25,000-square-foot spa and salon. The hotel’s varied meeting rooms are perfect for a wide range of meetings, including training sessions, customer presentations, team-building seminars and strategic planning retreats. Its staff is ready to attend to every detail, from itinerary planning to audio/visual equipment to custom menus.

Best Payroll Service: ADP Payroll Solutions
One ADP Blvd., Roseland, N.J.
800-225-5237
www.adp.com
ADP is one of the world’s largest providers of business outsourcing solutions. Leveraging more than 55 years of experience, ADP offers a wide range of services including human resources, payroll, tax and benefits administration solutions. ADP’s easy-to-use solutions for employers provide superior value to companies of all types and sizes.

Best Locally Owned Payroll Service: Trivantus Inc.
582 Chestnut Street, Manchester
603-624-7788
www.trivantus.com
Trivantus is a locally owned and operated payroll processing company specializing in streamlining employers’ outsourcing needs. Through advanced payroll technology and unsurpassed customer service, Trivantus allows employers to focus on what’s most important – their businesses.

Best Office Supplies: W.B. Mason
12 Murphy Drive, Nashua
888-926-2766
www.wbmason.com
Since 1898, the dedicated people at W.B. Mason have been passionate about bringing their amazingly low prices, superior delivery and outstanding personal service to businesses of all sizes for all of their office products needs. Headquartered in Brockton, Mass., W.B. Mason has grown to become the largest, privately owned office products dealer in the United States, with over 30 locations spanning 11 states, with everything you need for your office, from supplies and furniture, to break room and janitorial goods.

Best Office Supplies (Locally-owned): Central Paper Company      
21 Riverside Street, Nashua
888-578-9303
www.centralpaperonline.com
Central Paper has been specializing in paper for over 60 years, representing the nation’s leading paper manufacturers including Neenah Paper, Wausau Paper and Xerox Paper. Central Paper offers customers online ordering and account maintenance. It also has 5 full-service Paperworks retail stores in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Best Office Furniture: Staples
Locations throughout New Hampshire
500 Staples Drive, Framingham, MA
800-378-2753
www.staples.com
New England-based Staples Inc. opened its first office supply superstore in 1986 and today is the world’s largest office products company with more than 1,800 stores in North America. From pens, paper, data CDs – and, yes, staples – Staples offers a wide range of office products and solutions.

Best Locally Owned Office Furniture: Office Alternatives (Formerly Surplus Office Equipment)
186 Granite Street, Manchester
603- 668-9230
www.office-alternatives.com
Since 1984, Office Equipment has carried everything you need for your office environment, from office chairs and seating, used filing cabinets and storage, used cubicle systems and panels, workstations and more. 

Best Office Cleaning Service: The Cleaning Guy
PO Box 1438, Concord
603-410-6449
www.thecleaningguynh.com
For more than 30 years, The Cleaning Guy has been providing unmatched commercial cleaning services out of the greater Manchester area to residences and businesses across the state. Its mission is to clean for health – that is, cleaning to keep facilities healthier places to work. It provides services such as daily and weekly office cleaning, carpet, window and floor care with the very best, high-quality equipment.

Best Employee Benefits: CGI Business Solutions
171 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett
603-622-4600
www.cgibusinesssolutions.com
CGI Business Solutions provides a full spectrum of employee benefit planning, design and administration along with investment and wealth management, customized business insurance solutions, technological resources and human resources support. It has four locations in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine.

Best Commercial Insurance Provider: Cross Insurance Agency
Locations throughout New Hampshire
800-999-7345
www.crossagency.com
Headquartered in Maine with nine offices in New Hampshire, Cross Insurance Agency offers experience in all facets of insurance protection – and more than 400 knowledgeable employees – so it can always assemble the team best suited to meet its clients’ business and personal insurance needs. Its business products are tailored for a range of industries and include property, general liability, business interruption income, commercial auto, workers’ compensation, cyber liability, professional liability and more. Its fully staffed employee benefits division represents more than 1,500 employee benefit clients throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and each client is assigned a minimum of two Cross representatives: an account executive, whose principal responsibility is front line contact, and a benefits specialist, working in a day-to-day fashion with each client.

Best Hospital: Elliot Hospital
1 Elliot Way, Manchester
603-669-5300
www.elliothospital.org
The cornerstone of the Elliot Health System – the largest provider of comprehensive health care services in southern New Hampshire – is Elliot Hospital, a 296-bed acute care facility in Manchester. Established in 1890, the hospital offers surrounding communities caring, compassionate and professional patient service regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, marital status, sexual preference, or ability to pay. The hospital is Greater Manchester’s designated trauma center, and is also home to a cancer center, urology center, and has one of only three Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the state.

Best Health Insurance Provider: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
650 Elm Street, Suite 700, Manchester
603-656-9500
www.harvardpilgrim.org
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care is a full-service health services company serving members throughout New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Harvard Pilgrim’s extensive network includes over 182 hospitals and 79,000 doctors and clinicians. It has a wide variety of health insurance options for companies, families and individuals, with fully insured or self-insured PPO, POS and HMO plans available with multiple variations tailored to the needs of its members.

Best Copy Services: The Copy Shop
10 Northern Blvd., Suite 17, Amherst
603-882-9111
www.thecopyshop.com
Southern New Hampshire’s leading printing, and business resource service, has offered clients top quality products since 1972. Starting out as a small, family-run operation, The Copy Shop balances high quality work and professionalism with their roots as a family establishment. Business owners and operators can expect cost-effective solutions to all of their graphic and printed business communication needs.

Best Long-Run Printer: RAM Printing, Inc.
5 Commerce Park Drive, East Hampstead
603-382-7045
www.ramprinting.comRAM Printing, is a family-owned and operated, full-service offset printing company with over 30 years servicing the printing and imaging needs of business, industry and the design trade throughout New England. RAM Printing handles everything from stationery to annual reports, from state-of-the-art pre-press to enterprise-wide fulfillment, and from file management to imaging innovation. Located in southern New Hampshire, RAM Printing services all of greater Boston, New Hampshire and southern Maine.

Best Short-Run Printer: RAM Printing, Inc.
5 Commerce Park Drive, East Hampstead
603-382-7045
www.ramprinting.com
RAM Printing, a family-owned and -operated, full-service offset printing company. Located in East Hampstead, RAM Printing is a part of RAM Companies, which also includes RAM Mailing Service, Hampstead Print & Copy and GuestMark International, which provides specialized print services and products for the hospitality industry.

Best Promotional Products Supplier: Say it in Stitches
128 Hall Street, Suite B, Concord
603-224-6470
www.stitchesnh.com
Say it in Stitches is a promotional product distributor with a mission to help you create long-lasting relationships with your clients through the power of promotional products. Promotional products are used by virtually every business in America, and Say it in Stitches can supply your company with every possible promotional product – such as pens, mugs, t-shirts, wristbands or lanyards – from more than 3,000 suppliers.

Best Commercial Signage: ​Barlo Signs
158 Greeley Street, Hudson
603-882-2638
www.barlosigns.com
Creating exceptional signage since 1969, Barlo Signs began as a small sign shop in the garage of Arthur and Pam Bartlett. With steady growth each year, Barlo Signs has expanded into every facet of the sign industry, with a 35,000-square-foot facility in New Hampshire as well as a facility in Mexico.

Best Auto Dealership: ​AutoFair Automotive Group
Dealerships in Manchester, Nashua, Stratham, Plaistow and Merrimack
603-634-1000
www.autofair.com
For more than 20 years, AutoFair has served New Hampshire and surrounding areas as a new and used auto dealership. With services such as an online Car Finder, AutoFair’s Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Volkswagen, Subaru and pre-owned dealerships work hard to make your vehicle shopping experience an enjoyable and memorable one. AutoFair also takes pride in serving the community, and is a founding member of the Manchester Charitable Foundation.

Best Auto Luxury Dealership: ​Tulley BMW
170 Auto Center Road, Manchester
888-453-4380
147 Daniel Webster Highway, Nashua
888-461-8281
www.tulleybmw.com
With locations in both Nashua and Manchester, Tulley BMW treats the needs of each individual customer with paramount concern. Its experienced sales staff is eager to share its knowledge and enthusiasm about its range of new and certified pre-owned BMWs. Both facilities also have BMW Service Centers, which are staffed with experienced, BMW-trained technicians who will quickly diagnose and remedy any areas of concern and get you back on the road quickly and safely.

Best Auto Fleet Dealership: Merchants Automotive Group
1278 Hooksett Road, Hooksett
603-669-4100
www.merchantsauto.com;
www.merchantsfleetmanagement.com
The largest family-run, pre-owned dealer in New England, Merchants Auto seeks to customize your fleet needs with its wide variety of fleet management options, including open-end leases with unbundled services and self-insurance and close-end leases that include budgeted maintenance with traditional insurance coverage.

Best Car Service: Grace Limousine
995 Goffstown Road, Manchester
603-666-0203
www.gracelimo.com
Family-owned and -operated from Manchester since 1990, Grace Limousine is committed to providing the best in personal, special event and corporate transportation. More than just transportation, Grace’s fleet includes Lincoln sedans, a stretch Navigator, a 1956 Rolls Royce Bentley and “green” vehicles such as the Lexus SUV hybrid, as well as stretch limousines equipped with LCD TV’s and DVD players.

Best Business Startup Competition: Paul J. Holloway Prize Innovation-to-Market Competition
www.paulcollege.unh.edu/paul-j-holloway-innovation-market-prize
Named in honor of New Hampshire entrepreneur Paul J. Holloway, the Holloway competition is open to all students of the University System of New Hampshire. Established in 1988, the competition presents cash awards to winning teams and runners-up who demonstrate a solid plan for bringing an innovative product or service to market. The rigor of the competition maximizes educational value, prepares students for the realities of the business world, and helps to generate new business opportunities.

Best Young Professionals Network: Manchester Young Professionals Network
www.mypn.org
Established in 2004, the Manchester Young Professionals Network is New Hampshire’s first and largest young professionals’ networking organization, supporting nearly 3,000 young professionals in the Queen City. Through monthly and sometimes weekly events, MYPN aims to create business and social opportunities, support professional development and welcome new and existing young professionals to the Manchester community. MYPN also hosts one of the start’s largest business startup competitions, the New Hampshire Startup Challenge, which provides cash and in-kind services to winning business plans.

Best Bankruptcy Law Firm: Devine Millimet 
111 Amherst Street, Manchester
603-669-1000
www.devinemillimet.com
Devine Millimet advises secured and unsecured creditors in every aspect of formal bankruptcy cases. Over the past 25 years, its attorneys have had substantial roles in the major bankruptcy matters in the district including In re Public Service New Hampshire (representing the State of New Hampshire), In re Foss Manufacturing Inc. (representing major secured lender), In re Amherst Technologies, LLC et al (representing the Official Committee Of Unsecured Creditors), and In re GT Advanced Technologies Inc. et al (representing the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors).

Best Corporate Law Firm: McLane Middleton
900 Elm Street, Manchester
603-625-6464
www.mclane.com
McLane Middleton brings over nine decades of corporate law, representing clients across a broad spectrum of size, complexity and industry, with their most important corporate law issues, including business formation, corporate governance, complex agreements, capital raising, securities offerings, executive compensation, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic transactions. McLane Middleton’s identifies innovative solutions to complex issues.

Best Employment Law Firm: McLane Middleton
900 Elm Street, Manchester
603-625-6464
www.mclane.com
McLane Middleton provides expertise while keeping legal costs in check, by addressing matters promptly and effectively. The law firm assists clients with workplace audits, strategic workforce training, timely workplace investigations and more, in industries ranging from manufacturing to educational and technology business. The firm has substantial expertise in discrimination, harassment, disability, data privacy, drug testing, family and medical leave, federal and state regulatory compliance, OSHA, wage and hour, reductions in fore, immigration, and more.

Best Intellectual Property Law Firm: Devine Millimet
111 Amherst Street, Manchester
603-669-1000
www.devinemillimet.com
In addition to patent prosecution and litigation before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Devine Millimet’s Patent, Trademark & Licensing team provides prior art searches, patentability evaluations and validity and infringement opinions, with help through their network of associates in foreign jurisdictions. The firm also provides copyright registration and enforcement, preparation of technology transfer agreements and formation of joint ventures.

Best Real Estate Law Firm: Shaheen Gordon
80 Merrimack Street, Manchester
603-635-4099
www.shaheengordon.com
Shaheen Gordon’s team helps clients understand the challenges associated with purchasing, selling, developing and navigating the financing paths for real estate. The firm reviews and advises on leases and lease negotiations, assists with the necessary documents for developing condominiums as well as taking action on behalf of landlords and tenants. Shaheen Gordon has over thirty years of experience representing individuals, corporations, investors and developers throughout New England.

Best Tax Law Firm: McLane Middleton
900 Elm Street, Manchester
603-625-6464
www.mclane.com
McLane Middleton tax attorneys advise clients on a broad range tax planning issues including federal tax planning, retirement plans and employee benefits, employee stock ownership plays, executive compensation planning, state and local tax planning, tax controversy, tax-exempt entities, and international tax planning. McLane’s tax attorneys also have the unique perspective of frequently participating in the drafting of New Hampshire’s tax legislation.

Best After-Work Bars:

Greater Manchester: Copper Door
15 Leavy Drive, Bedford
603-488-2677
www.copperdoorrestaurant.com

Monadnock Region: Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
77 Main Street, Keene
603-357-4492
www.margs.com

Greater Concord: The Common Man
25 Water Street, Concord
603-228-3463
www.thecman.com

Greater Nashua: The Peddler’s Daughter
48 Main Street, Nashua
603-821-7535
www.thepeddlersdaughter.com

Seacoast: The Portsmouth Brewery
56 Market Street, Portsmouth
603-431-1115
www.portsmouthbrewery.com

North of Concord: Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery
135 Main Street, North Woodstock
603-745-3951
www.woodstockinnnh.com

Best Business Dinner:

Greater Manchester: Copper Door
15 Leavy Drive, Bedford
603-488-2677
www.copperdoorrestaurant.com

Greater Nashua (Multi-location): The Common Man
304 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack
603-429-3463
www.thecman.com

Greater Nashua (Local): Buckley’s Great Steaks
438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack
603-424-0995
www.buckleysgreatsteaks.com

Greater Concord (Multi-location): The Common Man Concord
25 Water Street, Concord
603-228-3463
www.thecman.com

Greater Concord (Local): O Steaks and Seafood
11 S. Main Street, Concord
603-856-7925
magicfoodsrestaurantgroup.com/osteaks/

Greater Salem: Tuscan Kitchen
67 Main Street, Salem
603-952-4875
www.tuscanbrands.com

Seacoast: Surf Restaurant
99 Bow Street, Portsmouth
603-334-9855
www.surfseafood.com

North of Concord: O Steaks & Seafood
11 S. Main Street, Concord
603-856-7925
magicfoodrestaurantgroup.com/osteaks/

Monadnock Region: Giorgio’s Ristorante
524 Nashua Street, Milford
603-673-3939
www.giorgios.com

Best Business Lunch:

Greater Manchester: Cotton
75 Arms Street, Manchester
603-622-5488
www.cottonfood.com

Greater Nashua (Multi-location): The Common Man
304 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack
603-429-3463
www.thecman.com

Greater Concord (Multi-location): The Common Man
25 Water Street, Concord
603-228-3463
www.thecman.com

Greater Concord (Local): The Barley House
132 N. Main Street, Concord
603-228-6363
www.thebarleyhouse.com

Seacoast: The Portsmouth Brewery
56 Market Street, Portsmouth
603-431-1115
www.portsmouthbrewery.com

North of Concord: ​Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille
40 Andover Road, New London
603-526-6899
www.flyinggoose.com

Monadnock Region: Elm City Brewing Company
222 West Street, Unit 46, Keene
603-355-3335
www.elmcitybrewing.com

Best Cup of Coffee:

Greater Manchester: The Bridge Café
1117 Elm Street, Manchester
603-647-9991
www.thebridgecafe.net

Greater Nashua: ​Riverwalk Café & Music Bar
35 Railroad Square, Nashua
603-578-0200
www.riverwalknashua.com

Monadnock Region: Prime Roast
603 352 7874
16 Main Street, Keene
www.primeroastcoffee.com

Seacoast: Popovers on the Square
8 Congress Street, Portsmouth
603-431-1119
www.popoversonthesquare.com

Greater Concord: White Mountain Gourmet Coffee
15 Pleasant Street, Concord
603-228-3317
www.whitemountaingourmetcoffee.com

North of Concord: White Mountain Café
212 Main Street, Gorham
603-466-2511
www.whitemountaincafe.com

Greater Salem: Village Bean
33 Indian Rock Road, Windham
603-434-2326
www.villagebean.com

Categories: BOB Awards

More news from NHBR: