Dianne Durkin, founder and president of The Loyalty Factor LLC, advises clients - which include Monster.com, Fidelity Investments and Wellesley College -- on how to maintain customer, employee and brand loyalty. Durkin, who’s authored a book, “The Loyalty Advantage,” and…

Kriss Soterion is a Manchester-based former Miss New Hampshire with her own cosmetics line, eponymously titled “Kriss.” Her extensive line of beauty products comes from 10 different manufacturers and reaches a global market through her cyber store. She is also…

During his tenure as president of the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, Dick Ingram discovered that chamber members were focused on one issue above all others. “Affordable housing for their workers was their biggest concern,” Ingram said. It was a…

She’s petite, a lover of books, a grandmother — and a sailor. It might sound unusual but, then again, nothing’s usual about Susan McKenna. This 61-year-old grandmother of four is a chief officer with the U.S. Merchant Marines and pilots…

Margaret Jaskolka will celebrate her 65th birthday on Feb. 3, 2009. She had hoped to mark the occasion with a retirement celebration rather than a birthday party. After decades spent working in the manufacturing and retail industries, the busy mother…

Not too many folks grow up wanting to be urban planners, but Jay Minkarah did. Arriving in New Hampshire out of college after growing up in Cincinnati, the self-described “geeky kid” eagerly took to the Nashua Regional Planning Commission. Joining…

When AARP began its “Best Employers for Workers over 50” recognition program eight years ago, it received 14 applications and honored 11 employers for their efforts in creating welcoming work environments for workers age 50 and over. This year, AARP…

While many in the broadcast media industry have an itinerant career, Jeff Bartlett has taken that practice to another level. General manager of WMUR-TV since 2001, Bartlett has criss-crossed the country, racking up no less than 16 jobs during his…

Stephanie Lewry, executive director of Intown Manchester, spent the early part of her life discovering what Gertrude Stein meant when she said of a city (Oakland, Calif.), “There’s no ‘there’ there.” A “Navy brat,” Lewry was born in San Diego,…

The New Hampshire Retirement System has been going through some rocky times. First there was the ouster of long-time chairman Edward Theobald because of conflict of interest issues arising out of his own investment business. Then there was the discovery…

Pelham native Carla Snow has traveled the world for her passion -- wine and food. At the tender age of 14, she says she fell in love with the food and beverage industry while working at her first job at…

Financial needs, health-care concerns and an overall desire to remain mentally and physically active are keeping people in the workplace well beyond what was once considered retirement age. The result is that the face of today’s workforce is changing, with…

AARP asks major candidates in selected races questions about the issues most important to its members and their families. AARP doesn’t edit the candidates’ answers. Here’s what the candidates for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire, incumbent Republican John Sununu and…

In early spring, AARP launched the AARP Workforce Assessment Tool, an online survey designed to aid businesses in pursuing a proactive approach to addressing possible workforce issues posed by the growing number of employees nearing retirement age. To date, more…

When the Southwest-based company that bought what is now WZMY TV-50 in Derry first looked at videos of the telecasts, they paused over the station’s lone meteorologist and his peculiar bouncing, squealing and hopping about in front of the weather…

Like most would-be entrepreneurs, Andrew Dixon did some self-exploration before deciding on starting his own company. He, with the help of his family, thought about the things he enjoyed - visiting with people, spending time on the road and working…