NH’s Top Women-Led Businesses: (#30) Kendal at Hanover

During her six-year tenure as CEO of Kendal at Hanover, Beth M. Vettori has overseen the completion of a $30 million renovation of the health center, the recent launch of a $15 million renovation project that includes a refresh of the dining hall, and she guided her staff and residents through a pandemic with no COVID-19 cases until the pandemic was declared over.

That is in addition to running the daily operations of a continuing care retirement community with 400 residents, annual revenue just shy of $40 million, and about 300 employees. The 80-acre campus has 600,000 square feet of buildings.

Kendal at Hanover offers a variety of housing options as well as amenities including a crafting and art studio, fitness studio, indoor pool, and woodworking shop. In addition to several independent living options, Kendal has staffed areas for residents that require more support, including a memory care unit, as well as end-of-life care. It also has an onsite health clinic staffed by Dartmouth Health, as well as an onsite beautician, bank, a resident-run sundry shop, and a library. It even has an onsite daycare with slots for the children of staff.

Vettori points out Kendal at Hanover does not have activity directors but rather empowers and supports the residents to plan activities and pursue their “passions.” Vettori holds informal “fireside chats” each month to help create informal connections with residents as well as monthly coffee hours where staff members update residents on what is taking place in the community.

“The biographies of our residents is mind blowing,” Vettori says, adding they include former business owners, scientists, and professors. And Kendal at Hanover taps into that talent. “There is resident participation within our business operations, For greater transparency we seek advice on things like the budget,” she says, adding it makes for a better organization. “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go further, go together.”

While residents boast impressive backgrounds, everyone is treated equally. “We try to have civility in all we do,” Vettori says. “We have peace in how we engage with each other.”