Eminence Awards Telegraph Insert - March 12, 2014

2 Tuesday, March 11, 2014 | The Eminence Awards

Business of the YearHarvey Construction

John J. Flatley Company

Rapid Group

Small Business of the YearAlec’s Shoe Store

Nashua Silver Knights

Studio Mark Emile Photography

Business Person of the YearJohn Stabile

of The Stabile Companies

Paul Hebert

of United Way of Greater Nashua &

501 Hub

Mary Jordan

of the Adult Learning Center

Young Professional of the YearAlison Bankowski

of State Street & Positive Street Art

Karen Cooper

of Rivier University

Fou Mahfuz

of Persian Rug Galleries, Inc.

Volunteer of the Year Michael Aquino

of Weisman, Tessier, Lambert & Halloran

David Heath

of Melanson Heath & Co.

Paul Shea

Gate City Community Gardens, Inc.

Chamber Volunteer of the YearJillian Collins

of MESH Interactive Agency

Frank Lagana

of Papergraphics

Eric Sopper

of People’s United Bank

FairPoint Salutes the 2014 Eminence Award WinnersFairPoint Communications congratulates the winners of the 2014 Eminence Awards presented by the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce:

These individuals and businesses exemplify initiative and generosity; they represent an outstanding legacy of volunteerism, community spirit and leadership in greater Nashua.

Service is an ongoing commitment at FairPoint, so we were pleased to renew our role as primary sponsor of the Nashua Chamber’s Eminence Awards, recognizing those that so closely align with our mission.

The Gate City region is fortunate to have community members such as this year’s Eminence nominees and winners; they contribute time, talent and energy to the Greater Nashua Chamber and the entire area. Nashua has twice been named “The Best Place to Live in America” by Money Magazine, a distinction partly earned by these generous efforts. Nashua is the only city to get the #1 ranking on two occasions.

FairPoint is committed to developing strong connections with our communities and making life better for our neighbors. We strengthen our communities by providing our customers with communications technology of the highest possible quality. It also means making investments in the growth of the communities where we do business - contributing to events, sponsoring local programs and supporting organizations that enrich our communities. FairPoint and its employees have a long tradition of partnering and volunteering in communities where they live.

FairPoint Communications has recently announced that it has met its goal to increase broadband access to 95 percent of its access lines in New Hampshire.

Since April 2008, FairPoint has invested more than $700 million in its communications infrastructure and technology to bring broadband to northern New England, including building thousands of miles of new fiber across

the region. FairPoint’s new fiber-based, high capacity network offers customers a better, faster way to communicate.

This aggressive and far reaching broadband expansion provides the robust infrastructure to allow more Granite Staters to capitalize on the increased availability and better use the Internet. FairPoint has invested more than $72 million in New Hampshire alone on broadband expansion efforts.

Broadband access is fundamental to the state’s future economic growth, job creation, expanding innovation and remaining globally competitive. Over the course of the five-year effort, FairPoint has turned up new high-speed Internet in more than 215 communities across the state making broadband available to more than 100,000 additional homes and businesses in New Hampshire.

FairPoint’s investment has also resulted in an upgraded and improved network infrastructure. This fiber-based, high-capacity network delivers the critical bandwidth, data, and carrier Ethernet services that positions New Hampshire to compete in a technology-dependent world.

FairPoint’s network’s dedicated bandwidth can support multiple users and bandwidth-intensive applications like video conferencing and e-learning. Additionally, FairPoint offers a reliable and protected network with a full-range of communications services, which is essential to meeting the current and future demand for high-speed bandwidth in northern New England.

Congratulations, winners of The Eminence Awards!FairPoint joins you in celebrating and contributing to the spirit and welfare of the greater Nashua community.

Business Person of the Year: John Stabile

Business of the Year: John J. Flatley Company

Small Business of the Year: Alec’s Shoe Store

Chamber Volunteer of the Year: Frank Lagana

Volunteer of the Year: Mike Aquino

Young Professional of the Year: Karen Cooper

FINALISTS

Tuesday, March 11, 2014 | The Eminence Awards 3

JUDGESWhen the John J. Flatley company moved into its residence off of Spitbrook Road, it came in

with a storm. The John J. Flatley Company initiated a dramatic repositioning of the former Digital Equipment Corporation facility, as well as the Nashua Office Park. For over a quarter of a century, that facility had been the heart of the burgeoning high-technology industry in southern New Hampshire, and John J. Flatley Company was ready to take it to the next level.

Their success was not without perseverance, however. In December of 2007, Hewlett Packard announced that they were leaving the facility. Things looked bleak for this 750,000 square foot complex. December of 2007 is also the month in which the National Bureau of Economic Research determined that the Great Recession started.

An amazing transformation has taken place since that time. In 2008, they began an aggressive program of improvement and investment in the facility to reconfigure it from a single user facility into a multi-tenant property. They installed new elevators, reconstructed entrances, landscaped and remade the building façade. They aggressively marketed the site as the premiere location for technology companies in southern New Hampshire. They have consistently and successfully attracted major tenants to the facility. Many of them are among the Who’s Who of technology companies and other amazing startups.

Today, Nashua Technology Park at Gateway Hills is almost full. However, the John J. Flatley Company is positioning the complex for future growth and plans to turn the property into a dynamic mixed-use community for Nashua residents to work, live, shop, and play.

The Company should be lauded in the way it has worked closely with the existing residential neighborhood that adjoins the

Gateway Hills Site. The company, with Dick Cane as the primary representative, met face-to-face with every abutting property owner in order to develop a plan that would minimize, if not eliminate any negative impacts from future development of the site. Past attempts to develop the site had been met with great concern and acrimony from the residents concerned about traffic, pollution and development of forest land. The approach taken by the Flatley Company is a model for how to engage the abutters and the community at large when initiating a large-scale development project.

John J. Flatley Company is a shining example of the future of Nashua. They were our gracious hosts for our 2013 Annual Gala and official brand launch, and truly embody what it means to fearlessly Dare to Succeed.

Business of the Year

John J. Flatley Company

Photo courtesy of John J. Flatley CompanyWelcome Center at Gateway Hills

The John Flatley Companyis honored to be a finalist for

2014 Business of the Year!

COMMERCIAL

www.jflatco.com | www.gateway-hills.com

RESIDENTIAL RETAIL

HEADQUARTERS: 50 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 200 | Braintree, MA 02184 | 781.380.7731REGIONAL OFFICE: One Tara Boulevard, Suite 302 | Nashua, NH 03062 | 603.888.1300

LEASING & MARKETING: 200 Innovative Way | Nashua, NH 03062 | 603.598.7500

Mike Apfelberg

President of Educational Outfitters & Custom Logo Outfitters

Christina Hendricks

Events and Member Experience Coordinator of the Greater NashuaChamber of Commerce

Mike LaChance

CEO of Greater Nashua YMCA

Chris Malloy

Executive Producer of Community Events, LLC

Shaunae Nolet

Membership and Business Development Director of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce

Chris Williams

President & CEO of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce


small Business of the Year

Alec’s Shoe StoreWith an establishment like

Alec’s Shoe Store in Nashua’s downtown, it’s easy to wonder

how WE aren’t the winners. Family owned and operated since its founding in 1938, its 75 years of success cannot be chalked up to luck or fluke. A relentless dedication to providing value to customers and the entire community has made it such a prominent fixture in Nashua, and has gained fame throughout the region, drawing customers from Fitchburg, Manchester, the Seacoast, and further.

Alec’s Shoe Store’s dedication to sustainable business practices is what has helped it soar through economic downturns and a changing retail landscape when other companies are trying to cut corners at every turn. Alec’s has never stopped doing what it does best—taking care of its people.

In an industry hallmarked by high employee turnover, low-paying jobs and few benefits, Alec’s Shoes employees are paid a salary and receive benefits including healthcare and retirement. Offering a sustainable career has lead to many of their employees staying with the store for decades. One employee who just retired was in her eighties. This kind of business model means more workers staying in Nashua, raising their families here, and spreading positive messages about the

business climate.

This has developed an experienced sales staff who can measure and size shoes to fit every foot. They are not paid on commission, so that there is no sales pressure. President John Koutsos explains that they are in it for the long run relationship, not a short-term transaction.

Alex Koutsos, the store’s founder and namesake, recently passed away at the age of 96. His memory will live on through the hearts of Nashua’s residents whose lives he touched, and he leaves behind him one of the most admirable businesses in the region. His legacy is continued through his son and current company president, John A. Koutsos, the third-generation owner and operator. He has been awarded Retailer of the Year awards from the NH Retail Merchants Association and the Boston Shoes Travelers Association.

Alec’s Shoes’ tagline reads, “a family owned shoe store with exceptional service, selection and value.” We confidently say that the Chamber’s 2014 Small Business of the Year lives up to its promise.

Photo courtesy of Alec’s Shoe StoreAlec’s Shoe Store in downtown Nashua

ALEC’SShoes

Famous Name Shoes for the Entire Family Since 1938

John Koutsos, President

Since John Stabile started H.J. Stabile & Son, Inc. with an inherited wheelbarrow and $15,000 forty years

ago, he has continued to grow his presence both in business and in the community. Many of Nashua’s citizens call property that John Stabile’s company owns “home.” He continues to charge forward, creating more properties to attract and retain Nashua’s families and individuals.

John has always lead by example. He works hard, he strives for excellence, and he thinks “outside the box.” He leads his company by bringing these qualities to work every day and encourages his team members to pursue these goals. With these principals as a guide, the Stabile Companies have earned a reputation of being one of the premier full-service real estate companies in the region. They stand for quality, professional service, and community re-investment, traits we value in all of our members, and that deserve the utmost respect.

H.J. Stabile & Son, Inc. started as a single family home-building company and has grown to The Stabile Companies, which consists of four businesses: Stabile Homes, Stabile Home Remodeling, Stabile Construction Services and Stabile Property Management. Today, the Stabile name can be found on numerous housing and office building projects in southern New Hampshire. He has built 2,500 houses between Exits 4 and 7 of the F.E. Everett Turnpike alone. Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and Manchester Airport also were built by Stabile.

Much excitement has been generated around the Cotton Mill Square project, which John Stabile has lead. He has chartered the course for all final approvals for the apartment community development project that will provide much needed affordable rental units to the area. The development will promote environmental sustainability, extend Nashua’s riverwalk system, provide residents convenient access to retail and employment in downtown Nashua, and bring a variety of

jobs to downtown Nashua.

His past accomplishments include being the former owner of the Nashua Pride, a minor league baseball team. He was a member of Nashua Police Commission for five years and served three terms in the NH State Senate and two terms as the Senate Majority Leader, along with countless more awards, boards, and committees he has participated in. The Stabile Family Foundation has provided financial support to over forty charity or community based organizations, with a primary focus on supporting organizations that offer critical services to the greater Nashua area. We are honored to present John P. Stabile with the 2014 Business Person of the Year award, and to have someone as exemplary as him in Nashua’s business community.

Business Person of the Year

John Stabile

John P. Stabile


PSNH proudly salutes

Alec’s Shoe Store for over 75 years

of customer service excellence by caring

employees with a heart for the community –

a perfect fit for Greater Nashua Chamber of

Commerce’s 2014 Small Business of the Year!

Young Professional of the Year

Karen CooperThe Chamber’s dedication towards fostering an active

young professional community has progressed tremendously, most evidently since iUGO’s inception

seven years ago. With more avenues to connect young talent with businesses than ever before, it was about time for us to recognize those shining stars who set the example for the leaders of tomorrow. That leads us to proudly announce

Karen Cooper as our first-ever Young Professional of the Year. As our past Board Chair, past iUGO Chair, and active member of the Chamber community, Karen Cooper embodies the momentum and vigor that has earned her the title of Young Professional of the Year. In her professional life as the Executive Director of Development & Marketing of Rivier University, her expertise in marketing and fundraising has helped create a new chapter for the university, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary. As a strategic visionary and focused leader, she has propelled Rivier’s transition from a college to a university through its rebranding initiative, spreading the message to those seeking higher education in Nashua that “Nashua is our home, the world is our classroom.”

Photo by Studio Mark EmileKaren Cooper and Sister Paula Buley at Dare to Begin Brand Launch Party

Rivier University Congratulates Karen Cooper

Recipient of the Greater Nashua Chamber’s Young Professional of the Year Award

Honoring her transformational leadership, energy, vision, and commitment to the Greater Nashua Chamber and

the Rivier University community.

Vice President for University Advancement Rivier University


Securities & Financial Planning offered through LPL Financial, a Registered

Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. 34 Broad St., Nashua, NH 03064

We Congratulate Michael Aquino

on his well deserved Volunteer of the Year Eminence Award!

hsfn.org

Congratulations to Mike Aquino, our past Board Chair, on being named Volunteer of

the Year. The honor is well deserved!

Adopt.Rescue.Love.

One of the most valuable assets to the Chamber is our team of Ambassadors. They support us

logistically and personally, spreading our message and welcoming new, prospective, and old members alike. They are the cornerstones of our organization, and there is no one more willing, present, and welcoming than Frank Lagana. His infectious good attitude resonates through his business, and the Chamber is lucky to

have such a dedicated representative. At the majority of our events he is helping with all logistics, welcoming people, and connecting with our community. In his business, Papergraphics, he is an admirable president, carrying the same values of relationships, friendliness, and customer service in everything he does. The Chamber staff and members thank you tremendously Frank; your hard work does not go unnoticed!

ChamBer Volunteer of the Year

Frank LaganaOur Volunteer of the Year, Mike

Aquino, is not just renowned for his dedication and energy put

towards the organizations he works with, he has become a respected leader through his endeavors and commitments to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Nashua Rotary Club, Leadership Greater Nashua 2013, and iUGO.

Aquino leads by example, showing others the utmost professionalism and motivation, and inspires other volunteers, committee members, vendors, and boards to meet his standards. He is always ready to lend a helping hand, and shows lifelong dedication to helping his fellow Nashua residents grow and assists in their pursuits.

For the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, he has served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the past three years, and has been a Board member since 2010. He led the Humane Society through a very difficult and challenging change of staff leadership,

including hiring the new Executive Director, Doug Barry, building a new and exceptional Board of Trustees, leading the rewriting of organizational documents, building a more solid financial blueprint, initiating a strategic plan and redirecting and strengthening the organization’s mission and vision. He has a deep passion and has been extremely supportive to animal welfare issues and the organization is proud to have him as a representative in the community.

His work with St. Joseph’s Hospital is equally honorable. His three years on the committee and 2013 committee Chair position for the Peter B. Davis Charity Golf Tournament has granted the organization excitement, new ideas, and motivation from every level of the project.

As the Community Project co-chair for the Leadership Greater Nashua 2013’s project, the famous Nashua branding initiative, his ability to facilitate the communications between the city’s top leaders and disseminate timely information back to the class was indispensable to the process staying on track. During his time as project manager, he skillfully and patiently took the reins and steered the course for 24 young professionals, overseeing several small groups and was the glue that held it together. The cohesiveness he supported led to him being voted “Leader of Leaders” at the graduating ceremony.

He is also the incoming Chair of iUGO, current chair of iUGO Professional Development events and member of the marketing committee, belongs to the Nashua Rotary Club, and works with Nashua PAL as an advisor for special events.

His dedication to the community has not gotten in the way of his commitments to being a husband and father to a young child, as well as his relationships with business clients. He makes a lasting impression on the community through his selfless and enthusiastic dedication, and we are honored to celebrate his accomplishments by presenting him with the Volunteer of the Year award.

Volunteer of the Year

Mike Aquino

A proud partner of the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce

Congratulations to all finalists and thank you for your contributions to our greater Nashua community.

17 Executive Drive, Hudson NH 03051 | 882.2741 | www.nashuatelegraph.com



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