The Latest: Week of November 6, 2026

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

EDUCATION

The Community College System of New Hampshire has named Dan Hantmanas general counsel. Hantman had previously served as general counsel for the Trust for Governors Island, which operates a historic 172-acre campus across from the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. He has also served in senior legal and policy roles at the White House, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the NYC Mayor’s Office and for the private sector. Two graduates of NHTI–Concord’s Community College received awards at the Paralegal Association of New Hampshire’s annual meeting.

Heather McCandless, a New Hampshire Public Defender paralegal, received the New Hampshire Bar Association’s Paralegal Professionalism Award. Raquel Lopez, a 2026 graduate of NHTI’s paralegal certificate program, received the association’s Peer-to-Peer Award.

ENGINEERING

Appalachia Kunz

Civilworks New England recently announced that Appalachia Kunz has earned her Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification after successfully passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam. Earning the EIT certification marks an important step in Kunz’s professional development as she works toward PE licensure. Kunz is a member of the Civilworks New England engineering team, supporting projects that strengthen infrastructure and improve communities throughout the region.

Nicole Crawford

Hoyle Tanner has welcomed back Nicole Crawford as an aviation project manager in its Manchester office. Crawford brings more than 15 years of aviation and transportation engineering experience, including nearly nine years previously with the firm. She most recently served as town engineer for Milford, overseeing public works projects and stormwater management. Her expertise includes airfield improvements, pavement evaluations, construction cost estimating and airport facilities planning.

Chad B. Michaud

S.W. Cole Engineering has named Chad B. Michaud its next president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2027. Michaud, who joined the firm in 1999, currently serves as executive vice president, chief operating officer and principal geotechnical engineer. He will succeed Robert E. Chaput Jr., who has led the company since 2014. Chaput will remain chairman through April 2027 and serve as a senior advisor until his retirement in June 2027.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

St. Mary’s Bank has been named Best Bank in the 2026 Best of the 603 Awards, a community voted program celebrating New Hampshire’s favorite businesses, people and places. The award emphasizes the Bank’s mission to give members the flexibility to bank in the way that works best for them, from convenient digital tools and a top-rated mobile app to trusted, one-on-one guidance when they need it.

Sujata Yadav

River Run Bancorp has named Sujata Yadav president, with plans for her to succeed Lloyd L. Hamm Jr. as CEO on July 1, 2027. Hamm will become executive chairman for two years. Yadav previously held senior leadership positions at Eastern Bank and Citibank, specializing in consumer lending, marketing and product development. River Run operates three affiliated community banks: Newburyport Bank, Pentucket Bank and Rollstone Bank & Trust.

Bank of America has appointed Stefanie Colón vice president and New Hampshire market executive, succeeding Jim Foster, who retired after 46 years. Colón has more than 18 years of financial services experience, most recently in wealth management banking. She will work with New Hampshire Market President Matt Reilly on business development, community partnerships and philanthropic initiatives.

Mason Connor

Mason + Rich, Professional Association of Certified Public Accountants, has promoted Mason Connor to senior accountant I. Mason + Rich, P.A. is located in Concord, NH. The New Hampshire Community Loan Fund has received an A-Issuer Default Rating with a Positive Outlook from Fitch Ratings, becoming one of a small number of community development financial institutions nationwide rated by an SEC-registered agency. Fitch cited the organization’s lending performance, asset quality and improving capital position. The Community Loan Fund’s loan portfolio increased from $153 million in fiscal 2022 to $213 million in fiscal 2026.

Keara Halley

Merrimack County Savings Bank has promoted Keara Halley to branch and business development manager at its Hooksett office. Halley joined the bank in 2022 as a universal banker and became branch services supervisor in 2024. With more than eight years of banking experience, she will oversee branch operations and community relations. Halley is also a board member of the Hooksett Kiwanis Club and is attending the Northern New England School of Banking.

Chris Macomber

Rockland Trust has appointed Chris Macomber senior vice president and commercial banking officer, based in its Salem office. Macomber has more than 15 years of experience in commercial banking and lending, including commercial real estate, construction and small business financing. He previously worked at StonehamBank, East Boston Savings Bank, Bank of America and Citibank. He will focus on commercial banking relationships throughout southern New Hampshire and the Merrimack Valley.

Stephanie Curtin

Bank of New Hampshire has promoted Stephanie Curtin to assistant banking office manager at its Concord Main Street location. Curtin has nearly 30 years of banking experience, including 23 years with the bank. She previously served as a banking services representative and banking office specialist at the Concord Heights office.

NONPROFITS

The New Hampshire Food Bank received approximately 40,000 pounds of shelf-stable food and essential items from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 28. The donation is part of the America250 America Gives initiative, which includes 250 truckloads of food distributed nationwide. In addition, the NH Food Bank received a $300,000 grant from Feeding America, supported in part by Performance Food Group and Morgan Stanley. The funding will support efforts to improve access to nutritious food, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Kathy Merchel

Kathy Merchel has joined the Windham Endowment’s board of directors and Events Committee. Merchel has worked at Golden Brook School for more than 20 years and currently serves as administrative assistant for special education and preschool. She also volunteers with Windham’s Helping Hands and Windham Emergency Management.

New Hampshire PBS has promoted six employees to leadership and management positions following the retirement of Vice President and Chief Content Officer Dawn DeAngelis. Steve Chao, Beth Evans, Suzanne Mello, Carla Gordon Russell and Ben Sparling have been named managing directors overseeing technology, development, finance, communications and production, respectively. Additionally, Terry Douglass was promoted to manager of leadership giving. The five managing directors will report directly to President and CEO Peter Frid.

Julia Williams

The Endowment for Health has appointed Zach Palmer, Alex Mason and Julia Williams to its board of directors. Each will serve a three-year term on the organization’s 16-member board. Palmer and Mason previously served on the Endowment Advisory Council. Their backgrounds include banking, community development and finance, while Williams brings healthcare leadership experience from Point32Health, Mass General Brigham and CVS Health.

Rev. Ed Cardoza

The Rev. Ed Cardoza has been elected the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire, succeeding retiring Bishop Robert Hirschfeld. Cardoza, currently priest-in-charge of Grace Episcopal Church in Manchester, was elected Oct. 24 during the diocese’s annual convention in Concord. He previously held ministry positions in Massachusetts and worked in global health and outreach.

HEALTHCARE

The New Hampshire Hospital Association has elected officers and board members for 2026–2027. John Jurczyk, president of St. Joseph Hospital, was named chairman, succeeding Michael Peterson. Holly McCormack of Cottage Hospital will serve as vice chair, and Deb Cresta of Exeter Hospital as secretary/treasurer. Joseph Perras of Cheshire Medical Center was elected to a two-year board term, while Richard Scheinblum of Monadnock Community Hospital was re-elected.

Elliot Health System raised $275,000 for its Women’s and Children’s Services programs during its 24th annual gala, held Oct. 9 in downtown Manchester. More than 430 community members attended the event, presented by the Mary & John Elliot Charitable Foundation. The program highlighted pediatric care provided by Elliot Hospital, including its dedicated pediatric emergency room, and featured a patient’s experience receiving specialized surgical and multidisciplinary care.

Granite VNA has launched a recruitment initiative seeking 11 military veterans to serve as hospice volunteers by Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The campaign, called “Eleven Veteran Volunteers by November 11,” aims to provide companionship and support to hospice patients who have served in the military. Volunteers may visit patients in homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes or Granite VNA Hospice House. Training is provided, and no prior experience is required.

REAL ESTATE

Nichole Fecteau

Nichole Fecteau, a real estate agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate/The Masiello Group, has received the company’s 2026 Technology Award. Presented at the brand’s national convention in Las Vegas, the award recognizes her use of video, automated prospecting and AI-assisted marketing to generate listings. Fecteau, who serves clients in southern Maine and New Hampshire, also presented educational sessions on lead generation and real estate office culture.

Badger Peabody & Smith Realty has hired Elizabeth “Lizzy” Hare as a sales associate in its Franconia office. Hare previously served as manager of the Spa at Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa, where she oversaw daily operations and customer relations. A North Country resident, Hare will participate in the firm’s mentorship program under the guidance of Vespar Duffy.

LAW

David T. Hillman

Devine Millimet has hired attorneys Alyssa Stankevitz and David T. Hillman as associates in its Manchester office. Both previously worked at the firm as summer associates in 2024. Stankevitz, a graduate of the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, joins the litigation team, focusing on employment, commercial and civil litigation. Hillman, a Suffolk University Law School graduate, joins the corporate team, handling business and commercial matters.

Molly C. Litz

Absolute Title and the Law Office of Matthew W. Neuman have hired attorney Molly C. Litz for their South Portland office. Litz has 15 years of legal experience in Maine and New York, including operating Foreside Title Company from 2015 to 2024. She previously served as a public defender before returning to real estate law. Her responsibilities include property closings, title searches, resolving title issues and preparing legal documents.

Christine List

Shaheen & Gordon has hired attorney Christine List to its Business Law Group, focusing on legal and governance issues involving artificial intelligence, technology transactions, intellectual property, data privacy and corporate governance. List has more than 18 years of legal experience, including serving as in-house contracts and AI counsel for a telecommunications company and general counsel for a New Hampshire manufacturer. She previously worked as a trial and appellate attorney with the New Hampshire Public Defender.

ARCHITECTURE

Brandon Scalise

Warrenstreet Architects has welcomed Brandon Scalise, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, as project architect. Registered in New Hampshire and New York, he brings more than 12 years of experience managing complex projects across medical, corporate and multifamily housing sectors.

With specialized expertise in the planning and design of patient care–centered environments, he will lead the firm’s expansive healthcare practice, further enabling their ability to serve providers throughout the region.

City Year announces executive leadership transition

Pawn Nitichan, executive director of City Year New Hampshire and senior vice president of City Year Inc., will step down from her role in early 2027 after 27 years with the organization. The board of directors plans to launch a national search for her successor later this fall.

Nitichan joined City Year New Hampshire as a founding staff member in 2000, becoming coexecutive director before assuming sole leadership in 2012. During her tenure, the organization has served more than 100,000 students statewide and recruited nearly 1,000 AmeriCorps members.

For the past 15 years, City Year New Hampshire has concentrated its efforts in Manchester public schools, where AmeriCorps members provide academic and interpersonal skills support. During the 2024-25 school year, the organization served more than 3,000 students.

Following the leadership transition, Nitichan will remain involved with the organization’s 7-Year Promise initiative, which aims to connect students with City Year alumni mentors from elementary school through high school and into postsecondary education and early careers.

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