Guest Message
Peter Hamelin
Chamber President

On behalf of the Chamber’s board of directors and staff, I wish you a Happy New Year and success in life and business. By now you have seen all the "best and worst-of" lists, top stories and other end of the year articles. I feel 2003 was a year that challenged us all. It challenged us to be better at business, and to be more aware of what was happening both locally, and on the national and world stages. It gave us many opportunities to reflect on what is truly important in our lives, and it gave us an opportunity to look to the future and define a plan for positive progress.

Over the holidays, I had a chance to talk with friends and family about who we truly are and what our roles are here on this earth. When you think about the world’s population, are we not just a speck on a fly on the tail of a lion? How important are we as individuals? Well, when you consider that every action you take, every dollar you spend, and every decision you make affects another person-which in turns affects another and another— you see we truly do have an impact on the world, and as a result, major responsibilities. So while we have a minuscule part in the "play of life," it is the most important part of all. We all make choices everyday about how we want to live our lives, and how we treat others. I believe that each person, no matter what role they serve in society, has the ability to change the world for the better. We can change the world by getting involved with a local non-profit, voting in elections, or sharing a kind word with someone less fortunate.

By now you’re probably asking where I’m going with all this. I believe that we are, and can continue to be, a model for others. I also believe that the actions we take, the way we choose to spend our tax money, the way we treat our visitors and the way we strive to create a inclusive community, will ripple out and truly change the world.

If you look out across the Portsmouth region and think of all the other cities and towns you’ll see they are all facing the same challenges we face here—affordable housing, how to pay for schools and road improvements, healthcare costs, and the balancing resident, tourists and development needs. We are in the unique position of having the people, ideas and creative energy to help solve these issues, not only for ourselves, but for all those communities around us. All over, committees, boards, neighborhood groups, politicians and business people like you are working to make their homes and communities better. All it takes is for good people to become involved. So I hope you will slide that thought into your collection of New Year’s resolutions.

Okay now to a more practical subject—the outlook for the 2004 business community. The overall economic outlook for Portsmouth and the region is bright. During the lowest point of this recent recession, we kept our focus on enhancing our quality of life, working toward maintaining a balanced economic environment and preparing for the upturn by focusing our efforts on the challenges all businesses face–work-force housing, transportation and the bottleneck at the Little Bay bridges and the skyrocketing costs of health care.

A top indicator of our positive future is the new residential and mixed-used development that is now taking place in our central business district. We need to stay focused on positive, balanced growth in the downtown, which will reduce sprawl, traffic congestion and continue to provide opportunities for our independent businesses to succeed.

Following the shake out in the technology sector, we saw many people who were laid off and former company executives stay in the area. They have started their own businesses or joined forces with others. These businesses are now growing and maturing. So we are continuing our efforts to integrate the technology industry into our economic environment with the goal that their success will strengthen all business and continue to spotlight this region as a high-tech hub.

The Greater Portsmouth region continues to be a strong draw to tourists who are looking for a historic, cultural and outdoor vacation. With an expanding downtown, more beds being added and our efforts to work with the state of New Hampshire and our fellow chambers of commerce in the region, we feel 2004 will be an excellent year for tourism. We will continue to create partnerships between our hotels, restaurants, retail stores and our diverse cultural institutions to promote this region as a year-round destination.

Overall, I see businesses starting to add jobs and spend money on services that they have been reluctant to buy in the past. One industry that has been hurt in recent years, and has not shown any signs of a re-emergence, is manufacturing. That sector is now starting to get attention from both state and federal politicians who recognize that well-paying jobs going overseas is not positive progress for our local economies or our work force.

And with new programs like Big Fish-Little Fish, Year of the Customer and Mid-Day Meets, we see more of you doing business with each other, and finding ways to support one another, so we can continue to strengthen our local economy and your businesses. I am looking forward to this year, but more importantly, I’m looking forward to working each day to make a better home for myself and members of my community.

Members looking for education, inspiration, involvement and motivation will get plenty of opportunities this year as the Chamber kicks into high gear with a full slate of programs and activities.

The Chamber will kick off the new year Jan. 14 with a Fleet Speaker Series breakfast forum featuring two of the Seacoast’s most successful native son’s, Jonathan King and Jim Stott of Stonewall Kitchen. The two local entrepreneurs turned a lifelong hobby into a $20 million-a-year international business.

Join us from 7:30-9 a.m. at Yoken’s Restaurant to meet them and find out their secrets to success. Future forums for this spring will feature Boston Mayor Tom Menino and Steve Barba, owner and general manager of the Balsams.

Mark your calendar today for this year’s legislative reception, scheduled for 4-6 p.m., Feb. 9 at the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel. As the political season heats up, this is a chance for members to connect with federal and state representatives about the issues. The event, underwritten by Public Service of New Hampshire and Comcast is free and open to the community.

The Chamber will return to the newly opened Wentworth by the Sea Hotel March 10 for the 3rd Annual Seacoast Tourism Summit. The event will feature educational seminars, guest speakers, exhibitors and vendors that support the local tourism industry. Chamber members are invited to participate as attendees, exhibitors and presenters.

Following on the success of last year’s workshop series, the Chamber’s business development committee has put together another set of educational forums designed to help members grow customer patronage and loyalty. The series is sponsored by Federal Savings Bank. The first session, entitled Wowing, Not Just Satisfying Your Customers, is scheduled for 8-10 a.m., March 4 at the New Hampshire Community Technical College. The second session, Gathering and Understanding Critical Facts About Your Customers and Non-Customers, will be held from 8-10 a.m., April 8, also at the NHCTC. Cost for the sessions will be $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

2004 B2B Expo & Resource Fair.

Those looking for opportunities to spotlight their products and services will want to sign up early for the 2004 B2B Expo and Resource Fair set for April 27 at Yoken’s Restaurant & Conference Center. Watch the February Dividends for the registration form and full details.

For more information on any of these events, stay tuned to the Chamber’s website at www.portsmouthchamber.org or call (603) 436-3988.

Timberland will host the Chamber’s second Big Fish Little Fish Program Jan. 22. The first program, held at Seacoast Newspapers in December was a resounding success, according to Kendra Frangos, the Chamber’s membership manager. More than 45 Chamber members qualifed for the opportunity to sell to one of the Seacoast’s bigger businesses.

The Chamber’s business development committee initiated the program to encourage local purchasing and economic growth, and to support members. The program was created to connect larger organizations in the Seacoast area with smaller businesses that can provide needed products and services.

Timberland is participating in this program in an effort to buy more of its products and services locally and to meet with local vendors that satisfy its buying requirements.

Those interested in applying for the Timberland opportunity should contact the Chamber for more information. Applications, including a full list of needed product/service categories, is available online in MicroSoft Word format at www.portsmouthchamber.org/bigfish.cfm. Applications may be faxed to the Chamber at (603) 436-5118 or emailed to Kendra Frangos at kfrangos@portsmouthchamber.org. Interview slots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For additional information or questions, contact Kendra Frangos, membership manager, Portsmouth Chamber at (603) 436-3988, ext. 18.

Over the past several months, members of the Chamber’s tourism committee have been finding ways to get more advertising bang for members’ tourism marketing buck through state grants and cooperative campaigns.

The marketing plan includes destination advertising in Yankee Magazine and its companion Yankee Travel Guide, New England Travel & Life, and the New Hampshire Tour Planner; representation at the Annual New England Meeting Industry Conference & Exposition; representation on the New England Sales Mission to Canada; and display advertising and inquiry lists related to a direct mail campaign.

According to Marge Hubbard, the Chamber’s tourism manager, a single business buying the advertising listed above would pay $19,540 for the exposure. Chamber members can get the whole program for $1,500 or choose individual options a la carte.

Those interested in this opportunity may contact Hubbard at (603) 436-3988, ext. 17 or mhubbard@portsmouthchamber.org.

Ginny Griffith recently joined the Chamber staff as the new business development manager. She takes over from Jennifer Quinlan who left the position in October to take a job with Chinberg Builders.

Griffith, formerly the business market manager for Prexar, will be responsible for supporting the eCoast Technology Roundtable and managing the Chamber’s business development efforts.

A native of the Seacoast region, Griffith has worked a variety of jobs that compliment her new position. She has served as a board member on the eCoast Technology Roundtable, the administrative/operations manager for the Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Chamber of Commerce, hosting services senior manager for Log On American (formerly CyberTours) and as owner, broker, consultant and distributor for her own specialty food distribution business-among many others.

Griffith has also served as a volunteer for many other groups helping to organize civic networking coops, fundraising activities and community events.

"Having been involved with the Chamber for several years now I feel comfortable with my new responsibilities and am excited about the opportunity to create programs that support our members," said Griffith. "I look forward to working with the many community groups and Chamber committees in the future and invite feedback from members on our business development activities."

Chamber Events

Sen. Judd Gregg spent spent more than an hour with Chamber members Dec. 12 to talk about some of the challenges facing the country over the next decade. Sen. Gregg’s presentation, part of the Fleet Speaker Series, was held at the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel. Highlighting current events, Sen. Gregg supported President Bush’s recent reversal of tariffs on foreign steel and warned against the adoption of trade policies that would negatively impact the ability of the United States, and more specifically New Hampshire, to find markets for a growing base of "intellectual" exports. Sen. Gregg said that foreign trade accounts for more than 30 percent of New Hampshire jobs. He also talked about the coming wave of "baby boomers" and efforts by those in Washington to pass on the burden of supporting the country’s aging population to the younger generation. He said we have a responsibility" to develop healthcare and social policies that do not mortgage the futures of future generations." During the question and answer period, a member of the audience asked Sen. Gregg whether he thought the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard would be affected by the next round of base closures. He said, "there is no doubt the navy yard will be reviewed." He added that they key to ensuring the future of the yard is to ensure that the criteria used by the BRAC place the facility in a favorable position. He said he is already working with members of the New Hampshire and Maine delegations on a letter to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

Nearly 300 guests turned out for this year’s Holiday Winetasting held Dec. 17 at the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel. Surrounded by a collection of "windows" on Portsmouth, guests sampled table after table of the Seacoast’s finest cuisine and some of the state’s finest wines–not to mention a collection of special holiday scotch, vodka and tequila spirits provided by distilleries from around the world. From gourmet seafood platters, fine pastries, and jumbo shrimp to other seacoast specialties from the kitchens of their world-class chef staff, the Sheraton captured the attention and the appetites of guests who spent the evening connecting with friends and business contacts. The Chamber also used the evening to recognize the winner of this year’s nonprofit benefit drawing taken from the proceeds of the Holiday Auction Gala held in November at the New England Center. A holiday windfall came early for the March of Dimes as Chamber President Peter Hamelin announced the group would receive a check for $575 which reflects 5 percent of the net auction proceeds. The Chamber thanks the Sheraton for its contributions to one of the community’s signature events.

NEW YEAR’S PORTSMOUTH

"What a year! As we said farewell to 2003 and welcomed in 2004 with music, dance, fireworks and a clown or two, downtown Portsmouth was alive with folks enjoying an unusually "balmy" New Year’s Eve. Who could imagine that one of our biggest concerns would be the ice sculptures melting?" said Barbara Massar, the Chamber’s director of downtown events. It was only a year ago that Pro Portsmouth seemed destined to fade into history. However, over the past several months, the Chamber and Pro Portsmouth boards have come together to form a partnership that breathed new life into the organization which continues to present popular community events like Children’s Day, Market Square Day–and New Year’s Portsmouth. "The return of New Year’s Portsmouth was a success thanks to the work of our volunteers, and the ongoing partnership we share with members of our religious community who allowed us to host performances in their "homes," said Massar. "The community also owes a great deal of thanks to the City of Portsmouth, our business partners and our sponsors." Underwriters for the event were Citizen’s Bank, Clear Channel Radio, Comcast, Fox Run Mall, Service Credit Union and the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth Hotel." Pro Portsmouth and the Chamber especially thank Banana’s, Blue Mermaid, Ceres Street Bakery, Domino’s, Seacoast Coca-Cola and Starbucks for their donations of food and drink - the volunteers were most appreciative! Massar said the community bought up nearly all 3,000 NYP buttons minted and projects gross proceeds of more than $20,000 which will be used to support staff and produce future events. Next up – Children’s Day and Market Square Day. For information on Pro Portsmouth events, visit www.proportsmouth.org.

Good Leads, a Salem, N.H.-based sales lead generation firm, recently announced the appointment of Linda Green as director of sales and marketing. Green has more than 25 years of experience in computer hardware and software sales and marketing. For more on Good Leads, visit www.goodleads.com.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage recently achieved personal milestones. Susan Fuller and Sheree Castgonguay earned their E-PRO designation certifying them to help clients with online real estate; Barbara Ade earned the GRI designation. Several new employees have also joined the company’s Bow Street office. They are: Joan Dawley, Madelyn Philbrick, Pam Kirby and Robin Simard. For more information, visit www.nemoves.com.

Destefano Architects recently won a Preservation Award of Excellence at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Portsmouth Advocates. The firm won the honor for the renovation and redesign of the 1947 Cape at 27 Austin St. in Portsmouth. The Advocates said the updated structure is a tribute to the group’s mission of "preserving our city’s unique historic character." For more on Destefano Architects, visit www.destefanoarchitects.com.

The Lollipop Tree, a specialty food manufacturer located in downtown Portsmouth, recently announced the addition of two new gifts to its product lineup. The Jam Trio features a sampling of the company’s best jams and marmalades including Blood Oranage Cranberry Marmalade, Raspberry Peach Jam and Wild Blueberry Jam. The Scone Mix and Jams Gift Collection features the same jams with the addition of the scone mix. For more, visit www.lollipoptree.com.

Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green recently launched its inaugural issue of Good Company, an electronic business publication. Each quarterly issue of the publication covers a broad range of topics covering business and complex legal issues. To get on the mailing list, email goodcompany@sheehan.com or contact Debra Piotrowski at (603) 627-8179.

Madelaine’s Daughter Just Prom Shop, previously located in the Vaughn Mall in downtown Portsmouth, recently opened in a new location at 775 Lafayette Plaza in Portsmouth. The new store is twice the size of the old one and features more dressing rooms and a selection of more than 1,200 distinctive dresses. To find out more, visit www.madeleinesdaughter.com.

Families First Health and Support Center of Portsmouth was recently named a winner of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Corporate Fund’s Walter J. Dunfey Award. The award, which recognizes excellence in nonprofit management, was presented in early December at the corporate offices of Public Service of New Hampshire in Manchester. Families First was recognized for their work in providing affordable healthcare services to needy families in the Seacoast region. The selection was made by representatives from the 13 companies which comprise the corporate fund.

Exeter Fine Crafts recently selected Lynn McCarthy as its January 2004 artist of the month. McCarthy is known for her artsy baby sweaters, hats and boots as well as her "comfy" socks for men and women which are all made from the finest yarns including wools, alpaca, angora and silk.

New Generation, Inc., a shelter for homeless pregnant women and women with children, recently thanked a number of local organizations for helping to make the holiday special for their residents. Sexual Assault Support Services of Portsmouth and Rochester donated a Christmas tree for the family room. William A. Berry and Son, Inc. of Danvers donated a 25" flat screen TV, A vacuum player, diapers, rattles, washcloths, dishcloths and receiving blankets; Me and Ollie’s donated a variety of breads bagels and muffins; and churches from Hampton, Durham and York provided residents and children with wrapped gifts from members of their respective parishes.

The Sadler Insurance Agency recently welcomed Aurora E. Hartsell, CIC, CPCU, as a commercial marketing director. Her past experience includes work as an account executive for Xerox Corporation, claims adjuster for Allstate, claims supervisor for Metropolitan Property & Casualty and marketing manager for Hanover Insurance.

Members of the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association (NHTLA) recently elected Timothy C. Coughlin as organization president. Coughlin, a partner in the firm of Coughlin, Rainboth, Murphy & Lown of Portsmouth, is a 10-year member of NHTLA and has been a member of the New Hampshire Bar since 1990. Over the past year, Coughlin has served as both president-elect and treasurer of the organization. He is also the Verdicts & Settlements editor for the Trial Bar News, which is one of the state’s premier publications on legal issues.

The First National Bank of Ipswich recently won a decorating contest that enabled the organization to donate $500 to a local charity.

The Great Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross recently announced a new slate of officers. Hubert Carmichael, of Florida Power & Light’s Seabrook Station, was elected as board chair. Assisting him in leadership are Amanda Long, plant manager of Fibredyne, as first vice chair; and Nancy E. Notis, manager of public relations for Portsmouth Regional Hospital, as second vice chair. Dr. Stefanie Tate, professor of accounting at the Whittmore School of Business will serve as treasurer and Michael Quinn, an attorney at McLane Graf Raulerson & Middleton Professional Association, as secretary. Additionally, Sarah Cherne has been named as the executive director of the Great Bay Chapter of the Red Cross.

Port City Web, LLC, www.portcityweb.com, a national full-service web solutions provider offering strategy, design, implementation and support of services for Web and IT initiatives, recently announced that it has successfully launched a fully integrated MLS and GeekTools" website for Jeff Mountjoy, a Portsmouth, New Hampshire based Realtor. GeekTools MLS, and the new website, integrate seamlessly in the background with only the MLS data that represents the area Mountjoy personally covers. Home buyers can quickly and easily find a listing of homes in the towns they are searching in just 1 click. For more, visit www.portcityweb.com.

The St. Thomas Aquinas High School FIRST Robotics team, under the direction of STA science teacher William Dinan, recently received a $5000 grant from the NH Space Grant Consortium (NHSGC), headquartered at UNH’s Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space. The grant awarded to STA is earmarked for the robotics kit necessary to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition, which kicks off this year on January 10, 2004. In addition to the grant, the St. Thomas team has successfully raised over $5,000 in private donations, with help from the eCoast Technology Roundtable committee, and is still in need of approximately $5,000 more to cover travel funds for the national competition. To find out more, or to get involved, contact Bill Dinan at wdinan@stalux.org or (603) 742-3206.

Strawbery Banke Museum recently announced that it has received a $5,000 grant from Fleet for the purchase and improvement of hands-on interactive materials to be used in the museum’s school and youth Time Travel Workshops. These new materials, which will include items such as 19th-century style brass scales, a reproduction ceramic tea set, magnetic timelines, and archaeological tools for children, will allow the museum’s programs to better fulfill the educational frameworks and guidelines set by the New Hampshire Department of Education. Over 10,000 students and 3,000 teachers currently visit the museum each year. For more on Strawbery Banke, visit www.strawberybanke.org.

The Women’s Business Center will hold a special workshop designed to Help Women Business Owners Put Sizzle into their Brands from 6-8 p.m., Jan. 13 at the Fleet Bank offices located at 848 Islington Street in Portsmouth. For more on the workshop, or to sign up, visit www.womenbiz.org or phone (603) 430-2892.

WSI, the world’s leading Internet consulting and education company, recently announced the opening of its latest office- WSI Web Connection at 462 Sixth St. in Dover, NH. Craig Hodges will head the office and lead the effort to help area small and medium sized businesses design, implement and maintain a specialized Internet business strategy. For more details, call Hodges at (603)817-5062 or email chodges@wsiwebconnection.com.

Breakfast Forum with
Stonewall Kitchen Founders
Join Us to Hear Jonathan King &
Jim Stott Talk About Their Success

Yoken’s Restaurant
[Route 1, Portsmouth, NH]

It was just 11 years ago, that Jim Stott and Jonathan King were selling their hand-labeled vinegars and jams from a three-foot square card table at the Portsmouth Farmer's Market. Today, their local, home-grown company has expanded to six stores and is an internationally recognized brand featuring a host of gourmet specialties sold around the world. Since their humble beginnings in 1995, business revenues have gone from $20,000 to more than $20 million annually. According to Stott and King, "for us the success of Stonewall Kitchen is not just a reflection of our talents and resourcefulness as chefs and gardeners ... it is a testament to the art of preserve making and the growing public interest in fresh, superior-quality ingredients.

Cost of the breakfast is $12 for Chamber members and $15 for nonmembers. Those interested in attending the breakfast are encouraged to RSVP by contacting the Chamber at (603) 436-3988 or via email at info@portsmouthchamber.org.

Business After Hours
Chamber Members Team Up for
A Unique Networking Night Out

Sise Inn & Middle St. Baptist Church
[Court St., Portsmouth, NH]

Now that the holidays are over there’s no reason to hibernate for the rest of the winter, so join us for a step back in time with a visit to the Peirce Mansion at the Middle Street Baptist Church, and then the Sise Inn. Tour both historic mansions and warm up with refreshments and food graciously provided by Attrezzi, Belle Peppers, and others. Parking for the event will be behind the church at the intersection of Middle & Court Streets in Portsmouth. Follow the signs for registration at the church.

The evenings door prizes will feature an overnight stay at the Sise, a day-long meeting for up to 10 peop