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Dividends-September 2004 Chair's Message Summer may be coming to a close, but I have always found Fall to be an exciting and busy time of year, particularly at the Chamber. Our announcement of Dick Ingram, as the new Chamber president has been met with full support from the staff, Board and membership. I hope you will join me in extending a warm welcome to Dick, a sincere thank you to the Search Committee* for their dedication and commitment to the hiring process, and to the staff for their patience and assistance throughout the process. Our new president will appropriately begin work on Friday, Sept. 24, the day of the board's annual retreat. This is an important day for the Chamber. It's the time of year when the board, staff and president go to work establishing a solid basis of mutual understanding, communication, and objectives for the upcoming year. Key topics will include continued discussion of the Little Bay Bridge schedule, affordable housing, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's bid to stay open, education and the development of a vision for the downtown that complements the city's master plan and incorporates the needs of business. We'll also continue to expand and improve upon our strongly supported Tourism Summit, Joint Promotional Program initiatives, Mid-day Meets, business development seminars, technology forums and government affairs activities. For a full list of programs visit the web site and download the new membership guide. If you have any thoughts or concerns regarding these or other topics I urge you to contact me, a board member or a staff person. Our highest priority is to serve the needs of our members-and we need your assistance in identifying and prioritizing these needs. This is no doubt a challenging task considering the wonderful diversity of businesses, both for profit and not for profit, the seacoast is fortunate enough to have. But, it's an exciting challenge. I am confident that with strong commitment, dedication, enthusiasm and endless hours of volunteerism from the board, staff and membership, we can continue to affect change with positive results. Two of our key goals within the Chamber are to continually improve our efficiency and effectiveness. To that end, the staff has been working hard on identifying ways to accomplish this. We will also be focusing on improving the way we communicate the Chamber's objectives and benefits, while continuing to build upon and create new partnerships with local, state and federal entities. The arrival of a new president and new board members provides an excellent opportunity to step back and evaluate all our programs of work. Fresh perspectives and insight often create energy and renewed focus. So as the leaves prepare their glorious autumn show of color in the weeks ahead, the Chamber will be busy making and embracing changes as well. We hope you will continue to join us in the creation, participation and evaluation process. The more you become involved in the process, the more effective we can be. *Search Committee: Michael Kane, The Kane Company, and incoming board vice chairman; Joshua Cyr, Harbour Lights Strategic Marketing; Lisa DeStefano, DeStefano Architects; Renee' Riedel, Two International Group; and Dana Levenson, from the City of Portsmouth's Economic Development Commission. Chamber News Chamber Board Chooses Dick Ingram as New President The Chamber's board of directors recently announced the hiring of Dick Ingram as the organization's new president. Ingram takes over from Peter Hamelin who left the Chamber in July to start a business with two partners. Ingram will officially start work Sept. 24. Ingram is currently executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Seacoast where he has been since 2001. From 1999 to 2001 he was the director of development for the Odyssey House, Inc. Prior to joining Odyssey House, he held several senior executive positions in the financial services industry. He left the financial arena so he could spend more time with his family, and contribute to the greater seacoast community where he has lived and raised his family. "Dick has proven himself a strong and passionate leader, and creative thinker with excellent communication skills," said Robin Whittaker, president of the Isles of Shoals Steamship Co., chair of the Chamber's search committee and incoming chairperson of the board. "His extensive and proven track record in management, strategic planning and finances will be a strong asset for the Chamber. Dick Ingram stated, "I am very excited to be joining the Chamber. Portsmouth is a special place, and I look forward to helping the Chamber play a vital role in its future." A Portsmouth native, Ingram said his primary focus will be to "help build community, create good relationships and help our members to be successful." Ingram added, "It's been clear to me, certainly from what I've seen being a member for several years, what the Chamber does to facilitate relationships and get involved in issues that matter. I certainly want to do what I can to continue that." The Chamber's search committee received nearly 70 resumes from applicants in the Seacoast area and across the country. The group worked more than a month to complete the interview process. Members of the search committee are: Whittaker, Michael Kane, The Kane Company, and incoming board vice chairman; Joshua Cyr, Harbour Lights Strategic Marketing; Lisa DeStefano, DeStefano Architects; Renee' Riedel, Two International Group; and Dana Levenson, from the City of Portsmouth's Economic Development Commission. Chamber Takes Delivery of 'Coastline Magazine' The Chamber recently took delivery of this year's Coastline Magazine, the region's only relocation guide and comprehensive business directory. Starting on Sept. 10, Chamber Ambassadors and staff will be mailing and hand-delivering copies to members as part of "Operation Thank You." The program is an annual tradition that gives the Chamber staff and volunteers an opportunity to visit with members face-to-face and thank them for their support. Pizza for the distribution volunteers generously provided by the Portsmouth Gaslight Company. Thousands of magazines are mailed out each year to prospective new businesses and residents through the Chamber, the Pease Development Authority, 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 on the Chamber's website at www.portsmouthchamber .org. 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 from Coastline Magazine online. "We hope our members will keep their copy handy and use it when they need products or services," said Kendra Frangos, the Chamber's membership manager. "Using the directory in the back of the magazine is a great way to support your fellow members." To find out more about the benefits of advertising in Coastline, contact Frangos, the Chamber's membership manager, at (603) 436-3988, ext. 18 or email kfrangos@portsmouthchamber.org. This 2005 issue will be published next June. Chamber Seeking Grants for Tourism Promotion While the hustle and bustle of the summer tourism season may be fading, the Chamber is hard at work finding ways to bump up visitor interest in the Seacoast year round through a number of off-season initiatives. The promotional program, which will run from October through February, will be funded in part through the state's Joint Promotional Program. The JPP matches Chamber dollars invested in the overall plan which includes off-season radio and print ads aimed at the Boston market, advertising in the Yankee Travel Guide, participation in the New England Meeting Professionals International Conference and Expo in 2005, a fall/winter rack card and several 2 to 3-minute online promotional videos of the area. "We plan to run radio ads the last week of January and the first week of February while simultaneously running 1-column x 6"ads in the Sunday and Thursday Boston Globe travel sections," said Marge Hubbard, chamber tourism manager. "Our ad will be in the Northwest, West and city editions on Sundays, reaching more than a million readers, and in the full run of the Thursday editions reaching 1.4 million readers." Hubbard added that the Chamber will be running 16 ads a week on The River 92.5 FM for two weeks during the morning and evening rush hours, Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays and Sundays. The Boston Globe ads will run on three Sundays and the two Thursdays in between. "We want people to think of Portsmouth when planning their winter or spring vacation or perhaps a weekend getaway," said Hubbard. "The message is that there is always something going on in Portsmouth no matter what time of year it is." Three web videos will run on a rolling schedule starting in mid-November. The second video would go on-line in mid-January to coincide with the Boston market advertising scheduled for that time. The third video will go on-line in mid-March to correspond with the release of the 2005 Guide to the Seacoast. Hubbard said the plan also includes the production of 15,000 four-color rack cards featuring a collage of pictures that portray activities that are available in Portsmouth and the Seacoast in late fall and the holiday season, and a calendar of events for that time. "The message will be 'There's always something going on in Portsmouth and the NH Seacoast,'" said Hubbard. For a complete overview of the off-season tourism marketing plan, visit the Chamber's web site at www.portsmouthchamber.org/tourismplan2005.cfm. Brochure Slots Available at Seabrook Visitor Center Want to reach nearly 1 million visitors to the Seacoast a year including leaf peepers, fall shoppers and winter vacationers? Do you have a big pile of brochures sitting in your store room that you haven't moved yet? Do you need a more effective shoulder-season marketing strategy? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Chamber and Seacoast Granite State Ambassadors encourage you to take advantage of Seacoast region brochure rack at the Seabrook I-95 State Visitor Center. "Through a partnership between the Seacoast Area Chambers, the Granite State Ambassadors, the NH Division of Travel and Tourism Development and the NH Department of Transportation, any business that is a member of one of the six area Chambers of commerce may now distribute their literature at the center," said Lisa Proulx, , Granite State Ambassadors seacoast regional manager. There are currently slots available for the upcoming 2004-2005 season. Cost is $550 per year. Proceeds benefit the Seacoast Granite State Ambassador Program. Some Chamber members already participating include the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel, Prudential Rush Realty, Best Western Wynwood Hotel, Seacoast Harley Davidson, the Lollipop Tree, Outback Steakhouse, Stonewall Kitchen, and Fox Run Mall. Chamber Events Tekkies Trek to the Seacoast for 5th Annual eCruise Tekkies from throughout the eCoast flocked to the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company Aug. 18 for the 5th Annual eCruise. It was a picture perfect evening on the water as nearly 300 guests lined the rail for a sunset cruise up the Piscataqua River to Great Bay. Throughout the evening, the crowd networked with friends and new acquaintances and sampled a sumptuous buffet of the Seacoast's tastiest cuisine provided by Clay Hill Farmof Ogunquit, Maine. Refreshments were provided by the Isles of Shoals Steamship Co. Lucky raffle prize winners were Laurie Peyser, Print Savvy, who won the grand prize-a one-year semi-dedicated hosting package from Port City Web valued at $1,800; Anthony Delyani, McLane Law Firm, picked up a pair of airline tickets courtesy of Pan Am Airways; Marc Saulnier, Paetec Communications, drew a dinner gift certificate for two at Clay Hill Farm; Kimberly Norton, Beaverite Packaging and Presentation Solutions, won a gift certificate for wine from Ceres St. Wine Merchants; Abigail Green, Abigail Greene Web Services, drew a copy of the Mass High Tech Directory; and Rob Sylvester Jr., Airex Corp. and Roy Patrick CHR Solutions, both picked up an official eCoast hat. The Chamber thanks the following sponsors for helping to make this year's cruise possible: Captain Sponsors-PixelMEDIA and Liberty Mutual; First Mate Sponsors-Pannaway and Lyons Law Offices; Deck Sponsors, Bedrosian & Associates and Docutron; Media Sponsor-Mass High Tech; and Catering Sponsor-Clay Hill Farm. Victory 96 State St. Hosts Late Summer After Hours It was standing room only Aug. 26 as nearly 150 Chamber members and guests crowded into the Victory 96 State Street Restaurant for a lively business after hours. Throughout the evening Victory staff wove their way through the mingling crowd with tray after tray of hors d'ouevres from their world class kitchen. Some lucky visitors won a chance to return to the restaurant for a sampling of the chef's full fare as well as other valuable door prizes. Jim Houghton, Affordable Health Solutions, Rhonda Lee, MacGillivray & Lee, and Heidi Ruth, Reid Publications, all won $50 gift certificates for dinner at the Victory; Craig Welch, Grubb & Ellis Coldstream Real Estate Advisors, Inc., drew two bottles of fine wine; and Marina Forbes, New England Language Institute, picked up the first-ever member profile prize. As winner of the profile prize, New England Language Institute will be featured on the Chamber's website for a month in a prominent place complete with photo, company logo and a 300-word writeup. The staff will continue to draw profile prizes each month at business after hours events. The Chamber thanks Victory 96 partners George Frangos and Duncan Boyd, and the staff, for their hospitality and a great night out. Chamber Calendar Year of the Customer Seminar 8-10 a.m., Tuesday,Sept. 14 The third seminar in the Year of the Customer Series, entitled Turning the Voice of Your Customers into Exciting Products/Services, is scheduled for 8-10 a.m., Sept. 14 at New Hampshire Community Technical College. The YOTC series is sponsored by Federal Savings Bank. Featured speakers include Paul Young, principle, Calypso Communications; Maribeth Girrard, marketing manager for Seacoast Newspapers; Patricia Lynch, executive director of The Music Hall; and Michael Brassard, Brassard Management Services. Cost for the sessions, sponsored by Federal Savings Bank, will be $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers. For more details, stay tuned to the Chamber's web site at www.portsmouthchamber.org/yotc3.cfm or contact Ginny Griffith, the Chamber's business development manager, at (603) 436-3988, ext. 14 or ggriffith@portsmouthchamber.org. Mid-Day Meet 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. Business After Hours at Coughlin, Rainboth, Murphy & Lown Founded in 1993, Coughlin, Rainboth, Murphy & Lown is located in an historic Civil War era restored home at 439 Middle Street in Portsmouth. Together, the team has nearly 50 years of legal experience in all areas of civil litigation, corporate, small business and estate planning matters. Join us for a visit to their offices for an entertaining evening of networking and good times-not to mention, a few surprises from this veteran group of legal beagles. Breakfast Forum with Author Joseph Connor The Chamber and the Seacoast United Way have joined forces to bring author Joseph A. "Jay" Connor to Portsmouth for the September Fleet Speaker Series Breakfast Forum. Connor is the Founder/CEO of The Collaboratory for Community Support where he uses his extensive leadership experience in the business, nonprofit, and public policy arenas to benefit organizations and agencies across the country. Connor recently co-authored a book entitled, Community Visions, Community Solutions: Grantmaking for Comprehensive Impact. The book was designed to "help foundations, community funds, government agencies and other grantmakers uncover a community's highest aspiration for itself, and support and sustain strategic efforts to get workable solutions." Connor is credited with creating a corporate environment emphasizing respect for employees through team empowerment, career development, and increased expectations. Cost is $12 for Chamber members and $15 for nonmembers. Those interested in attending may contact Diane Burch to RSVP at (603) 436-3988, ext. 13 or email dburch@portsmouthchamber.org. Business After Hours Join us to welcome Ocean National Bank to downtown Portsmouth at the October Business After Hours. The bank staff is excited to show off their new headquarters at the corner of State and Fleet Street and celebrate their 150th birthday with a party that's sure to include great food, great company and a host of great door prizes. Ocean operates branches from Kennebunk to Keene and prides itself on supporting businesses and business professionals with full-spectrum support in all areas of financial expertise. So make plans to meet the new hometown finance professionals at this fall fling. Seacoast Chambers Business Expo You're invited to the 15th Annual Seacoast Chambers Business Expo--one of the Seacoast's biggest business events. The Expo, entitled Bridging the Seacoast is set for noon to 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 28 at the Pease International Tradeport's Flextronics Building at 166 Corporate Ave. The new location features outstanding parking facilities as well as convenient access off Routes 16 and 95. Over its 15-year history, the Expo has attracted businesses from a wide array of industries including tourism, high-tech, financial services, Internet and telecommunication service providers, and others. "This year's show is for members only and will not be open to the public--it's an opportunity for the more than 3,500 member businesses to see and be seen," according to organizers. The program will feature a keynote luncheon at noon, followed by open exhibits at 1 p.m. and a combined Business After Hours from 5-7 p.m. Underwritten by Public Service of NH, the Expo is a cooperative effort of the Dover, Exeter, Hamptons, Portsmouth, Rochester, Somersworth and York Chambers of Commerce. The event is co-sponsored by D.F. Richard Energy, Feliciano Limousine, LLC, LifeSize Graphics, Lightship Telecom, Northeast Credit Union, TTLC Internet and Unitil in partnership with he NH Air National Guard remains a partner of the expo, along with the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED). NH Business Review is the expo media partner. For more information, visit www.dovernh.org/SeacoastChambers/Expo.htm or contact Nicole Gregg at (603) 436-3988 or email ngregg@portsmouthchamber.org. Movers & Shakers Jewett Construction announced completion of a new HVAC system in Concord, NH Public Library. The project included demolition of the existing HVAC system, as well as asbestos removal. Dubois & King, Willston, Vermont, with mechanical contractor Hansen-Fox of Concord provided the design for the project. Project Manager John Jarnagin and Superintendent Scott Robertson oversaw the project. For details visit www.jewettconstruction.com. Kent White of CB Richard Ellis, a commercial real estate services firm, recently brokered a transaction on behalf of the Sublandlord. Technomatix Unicam has subleased 13,560 square feet of office space at 700 Islington Street in Portsmouth, New Hampshire from Avaya. For details visit www.cbre.com Relyco Sales, Inc., recently welcomed two new sales people to their offices located in downtown Dover, NH. Donna Ferland was welcomed to the team as an account executive and Scott Hoonakker was welcomed as a remote sales representative. Bedrosian and Associates of Hampton Falls recently announced that they have been selected to develop and implement a customer contact management system for Port City Nissan and the award-winning Dovetailed Kitchens of Portsmouth and Manchester. Both systems will be based on the popular contact management software ACT! 6.0 and will be used by the sales and marketing groups of both organizations to enhance their customer relationship management programs. For more information, contact Gary Bedrosian at (603)929-3635 or visit www.gbedrosian.com. Portsmouth Community Radio, WSCA-LP, recently welcomed Cynthia Fenneman to the Board of Trustees. Fenneman, a Kittery resident, is president and CEO of American Public Television located in Boston, and has 28 years of experience in commercial, public and network cable television. Fenneman has been awarded more than 30 international, national and regional awards, including 12 regional Emmys, a Peabody, and a CableAce. WSCA-LP is going on the air Sept.12 in conjunction with a community radio workshop/conference weekend to be held Sept. 10-12 at their 909 Islington Street studios. For more information visit www.portsmouthcommunityradio.org or call 430-WSCA. Arte Toscana invites Chamber members to "Create Your Own Masterpiece Event" in the Arte Toscana Gallery & Sculpture Garden which is available for private receptions, fundraisers & political events.The garden's capacity is 50-150 and catering and decorations are available. The gallery and garden is located at 112 State St. in Portsmouth. To find out more, contact JoAnn Actis-Grande at (603) 433-6002 or joann@arte-toscana.com or visit www.arte-toscana.com. Favorite Foods of Somersworth, N.H. has won their second Diamond Award in two years from the International Foodservice Distributors Association. The award, announced at this year's IFDA Sales & Marketing Conference in Naples Fla., was presented to Favorite Foods for the excellence in media advertising. The piece specifically honored was the company's ad recently seen in Yankee Food Service and NH Hospitality spots entitled "What's Wrong with this Picture?" For more on favorite foods, visit www.favoritefoods.com. GreenPages recently welcomed Gail Sears as inside sales manager. In the position, Sears will be responsible for managing a team of inside account executives in providing the best possible comprehensive business solutions to clients by leveraging the company's experience and expertise. For more on GreenPages, visit www.greenpages.com. Seacoast Harley-Davidson of Rte 1 North Hampton, NH recently welcomed Frank Maxwell as the new service manager. Maxwell comes to the Seacoast from the Pocanos area in Pennsylvania and is a Harley-Davidson University PHD-Certified Expert Mechanic. For more on the company, visit www.seacoastharley.com. The Kane Company recently leased 5,200+/- SF of retail space at 38 Depot Square to Curves for Women. Jody Skaff of The Kane Company listed the space. Julie Porter, of Grubb & Ellis, represented the tenant. Founded in 1981, The Kane Company is the leading commercial and industrial real estate services company in
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