Bob McDonald, former chairman, president and CEO of Procter & Gamble and Veterans Affairs secretary under President Obama, will be the keynote speaker at the March 28 forum, ‘The Real Cost to Business: the Mental Health and Addiction Crisis.’

‘Everyone has passion in entrepreneurship. If you have a business with a purpose, your drive is even more so,’ says Marc Blumenthal, founder of the Social Ventures Foundation and the EndPoverty Fund.

Through its program, “The Art of Hope,” the Currier provides “a welcome sanctuary for families dealing with substance use issues, by providing a place to look at and create art together. It takes down barriers, not only in terms of access but also understanding of art,” says Dr. Alan Chong, the museum’s ninth director and CEO.

Mike Bellamente, an agent with Keller Williams Coastal Realty, heads the NH Association of Realtors’ recently formed sustainability committee.

‘Craftspeople run small businesses in every corner of the state,’ says Miriam Carter, a working artist and executive director of the League of NH Craftsmen.

University of New Hampshire alumnus Alex Freid, who founded the Post Landfill Action Network in 2011 while still at UNH, says the growing organization is ‘challenging the models of disposability and planned obsolescence.’

Ernest Thompson says New Hampshire is missing the boat by not offering incentives to the film industry. (New Hampshire Magazine photo)

After 40 years in the banking business, longtime New Hampshire banker Joe Reilly will be retiring from the industry at the end of December.

‘The law school should be woven into the fabric of the community, not a separate entity that’s just placed here,’ says Megan Carpenter, dean at UNH School of Law.

State Sen. David Watters, D-Dover: ‘I have found in New Hampshire that businesses and industries and their lobbyists in Concord want to find ways to work together.’

‘My advice has always been, “study what you love,” because if you love it you’ll be happy, you’ll be good at it and you’ll find your way,’ says Michele Perkins, president of New England College since 2007.

‘Librarians see the potential libraries have to change things, but the political world moves very slowly, and it’s affected by so many things,’ says Michael York, New Hampshire’s state librarian.

‘Small government helps find solutions, and we really need to get back to that approach,’ says Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the recently created Department of Business and Economic Affairs.

Janet Laatsch, CEO of Goodwin Community Health in Somersworth is helping to oversee the merger of her organization with Portsmouth-based Families First Health & Support Center.