Celebrating the 2024 Business Leader and Businesses of the Year

Businesses can be forces for good, investing in their communities and their employees, and leading the way for their industries. We have celebrated this every year for the past 33 years with the Business of the Year awards. And this year’s class of winners is no exception to that commitment to exceptionalism, from the smallest organizations—C.O.R.E. Methods (15 employees) and BlueLion (16 employees)—to the largest—Easterseals NH (more than 1,400 employees).

Since 1991, Business NH Magazine and the NH Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives have recognized businesses and business leaders who demonstrate exemplary leadership in their industries and communities no matter what is going on in the economy. The 2024 winners join a distinguished list of businesses and leaders who strive for, and achieve excellence, and who make giving back to their communities a priority.

This is the fifth year that the NH Charitable Foundation partnered with Business NH Magazine to award a $5,000 unrestricted grant in honor of Walter J. Dunfey to the winner in the nonprofit category. This year’s nonprofit winner is Easterseals NH, which is the only organization in the history of the competition to win in every decade. President and CEO Maureen Beauregard is also the only person to lead two different organizations that have won the designation. (She led Families in Transition when it won Nonprofit of the Year in 2013).

In fact, the Class of 2013 is having a resurgence this year. That was the year that Mainstay Technologies won its first Business of the Year award and is now garnering its second 11 years later.   

This also marks the second year we have named a Nonprofit Leader of the Year. This year’s winner is Sandy Pelletier, president and CEO of Gateways Community Services in Nashua. The NH Charitable Foundation is also providing a $5,000 unrestricted grant to Gateways. Gateways was named the Nonprofit of the Year in 2016.

And while Business Leader of the Year Marcus Weeks has only been at the helm of Meredith Village Savings Bank for two years, he spent his career at MVSB serving not only customers but the communities of the Lakes Region as well.

A Panel of Excellence comprised of executives from last year’s winning companies selected the winners based on the applicant’s financial health, industry leadership, letters of recommendation from chamber executives and business leaders, and community involvement. We congratulate all our winners. We are grateful for all they do to make NH a great place to work and live.

Business of the Year Winners

Business Leader

• 2021: Brendan P. Keegan, CEO, Merchants Fleet in Hooksett
• 2022: Amy LaBelle, owner, founder and winemaker, LaBelle Winery in Amherst and Derry
• 2023: Steve Duprey, president, The Duprey Companies in Concord
• 2024: Marcus Weeks, president, Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB) in Meredith
  
  

Nonprofit Leader

• 2023: Kathy Collinsworth, executive director, Monadnock Humane Society in Swanzey
• 2024: Sandy Pelletier, president and CEO, Gateways Community Services in Nashua

Business Services

• 2021: Merchants Fleet in Hooksett
• 2023: Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium in Manchester
• 2024: BlueLion in Derry

Construction/Engineering/Real Estate

• 2021: JSA Design in Portsmouth
• 2022: Sullivan Construction in Bedford
• 2023: PROCON in Hooksett
• 2024: Outdoor Pride Landscape & Snow Management in Manchester

Financial Services/Insurance

• 2021: St. Mary’s Bank in Manchester (Financial Services)
• 2021: Northeast Delta Dental in Concord (Insurance)
• 2022: Service Credit Union in Portsmouth
• 2023: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in NH in Manchester
  
  

Health Care

• 2021: ConvenientMD in Portsmouth
• 2022: Concord Hospital
• 2023: St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua
• 2024: HealthFirst Family Care Center in Laconia

Hospitality/Tourism

• 2021: The Common Man in Ashland

Manufacturing/Technology

• 2021: Red River Technology in Claremont
• 2023: Alene Candles in Milford
• 2024: Mainstay Technologies in Manchester and Laconia
  
  

Nonprofit

• 2021: NH Food Bank in Manchester
• 2022: The Palace Theatre in Manchester
• 2023: HAVEN Violence Prevention and Support Services in Portsmouth
• 2024: Easterseals NH in Manchester

Retail/Wholesale

• 2021: Bellavance Beverage Co. in Londonderry
• 2022: Associated Grocers of New England in Pembroke
• 2024: Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene