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Dividends/January 2003
President's Message
by Peter Hamelin
On behalf of the board of directors and the staff of your Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, I would like to wish you and your family a Happy New Year. The year 2002 was at times exciting, at times frustrating, and at times a chance to take a look at the long-term future of our economy and our quality of life.
The Seacoast and the Chamber has experienced so many changes over the past 10 years. Pease Air Force Base has developed into a world renowned business center attracting companies that design, manufacture and sell the latest technologies. Our Central Business District has grown tremendously thanks to the patronage of travelers from all over the world who flock to the city to enjoy our local culture, unique shopping and diverse dining experiences. We are constantly on "the best of lists" of places to visit and live. And we have a city manager and city council that are dedicated to the future of Portsmouth for all citizens and the business community.
The future continues to look bright. But there is much work to do, and it is going to take everyone to make sure we meet our unlimited potential. We know how important quality of life is to attracting and maintaining a strong business community and employee base. So we recently formed a committee to assess our strengths and weaknesses, and to discuss what work needs to be done to enhance and maintain it in the future. That committee went on to become the "Portsmouth Listens" group, which you might have read about in last month's editorial penned by the group's co-chairman, John Tabor, who is also the vice chair of our board of directors. Under the leadership of John and Jim Noucas, a local activist and attorney with Noucas and Keenan-and the support of the City of Portsmouth-Portsmouth Listens is about to kick off a progressive campaign that will have a considerable impact on the city's 10-year Master plan update! For more info or to get involved check out www.portsmouthlistens.com.
I also wanted to take a moment a share some of your chamber's priorities for this calendar year which include an increased focus on government affairs, business education opportunities for members, continuing promotion of our rich arts and cultural communities, and communicating the many ways the Chamber supports its members and the Seacoast community.
We recently reestablished our Government Affairs activities under the leadership of board member Bob Egan, general manager of Flextronics. Thanks to Bob's efforts and the support of Tim Fortier, McLane, Graf, Raulerson and Middleton, P.A., we are off to a great start. Over the past two months we've polled our members and found that their top concerns are tax policy, health care, school funding, affordable housing and transportation. We recently traveled to Concord to present these issues to the Senate and House leadership, as well as our local delegation. And our transportation subcommittee is working to increase public transportation, expand downtown parking and upgrade the Little Bay Bridge to four lanes to alleviate some of the heavy traffic some of our commuters are experiencing. We plan to continue working on your behalf in Concord, Washington and at the local level to insure your voice is heard. If you'd like to join our government affairs efforts please contact me at (603) 436-3988 or via email at phamelin@portsmouthchamber.org.
We plan to continue our business development workshop series in 2003 thanks to the generosity of our underwriter, Citizens Bank. These seminars, featuring some of the region's top speakers and professionals, will focus on giving small businesses the resources and information they need to grow and prosper. We hope that you will take advantage of this free Chamber offering.
In the tourism department, we will continue to focus our efforts on the promotion of our culture, local business and our thriving arts community through our Seacoast Guide, regional lure piece, our Granite State Ambassadors hospitality volunteers, special advertising in regional and national publications and through our work with national and international travel writers and tour facilitators. At the same time, we will work with the Downtown Business Association to create a downtown that is not only a seasonal tourist destination, but a year-round resource for residents and visitors alike.
We have also recently launched a program to reframe our marketing, communications and branding to make it easier for business leaders, residents and visitors to understand the chamber's role in building a strong and vibrant community, and to create one defining message that all can use and be proud of. Under the leadership of Robin Whittaker, board member and tourism committee co-chair; and Jack Santos, eCoast Technology Roundtable chair; we will be working on a plan to bring all our marketing efforts under one theme. In the next couple of weeks you will be getting a survey designed to help us accomplish that task. I ask you to take a few minutes to respond so that we can do more efficient job as an advocate for our region, and your business.
Chamber News
Legislative Breakfast to Highlight Critical Issues
Panel Will Give Guests ChanceTo Ask About Business Concerns
The Chamber's Government Affairs Committee invites members to a special breakfast forum on the Chamber's legislative agenda for small business in 2003. The forum, part of the Fleet Speaker Series, is set for 7:30-9 a.m., Jan. 15 at Yoken's Restaurant & Conference Center.
The program will feature a panel discussion of business issues and an overview of the committee's proposed lobbying efforts centered around tax policy, health insurance, transportation, and affordable housing. Panel guests include New Hampshire Senator Burt Cohen, Gregory Smith, chair of the government relations department of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, PA; Arnie Aronson, NH Public Radio; Dave Juvet, NH Business and Industry Association, and other political figures.
Cost is $12 for Chamber members and $15 for nonmembers. To RSVP, contact the Chamber at (603) 436-3988 or info@portsmouthchamber.org.
Signups Now Underway for Business to Business Expo
April Event to Feature More Than 100 Chamber Businesses
Signups are now underway for the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce After Hours B2B Business Expo and Business After Hours, scheduled for Wednesday, April 29 at Yoken's Restaurant and Conference Center. The event will feature more than 100 local businesses in a friendly, informal environment that many of last year's participants say was perfect for business-to-business networking and public visibility.
All Chamber members are welcome to participate. Booth costs are: $250 until Feb. 18 and $295 afterward for an 8 x 10-foot area, and $450 for an 8 x 20-foot space until Feb. 18 and $495 afterward. All booths come with tables, and pipe and drape trim. Telephone service, electricity and Internet connections will be billed separately based on the number and type of outlets or connections needed.
Participating sponsors and vendors will be listed on the Chamber's web site. The listing will include company descriptions and free links to vendor home pages. Participants and sponsors will also be recognized in all event promotions and receive complimentary passes for staff and customers.
Expo hours will run from 4-8 p.m., April 29. Those interested in participating may sign up by completing the expo application, and faxing it back to the Chamber at (603) 436-5118. The application is available online in Adobe .pdf format at www.portsmouthchamber.org/expo2003.cfm.
Admission to the event will be $5 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Food and refreshments will be served.
For more information on the expo, or sponsorship opportunities, contact Nicole Wohl at (603) 436-3988, ext. 11, or via email at
nwohl@portsmouthchamber.org.
Free Marketing Workshop Planned for Jan. 14
Guest Speakers to Provide Comprehensive Sessions
Chamber members are invited to take part in Marketing 101, the first in a free series of Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Business Development Workshops for 2003. The workshop is set for 7:30-10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the NH Community Technical College which is located at the Pease International Tradeport. The workshop series is underwritten by Citizens Bank.
James S. O'Donnell, president of Jaguar Management Consulting Group, Inc. and former Microenterprise Assistance Program manager, will host the morning program.
Workshop topics are: Comparing Advertising Mediums, with Lori Martone, from MediaLink; Turning Your Web Site into Money!, with Dan O'Donnell, Fifty6; PR 101: What is it? How does it work?,with Scott Campbell, Buzz on a Budget; and Tips for Effective Business Writing that Drives Results, with Kristie Janes, Business Marketing Innovators.
Martone will look at the different mediums available in the seacoast of New Hampshire and discuss the pros and cons of advertising with each media. She will also talk about how to develop an appropriate advertising budget for a particular industry.
O'Donnell will discuss how to turn a web site into a marketing vehicle geared toward generating leads, building rapport with clients, increasing sales, and positioning a business ahead of the competition. Learn how to generate revenue while you sleep via viral marketing techniques, e-newsletter mailings, and online referrals.
Campbell will cover PR in an economic downturn, conventional wisdom vs. new realities, PR vs. Advertising: How does PR differ from - and work with - advertising?, when and how to use PR within an integrated marketing campaign, costs and ROI: What you can expect to pay and what you can expect to get, and choosing a provider, agency, consultant, or in-house manager.
James will explore business writing tips and techniques for effectively communicating with all business audiences-from clients and prospects to internal staff-and how efficient, well-written traditional and electronic marketing collateral enhances a company's image, supports its credibility, and drives bottom-line results.
The program is free, however, preregistration is required. For more background on speakers and workshop sessions, visit www.portsmouthchamber.org/marketing101.cfm. To register, contact the Chamber at (603) 436-3988 or via email at info@portsmouthchamber.org by 4 p.m., Monday, Jan. 13.
Portsmouth to Host GSA Training Program
Two-Day Course will Certify New Hospitality Volunteers
The Seacoast Granite State Ambassador (GSA) Program, a cooperative project of all six Seacoast Chambers, will hold its third annual two-day training program, April 2-3. The training, sponsored by the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company, will be held aboard the M/V Thomas Laighton. Additional sponsors are the Portsmouth Gas Light Co. and C&J Trailways. Both will supply lunch and snacks to the GSAs-in-training.
Training is free for volunteers and is provided by GSA, Inc. and the Southern New Hampshire University School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Management. The goal of the training workshop is to instruct and certify area residents and industry staff in the art of tourism hospitality. During the two-day program, guest tourism experts from across the state will train volunteers in quality customer service and the use of New Hampshire information brochures, maps, and pamphlets.
GSA volunteers serve at the Pease International Airport and C&J Trailways Park & Ride, the Seabrook Welcome Center on I-95, and two seasonal centers (Hampton Beach Visitors' Center and the Port of New Hampshire).
To learn more about cosponsorship opportunities, or for more information about the training, contact Kellie Spinney, GSA Seacoast Regional Manager, at (603) 801-0260 or via email at kelliespinney@cs.com.
Mitchell to Serve as Interim Membership Rep
Marshall Travels to India for Rotary Exchange Program
Shelley Mitchell will be filling in for the Chamber's full-time Membership Manager, Caroline Marshall, while she is away in New Delhi, India as part of an International Rotary Business Exchange Program. Marshall will return Feb. 15 after a six-week visit to India.
Mitchell, a Durham, N.H. resident, comes to the job with a rich background in membership development, nonprofit management, education and training.
"I'm really excited about working with the Chamber staff in providing what I think is an invaluable service for the business community," said Mitchell. "I look forward to working with our members over the next month and a half to maintain communications and continue to provide the excellent services the members have come to expect."
Mitchell has served as director of corporate and foundation relations for the University of New Hampshire Foundation, executive director and development director for the Seacoast Land Trust and a number of other conservation and educational organizations. She holds a masters degree in business administration from UNH and a bachelor of science in forestry from Michigan Technological University.
Those who have questions about their membership may contact Mitchell at (603) 436-3988, ext. 18 or via email at smitchell@portsmouthchamber.org.
Chamber Events
Sheraton Pulls Out All the Stops for Holiday Winetasting
Housing Partnership Receives Check for $815 from Auction
The Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel pulled out all the stops Dec. 18 for this year's Holiday Winetasting Business After Hours. This year's event was hosted and independently organized by the Sheraton staff.
More than 350 members and guests celebrated the spirit of the season with a taste of the vine-born elixirs from around the world courtesy of Steve Fortune of Horizon Beverages; samples of fine Scotch from Glenmorangie Distillery and a world-class menu of seafood, hors d'ouevres, meats and holiday treats prepared by the Sheraton Harborside chefs.
The Chamber also used the venue to recognize the winner of this year's nonprofit benefit drawing taken from the proceeds of the Holiday Auction Gala held Nov. 21 at Redhook Ale Brewery in Portsmouth. A holiday windfall came early for the Housing Partnership as Chamber President Peter Hamelin presented a check for $815 to the organization's board chair, Bill Cormier. The mission of the Housing Partnership is to provide quality affordable housing and related services for low- and moderate-income residents of the Greater Seacoast region of New Hampshire and southern Maine.
Some guests left the event with something to put under the tree thanks to the generosity of the Sheraton, and members who contributed an overnight stay for two in a ports of call suite, dinner or brunch for two at Harbour's Edge Restaurant and a wine basket from Ceres Street Wine courtesy of Porter Street Townhouses.
Calendar
Free Business Development Workshop-Marketing 101
Join Our Well-Seasoned Panel of Marketing Experts to Find Out How You Can Improve Your Bottom Line
7:30-10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 14
NH Community Technical College
Pease Int'l Tradeport, Portsmouth, NH
Join us to hear local marketing pros talk about how to get the biggest bang for your marketing dollar at this morning seminar. The program is part of the Citizen's Bank Business Development Workshop Series. Workshop topics are: Comparing Advertising Mediums, with Lori Martone, of MediaLink; Turning Your Web Site into Money!, with Day O'Donnell, Fifty6; PR 101: What is it? How does it work?, with Scott Campbell, Buzz on a Budget; and Tips for Effective Business Writing that Drives Results, with Kristie Janes, Business Marketing Innovators.
The program is free, however, preregistration is required. For more background on speakers and workshop sessions, visit www.portsmouthchamber.org/marketing101.cfm. To register, contact the Chamber at (603) 436-3988 or via email at info@portsmouthchamber.org by 4 p.m., Monday, Jan. 13.
Legislative Issues Breakfast
7:30-9 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 15
Yoken's Restaurant
Route 1, Portsmouth, NH
The Chamber's Government Affairs Committee invites you to a special breakfast forum on the Chamber's legislative agenda for small business in 2003. The forum will feature a panel discussion of business issues and an overview of the committee's proposed lobbying efforts centered around tax policy, health insurance, transportation, and affordable housing. Panel guests include Gregory Smith, chair of the government relations department of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, PA; Timothy Fortier, government relations advisor from McLane; Dave Juvet, NH Business and Industry Association, and other political figures. Cost is $12 for Chamber members and $15 for nonmembers. To RSVP, contact the Chamber at (603) 436-3988 or info@portsmouthchamber.org.
Coming Free Workshops
Mark Your Calendars Today for a New Year of Practical Seminars
7:30 - 10 a.m., Second Tuesday of the Month
NH Community Technical College
Pease Int'l Tradeport, Portsmouth, NH
The Chamber will kick off the New Year Jan. 14 with the first in a new series of Citizens Bank Business Development Workshops. The free workshops are geared toward helping small and medium sized businesses address common issues. Each session will include panel of knowledgeable local business people, who will provide practical information designed to help Chamber members increase their bottom line. All workshops are scheduled to be held at the New Hampshire Community Technical College which is located at the Pease International Tradeport. Pre-registration is required and a networking continental breakfast will be served. Scheduled workshops include: Marketing 101 with Jim O'Donnell, Jaguar Consulting, Jan. 14; Generating Profitable Growth in a Changing and Challenging Time with Steve Wrenn, UNH professor and principal of Clipper Consulting, Feb. 11, ; 2003 Business Resource Fair, March 18; Commercial Real Estate-Should You Buy or Lease? With Michael Kane, The Kane Co., April 8; and Enhance Productivity: Incorporating Visual Arts into Your Workspace with Caroline Parent, Eye Feast Art, May 13.
Tourism Summit
Mark Your Calendar Now For a Day of Enlightenment & Networking
7:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday, March 12
Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel
250 Market St., Portsmouth, NH
The Chamber's Tourism Committee will host its Second Annual Tourism Summit March 12 at the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel & Conference Center.
The one-day program, underwritten by Public Service of New Hampshire, will feature a continental breakfast followed by break out sessions which will focus on effective marketing strategies, the future of tourism, working together to promote the NH Seacoast as a destination and showing participants how to utilize local educational resources to develop their businesses. Anyone involved in tourism, both members and non-members, is invited to attend.
New at this year's summit are a luncheon featuring a keynote speaker, a silent auction, and booths for members who would like to promote their services and/or products to tourism businesses.
Cost for this year's summit is $40 at the door, $35 for those who preregister and $30 for those associated with a nonprofit organization. For information on the 2003 Tourism Summit, contact Marge Hubbard, the Chamber's tourism manager, at (603) 436-3988 or mhubbard@portsmouthchamber.org.
Movers and Shakers
Clear Advantage Laser Vision Center, located in the Jackson Gray Medical Building in Portsmouth, recently welcomed new doctors to their staff. They are: N. Timothy Peters, M.D., who has performed more than 6,500 LASIK procedures; and Claudia L. Chavez, O.D. who will specialize in pre- and post-operative care.
Infusion Solutions, Inc., the leading New Hampshire-based IV products and services provider, recently moved to a new location near the Manchester Airport. The company's new offices are located at 10 Commerce Park North, Unit 4 in Bedford, N.H.
Linda and Joey Hagan, owners of Jewelry Creations, Inc. in Dover, recently returned from a buying trip to Antwerp, Belgium, the diamond capital of the world. While there, the couple had the unique opportunity to buy direct from the major Antwerp cutters and pass the savings on to customers in the Seacoast area. To find out more, visit www.jewelrycreationsinc.com.
Relyco Sales, Inc. recently welcomed two new employees to their offices located in the Cocheco Falls Millworks building in downtown Dover: Melissa Crepeau will serve as a client services representative in the company's customer services department and William O. Rights will work as partner services coordinator. Relyco Sales, Inc. is a global distributor of value-added printed materials, business equipment and forms processing software.
Auger Building Company, a Portsmouth-based residential building and remodeling company specializing in large scale renovations, recently won First Place and Best of Show honors in Qualified Remodeler Magazine's annual Master Design Awards. The 2002 Master Awards were the most competitive in 24 years with a record number of project entries, according to Ben Auger, a principal in the company. The judges gave 57 awards in 20 categories including the Best of Show award won by Auger.
Grubb & Ellis|Coldstream Real Estate Advisors, Inc., one of the leading providers of integrated real estate services, recently facilitated six leases accounting for more than 30,000 square feet of warehouse, distribution and office space at 40 Old Dover Road in Newington, the former location of Allard's Moving and Storage and Record Retention Center. The Allards hired Grubb & Ellis|Coldstream to lease the existing buildings and the still-under-construction new facility. Since then, Grubb & Ellis|Coldstream has procured leases ranging from 15,057 square feet for Stonewall Kitchen to 3,000 square feet for Exeter Rent-All for a tent drying facility. Other leases include 5,600 square feet of warehouse space for Portsmouth Regional Hospital, 1,300 square feet of office space for Fluor Constructors (builders of the recently completed gas fired power plant in Newington), 6,000 square feet for Professional Packaging, Inc. and 2,000 square feet for Laminated Films and Packaging.
The Children's Museum of Portsmouth will inaugurate a major new initiative that will take the magic of the museum's exhibits, associated curriculum, and cultural programs to communities throughout the region. The "Museum To You" program will premier Jan. 18 when the exhibit travels to the Newmarket Town Hall Auditorium for a 4-week show. The exhibit will be open free of charge to the community.
Good Leads, a high technology lead generation firm based in Salem, N.H., recently announced that they will execute projects for two local firms. MCARM Inc. has engaged Good Leads to perform lead generation services for their new mobile software application for use in the construction industry. Net To Net Technologies of Portsmouth, N.H., a leading provider of IP Broadband access solutions, has engaged Good Leads to perform market surveys. To find out more about Good Leads, visit www.good-lead.com.
The Harbor Arts Museum invites Chamber members to its second annual Beach Party set for 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, N.H. The evening will feature dance music by DJ Scott Langlois and the reggae sounds of Hot Like Fire, food by Muddy River Smokehouse and silent auction. The event is a fundraiser to benefit local arts and music education. For details, call (603) 436-8596 or visit www.portsmouthnh.com/jazznight.
Kevin M. Farrell has joined the intellectual property and technology group at Pierce Atwood as a partner and will practice in the firm's Pease International Tradeport office in Portsmouth. A registered patent attorney, Farrell will focus his practice on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, with an emphasis on biotechnology-related inventions
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests announced that one of the Seacoast region's most valuable remaining open spaces recently received permanent protection The agreement ensures that the 213 acres of the Strafford Farm land will remain undeveloped, and that it will continue its traditional mix of working farmland, wildlife habitat and public recreation. The farm covers a total of 281 acres, including administrative offices, the county nursing home and jail, working croplands, recreation fields, forests and wetlands including a 1.9 mile frontage on the Cocheco River.
Pesce Blue recently won two honors within the national restaurant industry. The downtown eatery was invited to host a dinner at the James Beard House in New York City Dec. 7 and won a "Best Reason to Drive 65 Miles for a Plate of Fish" Award from the Boston Phoenix. The dinner in NYC benefited the James Beard Foundation, the country's premier association of culinary professionals. Pesce Blue is offering a 25-percent discount (not including alcoholic beverages) to all chamber members during the months of January, February and March for lunch and dinner (not valid Friday and Saturday nights).
The Portsmouth Crimeline Board of Directors recently announced it will be doing business under a new name to support its expanded mission. Now Crimestoppers, the organization provides dedicated 24-hour lines for anonymous reporting of crimes, Internet safety and fraud prevention courses, and a high school campus watch program. Crimestoppers also provides equipment and material to local police departments and scholarships to high school students and law enforcement professionals. Crimestoppers services the Seacoast communities of Portsmouth, Newington, Rye, Newcastle and Greenland. To report a crime, call (603) 431-1199, or in Maine, (207) 439-1194.
University of New Hampshire Continuing Education invites Chamber members to take advantage of its 500 day and evening, undergraduate and graduate, professional development and personal enrichment courses being offered this spring. For more details, or to order a copy of the current catalog, call (603) 862-4234 or visit www.learn.unh.edu.
Jewett Construction of Raymond, N.H., recently broke ground for a new 28,000 square-foot warehouse and manufacturing facility for weapons manufacturer Sigarms. The fast-track project, scheduled for completion in March, will be overseen by a Jewett building team led by project manager Mike Wissler, assistant project manager, Deney Morganthal, and project superintendent Carlos Rosario.
Attorney Asteghik K. Brock, from the law firm of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, P.A., was recently appointed to the board of directors for the Manchester Community Music School. The school was established in 1986 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality instruction and performance opportunities for students regardless of age, race, national origin, physical challenges or ability to pay. Brock serves in the firm's litigation department and in the administrative, environmental and regulatory law practice group.
Trends Marketing Group, Inc. recently published its second edition of the Taste
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