NH SBA Announce the 2024 Small Businesses of the YEAR!

CONCORD, NH – Amy Bassett, district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) New Hampshire District office announced today the 2024 New Hampshire Small Business Award winners. Susan Borchert and Betsy Harrison, owners of Counseling Associates of New London, NH have been selected as SBA’s New Hampshire Small Business Persons of the Year and will compete with the Nation’s top small businesses for the honor of National Small Business Person of the Year. This year’s National Small Business Week will take place April 28-May 4, 2024.

“It is our great pleasure to celebrate the success of Betsy Harrison and Susan Borchert. This year they join an impressive group of NH small business award winners who all demonstrate great leadership and commitment to their businesses and communities. We look forward to recognizing their achievements during National Small Business Week along with all state winners being honored at our annual award celebration,” said Amy Bassett, District Director.

Betsy Harrison and Susan Borchert, co-founded Counseling Associates (CA) in 2004 leveraging their combined 40 years of clinical expertise after many years of working together and a mutual vision of providing affordable healthcare. Their practice offers comprehensive mental health therapy including treatment for anxiety and depression, couples therapy, career counseling, and substance abuse services for individuals from all backgrounds and communities. CA has expanded to five locations and increased its reach through telehealth options. The organization is comprised of more than 85 professionals, who benefit from opportunities through internships and mentoring programs that foster the development of future mental health providers.

Betsy and Susan’s community engagement extends beyond their practice, with active participation and volunteer work with many state and federal agencies and several schools. Their strategic approach included years of consultation with NH Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC) on their commitment to sustainable growth.

Nominator Julie Glossner, NH SBDC Southern NH Regional Director added, “I am so excited to see Susan and Betsy be recognized as NH Small Business Persons of the Year. The award is well-deserved for their hard work providing excellent quality care to their patients in five locations; growing their business during Covid to be available to more patients, especially in rural areas of the state; and offering a great work environment and ongoing training for their staff.”

The SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman will kick off her National Small Business Week road tour in NH and will attend the NH celebration on Tuesday, April 30th from 8:45 am to 11:45 am at the Tupelo Music Hall in Derry. For more information on this event contact Cheryl Croto, at Cheryl.croto@sba.gov or 603-225-1407.

In addition to the NH Small Business Persons of the Year, the NH SBA will recognize well-deserving winners in the following categories:

2024 NH Small Business Week Award Winners

Small Business Persons of the Year

Susan Borchert and Betsy Harrison

Counseling Associates, PLLC

New London

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Home-Based for NH and New England

Logan Snyder

HasOptimization, LLC

Canterbury

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Young Entrepreneurs for NH and New England

Bryce Harrison - Ian Lubkin - James Gaudreault

Cheese Louise

Portsmouth – North Conway – Portland, ME

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District Director Award

Richard Tango-Lowy

Dancing Lion Chocolate, LLC

Manchester

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Veteran Owned

Ken Whitten and Joseph Whitten

Apparel Impact, LLC

Hooksett

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Woman Owned

Danielle Jones

Abenaki Trail Restaurant and Pub

North Conway

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Minority Owned

Pramod Nyaupane and Bibhuti Thapa

Bunny’s Convenience

Manchester

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Financial Services Champion

Patricia Grauwiler

Enterprise Bank and Trust Co.

Salem

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Small Business Manufacturer

Justin Sousa

Sousa Signs, LLC

Manchester

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Jeffrey Butland Family Owned

Tom and Sally Wilkins

Wilkins Lumber Co., Inc.

Milford

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Micro-Enterprise

Andrea Lee Daniels

Quality Press, Inc.

Concord