Tara Michaud, Lynda Marandos, Suzanne Foley, and Cos Marandos. Courtesy of Southern NH University
Port City Pretzels in Portsmouth took first place in the 6th annual Tory C. Marandos Entrepreneurial Challenge held by The Center for Women's Business Advancement at Southern NH University in Manchester. Founded in 2011, the Challenge honors the entrepreneurial spirit of Tory C. Marandos, who died on December 12, 2006. Marandos began his own business at the age of 21, but his dreams and life were cut short. This entrepreneurial challenge supports other entrepreneurs in their efforts to start and grow businesses in New Hampshire.
Suzanne Foley, owner of Port City Pretzel received $5,200 from the Marandos foundation along with legal and financial services. The company uses a family recipe to create seasoned hard pretzels in flavors including ranch& dill and cinnamon sugar.
Second place went to Awato in Manchester, a web platform to introduce people to new opportunities and eliminate career confusion while enabling businesses and recruiters to identify applicants using more advanced and diverse metrics. Awato received $2,000 from the Thibodeau Foundation.
Honorable mentions went to Hope Bars in Brookline, Old Sol Music Hall in Manchester and The Center for Exceptional Children and Families in Concord, each of whom received $500.
Current Issue - June 2024