Sercel named Tech Council’s Entrepreneur of Year

JSPA founder Jeffrey Sercel has been named the New Hampshire High Technology Council’s 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year, marking the second time he’s won the award. Sercel, who was presented with the award on Monday as part of the High Tech Council’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award dinner, was recognized for his work with JPSA, the Manchester-based firm he founded in 1994. The company, which grew from 60 to 120 employees between 2009 and 2010, is a supplier of industrial-grade laser micromachining systems and services to customers worldwide. Applications include LED, solar, semiconductor, research and biomedical markets.Sercel is one of only two two-time winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year award — he was recognized as 1994 Entrepreneur of the Year in connection with his work for Resonetics Inc.The two other finalists for the award were Bill Rogers, CEO of Ektron, and Eric Dodier, co-founder of PixelMEDIA.JPSA’s novel laser systems operate at wavelengths from 157nm to 1064nm and are used in a wide range of industrial micro-machining applications. Since moving to Manchester in 2007, the firm expanded its 30,000-square-foot facility, with an additional 30,000-square-foot in 2010, due to a 250 percent increase in system orders. — JEFF FEINGOLD/NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESS REVIEW