The Latest: Week of September 19, 2025

The Latest is a roundup of the comings and goings of the movers and shakers in NH's business community

EDUCATION

The New Hampshire Early Childhood Funders Collaborative (NH ECFC) has appointed Julie Asher as its inaugural executive director, helping to expand opportunities and increase supports for New Hampshire children and their families. Previously, Asher served as a partner at New Profit, and also held leadership roles at Silver Lining Mentoring, the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University and the Robin Hood Foundation. The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH), NH Department of Safety, Police Standards and Training Council and Sen. David Watters (D-4) announced the expanded eligibility for the first responder program, designed to support development, recruitment and retention efforts to bolster public safety statewide. Due to the passing of HB 2, public safety telecommunicators and dispatchers are now also eligible to participate in the program, which provides reimbursement for the cost of one or more courses per semester at any of the seven institutions in New Hampshire’s community college system.

Granite Edvance donated an additional $15,000 to the scholarship fund that covers tuition for prerequisite courses for nursing students participating in the Granite State P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. (People Aligning Resources Towards Nursing Expansion and Retention Strategies) program, led by Elliot Health System and community partners designed to tackle the nursing staffing shortage and strengthen the future of health care in New Hampshire.

Granite Edvance, a statewide nonprofit that supports NH students in navigating their education and career goals, provided $25,000 in seed funding last fall to help fund prerequisite courses, after learning that some students who are accepted into the P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. program may not have the funds to complete necessary prerequisites, which are outside the scope of the P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. grant. These students can now apply for awards of up to $1,050 to cover tuition for prerequisite courses at schools within the Community College System of New Hampshire. Funds are administered by the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges. To date, these funds have covered 130 courses for 67 students.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Diana Johnson has been promoted to senior vice president and marketing officer at Merrimack County Savings Bank. Johnson started as a marketing specialist and over her 15-year career at The Merrimack, she has advanced through several roles, including public relations officer and relationship marketing officer, before being promoted to her most recent role as VP, marketing officer in 2022.

Holy Rosary Credit Union (HRCU) welcomed Krista Foerster to the newly created role of chief retail officer. Previously, she was head of business onboarding and implementation at Northern Bank in Woburn, Mass., and also held senior leadership positions at Santander, Citizens and Bank of America.

The Concord Group Insurance Companies recently appointed Michael P. Nolin Jr. as president and CEO and Michael W. Percy as senior vice president and chief operating officer. Nolin began his career at The Concord Group in 1984 as an underwriter and moved through various leadership positions, including his most recent as SVP, chief operating officer. Percy joined the company in 1993 as a claims representative before holding various roles over the years. He is also a member of The Concord Group’s board of directors.

Bellwether Community Credit Union has opened its newest branch in Pelham, NH. Now open at 155 Bridge Street, the credit union will remain focused on building meaningful connections and supporting the financial well-being of local residents and businesses.

Merrimack County Savings Bank recently welcomed Maureen Meletis to its Commercial Lending Team as senior vice president of credit and administration, bringing with her more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry.

Triangle Credit Union has announced the retirement of chief lending officer Pamela Ford. She initially joined the firm in 1979 as a teller, and rose through the ranks over her 46-year career with the credit union.

M&T Bank’s regional president for New Hampshire Tim Wade has been named the 2025 Community Banker of the Year by the NH Bankers Association. The award honors a bank employee who has gone beyond the course of ordinary business to help improve the state through civic and community engagement. Recipients are respected industry professionals who have made a significant impact on those around them by inspiring others to become involved in community service.

Fernando Lopez Neyra has been promoted to assistant banking office manager at Bank of New Hampshire’s Gorham office. He first joined the bank in 2022 as a bank services representative, and holds a B.S. in management from Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and a certificate in coaching and leadership from National Chamber of Commerce of Peru.

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS

Longtime NH Business Review columnist Doug Teschner has released a new book alongside neurologist Beth Malow and Weaving Influence founder Beck Robinson titled, “Beyond the Politics of Contempt: Practical Steps to Build Positive Relationships in Divided Times.” The authors offer practical tools and real-world guidance on how to navigate political divisions in professional and personal relationships in the new book, now available on Amazon and in bookstores. Teschner and Malow also volunteer with Braver Angels, a bipartisan nonprofit grassroots organization that brings Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic.

Manchester Music Mill, a hub for New England musicians, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Founded by Joseph and Dawn Lacerda in 2005, the Mill has become known for its mix of new and used gear, personalized service, and deep roots in the local and regional music scenes. In addition, the Mill recently welcomed longtime industry veteran Pater Buciak as general manager.

SCORE Granite Region, which offers support through mentoring and educational resources for aspiring entrepreneurs, has received a $5,000 grant from the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation.

The grant will be used to continue program expansion through recruitment efforts and brand awareness.

CONSTRUCTION

Fulcrum Associates, LLC has promoted David Henderson to the role of vice president. Henderson, who previously served as director of operations, has more than 30 years of experience in project management, leadership and construction management across New England.

HEALTH CARE

Concord Hospital has received three American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines achievement awards for demonstrating quality care for the treatment of heart disease and stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer hospital readmissions. The awards were specifically given for Concord Hospital’s proven care for stroke and Type 2 diabetes patients.

Danyel Godwin, a clinician at Mount Prospect Academy’s Enhanced Residential Treatment Program in Campton, received the NH Division of Children, Youth and Families’ (DCYF) Exemplary Leadership Award in the residential care category. She was honored for her work with students, helping them build the life skills, coping mechanisms and emotional regulation to transition out of the foster care system after their enhanced residential treatment is complete.

Lamprey Health Care has received four national awards from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the categories of: National Quality Leader for Behavioral Health, Advancing Health IT, Health Center Quality Leader – Silver, and Improving Access to Care. In addition, Lamprey also recently became the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in New Hampshire.

Joseph Slaughter, MD, has joined Concord Hospital General Surgery in Laconia, and is seeing patients at the medical office building at 85 Spring Street. He recently completed his residency at the University of Tennessee, and earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota.

FITNESS

Northeast Elite Athletics (NEA) will celebrate the grand opening of its new training facility at 187 Hampstead Road in Derry, NH, on Sept. 20, giving athletes of all ages a state-of-the-art space to train, develop and grow. The facility is the vision of Jay Yennaco of Windham, owner of NEA and former third-round MLB Draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in 1995. The facility includes batting cages, pitching mounds, a full athletic gym, and a recovery zone with sauna and cold plunge.

NONPROFITS

The board of directors of Toah Nipi Christian Retreat Center has appointed Abigail “Abby” Stroven to serve as the organization’s first CEO. She was previously executive director for eight years at La Vida Center for Outdoor Education and Leadership at Gordon College in Wenham, Mass. Prior to that, she spent several years working with the El Refugio retreat center in Ecuador.

LAW

Pierce Atwood LLP announced that 83 lawyers firmwide have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2026. NH-based attorneys selected were: Denis O. Robinson, Jan Myskowski, Marla Matthews, Mason Carr, Michele Kenney and Scott E. Pueschel. In addition, Jan Myskowski was named a Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for elder law in New Hampshire. Several attorneys from McLane Middleton have been named a 2026 Lawyer of the Year in their fields by The Best Lawyers in America: Steven M. Burke (tax law), Patrick C. Closson (mergers and acquisitions law), Michael A. Delaney (appellate practice/education law), Thomas W. Hildreth (immigration law), Michael J. Quinn (environmental law), Jeremy T. Walker (litigation – intellectual property), and Mark A. Wright (trademark law).

Twenty-three attorneys from Devine, Millimet & Branch, P.A., were recognized as Best Lawyers in America for 2026: Joyce M. Hillis, Sarah S. Ambrogi, Katherine Battles, Suzanne Brunelle, Pierre A. Chabot, Steve Cohen, Tabitha Croscut, David P. Eby, William F. Gramer, Matthew R. Johnson, Rebecca S. Kane, Peter W. Leberman, Renelle L. L’Huillier, Angela B. Martin, Joseph G. Mattson, Anu R. Mullikin, Pamela A. Peterson, Charles R. Powell III, Thomas Quarles Jr., Jennifer R. Rivett, John B. Sparkman, Marielle B. Van Rossum and Theofilos Vougias. Three Devine Millimet attorneys were named Ones to Watch for 2026: Rich Driscoll, Rebecca Lamarre and Stephen N. Zaharias. John B. Sparkman was also selected as the 2026 Lawyer of the Year.

The law firm of McLane Middleton has welcomed attorney Nancy N. Keller-Go as a director in the Trusts and Estates Department. She most recently served as managing director and global head of fiduciary at BNY Mellon, and also held senior leadership positions with Bank of America Private Bank and Harvard Management Company. She will work out of both the Manchester, NH, and Boston, Mass., offices.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses has announced the start of Cohort 11 in Manchester, where 25 small business owners from various regions and industries will address challenges small businesses face and learn how to overcome them to grow as a business. The 12-week program will allow the cohort to gain practical skills and work one-on-one with a business advisor to develop a five-year growth plan for their business.

The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce has announced that Tanya Hervey will be its new president and CEO beginning in January 2026, following current president Laura Ring’s retirement. Hervey has been with the chamber for over six years, most recently serving as director of events and communications.

PlaneSense, a Portsmouth-based provider of fractional aircraft ownership, is celebrating its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of innovation and commitment to client satisfaction within the private aviation industry. The company has achieved a 91% client retention rate, with some families now spanning three generations of PlaneSense share owners.

The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed six new businesses and organizations into its membership: Confident Med Spa (Rochester), Dahab Falafel Co. LLC (Durham), Dover Mini Mart, Dover Roofing LLC, Fjell Peak Digital, and OTTO, a full-service pizza restaurant and bar in Dover.

Casella Waste Systems — a regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management services company — recently honored four organizations for their leadership in sustainability as part of Casella’s annual Sustainability Leadership Awards: Primo Brands, Dartmouth College, The Arc Otsego, and The University of Vermont Medical Center. Each winner was selected as a Casella customer who best exemplifies strong leaders in reducing waste and increasing recycling efforts.