The Latest: Week of November 7, 2025

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

McMahon celebrated for advocacy, leadership

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Manchester (BGCGM) longtime board member Steve McMahon has been named the Heart of the Region Northeast Board Member of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). The recognition celebrates volunteer leaders who demonstrate dedication, leadership and impact in advancing the Clubs’ mission across the region. McMahon joined the BGCGM board of directors in 1985 and has been a champion for Manchester youth through his various roles over the years. Most recently, McMahon was a driving force behind the upcoming Mark Stebbins Community Center, a shared space that will bring Boys & Girls Club programming, a health center and community resources to Manchester’s West Side.

NONPROFITS

Monadnock Peer Support (MPS) has received a $1,000 community grant from Service Credit Union and the Robert Irvine Foundation to support the launch of its new Veterans Support Group Breakfast, designed to bring together local veterans for connection, conversation and community healing.

The Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges recently expanded its board of directors with the additions of Rich Ashooh and Kevin Powers. Ashooh currently serves as the corporate vice president of global trade and government affairs for Lam Research Corporation, and is a senior fellow of the Carsey School of Public Policy at UNH. Powers is president and partner at PAK Solutions.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, Norway Savings Bank (NSB) invited community members to help give away $2,025 to local nonprofits by voting for their favorite recipients. Those who received funds as part of the fundraiser were Harvest Hills Animal Shelter in Fryeburg, Sunshine Backpack Food Program in Fryeburg, North Fryeburg Community Chapel Food Pantry, Fryeburg Recreation Department, and Brownfield Recreation Department. NSB operates one New Hampshire location in North Conway.

On October 18, the sold-out Answer the Call Gala raised over $400,000 to benefit Operation Delta Dog (OPDD), a nonprofit that pairs rescue dogs as service companions for disabled veterans. Sandy Cleary, founder and CEO of SLC Holdings Group, was presented with a Delta Dog granite sculpture for going “above and beyond” the call of duty over the years. Phil and Julie Taub, co-founders of Swim With A Mission, also received a plaque to commemorate $1 million in total raised funds for OPDD.

Media literacy advocacy nonprofit Media Power Youth has welcome two new members to its board of directors: Mariah Thurston, legal specialist for ProAmpac and a volunteer advocate for NH Legal Assistance; and Angela Romilla, who most recently served as a college and career navigator for GEAR UP NH, and a 9th and 10th grade English teacher at The Derryfield School.

The NH Charitable Foundation has welcomed Tom Burack, James “Jamie” Burnett and Emmett Soldati to its 16-member board of directors. Burack is an attorney and consultant with Sheehan Phinney; Burnett is president of Sight Line, a Concord-based public affairs and government relations company; and Soldati is owner of Totally Tea + Coffee.

MANUFACTURING

Sean O’Day is the new chief risk officer for Can-One USA, a manufacturer of aluminum beverage cans based in Nashua. He previously worked as a police officer for the Andover Police Department in Massachusetts and also served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS

After more than 16 years at the helm of Littleton Food Co-op, current general manager Ed King will be retiring, with Learner Limbach selected to replace him at the end of the year. With over 12 years of experience in cooperative management, Limbach was cofounder and chief cooperative officer of Orcas Food Co-op in Eastsound, Wash., which grew into a $5.7 million business with more than 50% of Orcas Island residents as members.

Infinity Aviation Group has named Terrance Hart as general manager of its Nashua fixed base operator, where he will focus on adding new tenants to the company’s hangars, overseeing its day-to-day operations and providing flight support. Previously, Hart spent nine years with Jet Aviation, where he served in multiple roles.

Metro Walls, a commercial framing, drywall and acoustical contractor, has promoted Risa Taylor to chief people officer. Taylor joined Metro Walls in 2023 as human resources director, helping to shape the company’s culture and workforce strategy. In her new role, she will focus on leadership development, employee engagement and organizational excellence across the company’s locations.

Ragged Mountain Equipment, located in Intervale, has been named the 2025 New Hampshire Retailer of the Year by the New Hampshire Retail Association. The award recognizes a retailer that exemplifies excellence in customer service, innovation, community engagement and positive workplace culture. Founded in 1985, Ragged Mountain Equipment has been a cornerstone of New Hampshire’s outdoor community, providing high-quality gear and apparel for adventurers across the region. Under the new ownership of Jack Smith, the company has renewed its commitment to craftsmanship, customer relationships and community connection.

The New England Ski Museum will present its 2025 Spirit of Skiing Award to the combined McLane and Macomber families on November 22 at the Omni Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods. The award honors the late Malcolm McLane and George Macomber, ski racing friends who teamed with fellow racers Mack Beal and Brooks Dodge to create Wildcat Ski Area in Pinkham Notch, which opened in 1957 with North America’s first gondola-type ski lift. McLane and Macomber also supported ski racing across the region through leadership with the U.S. Eastern Amateur Ski Association and the U.S. Ski Team Foundation.

HEALTH CARE

New Hampshire home health and hospice agency Granite VNA has announced that president and CEO Beth Slepian will retire, effective June 12, 2026. She initially joined the organization in 2013 and was named president and CEO in 2015. She previously spent 19 years in management and patient care at Northeast Rehab Home Care in Salem. Granite VNA has initiated a nationwide search for someone to succeed Slepian.

CGI Business Solutions, an independently owned health and welfare consulting firm, has welcomed two new team members: Greg Deneill and Sonya Paccione. Deneill is a 26-year veteran of the insurance industry, specializing in employee benefits and group coverage solutions as a group insurance broker. Paccione previously spent 11 years at Paylocity, and has a background in HCM technology sales.

Joey Grzelak, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician, has joined Family Physicians of Pembroke. He offers infants to older adults a full scope of services, including preventive care, chronic disease management, and treatment for acute illnesses and injuries. He previously cared for patients at St. Elizabeth Physicians Primary Care in Northern Kentucky, where he also completed his family medicine residency after completing a medical degree at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies.

Concord Hospital Health System (CHHS) has been recognized with the 2025 NRC Health Excellence in Patient Experience Award – Small System, which honors health care organizations that deliver exceptional care experiences guided by empathy, compassion and human understanding. Out of 46 eligible health systems, CHHS’s consistently high scores reflected strong patient trust, satisfaction, and engagement.

Penacook Family Physicians recently welcomed Casie Wiley, M.D., MPH, a board-certified family medicine physician providing preventive care, women’s health, chronic disease management and other services. She previously practiced at St. Elizabeth Primary Care in Bellevue and Newport, Kentucky, and earned both her Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health degrees from St. George’s University in Grenada, West Indies.

ENVIRONMENT

Tighe & Bond — a New England-based engineering, design, planning and environmental consulting firm — has acquired Geosphere Environmental Management, Inc., a New Hampshire-based hydrogeology and environmental firm that serves public municipalities and utilities, as well as private sector clients. The Geosphere team will now be based out of Tighe & Bond’s Portsmouth office.

Piscataqua Savings Bank has installed the first Level 3 fast EV charger in downtown Portsmouth, located in its parking lot at 15 Pleasant Street. With the installation of the ChargePoint CPE-250 DC Fast Charging unit, both local residents and visitors can charge their electric vehicles in an hour or less. With guidance from ReVision Energy, the certified B-Corp bank hopes the new chargers will help promote sustainability through renewable energy credits that help reduce the user’s carbon footprint.

COMMUNICATIONS

Kristen Quinn has joined Cookson Communications as a communications and account strategist. She most recently supported public relations and marketing efforts at Paige PR, a Houston, Texas-headquartered agency focused on the energy and industrial markets.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Gregg Tewksbury, president and CEO of New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp (NHMB), has been elected to serve on the American Bankers Association board of directors. As a director, Tewksbury will collaborate with peers from across the country to address emerging risks and opportunities, ranging from cybersecurity and fraud prevention to housing finance, small-business lending, and innovation that preserves safety and soundness.

St. Mary’s Bank has welcomed Debra Berube as member experience manager II, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience in retail banking, relationship management and business development. Her previous role was assistant vice president and branch manager at Reading Cooperative Bank.

The NH Business Finance Authority (BFA) recently celebrated its fifth annual Granite State Awards, honoring six lending partners whose efforts have helped New Hampshire businesses secure the capital they need to grow and succeed. Recipients were: Bond Deal of the Year, Green-Source Fabrication, Jim Lynch of Claremont Savings Bank and Collin De La Bruere of Bank of America; Community Impact Award, Charmingfare Farm, Max Rossignol of BankProv; Veteran Deal of the Year, Fit 2 Move, Jonathan Shapleigh of Bank of New Hampshire; Loan Participation of the Year, United Staging, Bill Collins of Rockland Trust; CAP Lender of the Year, Mary Jane Ricker of Franklin Savings Bank.

Charter Oak Capital Management was included among CNBC’s Financial Advisor 100 list for 2025, ranking at No. 85 for top financial advisory firms in the U.S. Charter Oak is the only firm from New Hampshire or Maine to be honored this year.

Heather Economides has joined Ledyard Bank as vice president, senior residential banking advisor, with over 20 years of experience in the residential mortgage industry.

LAW

Northern New England law firm Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC recently welcomed three new members to its firm: Sean M. Davis, associate in the Business Law Group; Lindsey Bryant, associate on the Litigation Team; and and Elizabeth Frye, also an associate on the firm’s Litigation Team. All three attorneys will operate out of the firm’s Burlington, Vt., location.

Grace Mark, a sales associate with Badger Peabody & Smith Realty, has earned her Maine real estate license, expanding her ability to serve buyers and sellers across the Western Maine region, along with New Hampshire and Vermont.

REAL ESTATE

Kyle Jepsen has joined Old Mill Properties Realtors’ sales department located in Bristol. He previously held a career in public safety and community services.

EDUCATION

Plymouth State University President (PSU) Donald L. Birx, Ph.D., has been voted in to become the interim president of Keene State College (KSC). Birx will serve as president of both institutions through June 30, 2026, and has designated Provost Kirsti Sandy and executive vice president of finance and administration Nathalie Houder responsible for day-to-day operations at KSC. KSC’s outgoing president, Melinda Treadwell, Ph.D., will be the next president of SUNY Geneseo, a public liberal arts college in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Please send items for possible publication in The Latest to aandrews@nhbr.com Include a color photo if available.