The Buzz Online

Sean T. James, PE, a senior VP and division manager for Hoyle Tanner’s Ground Transportation Group in Manchester and a member of the firm’s board of directors, has been selected by a jury of his peers from NH’s engineering societies as the 2023 NH Engineer of the Year. The Structural Engineers of NH (SENH) association nominated James based on his record of professional accomplishments, service and contributions to the engineering profession and his numerous volunteering efforts to his community. In his role as division manager, he is responsible for delivering bridge and roadway engineering projects and associated permitting to a diverse group of clients including state agencies, municipalities, and private clients. He leads a team of 36 professionals

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Swim With A Mission (SWAM) presented Hero Pups with a check for $75,000 to help train and match support dogs with veterans in the Granite State. Hero Pups is a NH-based, nonprofit that pairs trained support dogs with veterans who have been diagnosed with service-related, psychological challenges. Laura Barker founded the organization in 2016 after her son was wounded in Afghanistan. Hero Pups is 100% volunteer-run with no paid staff. Trained support dogs are provided to eligible recipients free-of-charge. To date, 174 dogs have been paired with veterans.

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Primary Bank, based in Bedford, hired Christina Ladue as the VP/business development officer in Manchester. She has more than 25 years of experience in banking. Ladue is involved in the community, serving on the NH Tech Alliance Product of the Year Committee and on the advisory board for the Palace Theatre. She is also involved with the NH Humane Society and the Nashua Soup Kitchen.

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A $50,000 grant from Bank of America will help Family Promise of Southern NH (FPSNH) provide transitional housing and support services for families in southern NH who are experiencing homelessness. Bank of America selected FPSNH as the 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Champion in NH for its work removing economic barriers and advancing economic opportunity in the region. 

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The New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) named Tuscan Village, a mixed-use development in Salem, as the recipient of the Green Steps Award. The award celebrates innovation and sustainability within the wastewater and stormwater industry. Tuscan Village is being developed on the 170-acre site of the former Rockingham Park racetrack. Tighe & Bond led the floodplain improvement phase of the project, addressing environmental, stormwater, and floodplain accommodation needs across the entire property. An existing irrigation pond was reimagined into the 2.5-acre Tuscan Lake with the attached programmable greenspace of Lake Park allowing for public access to greenspaces. A series of underperforming culverts were daylighted to restore 3,000-linear feet of a Policy Brook on the property (formerly culverted for the development of the racetrack) which reshaped the floodplain to help alleviate flooding concerns during large storm events and at the same time created a habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species. Rain gardens were strategically placed throughout the property to continue with the aid of controlled stormwater runoff.

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The Meredith Sculpture Walk recently received a $10,000 donation to celebrate its 10th anniversary from MVSB (Meredith Village Savings Bank). This year’s sculpture walk will feature more than 30 artist creations placed throughout downtown Meredith. The sculptures begin on Main Street and continue through the Town Docks, Hesky Park, Scenic Park and Clough Park along Meredith Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee.

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The Upper Valley Trails Alliance (UVTA) added three new Board members: John “JB” Beyer, operating advisor to Tuckerman Capital, a private equity firm in Hanover; Chet Clem, president of Lyme Properties, a real estate development company in West Lebanon; and Geo Honigford who recently transitioned from farming to rehabilitating older houses and lives in South Royalton. 

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Cathleen Sullivan joined Bar Harbor Wealth Management in Concord, a subsidiary of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, as assistant VP, associate wealth manager. Sullivan has more than 25 years of experience in the wealth management industry, with a focus of working in the law practice industry. She began her career as a trust associate at Evergreen Investments and then transitioned to the position of trust/tax accountant at RINET Company LLC. She later served as a trust administrator at Palmer & Dodge LLP and Choate Hall & Stewart LLP. For the past 10 years, Sullivan served as a trust administrator at Nixon Peabody LLP.