Self Made in NH Winner Announced

Deborah A. Osgood, PhD, of Knowledge Institute in Exeter was named the winner of the first Self Made in New Hampshire award on Thursday, June 16, at a celebration in Derry. The competition was hosted by Business NH Magazine and LTD Company in Bedford.

The essence of being self made is finding yourself and your purpose in life, said Osgood, who was nominated for the award by her husband, William R. Osgood. If you're able to find your purpose, you can help make a difference around you.

Osgood earned all of her degreesbachelor's, master's and doctorate degreeswhile working full time. She created Knowledge Institute to help other small businesses across the country with government and nonprofit business assistance programs. She serves on Gov. John Lynch's Economic Development Advisory Committee and on the U.S. Small Business Administration regulatory fairness board. She also helped pilot a program where she served as a mentor to business women in Iraq.

Deborah is an outstanding choice for the inaugural winner of the Self Made in New Hampshire award, said Eric Brooks, of Brooks Properties, who was one of the judges for the competition. She embodies exactly what being self made is all about."

The two runners up for the award were Maryanna Hatch, the founder of RiverWoods Continuing Care Retirement Community in Exeter, and Kirk C. Simoneau, an attorney and partner at Nixon, Raiche, Vogelman, Barry, Slawsky & Simoneau, P.A. in Manchester.

Hatch dedicated her life to better residential facilities for the elderly. At 88, she now lives in the retirement community she spent years building. Simoneau overcame personal and family struggles and tragedy to put himself through law school. He now often works pro bono to help victims of domestic violence.

The seven semifinalists also honored at the event were: Fred Bramante, Daddy's Junky Music, Manchester; Ben Gamache, Gamache Enterprises, Manchester; Gina Branley Hutchinson, Red Star Productions, Derry; Bob Lawton, Funspot, Laconia; Mark Lore, Ride-Away Handicap Equipment Corp., Londonderry; G. Hayden McLaughlin, Belknap Landscape Company, Inc., Gilford; and Steven Smith, Main Street Radio, Newport. More than 40 men and women from around the state were nominated for the award.

For more information, visit SelfMadeInNH.com.