Concord Residents, Businesses Are Rising Stars

The Rising Stars Awards, an initiative of Stay Work Play in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio, announce the finalists for each of the five award categories: College Student of the Year, Young Professional of the Year, Civic Leader of the Year, Coolest Companies for Young Professionals, and Leadership Development Program of the Year.

The Rising Stars Awards celebratory event will take place on from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, at the Pandora Mill, 88 Commercial St. in Manchester. Referred to as “the networking event of the year,” there will be food and a cash bar, silent auction, live music, lots of cool people to mingle with, a keynote from Amy LaBelle Owner and Founder of LaBelle Winery, and the announcement of the award winners! The emcee for the evening will be Virginia Prescott of New Hampshire Public Radio’s “Word of Mouth.”

The nominees are: 

College Student of the Year honors an outstanding college student living and going to school in NH, between the ages of 18 and 24, who is an academic rising star and giving back to their community. 

• Christopher "CJ" Destramp, Hudson, SNHU
• Kimberly Johnson, Meredith, Lakes Region Community College
• Tessa Sullivan, East Hampstead, SNHU
• Sophie Viandier, Andover, Gaia University (online)

Young Professional of the Year honors an outstanding professional working and living in NH, between the ages of 18 and 40 who is a rising star in their industry and giving back to their community. 

• Ryan Barton, Laconia, Mainstay Technologies
• Ashley Conley, Goffstown, City of Nashua Division of Public Health & Community Services
• Tonya Rochette, Concord, Human Resource Partners LLC
• Steve Smith, Goshen, Main Street Radio LLC

Civic Leader of the Year honors an individual who, through their volunteerism, philanthropy, and/or community involvement demonstrates a commitment to civic participation, strengthening their community, and developing personal leadership capacity to make New Hampshire a better place for future generations. Nominee must be between 21 and 40 years of age and must live and work in the state of New Hampshire.

• Luke Bonner, Hopkinton, GY&K Marketing
• Laura Brusseau, Laconia, Interlakes High School
• Mary and Eric Goldthwaite-Gagne, Peterborough, Conval Schools, The Toadstool Bookshop 

Coolest Companies for Young Professionals honors companies in New Hampshire that create environments to attract and retain young professionals (specifically ages 40 and under). 

• Granite State Independent Living, Concord
• Mad*Pow, Portsmouth
• Red River Computer Company, Claremont
• SilverTech, Manchester
• The Birchtree Center, Newington
• Ziftr, Milford

Leadership Development Program of the Year honors an innovative program initiated and conducted by a NH organization. The program must be aimed at a young professional audience in NH that help them propel their personal and professional growth.

• Business Analyst (BA) Program, C&S Wholesale Grocers
• Hackademy, Dyn Inc.
• NHSCPA Young Professionals Leadership Program, NH Society of CPAs

For more information on the Rising Stars Awards, please visit online at stayworkplay.org/risingstarsawards or on Facebook at Rising Stars Awards.

The Rising Stars Awards are generously sponsored by: the NH Charitable Foundation, GY&K Marketing, Southern NH University, Grappone Automotive Group, Tidewater Catering Group, Checkmate Workforce Management Solutions, Fidelity Investments, and the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development.