2024 BOB Award winners

Congratulations to all the 2024 winners!

NH Business Review is pleased to present the winners of our 17th annual BOB Awards, which honor the Best of Business in New Hampshire for 2024.

Each year, our readers vote for the Granite State’s most standout businesses — the ones that go above and beyond to ensure exceptional products and services with the utmost attention to detail and delivery on customer satisfaction. The BOB Awards distinguishes these businesses from the rest, serving as an endorsement from industry members who regularly depend on them to fulfill their day-to-day functions. We would like to thank the more than 3,000 businesspeople who took time out of their busy schedules to highlight the businesses that contribute to New Hampshire’s economic engine and are essential to the business community.

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Best Marketing Agency, Public Relations Agency & Promotional Products Supplier: Just Flow Events & Marketing
814 Elm Street, Suite 510, Manchester
603-301-5181
www.justflownh.com

Just Flow Events & Marketing supports a wide variety of marketing campaigns with a portfolio of services including brand development strategy, press kits, case studies, postcards, posters, annual reports, fundraising appeals, press releases, social media management, website development, promotional items and copywriting. Businesses can hire Just Flow to support their internal marketing and communications team or serve as an external resource to spearhead specific projects.

Best Managed IT Services & Cyber Defense Strategies: Mainstay Technologies
25 Sundial Ave., Suite 504W, Manchester
67 Water St., Unit 209, Laconia
603-524-4774
www.mstech.com

Founded by 2014 Business Excellence Award winner CEO Ryan Barton, Mainstay Technologies provides hassle-free tech support to organizations of all sizes across New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts. By taking the time to understand the unique needs, processes and budget pressures of each client partner, Mainstay builds proactive technology and cybersecurity plans.

Best Video and Multimedia Production Company (tie): New Sky Productions
10 Cotton Road, Suite 2, Nashua
603-816-9500
www.newskyproductions.com

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 Video and Multimedia Production Company (tie): Granite River Studios
11 A St., Derry
603-568-7623
www.graniteriverstudios.com

Granite River Studios is a video production service provider focusing on video production, planning and post-production. Other creative services include drone videos, animation, live event streaming, b-roll, branding videos, script writing, actor casting, on-screen presence training and more.

Best Security Systems: Seacoast Security
280 Heritage Ave., Suite C, Portsmouth
800-654-8800
www.seacoastsecurity.com

Seacoast Security has installed security systems for businesses in communities throughout New England since 1975. No matter what size home or business, Seacoast Security can provide wireless motion detectors, video surveillance, access control systems, fire and security panels, and much more.

Best Accounting Firm: Baker Newman Noyes
75 Portsmouth Blvd., Suite 130,
Portsmouth, 603-436-8200
650 Elm St., Suite 302, Manchester
603-626-2200
www.bnncpa.com

Baker Newman Noyes is a tax, assurance and advisory firm entrusted by individuals and organizations. An expansion into Boston in 2010 and a series of mergers in 2015 established the firm as one of the fastest-growing regional accounting and advisory firms in New England. With its 5th office in Woburn, Massachusetts, BNN is among the largest regional firms in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Best Architectural Firm: PROCON
PO Box 4430, Manchester
603-623-8811
www.proconinc.com

PROCON is an award-winning architectural and construction management firm with an in-house, fully integrated delivery system. As an 86-year-old, fourth-generation, family-owned company, 90 of their clients are repeat customers in multiple market sectors throughout the Northeast.

Best Engineering Firm: TFMoran Inc.
48 Constitution Drive, Bedford
603-472-4488
170 Commerce Way, Suite 102,
Portsmouth, 603-431-2222
www.tfmoran.com

TFMoran Inc. is a regionally recognized engineering and surveying firm offering civil, structural, traffic, surveying and landscape architecture 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 porous pavement, green roofs, bio-retention, grass-pavers and xeriscape plantings, among many others.

Best General Contractor: Harvey Construction
10 Harvey Road, Bedford
603-624-4600
www.harveyconstruction.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 backup generator installation.

Best Mechanical Contractor: Granite State Plumbing & Heating
17 Oil Mill 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 & Heating focuses on the midmarket commercial, industrial and institutional sectors, while caring for customers, employees and the environment.

Best Corporate Moving Company: Ray the Mover
1 Allard Drive, Manchester
800-321-7170
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 Internet Service Provider: Xfinity
1-800-COMCAST
www.xfinity.com

Comcast Corp. is one of the nation’s leading providers of cable, entertainment and communications products and services, with 22.3 million cable customers, 30 million high-speed internet customers and 3.1 million Xfinity Mobile 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 Waste Removal Company: Waste Management Inc.
Offices in Londonderry, New Hampton
and Rochester
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 is also a leader in waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy practices in the United States.

Best Executive Search Firm & Best Staffing Services Firm: Leddy Group
Offices in Bedford, Concord, Dover,
Keene, Lebanon and Portsmouth
877-202-7005
www.leddygroup.com

Leddy Group is a privately owned, regional staffing company serving New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and northern Massachusetts since 1994, offering staffing specialties in accounting and finance, administrative and customer service, engineering, human resources, industrial and skilled manufacturing, and HR consulting.

Best Public Golf Course to Take a Client To: Atkinson Country Club
85 Country Club Drive, Atkinson
603-392-8700
www.akinsonresort.com

Atkinson Resort & Country Club is a state-of-the-art facility offering the public amenities of some of the world’s finest country clubs just 45 minutes north of Boston. Open to the public, Atkinson Resort is home to an 18-hole golf course, as well as two restaurants, overnight guest rooms, virtual golf simulators, and event facilities for weddings and corporate functions.

Best Private Golf Course to Take a Client To: Manchester Country Club
180 South River Road, Bedford
603-624-4096
www.manchestercountryclub.com

For nearly 100 years, MCC has offered exclusive amenities at their Donald Ross 18-hole golf course, including indoor/outdoor practice facilities along with a clubhouse that features a vibrant social calendar. The club’s new Great Room and open-air veranda is a unique destination for weddings and parties, and their state-of-the-art conference center provides ample meeting space.

Best Commercial Real Estate Broker: Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan
168 S. River Road, Suite 1A, Bedford
603-232-8282
www.kellerwilliamsmetro.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 MBA Program: Southern New Hampshire University
2500 N. River Road, Hooksett
603-626-9100
www.snhu.edu

SNHU offers over 50 affordable, specialized MBAs that can be completed in as few as 15 months. Programs are designed to be flexible, fitting in with students’ schedules and budgets while maintaining academic excellence. And the GMAT and GRE are not required for admission, making the program more accessible. Professionals can tailor their degree to their interests and career goals, with more than 20 career-oriented concentrations and developing projects that serve their business needs.

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 Electricity Provider: Eversource Energy
780 No. Commercial St., Manchester
800-662-7764
www.eversource.com

Eversource Energy is New England’s largest energy delivery company, with approximately 4 million electric and natural gas customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. More than 9,000 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 Local Bank for Small Business: Bank of New Hampshire
Locations throughout New Hampshire
62 Pleasant Street, Laconia
603-527-3210
www.banknh.com

Whether your business is an LLC, partnership, corporation, sole proprietor, nonprofit, club, association or other non-individual, Bank of New Hampshire has an account that fits all business needs. Bank of New Hampshire offers three types of checking accounts for each business setup as well as money market and savings accounts, sub-accounting — which enables a business to have multiple deposit accounts with a summary of total withdrawals and interest earned — and certificates of deposit ranging from six months to five years.

Best Regional Bank for Small Business: TD Bank
Locations throughout New Hampshire
70 Bay Street, Manchester
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 Commercial Lender: Bank of New Hampshire
32 South River Road, Bedford
1-800-832-0912
www.banknh.com

Bank of New Hampshire’s team of experienced commercial bankers work with clients to understand the financing requirements of each business. Bank of New Hampshire offers loan terms and conditions that allow for purchasing, refinancing or expanding commercial real estate; purchasing equipment and other assets; meeting short-term, seasonal or other work capital requirements; or acquiring or expanding a business.

Best Financial Planner/Wealth Management: Edward Jones
Locations throughout New Hampshire
www.edwardjones.com

With several financial advisors around southern New Hampshire, Edward Jones is dedicated to helping clients develop strategies to reach important long-term financial goals, such as paying for a child’s education, retiring on your terms or creating a family legacy. In addition to offering traditional investment products, Edward Jones financial planners assess clients’ needs, develop goals, implement solutions and regularly review portfolios, keeping clients’ best interests in mind.

Best Investment Firm: Fidelity Investments
225 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua
800-225-6452
54 Maplewood Avenue, Portsmouth,
833-613-2167
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, broker age, benefits outsourcing and many other financial products and services to more than 40 million individuals and institutions, as well as through 13,500 financial intermediary firms.

Best Credit Union: St. Mary’s Bank
200 McGregor Street, Manchester
1-800-950-8850
www.stmarysbank.com

As the first credit union in the United States, St. Mary’s Bank has been helping New Hampshire residents with a wide range of affordable products and services for more than a century. Members can achieve their financial goals with best-in-market services and trusted financial advice regarding personal loans, real estate loans, business banking and financial planning. Membership is open to anyone with the purchase of one share of capital stock for $5.

Best Fuel Provider: Palmer Gas & 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: ReVision Energy
7 Commercial Drive, Brentwood
603-679-1777
78 Main St., Enfield, 603-632-1263
www.revisionenergy.com

ReVision Energy is Northern New England’s leading installer of solar energy systems with service in Maine, New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts, and is a certified B Corp. ReVision’s highly trained solar professionals help people and businesses transition away from fossil fuels to the renewable energy economy of tomorrow.

Best Florist: Chalifour’s Flowers
46 Elm Street, Manchester
603-623-8844
www.chalifours.com

Chalifour’s Flowers is an award-winning, family-owned local florist that has been producing farm-fresh flowers for almost 80 years. Their skilled flower designers and friendly, knowledgeable customer service team can help you choose from their wide selection of arrangements for same-day delivery in store and online.

Best Hotel for Business Travel: Bedford Village Inn
2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford
603-472-2001
www.bedfordvillageinn.com

Accommodations at the Bedford Village Inn are the most luxurious and charming in New England. BVI offers 64 suites, all wired with fiber optic internet access. It also provides an ideal location for business meetings and small corporate functions, whether hosting a seminar for 12 or a dinner reception for 225. Business amenities include complimentary audiovisual facilities and secretarial, translation and administrative support services, with some areas wired for videoconferencing.

Best Corporate Event Caterer: Tidewater Catering Group
250 Commercial St., 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 NH-101, Amherst
603-672-9898
www.labellewinerynh.com

Resting atop a quiet and picturesque hilltop with rolling vineyards, LaBelle Winery is the premier event venue for corporate entertaining and social celebrations of all sizes and styles. With outstanding service and cuisine, group wine tastings, vineyard and wine cellar tours, in-house audiovisual, custom furnishings and much more, LaBelle Winery offers several amenities to add a unique atmosphere for any event. LaBelle Winery’s corporate sales associates also 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 airconditioning 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, teambuilding seminars and strategic planning retreats. Its staff is ready to attend to every detail, from itinerary planning to audiovisual equipment to custom menus.

Best Office Furniture: W.B. Mason
8001 South Willow St., Manchester
888-926-4183
www.wbmason.com

W.B. Mason is one of the leading furniture suppliers in the country, providing assistance with designing and implementing an entire office layout to picking up a new office chair. W.B. Mason’s furniture for the office selection includes desks and workstations, chairs and seating, conference and reception furniture, files and storage, sit-stand ergonomic furniture and more. W.B. Mason can help businesses provide employees with a healthy, active and productive work environment.

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 Payroll Service: ADP Payroll Solutions
11 Northeastern Boulevard, Salem
855-404-8811
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 Employee Benefits: CGI Business Solutions
5 Dartmouth Ave., Auburn
603-622-4600
www.cgibusinesssolutions.com

Your employees are your most important asset. To attract the very best talent you must differentiate yourself by offering a benefits package that your competitors cannot offer. CGI Business Solutions’ benefits consultants work in conjunction with its in-house underwriting team to leverage decades of industry experience, benchmarking and claims analysis to create effective benefits programs at competitive prices.

Best Commercial Insurance Broker: Cross Insurance Agency
Locations in Laconia, Manchester and Portsmouth
800-999-7345
www.crossagency.com

Headquartered in Maine with three 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.

Best Health Insurance Provider: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NH
1155 Elm Street, Suite 200,
Manchester
800-870-3122
www.anthem.com

With more than 75 years of experience in New Hampshire, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and parent company Anthem, Inc., is committed to make quality healthcare simpler, more affordable and more accessible. Today, nearly 300,000 Granite Staters rely on Anthem’s healthcare benefits, products and services, along with a range of specialty products including pharmacy benefit management, dental and vision.

Best Large Hospital: Dartmouth Health
Member locations throughout New
Hampshire
603-650-5000
www.dartmouth-health.org

Dartmouth Health is a system of community hospitals, clinics and health care services across New Hampshire and Vermont. All of Dartmouth’s member hospitals are dedicated to addressing health disparities and inequities that affect public health by forging local partnerships, fostering outreach programs and engaging in population health initiatives.

Best Small Hospital: Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
789 Central Ave., Dover
603-742-5252
www.wdhospital.org

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital is a nationally recognized, nonprofit charitable health care organization serving its local communities with compassionate care and innovation since 1906. Their staff includes 400 providers, more than 500 nurses, 3,500 employees at its facilities, which include a 178-bed Magnet Recognized hospital, several urgent care and walk-in care facilities, primary care and specialty care practices in the Wentworth Health Partners group, multiple testing centers, as well as The Works Health and Fitness Center and the Wentworth-Douglass Foundation.

Best Urgent Care: ConvenientMD
Locations throughout New Hampshire,
Maine and Massachusetts
www.convenientmd.com

ConvenientMD is a leading urgent care provider in New England with over 34 clinics delivering high-quality care that saves people time and money while protecting the health of its communities, employees and partners to help ensure as many as possible can prosper now and in the future. Visit any ConvenientMD location for injuries and illnesses, COVID-19 testing, x-rays, lab orders and more, seven days a week.

Best Offset Printer: Spectrum Marketing Companies
95 Eddy Road, Suite 101, Manchester
603-627-0042
www.spectrummarketing.com

Spectrum Marketing offers a comprehensive list of services through its commercial printing division for print jobs of any quantity, from long-run direct mail promotional campaigns to large format signs to general commercial printing. Its commercial equipment is specifically designed to fulfill the diverse range of requirements, and Spectrum’s private trucking fleet and national distribution network ensures projects arrive on time.

Best Auto Luxury Dealership: Tulley BMW
170 Auto Center Road, Manchester
603-644-2691
www.tulleybmw.com

With locations in 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 preowned 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 Dealership & Auto Fleet Dealership:
Grappone Automotive Group
594 State Route 3A, Bow
www.grappone.com

Grappone Automotive Group offers new Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, and Toyota vehicles, along with a large selection of used vehicles, professionally staffed service and parts departments. Grappone’s team of experts are regularly reviewing local and national sites to find the best price for the vehicle based on current market conditions. That’s why the sticker price on Grappone’s vehicles is the best price, and often lower than what customers would expect, because Grappone’s sales staff is not paid on the selling price of the vehicle.

Best Ride Service: Grace Limousine and Shuttle
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 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 Digital Printer: NH Print & Mail
30 Terrill Park Drive, Concord
603-226-4300
www.nhprintmail.com

Started in 2011, NH Print & Mail offers clients a number of services that range from offset and digital printing, bindery services and bulk mailing services, to wide-format printing, promotional items, window graphics and more.

Best Large Law Firm: Shaheen & Gordon
107 Storrs Street, Concord
603-819-4231
www.shaheengordon.com

Shaheen & Gordon attorneys provide responsive service with the confidence to take the time to carefully analyze and understand clients’ business, strategic and/or litigation goals before offering advice. With offices in Concord, Dover, Manchester and Nashua, Shaheen & Gordon’s legal team offers first-class business litigation services that allow clients legal footing as a foundation for a successful business.

Best Medium Law Firm: Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell, P.C.
214 North Main St., Concord
603-228-1181
www.gcglaw.com

Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell is a leading business and litigation law firm in New Hampshire with the experience, connectivity and analytical capabilities to tackle the most sophisticated issues confronting businesses in today’s economy. The firm’s lawyers and professionals have helped shape the legal and legislative landscape in New Hampshire for over four decades.

Best Small Law Firm: Normandin Cheney & O’Neil, PLLC
213 Union Ave., Laconia
603-524-4380
www.ncolaw.com

For more than 100 years, Normandin, Cheney & O’Neil, PLLC has championed the rights of clients by putting the power of their professionals’ experience and excellence to work. The firm has been awarded the highest rating with Martindale-Hubbell, the leading source of reference information for the legal profession, and has also been included in Martindale Hubbell’s Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers.

Best Place for Business Lunch, Business Dinner & After-Work Bar: Copper Door
15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 603-488-2677
41 South Broadway, Salem,
603-458-2033
www.copperdoor.com

Copper Door is one of several restaurants under the corporate umbrella of Great NH Restaurants, which includes T-Bones Great American Eatery and Cactus Jack’s Grill & Watering Hole, with several locations throughout New Hampshire. Guests at the Copper Door enjoy a wide-ranging and inventive combination of tastes featuring local sources, New England seafood, classic yet inspired stone oven creations, hand-cut reserve premium steaks, unique salads and House specialties that personify Copper Door’s passion and respect of fine food and classic culinary technique.

Best Nonprofit Fundraiser: NH Food Bank’s Steel Chef
700 East Industrial Park Drive,
Manchester
603-669-9725
www.nhfoodbank.org

The NH Food Bank’s annual Steel Chef Challenge features celebrity chefs who host a fast-paced cooking competition with four of NH’s best professional chefs. Attendees take part in live and silent auctions throughout the event to help raise money for NH Food Bank’s mission — to distribute grocery products and perishable foods to partner agencies to feed the hundreds of thousands of Granite Staters who are food insecure.

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EDITOR’S PICK

Best new entertainment venue in Southern New Hampshire

Nashua Center for the Arts
201 Main St., Nashua
www.nashuacenterforthearts.com
The 750-seat venue opened in 2023, eight years after initial planning began by the city of Nashua. The space hosts live entertainment throughout the year, ranging from musicians to live comedy, theatre and children’s performances, with rental options for weddings and other functions.

EDITOR’S PICK
Best Community Partnership

Mark Stebbins Community Center and Manchester Housing and Redevelopment Authority
www.markstebbinscommunitycenter.org

The Mark Stebbins Community Center will be home to several nonprofit organizations that will provide collaborative services under one roof in an accessible, central location for families and individuals on the West Side of Manchester that will include the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester and Amoskeag Health.

EDITOR’S PICK

Best affordable-housing-meets-historic-preservation concept

The Bluebird Project
www.bluebirdnh.com

Conway entrepreneurs Eliza Grant and Caitlin (Kit) Hickey are reviving historic homes in need of repair and transforming them into affordable housing. According to the organization’s website, Bluebird was founded to create sustainable affordable housing and preserve historic structures and local character in the Mount Washington Valley. They use a mixture of state and federal grant funding, investor funds, traditional bank financing and tax credit programs to fulfill their projects’ needs.

EDITOR’S PICK

Best event for raising diverse voices

NH Songa’s Moving Conversations Together 2023 conference
555 Auburn St., Manchester
nhsonga.com

Moving Together Conversations: “Immigrants In New Hampshire’s Workforce” Conference was put into motion by Jean Hakuzimana, CEO of NH Songa, which featured insightful and thought-provoking speakers and panelists who discussed understanding the immigrant community, immigrant talents empowerment, workplace inclusion and more.

EDITOR’S PICK

Best student-led initiative for workforce development

Girls at Work’s “New Future for Females” career fair
200 Bedford St., Manchester
www.girlswork.org

High school students Kaylee Richard and Sam Grenier — both members of Girls at Work for a number of a years — wanted to host a trades career fair where girls would be front and center at a job fair focused on equal opportunities. More than 200 freshman and junior high school females from Manchester high schools, Kreiva Academy charter school and Goffstown high school were bussed over to the mill yard for the indoor-outdoor experience where they interacted with representatives from more than a dozen local businesses.

EDITOR’S PICK
Best legislative U-turn

NH DOT: Rebuilding Exits 6 and 7 off Interstate 293
7 Hazen Drive, Concord
www.dot.nh.gov/projects-plansand-programs/ten-year-plan

State officials reversed a decision to remove two projects from the proposed 2025-2034 highway improvement plan in December after Manchester residents spoke out at a public hearing. NH DOT’s website specifies that the purpose of the Ten-Year Plan is to develop and implement a plan allowing New Hampshire to fully participate in federally supported transportation improvement projects as well as to outline projects and programs funded with state transportation dollars.

EDITOR’S PICK
Best new retailer in Bedford

REI
25 S. River Road, Bedford
www.marketandmainbedford.com

The outdoor gear co-op opened at Bedford’s Market & Main in 2023, seven years after developers touted the future tenant. The site offers family-friendly shopping, dining and entertainment with luxury accommodations that include tree-line streetscapes, boutiques, a cinema, and mixed-use residential offerings. Shared green spaces are also featured with a bandstand and gazebo for outdoor gatherings with a dog park.

EDITOR’S PICK

Best program to boost economic vitality for people of color who own businesses

The Manchester NAACP and the NH Community Loan Fund’s Community-Driven Economic Empowerment (C-DEE) program
7 Wall St., Concord
www.communityloanfund.org/focus/business/financing/mobl/c-dee

Launched in January 2022, the initiative aims to increase technical assistance, training and loans to businesses in the greater Manchester area, and advocates for equal economic opportunities. This program is supported by funders including Bank of America, Santander, Bangor Savings Bank, NBT Bank, Cambridge Trust, and the Endowment for Health, with technical assistance from McLane Middleton and the Small Business Development Center.

EDITOR’S PICK

Best podcast for effecting change within vulnerable populations

NH Children’s Trust “New Hampshire Family NOW”
105B Loudon Road, Suite 201,
Concord
www.nhchildrenstrust.org/nhfn

New Hampshire Family NOW is a frank conversation about the ups and downs of parenting co-hosted by Nathan Fink (NH Children’s Trust) and Jasmine Torres Allen (NH PBS). Sometimes funny and irreverent, other times earnest and insightful, experts in the field join the show to discuss New Hampshire’s family-friendly landscape and where to turn in times of need.

EDITOR’S PICK

Best chance for the Granite State to steal the national tech spotlight

ReGen Valley
400 Commercial St., Manchester
www.armiusa.org

The effort led by the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute in Manchester to mass produce human body parts and tissue was named a Tech Hub in October 2023 by the U.S. Department of Commerce, making it available to compete for $500 million in federal funding. In 2022, the project secured $44 million from the Economic Development Administration.