Dividends-March 2004

President's Message
Peter Hamelin,
Chamber President

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

This morning when I arrived at work I had a difficult time getting to my office due to an overflow crowd at the monthly tourism meeting. The room was all abuzz with the anticipation of next week’s tourism summit at the Wentworth by the Sea–A Marriott Hotel & Spa. Our 3rd annual summit, headed by one of our newest Board members (Lisa Grella from Ocean Properties) promises to be a lively and educational experience for members that are in the tourism business, or who do business with the industry. Mr. Steve Barba, president and managing partner of the Balsams Grand Resort–and New Hampshire Business Leader of the Year–will kick off the day as the breakfast keynote speaker. Check out the calendar section of this issue to learn more–and don’t hesitate to book your spot as we anticipate a sell-out!

Due to overwhelming demand, and your support of the Guide to the Seacoast, we have decided to print an additional 10,000 copies of this award-winning piece. And something you will be hearing more about in the coming months is the Chamber’s new web site upgrade that will integrate with our already award-winning site (best tourism site in New Hampshire) to offer you expanded opportunities to better promote your business. No matter the service or product you are offering, this initiative will give you the worldwide presence that your business deserves.

If you’ve been outside lately, it’s hard not to notice the annual seasonal shift that brings on warmer and longer days, walking to work with only a sweater on, people sipping coffee and reading newspapers on our benches, Red Sox players getting in shape at another run against the Yankees and increases in their already astronomical payroll. It’s also the time the time of year we start preparing to welcome people into our community to experience our live music scene, our walking downtown, our unique independent shops and galleries, our historic homes and museums, and our cultural events.

Speaking of events, two of the most vibrant and family-focused events of the year are now in the planning process. Fleet Children’s Day on May 2, and Market Square Day on June 12. These festivals are great ways for your business and your employees to get involved in true community traditions. Whether you’re looking to volunteer and give back to your community, or you are looking for a valuable way to get increased exposure for your business–these festivals provide the perfect vehicle. If you’re interested in supporting these community-building events, I urge you to contact Pro Portsmouth’s Barbara Massar at bmassar@portsmouthchamber.org or check out the website at www.proportsmouth.org for details.

And finally, as you probably have read, or heard from Mr. Bill McDonough, past commander of our Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the yard is again on the list of military bases that are being considered for closure. I don’t have to tell you what the shipyard does for the local economy–it is our largest employer providing thousands of well-paying jobs, it inserts millions of dollars into our local community, and it provides a valuable connection to our long and illustrious local history. The campaign is just starting so I encourage you to get involved. If you would like to assist, please contact Ginny Griffith, our business development manager at ggriffth@portsmouthchamber.org.

So get that bike out, pump up the tires, lube up that chain and get ready for summer on the seacoast!

Chamber News

After months of research and work, the Chamber plans to unveil a new website upgrade that will enable members to manage their own company information online, significantly expand services for visitors and other inquirers, and house the organization’s information and contact management functions.

The upgrade, designed by ChamberWorks of Ogunquit Maine, will be officially demonstrated March 10 at Tourism Summit.

"We’re really excited about the upgrade because it allows us to consolidate all our administrative functions and information in one place," said Tom Cocchiaro, the Chamber’s communications manager. "Members will be able to manage their own information online, include pictures, writeups, menus, rates and other details in their listings; post calendar items, track web hits, and receive inquiries directly. We’ll also be able to use the new system to track visitor inquiries and trends, and make it faster and easier for our visitor assistants to provide quality service to walk-ins, callers and others needing information."

Members will receive more detailed information about the upgrade and the opportunities it will provide later this Spring.

For more information, contact the Chamber at (603) 436-3988 or visit the upgrade website page at www.portsmouthchamber.org/webupgrade.cfm.  

The Chamber’s Business Development Committee recently announced the agenda for the second seminar in the Year of the Customer Series. The seminar, entitled Customer Databases: Uncovering Hidden Expectations, Perceptions & Business Opportunities, is scheduled for 8-10 a.m., April 8 at New Hampshire Community Technical College. The YOTC series is sponsored by Federal Savings Bank.

The morning session will feature several sessions centered around getting the most out of customer information including Building a Sound Foundation for Managing Customer Data, Mining Your Customer Goldmine: Panel Presentation, Lessons Learned and Simple Steps, and Filling In the Gaps.

Managing Customer Data, presented by Gary Bedrosian, Bedrosian & Associates, will touch on key resources every business needs to have, effectively communicating with your market, discovering hidden resources in your own office and things you can do to sharpen your customer focus.

The Mining Your Customer Goldmine Panel, will provide an opportunity to connect with some local executives known for their focus on customer service including Steve Weiler, director of sales and marketing for the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel; Mary Ann Sewall, owner of Breakfast Hill Golf Course; and Jay Friedlander, chief operations officer for O’Naturals Restaurants.

Lessons Learned will be presented by Michael Brassard, a principle of Brassard Management Services. He has been teaching, writing and consulting in the improvement field for 25 years.

And Filling in the Gap, led by John Gregg, JPGregg, will cover listening to your customers – complaints and complements (why it’s important, how it works and how to become "World Class").

For more on the speakers and presentations, or to sign up, visit the Chamber’s website at www.portsmouthchamber.org/yotc2.cfm or call (603) 436-3988.

Chamber Directors Elect
Jim Jalbert to Board,
C & J Trailways President Eager
to Serve Seacoast

The Chamber’s leadership recently elected James Jalbert to the board of directors. Jalbert is president of C & J Trailways and has been running a business in the Seacoast for nearly three decades.

The company operates an intercity passenger bus service, from terminals located in Dover, Portsmouth and Newburyport, Mass., to Logan Airport and Boston’s South Station.

"I agreed to join the board to help find solutions to the many business challenges we have here on the Seacoast," said Jalbert. "As you might imagine, I am particularly interested in transportation issues, but I am ready to take on whatever project the chair assigns to me. Hopefully I can bring some fresh ideas to the table that will benefit our members."

Jalbert is a board member of the American Bus Association and chairman of BUSPAC. He is also a certified travel consultant and graduate of New Hampshire Technical College with a degree in fleet services. He currently lives in Rollinsford, NH.

Members Urged to
Complete Verification,
Correct Information Critical Part
of Coastline Directory

By now, all Chamber members should have received a 2004 Coastline Membership Directory Verification Form. The form, sent out in February will be used to verify and correct member information that is used in the Chamber’s referral database and this year’s Coastline Business Directory.

Those members who have received the form are urged to return it to the Chamber as soon as possible, especially if there are any changes to phone numbers, contacts, addresses or membership category listings. Those who did not receive a copy of the form should contact the Chamber immediately at (603) 436-3988, ext. 13 to update their information.

As part of the verification form, the Chamber is also asking members to submit a 25-30-word description of their business. The descriptions will be used by Chamber staff to provide referrals and develop customized information lists in response to inquiries.

The deadline for completing the verification form has been extended until March 15 to give all members a second opportunity to verify their information.

For more details, or to get a copy of the verification form, call the Chamber at (603) 436-3988, ext. 13 or visit www.portsmouthchamber.org/coastlineverification.pdf for an online copy in Adobe Acrobat format.

Last Chance to Book an Ad
in Coastline Magazine,
Be the First to Make a Big
Impression on Newcomers

Coastline Magazine, the region’s most comprehensive relocation and business-to-business guide, is currently in production. Ad space is now available to Chamber members interested in being the first to make a lasting impression on individuals and businesses moving into the Greater Portsmouth area.

Thousands of magazines are mailed out each year to prospective new businesses and residents through the Chamber, the Pease Development Authority, NH DRED, the City of Portsmouth and the many real estate companies that service the Greater Seacoast area. The contents are also available to a world-wide audience through the Chamber’s Internet website at www.portsmouthchamber.org. This year’s rates have been held to last year’s prices, so don’t miss this chance to take advantage of this award-winning relocation and business-to-business guide.

To find out more about the benefits of advertising in Coastline, call Kendra Frangos, the Chamber’s membership manager, at (603) 436-3988, ext. 18 or kfrangos@portsmouthchamber.org.

Chamber Bumps Guide
Print Run to 110,000
Popular Guide Finding Wider Audiences

This year’s issue of the Guide to the Seacoast of New Hampshire and Southern Maine is due to arrive next week in time for the Tourism Summit which is set for March 10 at the Wentworth by the Sea–A Marriott Hotel and Spa. Last year’s issue was the most popular yet, and although 100,000 were printed, stocks barely lasted beyond New Year’s. The handy pocket guide has been designed by Brown & Company Graphic Design since 1998.

The 48-page, full-color window on the Seacoast is considered the most comprehensive visitor’s guide in the region and is packed with information on accommodations, attractions, dining, shopping and local services.

This year, the Chamber will bump the print run to 110,000 in hopes of better meeting the needs of visitors. "As we continue to increase our marketing and advertising in other publications, we’re seeing an exponential increase in demand for the Guide," said Marge Hubbard, the Chamber’s tourism manager. "More than ever, our advertisers are definitely getting greater value for their investment."

Aside from walk-ins and mailings, the Guide will also be distributed at the Canadian Travel Show this month and at the New England Meeting Planners International Conference set for April in Boston.

The Guide will also be distributed locally at hotels and attractions, at all 18 of the state’s visitor information centers, airports and in response to queries.

Members interested in stocking the Guide may contact the Chamber at (603) 436-3988, ext. 13 or info@portsmouthchamber.org for more information.

Chamber Events

LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION

Chamber members and guests got the opportunity last month to rub elbows with their Concord representatives and the Governor at the annual legislative reception. The event, cosponsored by Public Service of NH and Comcast, was held Feb. 9 at the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel. Throughout the evening, several legislators took to the podium to talk about the challenges and issues facing the state and the country. Visiting dignitaries who addressed the audience included NH Gov. Craig Benson, U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley, and NH Sen. Burt Cohen. Heading the list of concerns for all speakers were health care and medical malpractice reforms, and the need to create more jobs–although some disagreed on how that might be done. Gov. Benson presented a positive report on progress in the state citing a number of programs designed to encourage entrepreneurship and interest in the nursing and teaching professions. The Governor also said his office is setting up an "Ambassador" program that will aid in attracting and supporting big businesses in the state. Sen. Cohen criticized the Governor for aiding the passage of SB 110, which affects the way healthcare costs are determined in New Hampshire. He said the bill has adversely affected rates in the Seacoast area which have risen 40-60 percent as a result.

BREAKFAST FORUM WITH BOSTON MAYOR TOM MENINO

More than 100 Chamber members and guests turned out Feb. 18 to hear Boston Mayor Tom Menino talk about the challenges facing cities and towns throughout the country. Menino currently serves as president of the United States Conference of Mayors where he champions homeland security and housing availability. The breakfast, part of the Fleet Speaker Series, was held at Yoken’s Restaurant & Conference Center. In regard to housing, Menino said the city of Boston has invested more than $30 million in workforce housing and is tapping local businesses to help support the effort through construction contracting policies and usage fees. Over the past three years, Boston has added more than 7,500 units through the program–more than 2,500 of those units were priced for lower income families. Menino said building more workforce housing is an economic engine in itself employing architects, contractors, laborers and other professionals. The Mayor also talked about the costs and challenges of hosting the Democratic National Convention, which is scheduled for July 26-29 at the Fleet Center in Boston. Smiling, he solicited members of the audience to help manage and support the convention–the city is looking for 8,000 interested volunteers.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT O’NATURALS

The Chamber’s Business After Hours returned downtown Feb. 26 to 100 Market St. and the recently opened O’Naturals Restaurant–a spinoff of the health conscious crew at Stoneyfield Yogurt. More than 140 Chamber members and guests jammed into the second story bistro which promises meals made from the freshest and healthiest ingredients available- free of additives, preservatives and multiple syllable stuff that people find in processed foods. Throughout the evening guests mingled and networked while sampling a wide variety of the restaurant’s most popular fare. Some lucky visitors also left the evening with doorprizes. Matt Madeira, Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., picked up a CamelBack water bag courtesy of Portsmouth Rent & Ride; Marina Forbes, New England Language Institute and Wynne Levine, Key Partners, both won O’Naturals coffee mugs; Jim Dachos, WinterGreen Solariums and Lucy Champion, drew a gift certificates for a self-serve dog wash courtesy of Dogs and Peoples; Don Libby, Regal Limosine, and Ned Savoie, Harbour Light, picked up subscriptions to Accent Magazine; Julie Wyrick, Attrezzi, and Jackie Cary, Smuttynose Brewing, won O’Naturals hats; Derek Drinon, Derek Drinon Digital Photography, drew a gift basket from Stonewall Kitchen; and Leslie Evans, Clear Channel, drew a one hour stone massage from Pacific Therapies.

Movers and Shakers

Blended Solutions, LLC, recently announced associations with new representatives. Shawn Crapo, will lead the corporate account development, which includes developing computer training, software consulting, and health and safety training business within the greater seacoast area. Don King joins BSC as an application-specific end-user instructor with extensive experience as an adjunct professor of computer science at New Hampshire Community Technical College. Blended Solutions, LLC provides training and consulting in computer science, desktop applications, as well as health and safety. For more information, visit www.blendedsolutions.net.  

Fahnestock & Co. Inc., the first brokerage office in Portsmouth, recently renamed itself Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. following its acquisition of U.S. Private Client and Asset Management Divisions from CIBC World Markets. Oppenheimer is the 7th largest independent full-service securities firm in the United States in terms of the number of financial advisors.

FASTSIGNS recently gained access to 65,000 high-resolution, royalty-free Corbis images through a multi-year agreement made in February. Jim Flatten, FASTSIGNS owner, said that under the agreement, they may use photographs from the Corbis image library to make signs, banners, exhibit graphics and other sign products for their customers. For details, visit www.corbis.com or www.fastsigns.com/405.  

Carol Bailey, Federal Savings Bank, recently presented the bank’s Money Smart Program to the local HUB Family Resource Center. The center provides families with educational programs and support services to enhance their ability to raise children in caring homes. The purpose of the Money Smart Program is to teach people of all ages good long-term financial habits. Future presentations of the program are already being scheduled with a second session planned at the HUB. For details, contact Bailey at (603) 842-6430 or visit www.fsbdover.com.

Integrisys Communication Group, Inc., recently announced the relocation of their corporate offices from 545 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, to 235 Heritage Avenue in Portsmouth. The company also welcomes Justin Smith to their existing team. Smith will lead the wireless technology initiatives for ICG. Integrisys designs, engineers, installs, and supports LAN and WAN network infrastructures for voice, data, and video communications.

Debra Scott, Federal Savings Bank, was recently elected to the board of directors of the Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County. This agency provides a neutral setting for investigators and interviews, case tracking, and referrals to community agencies for children and families in situations of child abuse. Scott was also nominated last year as Affiliate of the Year by the Seacoast Board of Realtors. For details, visit seacoastcac@communitycampus.org.

Rye Airfield recently announced a date change for its 3rd Annual Big Wheels Contest, which is now scheduled for 6 p.m., June. The RAF 3rd Annual Big Wheels Contest is the final event in the U.S. Open of Mountain Biking, the weekend of May 29-30 at the Diablo Freeride Park in New Jersey followed by NCS stops in West Virginia and Vermont. Rye Airfield is New England’s premier skate park and BMX track located in Rye, NH. For details, visit www.ryeairfield.com.

The Lollipop Tree, a specialty food manufacturer located in Portsmouth, NH, recently announced the addition of Lemon Curd to its specialty food line. Lemon Curd is prepared with the juice of meyer lemons and served as a topping for the lemon bread with crystallized lemon peel or as a filling for fruit tarts and meringues. For more information, visit www.lollipoptree.com.

Penny Wood, ABR, Hunkins Real Estate Inc., of Greenland, NH, was recently elected as the president of the Seacoast Board of Realtors. As president, Wood will be chairman of the board of directors and will have the responsibility of overseeing all the daily and financial operations of the 500-plus-member association.

Best Western Wynwood Hotel & Suites of Portsmouth, NH, recently announced that Jill Hamilton, the property’s director of sales, was selected as one of the 25 top individuals for the Year of the Hospitality Employee Awards. The New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association honored these 25 individuals during 2003, which was proclaimed the Year of the Hospitality Employee by Governor Craig Benson.

Cabot House of Portsmouth, NH, recently welcomed Lynn C. Carey, of Badger’s Island, Kittery, Maine, to its staff. Carey will serve as a sales associate and design consultant, assisting customers with their home furnishing and design needs.

The American Lung Association of New Hampshire recently announced the publication of its 2004 Golf Privilege Card. The card is sold annually to benefit lung health programs in New Hampshire. With this card, golfers of all skill levels will receive free or discounted rounds of golf at more than 50 courses in New Hampshire and Maine. Proceeds from the golf card directly benefit the many programs and services provided by the ALA. For details, call 1-800-83-LUNGS or visit www.nhlung.org.

Dogs and Peoples opened its doors on February 19th, providing seacoast pooches with doggie daycare, grooming, a self-serve dog wash, and a weekend indoor dog park. Dogs and Peoples is open seven days a week and is located at 909 Islington Street in Portsmouth. For details, call (603) 436-5855 or visit www.dogsandpeoples.com.

The Great Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross invites Chamber members to its 6th Annual Cochecho Comedy Club and Awesome Auction set for 6 p.m., March 13 at the Cochecho Country Club in Dover, NH "All proceeds from the event will benefit local disaster relief, health education programs, and emergency military aid," said Jim Roberts, board president. For more information, contact the Great Bay Chapter at (603) 766-5440 or stop by the office at 4 Arboretum Drive at the Pease Tradeport in Newington.

Heartwood Media, an award-winning Manchester-based video and new media production company, recently announced that Creative Director Chris Conroy was featured in the Profiles in Excellence issue of AV Video Multimedia Producer (AV Video) magazine for 2003. "Profiles in Excellence" is an annual showcase of top producers who create business media that delivers. This is the third consecutive year that Conroy has been recognized by the magazine. For more information, visit www.heartwoodmedia.com.

Nathaniel "Nat" Heard and N.E. Productions of Portsmouth, recently announced that his video production company is working with the Ford Motor Company again this year at the company’s annual sales meeting in Hollywood, Calif. N.E. Productions will be supplying Ford with image magnification and video presentation support, and producing portions of a marketing video that will be used by the company on future projects. To find out more about the N.E. Productions, call (603) 436-0727 or email natvideo@aol.com.

The Rotary Club of Portsmouth Sunrise invites Chamber members to get connected with its 5th Annual "Million Dollar Hole in One Golf Challenge" scheduled for May 21-22 at the newly renovated Sagamore Golf Center in North Hampton. The event attracted more than 700 participants last year who helped to raise more than $25,000 local organizations. Funds raised support Seacoast youth programs. To find out more about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, contact Perry Saunders at (603) 502-7398 or Doug Bates at (603) 235-8530.

Calendar of Events

Tourism Summit
Mark Your Calendar Now
For a Day of Enlightenment

7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 10
Wentworth by the Sea-A Marriot Hotel & Spa
[Route 1B, New Castle, NH]

This year’s Tourism Summit at the Wentworth by the Sea will be packed with practical information and networking opportunities for Chamber members connected to the Seacoast Region’s tourism sector. The event, underwritten by Public Service of NH, is set for 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., March 10.

Steve Barba, president and managing partner of the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel, will kick off the day as the breakfast keynote speaker. Barba, a long-time New Hampshire tourism pro, recently won recognition as Business New Hampshire Magazine’s Business Person of the Year for 2003. He will be joining the group to talk about his experience in the field, and tips for effectively marketing the region’s wealth of attractions, historic places and cultural amenities. His appearance is part of the Fleet Speaker Series. Members may opt to attend the breakfast only. Cost is $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

Planned sessions for the summit include: Technology Can Work For You!, Building Bridges Between Businesses, Thinking Outside The Box to Attract Residents, and Tourists to your Business, and Planning Ahead to Get the Most Out of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Centennial Celebration which is scheduled for August-September of 2005.

Mid-Day Meet
Make plans to Hone Your Networking
Skills at the Chamber’s Newest Mixer

Noon-1 p.m., Thursday, March 18
Portsmouth Chamber
[500 Market St., Portsmouth, NH]

If getting to know people at big events is a little overwhelming, the Chamber now has something for you–the Mid-Day Meet Brown Bag Networking Lunch. The monthly sessions run from noon to 1 p.m., the third Thursday of each month in the Chamber conference room.

During the one-hour session, attendees will learn some networking tips, get the chance to present their one-minute commercial and network with others in the group. The program will also feature expert help for those who’d like to formulate an "elevator pitch" before the lunch session.

Seats are limited, so those interested should contact Frangos to RSVP at (603) 436-3988, ext. 18 or kfrangos@portsmouthchamber.org.  

Business After Hours
Join Us for An Evening at one
Region’s Most Elegant Inns

5:30p.m.-7:30p.m., Thursday, March 25
York Harbor Inn
[Route 1, York Harbor, Maine]

Join us for a visit to one of the region’s most elegant inns. Situated on a hill overlooking a sandy stretch of beach on York Harbor, the inn is known fo