This Week's The Buzz Online Spotlight
The Citizens Bank Foundation provided a $15,000 grant to the NH Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to support management assistance and educational programs for new and growing small businesses in the greater Nashua area. The grant will enable the center's business advisors to provide free consultation to 30 local businesses and will also support the 2012 SBDC Educational Program in Nashua, which will include four workshops designed to help small businesses grow. The NH SBDC is an outreach program of the University of NH Whittemore School of Business and Economics and is run in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
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Jessie C. Dill was named executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Seacoast, based in Portsmouth. Prior to joining the organization, Dill worked in the fundraising and program development departments of the Boston Public Health Commission, The Samaritans of Boston, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay.
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Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) NH, a Concord-based organization devoted to supporting health communities, announced it will provide grants to the towns and cities of Ashland, Berlin, Laconia, and Nashua through the HEAL Community Grant Program. Each community will receive a $10,000 grant and over $80,000 of training and technical assistance for two years. The grants will fund the implementation of municipal strategies that provide residents more choices for physical activity and healthy eating, such as bike paths, sidewalks, and farmers markets. The grant program gave special consideration to rural towns and urban neighborhoods with economic, health, and social disparities. HEAL currently provides funding to seven community coalitions across the state that involve more than 50 cities and towns.
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David Trudo, director of life and health insurance at Holt Proctor McBriarty Insurance Agency in Milford, received Anthem BlueCross BlueShield of NH's Premium Partner Silver Level Award for 2012. The award recognizes Trudo's outstanding sales record in 2011. He has been with the agency for 22 years and also serves on the board of directors of the NH Health Plan and on Anthem's Producer Advisory Council.
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The NH Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NHSPCA), based in Stratham, elected its 2012 officers and board of directors. Elected as officers were: Keith Eustis, president and CEO of Port Professional Staffing LLC in Maine, board president; Julie Quinn, director of the communication office at Phillips Exeter Academy, VP of the board; Frederick Woodburn, VP at DataRisk, LLC, secretary of the board; and Maureen Carey, owner of Maureen Carey Group Realtors, treasurer of the board. Elected to the board of directors were: Michael Parkin, owner of Exeter Rent-All; K. Joshua Scott, associate attorney at Jackson Lewis, LLP; James J. Horne, owner of CP Management Inc.; Geoffrey N. Clark, owner and surgeon at Veterinary Surgery of New England; William S. Duffey, VP, engineering and facilities management, at Portsmouth Regional Hospital; Rachel Brown, frequent SPCA committee member; H. Alfred Casassa, senior member of the law firm of Casassa and Ryan.
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Edmund G. Haddad, a recently retired professor at Southern NH University in Manchester, was elected a director of the NH Prostate Cancer Coalition, based in Merrimack. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1992, Haddad started support groups for men with prostate cancer and their families at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua and Elliot Hospital in Manchester, both of which continue on today.
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Laconia Savings Bank donated $52,500 to the NH Catholic Charities Community Campaign for the NH Food Bank. The campaign's goal is to raise $4 million to fund the purchase and renovation of a new center of operations for the NH Food Bank in Manchester.
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Jewett Automotive Design & Construction of Raymond contracted with the Fenton Family Dealerships to renovate its Hyundai of Keene facility. The project includes an exterior face-lift of the existing building and the addition of metal panels. Jewett has also renovated the Fenton Family's Subaru of Keene and Toyota of Keene facilities.
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Centrix Bank donated $10,000 to the Laurel Keys Supportive Housing Project of the Manchester-based nonprofit The Way Home on behalf of the bank's Community Investment Program. The Laurel Keys campaign is dedicated to providing permanent secure housing for homeless veterans.
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Granite State Credit Union in Manchester promoted Timothy M. Naro to senior VP of lending & branches. Naro has served the company for 19 years, most recently as VP of lending. Naro also serves as a board member and treasurer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of NH and is a board member of the NH Credit Union League.
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Dyn in Manchester was named to the WordBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces 2012. The company was recognized as a prime example of organizational democracy and its influence on the bottom line. Dyn was specifically shared design ideas prior to the company's move to a new headquarters in Manchester. WordBlu's list includes 48 companies from around the world, and company eligibility was based on employee feedback.
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Scott Beattie, branch manager of The Provident Bank in Hampton, was elected treasurer of the executive board of directors for the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce. Beattie has been with The Provident Bank since 2008 and has served as manager of the Hampton branch since its opening in 2010. He also serves as treasurer for the Hampton Police Department's CrimeLine for the Hamptons program.
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The NH Liquor Commission moved its store back to its original location in the North Hampton Village Shopping Center. The 8000 square foot store features several consumer friendly upgrades, including new shelving units and display cases, wide shopping aisles, and a EuroCave wine refrigerator. The store's renovation is in keeping with the commission's goal to modernize liquor and wine outlets across the state.
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