Entrepreneurs Complete NH SBA’s Emerging Leader Program

MANCHESTER, NH — Sixteen entrepreneurs throughout New Hampshire were recognized on Oct. 17, 2017, at an awards ceremony in Manchester, according to a press statement, for their completion of a seven-month executive education series focusing on the future growth of their small businesses. Emerging Leaders is the only federal training specifically tailored for small business executives poised for growth. The free program includes approximately 100 hours of classroom time, connects small business owners with a network of industry experts and peers, and supports the creation of a three-year strategic growth action plan.

Eric Spieth, executive director of the Enterprise Center in Plymouth, was the instructor for this course that was developed by Interise a non-profit education provider and network builder located in Boston. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Concord NH Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. Like Concord NH Patch on Facebook)

The curriculum is specifically designed to stimulate and support the expansion of a business. Expansion could be into new markets, increased revenues or increased capacity. This combination provides the students with the organizational structure, resource network, and assistance needed to build a sustainable business growth plan that they can put into action.

“A valuable part of the class is networking and interacting with other small business owners that are facing similar challenges," New Hampshire SBA District Director Greta Johansson stated. "We are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to entrepreneurs of more mature small businesses so that they have a useful tool and a network of their peers and resources to help them take their businesses to the next level."

The members of the class come from nearly every corner of the state and represent various industries including innovative manufacturers, service providers, retail, IT, education and energy solutions, and construction. This year’s graduates include:

• Scott Brown, president of Paige Insurance Agency in Pittsfield
• Michael Campo, director/shareholder of Plodzik and Sanderson, P.A. in Concord *
• Brenda Cloutier, CEO of Beyond Mission Capable Solutions in Salem
• Bruce Cultrera, president and CEO of Seacoast Helicopters in Portsmouth
• Diane Day, president of Hampshire Controls Corp. in Dover
• Denis Gleeson, CEO of the TNOT Group in Nashua
• Jane Higgins, co-founder and CFO of Dynamic Benchmarking LLC in Windham
• Debbi Leuteritz, owner of Patriot Foundry & Castings in Franklin
• Rita McCabe, owner of Sub Zero Ice Cream & Yogurt in Nashua
• Nick Mercier, CEO of Macy Industries, Inc. in Hooksett *
• Alan Nixa of Arcomm Communications Corp. in Hillsboro
• Jeff Ouellette, vice presidentand COO of iuvo Technologies Inc. in Westford, MA
• Matthew Rounds, president of Standard Power of America Inc. in Nashua *
• Frank Swanson, president and CEO of CMGC Building Corp. in Manchester *
• Nicole Velozo, business manager of Summit View Water, Ltd. in Conway *
• Jon Willard, president of Acute Medical Gas Services in Manchester

* not pictured in group photo (Also present in photo is Mark Hayward, Regional Administrator (A) SBA New England, Greta Johansson, District Director SBA NH, and Rachael Roderick, Supervisory Economic Development Specialist SBA NH

To be considered, each entrepreneur’s business must have annual revenues of $400,000 or more, been in business for at least three years, and have employees. Registration is open for next year’s class which begins in April. Visit www.sba.gov/emergingleaders for more information and registration.

Emerging Leaders is funded by the Small Business Administration.

Submitted by Rachael Roderick.