The Latest: Week of October 3

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

HOSPITALITY

The Friendly Toast, a popular all-day brunch and bar spot, opened its new location in Concord on September 29. Located in Arts Alley, the new diner’s scratch kitchen offers gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options, as well rotating food and drink specials featuring locally sourced ingredients. To celebrate the opening of its 15th location, all proceeds from beverage sales during the soft opening last month benefited the NH Coalition to End Homelessness and the Thrive Survivor Support Center.

On Oct. 7, LaBelle Winery will celebrate the grand opening of Harvest House, a 4,500-square-foot luxury guest accommodation property, designed for weddings, corporate gatherings and leisure stays at LaBelle’s Amherst location. Project partners included Northpoint Construction Management, Arago Land Consultants LLC, and Jason Aselyn of JAD Design Group. Financing was provided by Rockland Trust Bank.

NONPROFITS

The Nash Casino presented a combined $1.3 million in contributions to eight New Hampshire nonprofit organizations on September 23, generated from a percentage of games of chance and historical horse-racing machine revenues during the month of August. Nonprofits who received funds were: MicroSociety Academy Charter School, Wilton Main Street Association, Bedford Men’s Community Club, Etz Hayim Synagogue, Grand Monadnock Rotary Charitable Fund, Less Leg More Heart, Bedford Fire Department Scholarship Fund and the Lions Club of Merrimack.

Richard Ober, president and CEO of the NH Charitable Foundation, announced plans to retire by June 2026. Appointed in 2010, he succeeded Lewis Feldstein, and is the fifth person to lead the Foundation since its founding in 1962. The Foundation’s board of directors hired a search committee comprised of board members as well as national search firm Kittleman & Associates to assist in selecting Ober’s replacement.

The NH Early Childhood Funders Collaborative (NH ECFC) has appointed Julie Asher as its inaugural executive director. Asher will lead the Collaborative’s efforts to expand opportunities and increase supports for New Hampshire’s youngest children and their families. Previously, she 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. Christ the King Food Pantry has opened a new food pantry facility at 67 South State Street in Concord to serve the more than 8,000 people in need. The food pantry — which has 124 volunteers and no paid staff — provided 72,306 meals, feeding 8,034 individuals in 2024 alone.

The Front Door Agency is now offering the Housing Hero Sponsorship Program, where individuals, businesses and community groups can help end homelessness for women and children by directly sponsoring common spaces and family units for the Front Door’s Transformational Housing Program participants. To learn more about how to become a housing hero, visit frontdooragency.org/events/housing-hero.

CATCH Neighborhood Housing welcomed three new members to its board of directors: Andrew Luce, shareholder and director, Mason + Rich; Kristin O’Brien, director of fund development and community relations, Taylor Community; and Tim Sink, soon-to-retire president and CEO, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce. New Generation, which provides safe shelter and support for moms and children facing homelessness, was awarded a $20,000 grant from the M&T Bank Charitable Foundation to support its work helping New Hampshire families secure stable housing and achieve self-sufficiency.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Patrick Tufts, former president and CEO of Granite United Way, has been appointed to Ledyard Financial Group’s board of

ster the state’s welding workforce, WMCC’s accredited test facility is led by certified welding inspectors who evaluate the strength, quality and integrity of completed welds to assess a welder’s skill level and ensure they meet the AWS requirements.

The Louise Tillotson Teaching Fellowship, a program of the NH Charitable Foundation, has announced its 2025 cohort of fellows: Kaden Bailey of Lakeway Elementary School in Littleton, Tabitha Paquette of Colebrook Academy in Colebrook, Laura Read of Lakeway Elementary School in Littleton, and April Wallace of Pittsburg School in Pittsburg. The mission of the fellowship is to celebrate excellence in public school teaching and to retain great teachers in the North Country.

LAW

The law firm of McLane Middleton has hired attorney Kimberly M. Miller as an associated in the Trust and Estates Department. She received her B.A., Law & Politics, cum laude, from Southern New Hampshire University and her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, where she served as a note editor on the Transnational Law Review journal. In directors. His many years of leadership and community impact will help Ledyard reinforce its commitment to sustainable growth and regional engagement.

Charter Oak Capital Management, a fiduciary wealth management firm, recently welcomed Sarah Serling, JD, CFP, as CEO. She was serving as acting CEO since January 2024, taking over for Charter Oak’s founder and managing partner, Jeff Troiano, who will maintain a role as board chair and financial advisor at the firm.

MANUFACTURING

Can-One USA, a manufacturer of aluminum beverage cans based in Nashua, has named Jim Demeritt as chief sales officer. Previously, he held roles at Harpoon Brewery, Envestnet and CanCraft/BSG.

EDUCATION

White Mountains Community College (WMCC) has launched American Welding Society (AWS) certification services for students enrolled in the college’s welding program and the general public, thanks to funding from a 2019–2025 Northern Borders Regional Commission grant. Designed to bolster the state’s welding workforce, WMCC’s accredited test facility is led by certified welding inspectors who evaluate the strength, quality and integrity of completed welds to assess a welder’s skill level and ensure they meet the AWS requirements.

The Louise Tillotson Teaching Fellowship, a program of the NH Charitable Foundation, has announced its 2025 cohort of fellows: Kaden Bailey of Lakeway Elementary School in Littleton, Tabitha Paquette of Colebrook Academy in Colebrook, Laura Read of Lakeway Elementary School in Littleton, and April Wallace of Pittsburg School in Pittsburg. The mission of the fellowship is to celebrate excellence in public school teaching and to retain great teachers in the North Country.

LAW

Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., welcomed attorney Ryan P. Garrette to the firm’s Concord office as a member of the Litigation group. Garrette has extensive court experience, serving as a legal resident at the New Hampshire Supreme Court and First and Third Circuit Courts, as well as a two-year judicial law clerk at the NH Superior Court for Merrimack County.

The law firm of McLane Middleton has hired attorney Kimberly M. Miller as an associated in the Trust and Estates Department. She received her B.A., Law & Politics, cum laude, from Southern New Hampshire University and her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, where she served as a note editor on the Transnational Law Review journal. In addition, McLane welcomed Amy Dubois as the firm’s new director of human resources. She holds a B.S. in business studies with a concentration in human resources management from SNHU, and is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS

United Staging and Rigging LLC — a provider of staging, rigging and event infrastructure services across the U.S. — is relocating from Haverhill, Mass., into New Hampshire with the acquisition of a 53,415-square-foot facility in Salem. United’s expansion into the Granite State was financially supported by Enterprise Bank and the NH Business Finance Authority.

Nominations are now being accepted for the Greater Manchester Chamber’s 2025 Citizen of the Year awards through October 24. The awards are an opportunity to honor an individual who has exemplified exceptional leadership and service that has impacted the Greater Manchester community. For more information, visit manchester-chamber.org/citizen-of-the-year-celebration.

Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, one of the oldest family-run funeral homes in New England, recently acquired Durning, Bykowski & Young Funeral Home, Inc. Phaneuf President & CEO Arthur “Buddy” Phaneuf commented that “adding Durning, Bykowski & Young to the Phaneuf family allows us to expand the quality and availability of service we provide to our community.”

Just Flow Events & Marketing has expanded its Manchester-based team with the addition of two new staff members: Lilli Baumgardner as a social media communications specialist and Alexa Skinner as marketing assistant.

The New Hampshire Motor Transport Association (NHMTA) recently shared that Ron Ricker, a professional driver for NH-based asphalt and paving company Blaktop, Inc., has been awarded the Master Truck Driver Certification, which recognizes drivers who achieve 1 million accident-free miles or 25,000 hours of accident-free driving. Ricker, who’s been with Blaktop for 34 years, had more than 68,000 accident-free hours over his career.

ENGINEERING

Harriman, a Maine-based architecture and engineering firm with offices throughout New England, recently named Daniel E. Backman, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, as a principal in the firm. Backman joined the firm in 2021, and has nearly two decades of architectural experience in California and across New England.

McFarland-Johnson — a 100% employee-owned planning, engineering, technology, environmental, and construction services firm with two NH locations — has appointed Tim Merritt as principal bridge engineer in its Transportation Division. His background includes projects for private clients, utilities and contractors in eastern U.S., as well as almost a decade of service with the Federal Highway Administration.

PROCON’s VP of Marketing and Corporate Affairs Tracey Pelton will be honored at Scouting America New Hampshire chapter’s 10th Annual Women’s Leadership Reception on October 10. Pelton was chosen for the Granite State Outstanding Women’s Leadership Award because of her professional and community leadership that mirrors life skills taught in Scouting.

HEALTH CARE

Concord Hospital Medical Group recently welcomed Jorge Edwardo Sanchez, MD, to Concord Hospital’s Sleep Center, where he will provide evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders. Dr. Sanchez is board-certified in family medicine and has served patients across New Hampshire and Texas, including as a physician with Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Coos County Health Clinic and New London Hospital.

UYM Charities has welcomed Gi Indoccio, LCMHC, as its first Aging Well practitioner. Indoccio is a licensed clinical mental health counselor with over 20 years of experience in counseling and holistic health. Her approach aligns with UYM’s mission to provide accessible, whole-person care that promotes dignity and connection in later life.

Concord Hospital Trust, the philanthropic arm of Concord Hospital Health System, has formed the Lakes Region Giving Society, a new community-focused initiative designed to strengthen local health care through collective generosity. By joining, members help decide which programs and projects their contributions will support in order to have a direct, lasting impact on health care in the Lakes Region.

William Logan, MD, and Ramon Hendrik Guillen, MD, have joined the medical staff at Concord Hospital Internal Medicine – Laconia. Dr. Logan is board-certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine, and hospice and palliative medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Guillen completed his internal medicine residency at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Mass., and serves as a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School.

REAL ESTATE

Portside Real Estate Group, an independent brokerage firm, has opened its eighth office at 89 Foundry Place in Portsmouth. The brokerage, led by founder and CEO Dava Davin, has donated more than $1.2 million to local nonprofits through its 1% Back program, which now includes support for New Hampshire organizations. The Boulos Company announced the sale of 232 Calef Highway in Barrington, a 12,000-square-foot industrial/flex property containing 12 units, facilitated by Katherine Gemmecke of The Boulos Company. The property sold for $2,350,000 at a 9% cap rate, and the sellers had increased income by over $100,000 during their ownership prior to the sale.

Colliers announced the successful sale of 17.93± acres of land approved for the development of 50 nonage-restricted duplex condominium units, located at 47 North Lowell Road in Windham.

The property sold for $4,500,000, according to the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds. Dan Scanlon, JD, CCIM, and Cassandra Farley, both senior associates with Colliers in New Hampshire, represented the seller, Nesmith Meadows, LLC.

The buyer, Trendezza, LLC, an experienced NH-based developer, was represented by Jared Trandezza of Moe Marketing Realty Group.