When Kelly Ayotte nominated Lucy Lange to lead the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs in January, the choice reflected a career shaped by private-sector leadership, community engagement, and a philosophy centered on helping people succeed.
Lange, formerly president and general manager of Manchester Media Group, brings more than two decades of experience in marketing, broadcasting, and business development, including leadership roles overseeing multi million-dollar operations and large sales teams while building partnerships with businesses across NH.
That background, Lange says, has given her a front-row seat to the challenges facing companies of every size.
“I’ve been talking to business owners, from very small businesses to very large businesses, for years,” Lange says. “The goal has always been: ‘How do we help you grow your business, recruit the people you need, and prepare for the future?’”
Those conversations align closely with the BEA’s mission of overseeing the state’s economic development, planning and community development, and travel and tourism divisions.
For Lange, the BEA’s work is about maintaining the “New Hampshire advantage” while building infrastructure for future growth. That includes supporting high-tech, strengthening workforce pipelines with colleges and universities, and capitalizing on emerging opportunities from life sciences to advanced manufacturing.
She also sees opportunity in initiatives such as the Northern Border Regional Commission, which supports economic development in northern areas. “We’ve got great momentum,” Lange says. “Now it’s about making sure we keep that moving.”
Lange’s leadership style emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and empathy, traits that proved essential when she arrived at Manchester Media Group during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With uncertainty high among employees, Lange focused on communication and reassurance, including sitting down with a distressed staff member worried about layoffs and the future of the company.
As she prepares to lead the BEA, Lange plans to take a similar approach of listening first and meeting with staff across the agency to understand how the divisions operate and collaborate. “When you step into a role this size, you have to seek to understand the people around you before you start making big plans,” she says.
Public service also carries personal significance. Lange grew up in Buffalo, New York, in a family deeply involved in civic life. Her grandmother was the city’s first female elected official and her mother served as a parks commissioner.
“It took me a little longer to get here,” Lange says. “But now I have the opportunity to bring my private-sector experience into public service.”
Outside of work, Lange finds balance in cooking, gardening, and travel. Tending a backyard garden with flowers, vegetables, and bird feeders offers a quiet counterpoint to leadership demands.
And if an interesting destination appears on the map, she’s ready to go. “If someone says there’s something cool to see somewhere,” she says with a laugh, “my answer is usually: let’s go check it out.”