Dividends-July/August 2005

President's Message
By Dick Ingram,
Chamber President

I have lived in the Seacoast nearly all my life, having moved to Hampton when I was 8. While I will never quite qualify as a "native," I tell people that I married well because my wife's family was on the first boat to Hampton back in the early 1600's. My two boys are the latest generation of an unbroken line of her family living in the Seacoast. So we feel like we have some roots here.

Yet there is a lot about Portsmouth and the Seacoast that I don't know or haven't experienced. We live in the midst of history here on the Seacoast, and particularly here in Portsmouth. Yet for those of us who live here, even though the history and attractions of the Seacoast are right under our nose, many of us haven't taken advantage of them. Let's try and change that this summer. The Chamber offers several ways for you to do that. We offer both self-guided and guided tours. Our award-winning Guide to the Seacoast is full of information about the many offerings in the area. The Chamber staff at the kiosk in Market Square and at our Visitor Center in the Chamber office is ready to help you discover the Seacoast.

And don't let the name "Visitor Center" fool you, we are here to help our friends and neighbors as well as those who come from "far away." Stop by and pick up a copy of the Harbour Trail brochure or the walking tour guide and map. Or go to the Chamber website at www.portsmouthchamber.org and explore the possibilities. Take a tour. Discover the many hidden, and not so hidden, treasures of Portsmouth. Visit Strawbery Banke. Explore our many historic homes. Spend a morning on the Albacore. Enjoy the Prescott Park Arts Festival, Seacoast Rep or the Music Hall. Take a cruise and see Portsmouth form another perspective.

There are also some once-in-a-century events taking place this summer. Many of you will have read by now about the Centennial Celebration of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty. The Chamber is offering special tours that focus on the Peace Treaty and Portsmouth will welcome visitors from around the world this summer that are eager to discover this unique slice of world history. More information is also available on the Chamber website and at www.portsmouthpeacetreaty.com. The parade on Aug. 6 will bring the celebration to another level. And if you did not see Pontine Theater's original production "The Peace of Portsmouth" in the Spring, make sure that you do in August.

We will be reminded of our maritime heritage with the visit of the tall ship Gazella this month. Chamber staff will greet the ship and make the crew feel welcome. You should call the Chamber for more details or check listings in the local papers. These are just a few of the ways that you can experience Portsmouth this summer. Join me!

One of the highlights of the year is our Annual Dinner and this year we enjoyed a wonderful June evening in a beautiful setting _ the Seacoast Science Center. You may have noticed that we have held some of our events in new and different venues during the past year. This is one way to help shine a light on the many treasures of the Seacoast. We enjoyed an evening of greeting old friends and new in a first-class setting. Thanks to Wendy Lull and her staff at the Science center who made us feel right at home.

We had the opportunity to honor some special people that evening. We honored Lisa Grella as the Volunteer of the Year for her tireless efforts on behalf of the Chamber and the community. Chuck Doleac and Peter Bowman were named Citizens of the Year for their efforts to organize and celebrate the Portsmouth Peace Treaty centennial. Brown & Co. and its founder Mary Jo Brown were honored as Business of the Year for their many contributions to the greater community. And Kevin MacLeod was given the first "Dick Gallant Spirit of the Seacoast Award," recognizing the many contributions by Kevin and the rest of the "Yoken's Family". We were privileged to honor these fine people and thank them for all that they continue to do making this such a special place to live and work.

Finally, even though it is summer and the living is a bit easier, our work on your behalf continues just the same. The efforts to "Save the Shipyard" have been well-chronicled and we continue to work hard on that front. Thanks to all who have helped do such extraordinary things on behalf of the Yard. I owe special thanks to Ginny Griffith, the Chamber's business development manager, who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Bravo, Ginny.

The Chamber is hosted a policy roundtable in the month, together with the Business & Industry Association. Hopefully you were able to join us for the at event. If not, we still want to know what your concerns are so that we can work on your behalf on the issues that make a difference for your business. You will hear more about issues such as workforce housing, infrastructure and health care in the months ahead. In the meantime, enjoy Summer in the Seacoast!

Annual Dinner at Seacoast
Science Center Makes Big Splash
McLeod, Doleac, Bowman, Grella &
Brown and Co. Honored

Cool ocean breezes, gourmet food and outdoor ocean views of the Atlantic Ocean made a big splash with more than 200 members who attended this year's annual dinner held June 23 at the Seacoast Science Center.

This year's program featured the traditional annual meeting formalities, the culinary art of Galley Hatch Catering, performances by the cast of Prescott Park Arts Festival's "Into the Woods," recognition of new directors and award winners, and plenty of time for members to network and socialize at what many characterized as a classy seaside garden party. The evening also featured a "message-in-a-bottle" raffle to win a 1-carat diamond ring, donated by Chrisrial & Co. Jewelers, and goodie bags for all filled with tickets to the Seacoast Science Center's Music by the Sea Series, Stonewall Kitchen jams, a promotional "water" bottle by Off the Wall Promotions and complimentary copies of Accent and Portsmouth Magazines.

Citizens of the Year

Chuck Doleac, Boynton, Waldron, Doleac, Woodman & Scott, PA, and Capt. Peter Bowman, (USN Retired) and former Portsmouth Naval Shipyard commander, won honors as Citizens of the Year for their efforts to bring attention to the centennial anniversary of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty. The duo has worked for several years to promote a celebration of the event that ended the Russo-Japanese War and placed Portsmouth squarely in the center of the world stage.

Business of the Year

Brown & Company Graphic Design won recognition as the 2005 Business of the Year for their contributions to the Seacoast nonprofit community and their leadership in promoting corporate social responsibility

Starting as a home-grown collective of talent, the company has gone from a "mom-and-pop" customer base to well-known national brands—on the wings of their sometimes campy
creativity. Some of their major clients include Sudafed, Lindt Chocolates, Timberland and Jordan's Furniture.

Over the years, this company has been intimately involved in supporting the Chamber and serving the community. From their inception this year's winner chose to maintain a balance between "making a difference" than just making money.

Volunteer of the Year

Lisa Grella, Ocean Properties and a Chamber board director, was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for her work and leadership as the chair of the annual tourism summit program and co-chair of the tourism committee. Before joining the board, Grella took the lead in improving the summit by soliciting top-notch speakers in the industry, introducing trade booths and a silent auction to the event to increase marketing opportunities for members and tourism service providers, and personally producing a program guide for attendees.

Spirit of the Seacoast Award

Kevin MacLeod, president of McLeod Enterprises, won honors as the first recipient of the Dick Gallant Spirit of the Seacoast Award for his lifelong support and commitment to the Seacoast community.

"When Yoken's closed, it drove home an important lesson," said Dick Ingram, Chamber president, it's not buildings, not a gift shop or good food at an affordable price that matter—it's people, what they do and how they treat you is what really counts. Kevin is someone who is always ready to help out in the community, someone who is always ready to treat you fairly, someone who was never afraid to step in and help whenever he was needed—in the kitchen or in the community.

The Chamber thanks the following sponsors for helping to make this year's program possible: Gold: Public Service of NH, Citizens Bank, Lyons Law Offices and Seacoast Newspapers; Silver: Two International Group, The Kane Company, Seacoast Science Center, Federal Savings Bank, Portsmouth Regional Hospital, and TD Bank North; and Bronze: CB Richard Ellis, Ernst and Young and Ocean Properties.

For the full nomination writeups on award winners, visit the Chamber's online library at www.portsmouthchamber.org/library.cfm.

Chamber Installs New
State-of-the-Art Phones
New Digital Phone System to
Improve `Connectivity'

Reaching a "live" person at the Chamber just got easier thanks to the installation of a new, state-of-the-art Cisco IP digital phone system provided by new member Alliance Core Technologies. The internet-based system has increased the capacity for incoming calls to the Chamber, provided for direct lines to the staff eliminating the need to go through the automated attendant and cut the number of costly hard lines into the Chamber from 20 to just six.

"We're excited that we've been able to solve some of the connectivity issues our members have had in the past," said Chamber President Dick Ingram. "During the busy season it was almost impossible to call in without getting a busy signal or dead air. Now our members can dial direct to us anytime. I'm not guaranteeing you still won't get a busy signal, but I think we're past the error messages and dead silence."

Over the next several weeks, the staff will be training on the new system and finetuning system functions, so they ask members to be patient during this time. Those who have problems
calling into the Chamber should contact Katie Goodspeed, membership services manager, directly at (603) 610-5527.

For a staff list including direct phone extensions and email links, go to http://www.portsmouthchamber.org/contactus.cfm

eCoast WiFi Reopens
Free Wireless Internet Service
Free Wireless Web Access
Goes Online for Third Year

Free wireless Internet access for the masses went online for the third year July 4 thanks to the generosity of Chamber members BayRing, Port City Web, Single Digits and Buzz on a Budget. The program is also sponsored by the eCoast Technology Roundtable and the Chamber.

Covering Market Square and most sidestreets within a quarter mile of downtown, the signal allows visitors and citizens alike access to the World Wide Web. The only rites to passage for would-be surfers are a brief survey and registration for login credentials, and a WiFi capable device like a laptop computer, PDA or cell phone.

The 2004 survey was completed by 472 users. More than half of those named "business" as their primary reason for visiting the area, men outnumbered women 4 to 1 for number of visits to the area, and the education level of users showed a majority held bachelor degrees, 43 PhDs and 140 MAs. Over 100 respondents said shopping was the primary reason for their visit with 10 interested in events, 11 in entertainment, and 14 in dining.

For more background on the service, visit www.ecoastwifi.org.

Chamber Calendar

Business After Hours at
Portsmouth Computer Group

5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 28
30 Mirona Rd., Portsmouth, N.H.

Join us to celebrate Portsmouth Computer Group's recent move to a brand new building at a summer reggae party to remember mahn from 5:30-7:30 p.m., July 28 at 30 Mirona Rd. in Portsmouth.

The crew at PCG plans to celebrate their move to Mirona Rd. with what is looking to be the business networking and party event of the summer. Menu for the evening will feature calzones, meatballs, Italian pastas and more by Angelina's, refreshments by Red Hook Ale Brewery who'll be serving up some of their favorite brew and frozen drinks and a backdrop of island sounds. They invite attendees to dress appropriately—sandals and flower festooned shirts encouraged.

For those who need more incentive, PCG has put together a treasure chest of door prizes including a computer system, gift certificates from the Portsmouth Gaslight, Poco's Bow St. Cantina and Angelinas, and a host of promotional gifts.

For the die-hard geeks who plan to attend, PCG also has a special surprise—a visit by the MicroSoft Technology bus featuring the latest and greatest products for small to medium
businesses. "Who knows, Bill Gates may even visit since he makes a habit of joining his crew every 30 stops," said Dave Hodgdon, PCG president.

Admission to the event is $5 for Chamber members and $15 for nonmembers.

Pro Portsmouth Presents
Summer in the Street

5-9 p.m., July 29 & 30
Downtown Portsmouth
Pleasant St. to Market Square

Back by popular demand, Pro Portsmouth is once again bringing live entertainment to Market Square through its Summer in the Street Program.

Entertainment for July will feature solo strummer and popular Seacoast favorite Dan Blakeslee and the Texas Governor, July 29; and Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte, July 30. Performances run from 5-9 p.m., weather permitting, and the audience is invited to bring chairs for a more comfortable experience. Other performances are schedule for Aug. 12 & 13, and Aug. 19 & 20.

The program is sponsored by the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel and Portsmouth A La Carte. For details, visit www.proportsmouth.org. H

6th Annual eCruise

5-7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 4
Isles of Shoals Steamship Company
Market St., Portsmouth, N.H.

The eCoast Technology Roundtable and sponsors invite the region's high-tech community to join them for the 6th Annual eCruise set for 5-7 p.m., Aug. 4 aboard the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company's M/V Thomas Laighton. The cruise is a special event of the monthly eBrew, hosted by the Roundtable, which brings the region's technology community together for networking in a social setting each month.

The cruise will feature a smorgasbord of tasty treats from local restaurants and an abundance of refreshments. According to organizers, the cruise will give eCoasters, and anyone interested in attending, an opportunity "to mix and mingle with people of like mind and industry while enjoying the essence of Portsmouth.

Cost of the event is $15 or members and $20 for nonmembers, which includes food and refreshment. Space is limited, so those interested are encouraged to sign up early. Boat sets sail at 5:30 sharp. To RSVP, or for more information, call the Chamber at (603) 610-5510 or email info@portsmouthchamber.org.

The event is made possible by Captain Sponsors: Liberty Mutual, CTC Communications, First Mate: British Consulate and Colospace; and Media Sponsor, Mass High Tech. The eCruise is hosted by the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce and the eCoast Technology Roundtable.

Mid-Day Meet Networking

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 19
Two International Group
1 New Hampshire Ave., 3rd Floor, Pease Int'l Tradeport

Mark your calendar to attend the June Mid-day Meet. The conversation is facilitated by volunteers to make it easy and fun to learn about other participants and those with whom they do business. Attendees will also get a chance to share their business stories and who they'd like to do business with. There's also a "lightning round" where almost anything goes. The networking forum usually draws more than 30 people, so come early to get a seat. Those interested should contact Katie Goodspeed to RSVP at (603) 610-5527 or kgoodspeed@portsmouthchamber.org.

Business After Hours at the
NH Community Technical College

5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 25
320 Corporate Dr., Portsmouth, N.H.

If you've attended the Year of Growing Sales Series or the new Governor's State of the State , you may have already had the chance to visit the Pease Campus of NH Community Technical College, but chances are, you haven't had the opportunity to meet the people who are working to build a technically qualified workforce for Seacoast businesses. Join us to discover what the NHCTC crew is up to in the education realm and learn about recently announced plans to merge the resources of the Stratham campus with this up and coming resource. The staff is planning a fun evening, so get your thinking caps on and mark your calendar for a laid back networking night out.

Cost for this event is $5 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

Business After Hours at
LifeSize Graphics

5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 22
125 Brewery Lane, Portsmouth, N.H.

Join us for a BIG night out where things will take on gigantic proportions. At LifeSize Graphics, a full-service large format graphic printer, everything comes in large sizes. Bill Hurley and his team have planned some BIG do'ins planned for this event including photo ops with some unusually unique backdrops and and previews of their work in life-size dimensions. Enter to win a life-size photo or artwork of your choice, or one of several one-of door prizes cooked up by the talented staff.

As always, the evening will feature food and refreshments served up by some of the Seacoast's favorite establishments in portions BIG enough to please every palate. Don't miss this chance for a networking evening of fun and the opportunity to oogle at a gallery of historic, creative and colorful work.

LifeSize Graphics offers the latest technology in producing oversize graphics in a range of mediums and applications. Cost for this event is $5 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

CHAMBER GOLF TOURNAMENT_Sunshine, warm temperatures and cool breezes greeted more than 130 golfers who traveled to the Links at Outlook June 3 for the Danversbank Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament. The Flagship Press team of Jim Bingham, Joel Beers, Fred Sullivan and Luke Pollack ended the day with a six under par 65
to win this year's competition. They were followed in second by the Irving Oil team of Michelle Firmbach, Dan Breen, Mike Houlihan and Matt Holland with a score of 66. Third place finishers were the team of Todd Fitzgerald and Steve Warner from Harvard Pilgrim Health; Dan Belforti, Belforti Investments; and Gary Bedrosian, Bedrosian & Associates with a score 67. One of the highlights of the day was a hole-in-one shot by the Sheraton Harborside's Steve Weiler. While he would have preferred to win the Saab, jet ski or hot tub, he did get a computer system for his efforts courtesy of the Links at Outlook. Other winners in the tournament were Nancy Trainor, women's closest to the pin, and Houlihan with the men's longest drive and Laurie Dufour with the women's longest drive. Weiler was also credited with men's closest to the pin for his hole in one. The Chamber thanks the following sponsors for helping to make this year's tournament possible: Danversbank, marquee sponsor; Irving's new BLUEcanoe store, cart sponsor; Black Hawk Capital, driving range sponsor; Lee Hecht Harrison, putting green sponsor and Global Technical Talent, 19^th Hole sponsor. The Chamber also thanks the many other goodie bag, hole and tee sponsors as well as members of the golf tournament committee members who worked hard to make this year's competition a memorable day on the links. They are: co-chairs Victoria Gray and Dave Bickford, Ken Ames, Nick Drinker, Valerie Dyer, Jim Flatten, Briar Golden, Chris Houldsworth, Rick LaFleur, Kevin Levesque and Steve Weiler.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS CRUISE WITH THE ISLES OF SHOALS STEAMSHIP CO._Not even an impending wall of thunderstorms could stop more than 150 Chamber members from rocking the boat June 29 at this year's traditional business after hours summer cruise with the Isles of Shoals Steamship Co. Umbrellas in hand, the hardy crowd strolled up the gangway for an evening of networking and scenic oogling along the banks of the Piscataqua River. While some sampled a smorgasboard of culinary treats served up by Mahalos, Galley Hatch Catering, Foster's Downeast Clambake and Edible Arrangements, others braved the wind and passing showers on the deck only to be rewarded later in the evening when the clouds broke into a dazzling curtain of sun rays dancing on the water. Inside, the group mingled and gnoshed to a set of appropriate cruising tunes put on by members of the group Old Toby who went on to perform live reggae for ISSC's followon cruise later in the evening. Some lucky attendees walked away from the event with more than a sampling of the Seacoast's popular cuisine in the form of doorprizes compliments of the Isles of Shoals. Kate Scully, Watson & Lemire, P.A., won an Isles of Shoals party cruise packet and a T-shirt; Jim Houghton, Affordable Health Solutions, picked up an arrangement of flowers courtesy of Ambrosia Gardens; and Dr. Lisa Schulman, Seacoast Esthetic Dentistry Association, drew an gift certificate for dinner for two at the Blue Mermaid Restaurant.

10th ANNUAL PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR TRAIL ROAD RACE_The Portsmouth Harbour Trail 5K Road Race celebrated its 10th anniversary with a record-breaking 509 runners who turned out July 9 at the Portsmouth Middle School for what is becoming one of the most popular races in New England. Ethan Hemphill, 32, from Freeport, Maine, finished the 3.1-mile course in 15 minutes, 26 seconds to take the men's overall first-place title. He was followed by Richard Bold from Nashua, N.H. in second with 15.31 and Zach Emerson, Emmitsburg, Md. in third with a 15.51. Danyelle Phelps, 29, from Milton N.H., won the women's overall competition with a time of 17.57. She was followed by Jacy Christiansen from New Ipswich, N.H. in second with 18.27 and Stacy Prinz, Rye, N.H., in third with a time of 18:31. Team winner in this year's race was the Coastal Athletic Association in first place with a total time of 51:49. They were followed by the Rochester Runners in second with 55:29; third, Winners Circle Running with an 57:46; and fourth, the Merrimack Valley Striders, with 1:11:34. The oldest Portsmouth runner was John McMaster, 58, with a time of 29:49 and the youngest, Anna Hayes, 10- years-old, with a time of 35:18. The Chamber thanks the following sponsors for helping to make this year's race "the" most successful ever: Major Sponsors: Ocean National Bank, Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel, Paddy's All American Grille, Portsmouth Regional Hospital and PromoCentric; Race Sponsors: Fox Run Mall, Portsmouth Herald, Runner's
Alley, Timberland and Fuze Communications; and Patron Sponsors: Alie's Jewelry, Duke Family Chiropractic, Portsmouth Historic House Association, Ricci Lumber, Road ID and Strawbery Banke Museum.

The Kane Company recently leased 1,200+/- SF of retail space at the Franklin Plaza in Dover, New Hampshire to Cantarranas Mexican Café. Magnifico Imports, which offers hand painted ceramic sinks and tile, will locate their showroom on the lower level of this space. Kane Company Agent Jody Skaff listed and leased the space. For more information on Kane, and to view current listings, visit www.netkane.com.

The Women's Business Center (WBC) recently received a Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development and Bank of America. The grant will be used to provide technical assistance in the form of "gap education and services" for ten trades technicians in the predominantly woman-oriented fields of massage therapy, cosmetology, hair styling and wellness/fitness. The WBC has coined the program Trading Up. For more on the grant and WBC programs, visit www.womenbiz.org.

Grubb & Ellis Coldstream|Real Estate Advisors, Inc., one of the region's leading providers of integrated real estate services, recently represented Sea View Technologies of Exeter in the sublease of Sea View's former office and warehouse space in Newington, NH. Grubb & Ellis|Coldstream Principal David Choate co-brokered the transaction with Peter Billipp of The Kane Company in Portsmouth. Kane represented the sub-lessee, Northeast Distribution, Ltd. For more on Grubb & Ellis, visit www.grubb-ellis.com.

Lonza Biologics recently welcomed a partner vendor to its facility located at the Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth. The company is Euroflow, and its North American Technology Center leases a 4,100-square-foot facility from Lonza and set up shop next door in order to be closer to biopharmaceutical customers in the US and Canada. Biotech and pharmaceutical companies contract with Lonza to manufacture antibody or recombinant protein products from mammalian cell cultures. For more on Lonza, visit www.lonzabiologics.com.

StoneHill Environmental, Inc. won a Business in the Arts Award ( small business category) at the 21st annual Business in the Arts Awards banquet held May 25 at the Center of New Hampshire in Manchester. Employees of the Portsmouth-based environmental and engineering consulting firm were recognized for supporting a number of local arts and civic organizations through financial contributions and volunteer involvement. StoneHill has been involved in the community with the Strawbery Banke Puddle Duck Business Partnership, the New England Ballet, and Ranger Foundation. Co-owner Tim Stone was also credited with bringing Portsmouth Community Radio WSCA-LP 106.1 FM into being, and company project manager John Pasquale, was instrumental as one of three partners who reestablished The Stone Church Music Club in Newmarket, N.H.

Steve Chaisson and Cary Chaisson, brothers and owners of Allegra Print & Imaging of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, recently welcomed Catherine Murphy to the Allegra family

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