Dividends-November 2003

Continuing our efforts to speak up and advocate for the issues that affect your business, we have planned two forums this month designed to bring you face to face with leaders that can help us reach our goals. The first will be a transportation breakfast forum set for Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Redhook Brewery. The forum is the result of a partnership between the Chamber and the Pease Tenant Association.

Board Chairman John Tabor, myself and other members of the Board of Directors attended a public hearing last week with NH Executive Councilor Ruth Griffin and Carol Murray, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. We used the meeting to lobby on your behalf about the struggles of the Little Bay Bridge, and urged Councilor Griffin and Commissioner Murray to make the bridge a high priority in the state’s 10-year transportation master plan. The plan will go through the Governor’s office and legislature later this year and into next, so we’re hoping that on Nov. 18 that you’ll come out in force to let Commissioner Murray know your thoughts on the Little Bay Bridge expansion project.

Another issue that effects all of us is the rising cost of health care. This is a local, state and national issue that is being debated at every level. It is an extremely difficult and confusing issue for many to comprehend. One thing that the state has done recently has been to pass Senate Bill 110. The bill is designed to bring new health care providers to the state, which is supposed to bring competition, which, in theory, will lower our direct costs for coverage. We know that many of you have questions about the bill’s impact, so we’ve invited the state’s health care experts to join us Nov. 20 at Yoken’s Restaurant and Conference Center to answer your questions. During the breakfast, you’ll get the chance to meet with newly appointed NH Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny and NH Sen. Russell Prescott, sponsor of Senate Bill 110.

We look forward to seeing you at both these important events so that we can rally around these two critical challenges that face our businesses, employees and communities.

On a more festive note, next Wednesday is our annual holiday auction. This is always one of the most well-attended events of the year and one of our biggest fundraisers. So many of you donated to this event, from a week-long stay at a castle in France, to Red Sox tickets, televisions, toys and your products and services–we thank you for your generosity. This is a win win for all. You get to do some early holiday bargain shopping and promote your business, and the Chamber gets to raise funds that allow us to continue the work we do on your behalf.

As we move into the holiday shopping season, we hope that you will make a special effort to buy from your fellow business colleagues in the local area. Those dollars stay in the region and go a long way in supporting the people and places that make this region the envy of all.

My door is always open, so if you have suggestions, comments or concerns, please let me know them. You can reach me at (603) 436-3988, ext. 16 or via email at phamelin@portsmouthchamber.org. Better yet, catch me at one of our November events.

The Chamber will host two forums in November based on this year’s membership survey which pointed to health care costs and transportation as critical concerns. The first, a breakfast forum with Carol Murray, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, is set for 7:30-9 a.m., Nov. 18 at Redhook Brewery located at the Pease Int’l Tradeport. The second is a Health Care Forum which is scheduled for 8:30-noon, Nov. 20 at Yoken’s Restaurant & Conference Center.

Those who have traveled north on Route 16 around 4 p.m. on weekdays are painfully aware the region is facing some serious transportation issues. As commerce in the Seacoast grows, improving the region’s transportation infrastructure has become increasingly critical to future economic growth. Commissioner Murray will travel to Portsmouth Nov. 18 to talk about the state’s plan for the region including such issues as the proposed Portsmouth to Boston rail service and expansion of the Little Bay Bridge. The event, part of the Fleet Speaker Series, is jointly hosted by the Pease Tenant Association and Redhook Ale Brewery.

The morning-long health care forum, entitled Changes in the Way Insurers Price Small-Group Health Insurers-Senate Bill 110 and You, will center on NH Senate Bill 110 which changes some of the conditions under which health care is administered in the state.

According to Tim Fortier, new Chamber director and chair of the Government Affairs Committee, New Hampshire has the second highest health care costs in the nation. He said that Senate Bill 110, signed into law by NH Gov. Craig Benson in June, was designed to help bring those costs down by reforming state health care laws in a way that attracts competition.

"The problems and challenges facing our health care system are extraordinarily complex. The Chamber is hosting this seminar in hopes that it will help small business better understand recent legislative reforms designed to increase choice, competition and consumer engagement in the health insurance market," said Fortier.

Guest speakers for the event include bill sponsor NH Sen. Russell Prescott, NH Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny, representatives from Anthem, Harvard Pilgrim and CIGNA, and presenters from the local insurance industry.

"In a membership survey we conducted this summer two major concerns stood out—health care and transportation," said Peter Hamelin, Chamber president. "This month, we’re giving our members and the community an opportunity to meet face to face with experts in both those areas. We hope everyone will take time to join us and make their voices heard."

Cost of the transportation breakfast and health care forum is $12 per program for Chamber members and $15 per program for nonmembers. Those interested in attending may RSVP by contacting the Chamber at (603) 436-3988, ext. 13 or email info@portsmouthchamber.org.

Coastline Magazine, the region’s only relocation guide and business directory, is currently in production. Ad space is now available to Chamber members interested in marketing to individuals and businesses moving into the Greater Portsmouth area.

The 128-page, full-color magazine is filled with information on Seacoast lifestyle, business, history, real estate, dining, shopping and education. Coastline magazine also features profiles on nine Seacoast communities and a directory of Chamber-member businesses, by category, making it the most comprehensive relocation reference available for the Seacoast. Advertisers also get a free supply of magazines as well as a web link to Coastline Magazine online.

To find out more about the benefits of advertising in Coastline, contact Kendra Frangos, the Chamber’s membership manager, at (603) 436-3988, ext. 18 or email kfrangos@portsmouthchamber.org. This 2004 issue will be published in June.

Six Seacoast residents were recently recognized for their volunteer efforts as Granite State Ambassadors during the Annual Granite State Ambassador Achievement Luncheon. The event, was held on Oct. 3 at the Southern New Hampshire University Hospitality Center in Manchester.

In the Corporate Awards Category, Therese Colford of Portsmouth received the 2003 Service Award. According to Judi Window, managing director of Granite State Ambassadors, Inc., "the award is presented to the GSA who has served the NH tourism industry as well as their community while continuing to learn more about our state." A retired Navy officer and former Peace Corps Volunteer, Colford has more than 470 hours of volunteer service at the various Seacoast Welcome/Information Centers.

GSA Sandra Stewart of Portsmouth was the recipient of the 2003 Regional Manager’s Award. In addition to her role as a quality assurance specialist at Lonza Biologics, Inc., Stewart has volunteered more than 160 hours at the C&J Welcome Center and at Pease Airport.

GSAs also accepted awards for their first 250 hours of volunteer service. Recipients were Colford and Peg Olsen, from Stratham; Stewart, and Marilyn Beaulieu, from Barrington. Nancy Liebson, of Somersworth; and David Weeks, of New Castle, were rewarded for their first 100 hours of service.

The Seacoast GSA Program, a cooperative project of all six Seacoast chambers of commerce, trains volunteers to become certified ambassadors qualified to ‘meet or exceed the needs of Seacoast guests’ at welcome centers around the region.

Lisa Proulx recently joined the Chamber staff as the new Seacoast Granite State Ambassadors regional manager. She takes over from Kellie Spinney who served in the role from October 2002 to August 2003.

In her position, Proulx will be responsible for recruiting, training and supervising ambassadors, literature placement at the state’s welcome centers and maintaining working relationships with the six Seacoast chambers of commerce.

She has extensive experience in marketing for both the educational and retail sectors including positions at the New Hampshire Community Technical College and Fox Run Mall. More recently, she served as a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Newmarket School-to-Career and other nonprofits providing public relations and grant-writing support, as well as assistance with promotions, fundraising events and agency programs.

The Granite State Ambassadors are a state-sanctioned volunteer organization formed to support New Hampshire’s growing tourism industry. GSAs serve at the Pease International Airport and bus terminal, the Portsmouth Visitor’s Center, Seabrook Welcome Center on I-95, and two seasonal centers–Hampton Beach Visitor’s Center and the Port of NH.

Proulx lives in Stratham with her husband and two sons who keep her very busy and "up too early on weekends when there’s a hockey game."

"I look forward to working to promote and support such a committed volunteer organization like the GSAs," she said.

Despite a mini monsoon, nearly 100 Chamber members and guests turned out in October to hear Portsmouth City Council candidates talk about their ideas for the future of the city and solutions to the region’s most pressing problems. The breakfast forum, a part of the Fleet Speaker Series, was held Oct. 15 at Yoken’s Restaurant & Conference Center.

The discussion featured 14 presenters, half of whom were current city council members and half new contenders. Each candidate was asked to answer three questions: what they would do with the McIntyre Building in the middle of downtown, how they would work with the business community and Chamber to strengthen the local economy and how they would balance the need for economic growth with the need to maintain the area’s high quality of life.

In regard to future use of the McIntyre site, most of the candidates felt the area should contain a mix of retail, professional offices, affordable living space and parking. Many candidates said they would work to keep local taxes down and manage growth issues through the various planning, zoning board of adjustment and economic development boards.

Candidates did differ in some areas. One newcomer said he would work to make Portsmouth a year-round tourist destination, while others said there should be a time when Portsmouth people can enjoy Portsmouth without the crowds, and that there was a need to develop non-tourism-related business to balance lean years.

One of the candidates, Charlton Dobson, is an 18-year-old student at Portsmouth High School. He said that while young people aren’t as seasoned as political veterans, they offer a different perspective on what is important ,and that he hoped to bring those views to the city council if elected.

October’s Business After Hours traveled to Chestnuts at the Wren’s Nest Village Inn where visitors were greeted by a cozy fire, friendly staff and the casual homey ambiance of one of the Seacoast’s newest dining establishments.

Throughout the evening, more than 120 guests dined on a smorgasbord of samples from the restaurant’s repetoire, took tours of the Wren’s Nest’s jacuzzi suites and signed up for a silent auction supporting the Chamber’s Portsmouth Harbour Trail program. Visiting partners in the event like C’est Cheese and Smuttynose Brewery were also on hand to serve up the familiar tastes of their particular specialties.

Some attendees walked away with more than a taste of the restaurant’s cuisine: Michele Alexander, Calypso Communications; Lisa Wainwright Davis, Gowen & Wainwright Agency and Dave Kalotski, Wire; won $30 gift certificates for a "real" meal at Chestunuts; Tony Manfredi, Staff Hunters, won an overnight in a jacuzzi suite; Bill Welch, FedEx, picked up a gift certificate for signage at the Portsmouth Sign-A-Rama and Deb Wilson, The Cheney Companies, won a $100 gift certificate from Mr. Tux.

The Chamber thanks the Wren’s Nest and Chestnuts staffs for a great night out.

 4:30-9 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12
New England Center
[15 Stafford Ave., Durham, NH]

Nestled in the woods of Durham, N.H., the New England Center will add a special ambience to this year’s Holiday Auction which will feature an atmospheric evening of fun and networking --not to mention an opportunity to pick up some of the most unique holiday gifts anywhere. The staff of the New England Center have a special evening planned including a menu of their finest cuisine, sponsored by Irving Oil, presented beneath a forest backdrop of towering pines, maples and oaks. Don’t miss this chance to get away from the big city hustle and bustle for a chance at great bargains.

Some of this year’s highlights include a week stay in a French castle (in France), a one-day team building adventure with Outward Bound Professional, ticket to UNH and Manchester Monarchs hockey games, jewelry, art and more. Chamber members interested in contributing to the auction, and harnassing its marketing and visibility benefits, may contact Nicole Wohl, the Chamber’s events manager, at (603) 436-3988 or nwohl@portsmouthchamber.org.

As commerce in the Seacoast grows, improving the region’s transportation infrastructure has become increasingly critical. Join us to hear NH DOT Commissioner Carol Murray talk about the state’s plan for the region including such issues as the proposed rail service and expansion of the Little Bay Bridge. The event, part of the Fleet Speaker Series, is jointly hosted by the Pease Tenant Association and Redhook Ale Brewery.

Noon-1 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 20
Portsmouth Chamber
500 Market St., Portsmouth, NH

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.

Space for the sessions is limited, so those interested should contact Frangos to RSVP at (603) 436-3988 or kfrangos@portsmouthchamber.org.

8:30 a.m.-Noon, Thursday, Nov. 20
Yoken’s Restaurant
Route 1, Portsmouth, NH

The Chamber invites members and the business community to a morning-long health care forum, entitled Changes in the Way Insurers Price Small-Group Health Insurers-Senate Bill 110 and You. The forum will center on NH Senate Bill 110 which changes some of the conditions under which health care is administered in the state.

Guest speakers for the event include bill sponsor NH Sen. Russell Prescott, NH Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny, representatives from Anthem, Harvard Pilgrim and CIGNA, and presenters from the local insurance industry.

"The problems and challenges facing our health care system are extraordinarily complex. The Chamber is hosting this seminar in hopes that it will help small business better understand recent legislative reforms designed to increase choice, competition and consumer engagement in the health insurance market," said Tim Fortier, Chamber director and chair of the Government Affairs Committee.

Those interested in attending should RSVP by contacting the Chamber at (603) 436-3988 or email info@portsmouthchamber.org.

Snowflake Festival

Pro Portsmouth, Inc, in collaboration with the Portsmouth Neighborhood Association, will kick off this year’s Snowflake Festival with the traditional Holiday Treelighting Ceremony scheduled for 6 p.m., Dec. 5 in Market Square. The evening will feature entertainment by local artists and a chance to sample the downtown businesses vying for the Best Holiday Decorations title. The Portsmouth Neighborhood Association will decorate Market Square’s Unity Tree based on a Victorian theme. Sponsored by Ocean National Bank, the Treelighting is one of many events that make the Holiday Season special. From the Nutcracker Ballet performance at The Music Hall and wine tastings at Attrezzi to the Storefront Decorating Contest Downtown, December is filled with something for everyone – and it ends with a bang on Dec. 31 with New Year’s Portsmouth 2004. For information on the Snowflake Festival and New Year’s Portsmouth, visit www.proportsmouth.org.

 5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 17
Sheraton Harborside
[250 Market St., Portsmouth, NH]

The Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel will once again host what has become one of the most popular holiday events of the year. Mark your calendar today for an elegant evening of wine, music and some of the Seacoast’s finest hors d’oeurves, desserts and specialty dishes prepared by the Sheraton’s world class troupe of chefs. Cost of the event is $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers.

Welcome to the new committee update column. Check this area each month to find out what the Chamber’s many volunteer committee members are doing and to look for opportunities that may appeal to you. Following are brief overviews of some Chamber committees and their current activities:

Business Development Committee--The Chamber’s Business Development Committee is currently in the process of putting together a winter workshop series based around customer service issues. To get a better idea of issues important to the membership, the group recently distributed an email survey distributed through a web-based survey site. Nearly 70 members responded to the survey making their choices for workshop themes and sessions. The committee is currently reviewing the results of that survey and will firm up the session schedule by the end of November. Stay tuned to the Chamber’s website for a complete schedule of sessions including times and locations. Members of the Business Development Committee are: Gary Bedrosian, Bedrosian & Associates; Michael Brassard, Brassard and Ritter; Warren Daniel, Small Business Development Center; Michael Kane, The Kane Company; Steve Kowal, News Release Direct; Chuck Lawton, Planning Decisions; Wynne Levine, Key Partners, Inc.; Paul McAskill, Compass Point Coaching; Fred Palazzolo, Ocean National Bank; Caroline Parent, Eye Feast Art; Scott Pueschel, Pierce Atwood; Tim Stoner, Morgan Stanley; Douglas Keith, Morgan Stanley; and John Gregg, JPGregg.

For more on the Business Development Committee, contact Kendra Frangos, Chamber membership manager, at (603) 436-3988, ext. 18 or email kfrangos@portsmouthchamber.org.

Snowflake Festival Committee--Members of the Snowflake Festival Committee have spent the past month scouring Portmouth’s Central Business District to recruit business owners for the first Downtown Holiday Storefront Dectorating Contest. More than 25 downtown merchants responded to the challenge and will be decking out their store fronts in a bid to win prizes like Southwest Airline tickets and an overnight stay with brunch at the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel. Patrons who visit the stores and turn in a vote will be rewarded with a shopping discount certificate good for the store they voted on. The group also worked the logistical details for the Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony and entertainment. Members of the Snowflake Festival Committee are: Jessica Cate, Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth; Stephanie M. Lalime, FleetBoston Financial; Jennifer Slade, Attrezzi and Barbara Massar, Pro Portsmouth, Inc. For more information on committee activities and needs, contact Massar at (603) 436-3988, ext. 21 or bmassar@portsmouthchamber.org.

Tourism Marketing Committee--Over the past several months, the group has been working on a strategic marketing plan and putting together a proposal for a New Hampshire Joint Promotional Program Grant that would allow the Chamber to double its available tourism marketing resources. Some of the planned initiatives include expanded advertising in national publications like Yankee Magazine, regional cable television spots, trade show representation, direct mailings to tour operators and procuring a lodging availability module for the Chamber’s web site. To get involved, or to find out more about the committee, contact Marge Hubbard, Chamber tourism manager at (603) 436-3988, ext. 17 or mhubbard@portsmouthchamber.org.

Gary Bedrosian, principal of Bedrosian and Associates, LLC, recently announced the establishment of the consulting firm which provides geographic information systems (GIS) project management and professional services sales consulting to engineering and technical services firms in the New England region. The company’s mission is to provide regional service firms with the tools and resources they need to level the playing field with larger, more established players." For more details, visit www.gbedrosian.com.

New Hampshire Businesses For Social Responsibility invites Chamber members to its Go On Tour Series featuring a visit Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, located on Goffs Falls Road in Manchester. The tour will run from 8:30 to10:30 a.m., Nov. 12. Cost for the tour is $10 for NHBSR Members, $15 for non-members. For more information, or to register, call (603) 645-2605 or visit www.nhbsr.org.

Federal Savings Bank recently announced its support of the Great Bay Rowing Club through a commercial loan that will allow the organization to purchase new boats and equipment to meet the growing interest of rowers in the community. "Federal Savings Bank is pleased to support community-based, non-profit organizations like Great Bay Rowing," stated Bill Young, Vice President of Commercial Lending at the Bank. For more on FSB, visit www.fsbdover.com or call (800) 462-2265.

G4 Communications, a New England-based business-to-business broadband connectivity provider, recently announced the completion of its 30th Central Office (CO) installation in New Hampshire, making the company the largest coverage Competitive Local Exchange Carrier, or CLEC, in the state. G4 Communications’ customer base includes small- to medium-sized businesses, enterprise-level commercial operations, and government and education networks. For more information, visit www.G4communications.com.

Glen Jodoin, vice president of operations for GreenPages, Inc., recently received the "Vision Award," the newest national honor given to system builders and IT solution providers. Jodoin was one of eight participants who received the award for their unique, innovative and beneficial contributions to the System Builder Summit™ and the VARVision® Fall Conference 2003, held in Hollywood, Calif. in late September.

Exeter Fine Crafts recently recognized Sharon Dugan as its Artist of the Month for October. Dugan is best know for her ash splint Shaker and other traditional baskets ranging in size from miniatures to carrier baskets. For more on Exeter Fine Crafts, visit www.exeterfinecrafts.com.

Gail Bradbard, formerly manager of the Portsmouth Cabot House Furniture Store, was recently promoted to regional manager. Bradbard will now be responsible for operations at the Portland, Maine and Portsmouth stores as well as overseeing the interior design staffs.

Calypso Communications announced recently that it has been hired to conceive, develop, and execute a long-term strategic public relations campaign for First Act Inc., a Newton, Mass.-based company that makes high quality, affordable music instruments for high school band students and customized instruments for professional musicians. The company also markets quality musical products and learning systems to children through mass merchants such as Wal-Mart and Target. For more on Calypso, visit www.calypsocom.com.

Agents from Grubb & Ellis|Coldstream Real Estate Advisors, Inc., one of the region’s leading providers of integrated commercial real estate services, brokered a number of leases during the third quarter: David Choate assisted a tenant in leasing 2,000 square feet of industrial space at 592R Lafayette Road, Hampton for the relocation of a woodworking business;. Wes Tator assisted Body One Pilates Studio in the lease of 2,100 square feet of retail space at 44 Lafayette Road, North Hampton for a pilates conditioning studio; and Choate and Julie Porter assisted the Portsmouth School of Ballet in leasing 3,393 square feet. of dance and class room space in the Malt House Exchange, 95 Albany Street in Portsmouth. For more on the company, visit www.grubb-ellis.com.

The Gundalow Company recently celebrated its first anniversary after a year of successes, according to Molly Bolster, the organization’s new executive director. The historic sailing vessel made a number of stops during the 2003 season including York, Maine, the NH Port Authority, Prescott Park in Portsmouth, Wagon Hill in Durham and the Sandy Point Discovery Center on Great Bay. Former director, Justin Kane, will move to a more focussed role revolving around on-board educat