Down To Business

Doug Teschner, president of Growing Leadership LLC, speaks on topics ranging from his time in the Peace Corps in Ukraine and other countries, to Braver Angels, and how people can talk about politics or other difficult discussions with each other in a positive manner.

Formerly the CEO of Service Credit Union, Gordon Simmons shares his views on the recent Silicon Valley banking crisis and inflationary pressures in New Hampshire, including insights into potential industry trends in the near future.

NHBR Editor Jeff Feingold talks with Michelline Dufort, director of the CEO & Family Enterprise Center, and Jim Proulx, president & CEO of Proulx Oil and Propane, about how the enterprise center helps family businesses navigate the world of succession and day-to-day operations, as well as how CEOs can connect and learn more about how to run their businesses from experts around the state. 

NHBR Editor Jeff Feingold talks all things AI with Minim's VP of Software Engineering Lakshmi Kadiyala, including how businesses in New Hampshire are leveraging AI to make processes more efficient, how companies are using software like OpenAI's ChatGPT to deliver accurate data, and more about how Minim's AI-drive smart home Wi-Fi management and security platform is helping employees remain safe no matter where they work. 

After 33 years as Secondwind Water Systems' CEO, Christine Fletcher retired in late 2022, passing the baton to Shana Hoch, formerly the managing director at Sprague Operating Resources. NHBR Associate Editor Amanda Andrews and Editor Jeff Feingold speak with both ladies about the company's transition and how  Secondwind continues to provide high-quality water treatment services in the state. 

NHBR Editor Jeff Feingold sits down with award-winning reporter Bob Sanders to gain insight into this year's legislation, including bills presented on taxes, housing, employment and energy. 

NHBR Editor Jeff Feingold speaks with Brian Gottlob, director of the NH Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau, about New Hampshire's economic year in review, from interest rates and workforce woes, to housing challenges and more. 

NHBR Editor Jeff Feingold speaks with UNH President James Dean on recent happenings at the college, such as the university's recent Embrace NH bus tour, how they're encouraging environmental tourism and workforce development in the North Country, as well as UNH's legislative involvement and more. 

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month, so NHBR editors Jeff Feingold and Amanda Andrews speak with representatives from the Epilepsy Foundation of New England - Amy Mahoney, Executive Director, and Bill Murphy, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy - to learn more about what their organization advocates for here in New Hampshire.

The NH Community Loan Fund's President & CEO Steve Saltzman discusses how the organization develops communities by providing lending for homeownership, child care, and small businesses to help everyone succeed. 

NHBR Editor Jeff Feingold sits down with Governor Larry Hogan from Maryland to discuss his observations when meeting with different business groups across the country, digging deep into topics like the Republican Party, the current real estate market and affordable housing challenges, the upcoming election, inflation and the economy, and much more. 

Emma Sisti, pro bono manager at 603 Legal Aid, shares the breakdown of how the organization works to connect low-income individuals with pro bono volunteer attorneys to help with their civil cases. 

Christina FitzPatrick is the new State Director for AARP New Hampshire, and her first order of business is tackling public policy issues such as prescription drug prices, affordable housing, voting resources, and much more. Learn more about AARP's national and statewide initiatives and resources they offer to people of any age.

NHBR Editor Jeff Feingold and Associate Editor Amanda Andrews sit down with Rebecca Sanborn, president and founder of Sanborn Diversity Training Solutions, who is one of the panelists of our upcoming event DEI: From Talk to Action, coming up on Sept. 15. Rebecca shares more about her work with LGBTQ+ initiatives within organizations and how she helps businesses create a more inclusive work culture.

To register for the DEI event, visit nhbr.com/dei

NHBR Editor Jeff Feingold and Associate Editor Amanda Andrews speak with Jeff Morrill, board chair of the NH Electric Cooperative, about recent installations of high-speed internet and fiber-optic services to underserved towns such as Acworth, Grafton and Colebrook, among others. 

NHBR's Associate Editor Amanda Andrews speaks with Jim Goldenberg, principal of Cathartes, a private real estate firm based in Boston with ties to New Hampshire, which is celebrating 30 years in the industry. The discussion focuses on new mixed-use developments in Portsmouth and Dover, and how these smart living communities offer a positive work-life balance to residents and business owners alike. 

Bring Back the Trades' founder Steve Turner and executive director Stephanie Brown share the mission behind their nonprofit that educates young students about careers in the trades and the resources available to them. Learn more at bringbackthetrades.org.

Jeff and Amanda sit down with Phil and Nick Mastroianni, owners of Fabrizia Spirits in Salem, NH, who share their story behind the company's  award-winning (and family-approved) limoncello and ready-to-drink canned cocktails.  

Phil Sletten, senior policy analyst for the NH Fiscal Policy Institute, speaks on the worsening housing shortage in NH, and reviews new data that shows how renters and homeowners are enduring cost burdens. 

Anne Richardson, principal and media director of Richardson Media Group in Portsmouth, speaks with NHBR Editor Jeff Feingold and Associate Editor Amanda Andrews about how and why her company became the first B Corp-certified marketing agency in New Hampshire. She also touches on the benefits of B Corps for employees and the community, and why other businesses should follow suit. Thanks for tuning in!

NHBR's Editor Jeff Feingold and Associate Editor Amanda Andrews sit down with Genie Smith (NMLS #420288), vice president, lending market leader of neighborhood and community lending at Bank of America, about the new Homebuyer Insights report, with statistics that show single women in New Hampshire have a higher share of homeownership than single men. She also shares resources and programs for first-time homebuyers looking to enter the housing market. 

Michelle Veasey, executive director of NH Businesses for Social Responsibility, speaks with NHBR Editor Jeff Feingold and Associate Editor Amanda Andrews about House Bill 544 on so called divisive concepts which prohibits and penalizes educators from teaching racism and sexism rampant in our country's history. Veasey explains how this bill tarnishes New Hampshire's brand as a welcoming state to live and work, and how that may affect our future workforce. 

Amanda Andrews, NHBR's associate editor, sits down with Donna Morris, president of the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce, to discuss some of the workforce initiatives the chamber has created in Salem to bridge the skill gaps in various industries. From the formation of the Commerce Corridor to creating a high-quality tourism package for a "Price Is Right" winner, Donna and her colleagues have been busy providing resources to businesses and residents alike. 

Nathan Fink, director of advancement for NH Children's Trust, speaks with NHBR editors Jeff Feingold and Amanda Andrews about the organization's NH Family NOW podcast, which chronicles the ups and downs of parenting. A new feature on the podcast, "Businesses that Build Family," will include interviews with NH business leaders around the state who support NH workers and families.

NH Business Review’s Jeff Feingold and Bob Sanders go over some of the key pieces of business-related legislation being sponsored by New Hampshire lawmakers this session – including a slew of Covid bills and various workplace and energy measures.

Laurel Adams, president of the Raymond-based Regional Economic Development Center, discusses her organization’s efforts to help grow businesses and create jobs in New Hampshire, including its New Americans Fund, which supports new American business owners. This week's episode is sponsored by TFMoran (www.tfmoran.com), a  leading land planning and engineering firm with  offices in Bedford and  Portsmouth, NH.

This week NH Business Review editor Jeff Feingold talks with Steve Duprey and Andru Volinsky, two well-known NH civic leaders from different sides of the political aisle, about a recent op-ed they cowrote on civic engagement. They discuss their longtime friendship (despite great political differences) and how they think discourse can improve in the state and nationwide. This week's episode is sponsored by TFMoran (www.tfmoran.com), a  leading land planning and engineering firm with  offices in Bedford and  Portsmouth, NH.

NH Business Review editor Jeff Feingold talks with Jason Alexander, managing partner at the BANKW staffing and recruitment company, about what employers can and should do to navigate through the extremely difficult employee recruitment and retention landscape.

This week's episode is sponsored by TFMoran (www.tfmoran.com), a  leading land planning and engineering firm with  offices in Bedford and  Portsmouth, NH.

NH Business Review editor Jeff Feingold and award-winning staff writer Bob Sanders break down a Bob's recent story on a new trend in healthcare. As an outgrowth of the Affordable Care Act, and subsequent measures and subsidies, more and more people are finding the individual market an affordable alternative to employer-provided healthcare. As large and small group health insurance markets shrink, and more new products come online, small group markets are at particular risk. 

This week's episode is sponsored by TFMoran (www.tfmoran.com), a  leading land planning and engineering firm with  offices in Bedford and  Portsmouth, NH.

Holly Gaspar of Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Chelsie Rommell of NH Legal Assistance discuss a new medical-legal partnership being launched in the Upper Valley and Sullivan County. The two-year pilot project will identify health disparities in those communities and make civil legal assistance accessible to young families in need in those communities. This week's episode is sponsored by TFMoran (www.tfmoran.com), a  leading land planning and engineering firm with  offices in Bedford and  Portsmouth, NH.

NH Business Review Editor Jeff Feingold talks with Taylor Caswell, Commissioner of the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs, about the department’s Collaborative Economic Development Regions (CEDRs). Caswell explains how CEDRs came about and how they correct for an economic development infrastructure in New Hampshire that’s not “tuned for deep collaboration and common direction.” The CEDRs, he says will help create a ground for collaboration so broad state economic development strategies can be implemented locally. They also dig into some ways Caswell says the state can bring more workers to New Hampshire. This week's episode is sponsored by TFMoran (www.tfmoran.com), a  leading land planning and engineering firm with  offices in Bedford and  Portsmouth, NH.

NH Business Review Editor Jeff Feingold and Girls Inc. CEO (and former NH Business Review publisher) Sharron McCarthy discuss NHBR's upcoming Powered by Women event. Sharron reflects, as both the event's founder and a panelist this year, on what makes it such a moving event for speakers and attendees. This week's episode is sponsored by TFMoran (www.tfmoran.com), a  leading land planning and engineering firm with  offices in Bedford and  Portsmouth, NH.

NH Business Review Publisher Ernesto Burden talks with leaders from the NH Automobile Dealers Association and a recently graduated automotive technician about an innovative scholarship program the NHADA has developed to promote auto tech careers to high and college students. Joining the discussion are NHADA President Pete McNamara, Mike Kopp, who sits on the NHADA board and is a partner at Northcountry Ford, and Jason Blanc, a newly minted technician at Autofair Ford. This week's episode is sponsored by TFMoran (www.tfmoran.com), a  leading land planning and engineering firm with  offices in Bedford and  Portsmouth, NH.

NH Business Review editor Jeff Feingold talks with Fliptable founder Kassandra Pike and her core team. They discuss how their new app aims to solve the problem of hiring in the restaurant community, talk about their process, and how they believe the “Bumble of the restaurant industry” can make huge difference in recruiting.  This week's episode is sponsored by TFMoran (www.tfmoran.com), a  leading land planning and engineering firm with  offices in Bedford and  Portsmouth, NH.

NH Business Review Editor Jeff Feingold talks with Deo Mwano, owner of Deo Mwano Consultancy, about an upcoming piece he's written for NHBR on how companies need to think beyond recruiting diverse candidates to how to create a culture that optimizes retention of a diverse workforce. This week's episode is sponsored by TFMoran  (www.tfmoran.com), a  leading land planning and engineering firm with  offices in Bedford and  Portsmouth, NH.

NH Business Review Publisher Ernesto Burden talks with writer Bob Sanders about his recent story diversity in corporate leadership, nationally and in New Hampshire. They discuss the national "Missing Pieces" report and then dive into what Bob found when he looked at New Hampshire companies. This week's episode is sponsored by TFMoran  (www.tfmoran.com), a  leading land planning and engineering firm with  offices in Bedford and  Portsmouth, NH.

NH Business Review Publisher Ernesto Burden talks with JPMorgan Chase Vice President Tom Cunningham and Executive Market Director of Banking Laura Cortese about their latest Business Outlook Pulse Survey, which shows business  leaders at their most optimistic in the 11 years since the survey's  inception. They also dig into industry segments where the outlook isn't  as rosy, and look at some of the big challenges businesses face,  including supply chain and workforce issues. In addition, they discuss  JPMorgan's ambitious new branch opening plans in New Hampshire, Maine  and Vermont. This week's episode is sponsored by TFMoran  (www.tfmoran.com), a leading land planning and engineering firm with  offices in Bedford and Portsmouth, NH.

This week NH Business Review editor Jeff Feingold and writer Bob Sanders take a deep dive into the state of the New Hampshire economy, analyzing different sectors and looking at what may come next as 2020 comes to a close.

NH Business Review editor Jeff Feingold and writer Bob Sanders break down what the federal moratorium on evictions means for New Hampshire. Will it be effective? What do the numbers say about the need for it? 

On this week's Down To Business, Jeff Feingold and Bob Sanders talk about putting some numbers to the business losses NH has endured during the pandemic. So far, and they say this is just the tip of the iceberg, it tallies up to $2.6B. Then Jeff and Lisa Rajala look at how some CARES Act funds are finding their way to support much-needed broadband projects in rural NH communities. 

Jeff and Liisa talk with Forcivity CEO and founder Steve Baines on having his Manchester, NH, business named 157th fastest growing company in the Inc. 5000, as well as leadership lessons from navigating the pandemic, leading a remote team and more. 

The NH Business Review team talks about a new bill signed by the governor that allows folks to register their flying cars at the DMV, and what that portends for the future of flying cars (and the roadable aircraft business) in the state. Then they check back in on yet another live business event, the Manchester Chamber's summer mixer at the Fisher Cats stadium on Tuesday.

In this week’s episode, the team discusses how the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and its much smaller sibling, Emergency Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) have helped NH businesses prior to running out of funding, what will happen in the next federal package, and what businesses who didn’t get the first round of funding should know about applying for the second round. The team also looks at other sources of assistance are available for small businesses in New Hampshire.

NH Business Review's team analyzes how many businesses in the state are impacted by the PPP running out of funds, and what options businesses that haven't secured funding may have. Then the team also discusses new reporting on the impact the coronavirus may have on the summer tourism season in New Hampshire. 

In this episode, NH Business Review editor Jeff Feingold, associate editor Liisa Rajala, and writer Bob Sanders tackle the PPE and stimulus, as well as how New Hampshire companies are approaching remote working.

NHBR Editor Jeff Feingold and writer Bob Sanders discuss the coronavirus impact on NH unemployment, the trust fund, and the impact that will have on business taxes. And on a positive note, they take a look at how manufacturers in the state are "more-than holding their own."

This week NH Business Review editor Jeff Feingold invites "the boss," NHBR and McLean Communications publisher Ernesto Burden, onto the show to talk about remote working, McLean's approach to remote working during coronavirus social distancing, and general best practices gleaned from a career working with distributed teams. 

The NHBR team covers developments in energy storage, including the massive Eversource battery project in western New Hampshire.  Also, how are New Hampshire businesses addressing family medical leave, and what implications does current legislation in the Statehouse have for this issue?

New Hampshire Business Review editor Jeff Feingold leads an analysis of key issues affecting New Hampshire businesses this week; including the business and politics of trash and recycling, New Hampshire's growing role in the bio-med industry and shifts in business property taxes in some towns in the state.