INSIDE Opportunities Abound ...page 14 Millennials moving in ...page 22 Adventure starts in Franklin ...page 32
BRINGING COMMUNITY TOGETHER
SunEvents produces and hosts nonprofit, public affairs and select corporate events at the newly renovated Opera House.
Visit SunEventsNH.com for more information. Page 2 — LiveWorkPlay — 2021
Welcome! Thank you for your interest in job opportunities in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Many consider our region just a tourism destination. But it’s more than just a wonderful place to play. It’s an amazing place to live, work and play! Explore a little more, and you will soon learn that the Lakes Region includes unique communities supported by diverse industries with businesses that drive our economy. Those businesses are led by strong leaders – the people who develop workplace cultures and the work life balance lifestyle for those that discovered the good fortune of residing here. Whether you are searching for a career in hospitality, manufacturing, finance, non-profit, automotive, marine, cultural arts, health & wellness, municipal, building trades, legal, education or exploring entrepreneurship, you will enjoy reading our guide. Learn about our local employers, what it’s like to live here, and gain insight into what opportunities the Lakes Region offers. If you are a student looking ahead at your future, this guide is a great place to create business relationships. Business leaders make tremendous career mentors. Perhaps you are seeking an internship, a part time or a full time job. The Lakes Region Chamber is the preeminent business organization led by businesses working together to promote our engaged communities, creating new opportunities through collaboration, vision, growth and thereby building a stronger economy. We have tremendous educational assets, including a technical high school, a community college and a university in our backyard. From healthcare to professional services, indoor and outdoor recreation, strong cultural arts, our warm hospitality makes New Hampshire’s Lakes Region the place to be! Karmen Gifford, President Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce
Published by The Laconia Daily Sun with The Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce President Ed Engler Publisher Adam Hirshan Marketing Director Jeff Peyton Advertising Director Elaine Hirshan Sales Director Rick Hopper Advertising Manager Deb Sanborn Sales Manager Crystal Furnee Production Manager Patty Johnson Office Manager Karen Nelson Classifieds Manager Rosemary Nedeau Community Editor Julie Hirshan Hart News Editor Adam Drapcho Reporter Michael Mortensen Reporter Roberta Baker Contributor Rick Green Pagination / Design Janis Carroll If you would like to be included in next year’s edition of LIVEWORKPLAY please contact Elaine Hirshan at elaine@laconiadailysun.com or Karmen Gifford at kgifford@lakesregionchamber.org
LiveWorkPlay — 2021 — Page 3
Inside This Issue
Medical skills needed across Lakes Region.............................................................................5 Getting to know The Lakes Region.........................................................................................6 Opportunities abound across The Lakes Region................................................................14 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Freudenberg-NOK – Rocking careers in New Hampshire................................................18 The Good Life: Population growth spurred by younger generation.................................22 SERVICE SPOTLIGHT Lakes Region Community Services......................................................................................26 4-1-1 on Local School Districts.............................................................................................28 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Golden View Senior Care looking for heroes......................................................................30 CITY SPOTLIGHT Franklin – your gateway to outdoor adventure...................................................................32 NYC stage actors find new life – and audiences – in Lakes Region...................................36 Affordable housing essential to Lakes Region growth........................................................40 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Viant Medical employees build life-saving tools.................................................................42 Community College turning students into highly paid employees..................................44 Top reasons to call New Hampshire home..........................................................................46
Index of Advertisers Castle in the Clouds..................................................10 City of Franklin.........................................................39 Comfort Keepers........................................................45 Dow Realty Group.....................................................43 Freudenberg-NOK.....................................................11 GMI Asphalt...............................................................20 Golden View Health Care Center.............................21 J Jill............................................................................36 Keller Williams – Crystal Bullerwell.......................28 Laconia Adult Education..........................................37
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Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce.......Back Cover Lakes Region Community Services............................7 Liberty Tax.................................................................22 Mainstay Technologies............................................. 25 Rowell’s Services........................................................16 Sanborn’s Auto...........................................................17 Spaulding Academy & Family Services...................29 Sun Events..................................... Inside Front Cover Sun & Ski.................................................................. 23 Viant Medical.............................................................. 9
Medical skills needed across Lakes Region By Rick Green THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
K
evin Donovan knows something about recruiting medical professionals to the Lakes Region. “The sell for people to live and work in this area is the lifestyle and the community, the type of people who live here and the four seasons,” said Donovan, chief administrative officer for Concord Hospital-Laconia and Concord Hospital-Franklin. He is in a better position to make that pitch now that the region’s health care system has greater stability. In April, the state Attorney General’s office cleared Concord Hospital’s $30 million purchase of the assets of LRGHealthcare, which included the Laconia and Franklin hospitals. LRGH declared bankruptcy in 2020 after years of operating losses. “People want to work in an organization with a future and one that values their commitment and lets them have a life outside work,” said Donovan, who was president and chief executive officer of LRGH. “The acquisition by Concord Hospital has helped our recruitment efforts. When we were recruiting as an organization in bankruptcy or pending bankruptcy, it was a barrier.” He added,“we’re feeling the same pressure as other organizations. There are not enough good, qualified people around.” Openings abound at the hospitals in Concord, Laconia and Franklin for everything from cooks to doctors. Also sought are technicians, couriers, laundry workers and others. Some of the jobs include sign-on bonuses. The job description for a medical doctor position known as a hospitalist extols the benefits of New Hampshire: “CH Laconia is located in beautiful central New Hampshire – enjoy Lake Winnipesaukee in the summer and easily accessible skiing all winter! Live where others vacation and take advantage of New Hampshire’s great schools. No state income tax or sales tax! “Enjoy flexible scheduling, supportive hospital administration and friendly staff, and the opportunity to live in the beautiful Lakes Region in NH. Excellent compensation. Recreational opportunities abound: World class rock climbing, as well as skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, golfing, biking, fishing, and boating. 1.5hrs to Boston or seacoast.” The recent hiring of a dozen newly graduated nurses at the Laconia and Franklin hospitals and 30 in Concord was a positive development, but Donovan said more are needed. Specialized medical providers are also in demand. “We could support multiple dermatologists in this community, but there aren’t enough candidates out there, and we haven’t been able to find anybody,” he said. There are also not enough people applying to be lab technicians, or a sufficient educational pipeline to qualify people for
such work. “Right now, hiring a lab tech is incredibly hard,” Donovan said. “We are feeling, like everybody else, that few of these people are being turned out by schools and that more training programs are needed.” In terms of non-clinical staff, the health care system is facing the same workforce shortage and recruitment difficulties that are being encountered throughout the economy. Competition for labor is driving up hourly pay.“Everywhere I go, there are help wanted signs advertising $13 to $15 an hour,” Donovan said. Open positions create more work for existing staff members. “Many employees are working beyond their normal budgeted hours,” he said.“The demand is there. We want to be able to hire enough staff and we would love to fill them all.” Patrick Boyle, Concord Hospital’s chief human resources officer, estimates there are now 280 open positions in the Laconia, Franklin and Concord hospitals.The organization employs 4,500 people, making it the largest private sector employer in the region. “We are challenged with openings in a number of areas, clinical, office, clerical,”Boyle said. Skilled positions pay well. An experienced registered nurse can earn upwards of $50 an hour, while a laboratory technician can earn $35 per hour. The availability of work from home, so prevalent during the pandemic, has created another challenge for employers who need in-person workers, Boyle said. He encouraged those interested in getting into the medical field to reach out. “It’s a challenging market, but we have great people working here, who are dedicated to the organization and the community they work in. We’re looking to expand our team. There are great opportunities to start in an entry level and grow that role over time into a fantastic career.” Dr. Vercin S. Ephrem, who did his residency in internal medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, has been at the Laconia hospital for 15 years, where he is a hospitalist and president of the medical staff. Before selecting Laconia, he considered hospitals in Texas, Chicago, New York, Massachusetts and elsewhere in New Hampshire. He wanted to escape the busy, chaotic nature of New York and find a place that was good for starting a family. He was sold by the friendliness of the Lakes Region. “People pause to say,‘Thank you,” or to say,‘Hi,’” he said.“People know their neighbors and are there for their neighbors. “This was peaceful, calm, not rushed. People in nursing, the emergency department, administration and other provider physicians took the time to meet with us. People were caring and wanted a new provider to join the community.They went above and beyond to make sure my needs and my family’s needs were met.” LiveWorkPlay — 2021 — Page 5
Get to know your new home... New Hampshire’s Lakes Region
W
ith breathtaking views and quaint New England Charm, New Hampshire’s Lakes Region is the perfect location to build a career – and raise a family. The region is centered around Lake Winnipesaukee, with its 283 miles of shoreline and 274 habitable islands. “Winnipesaukee” means “The Smile of the Great Spirit,” and judging by the tens of thousands of people who make the Lakes Region their summer and winter destination of choice, it’s easy to see why. The Big Lake’s natural beauty is self-evident, and its recreational opportunties extend from boating, fishing and swimming in the warmer months to ice fishing, snowmobiling and even ice boating in winter. Outdoor activities abound here, at every speed for every taste. Whether you prefer the tranquility of watching a mother loon and her chicks, taking in the scenery while enjoying a dinner cruise, or creating waves of your own on a pair of water skis, Lake Winnipesaukee and her sisters, Lake Winnisquam, Lake Opechee, Paugus Bay and Lake Ossipee – plus countless other more intimate settings - have what you’re looking for. But the Lakes Region, despite its name, is not all about the water. A number of state parks dot the area, many with hiking trails that can provide a challenge for all. If you’re up for it, hike up Alton’s Mount Major for some of the region’s best views. Or, if you’d rather see things from a slightly more restful point of view, take a leaf-peeping autumn ride on the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad in Meredith. If you live in the Lakes Region and like to ski in winter, you won’t have to go far. Some of the best powder in New England is right here, offering a great time on slopes with spectacular views of the lakes.
ALTON
Located on the Alton Bay portion of Lake Winnipesaukee, Alton holds the record for the most square miles of inland water at 19.3. Alton is also the region’s largest town, geographically, with nearly 64 miles of forests and rolling hills. Today, Alton is one of Belknap County’s fastest-growing towns, thanks in part to its vast lakefront property. (It doesn’t hurt that Alton is also home to some of the region’s most spectacular views!)
BARNSTEAD
Barnstead traces its roots back to a grant from Gov. John Wentworth in 1727. The town’s name was actually a compromise between settlers from Hempstead, Long Island, and the town of Barnstable on Cape Cod. Barnstead offers residents a rural, small-town feel. Boasting an historic Main Street lined with vintage colonial homes, Barnstead is home to the Suncook River, the Upper and Lower Suncook Lakes, and Locke Lake and Half Moon Lake. Barnstead’s 45 square miles of woodlands and fields make it a favorite for hikers, fishers and kayakers in warmer months and especially snowmobilers in winter.
BELMONT
Situated on the shores of Lake Winnisquam in the southern portion of the Lakes Region, Belmont’s population surges each summer and winter as tourists seek to put the town’s 30 square miles to good use. Like much of New Hampshire, Belmont’s history centers on the flowage of the Tioga River and the mills that clustered along its banks. The Belmont Mill, an 1833 brick structure originally constructed by the Gilmanton Village Manufacturing Page 6 — LiveWorkPlay — 2021
Company, was restored and rededicated through community efforts in 1998. In 2011, the Belmont Village landmark was cited by the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance as one of the state’s 25 Milestone Preservation Projects over the last quarter century, and the Mill project subsequently received a preservation award from the Victorian Society in America/New England chapter, marking only the fourth New Hampshire endeavor honored by this national and international nonprofit organization.
CENTER HARBOR
Originally a small farming community bordered by Lake Winnipesaukee, Squam Lake and Lake Waukewan, Center Harbor became a main stopping place on land and lake for travelers on stagecoaches and steamboats. Center Harbor hosted America’s first intercollegiate sporting event in 1852, when Harvard defeated Yale by two lengths in the first ever Harvard-Yale rowing regatta. Today, Center Harbor maintains its New England charm as a small residential village, though the likes of John Greenleaf Whittier and Dudley Leavitt have been replaced by NASCAR driver Brad Leighton. One of the oldest summer spots in New England, a number of families have spent their vacations at Center Harbor going back three or more generations.
FRANKLIN
New Hampshire’s smallest city, Franklin is situated at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers, where they combine to form the Merrimack River. Franklin’s history is tied to water power. A mill town, Franklin was home to a unique machine-made hosiery mill that used a process developed by the Shakers.
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In the 1940s, the Army Corps of Engineers created the Franklin Falls Reservoir on the Pemigewasset River, building the Franklin Falls Dam for flood control. Today, Franklin’s revitalization is returning the city’s downtown to its waterborne roots, with the construction of New England’s first whitewater park. (See page 32 for more.)
GILFORD
Gilford is home to Ellacoya State Park on Lake Winnipesaukee, Gunstock Mountain Resort, and the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, as well as a number of industrial parks near the Laconia Municipal Airport and bypass highway. The town is named for the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, a key fight near the end of the Revolutionary War. But thanks to a statehouse clerk’s typographical error, the town became Gilford. To this day, Gilford is the only New Hampshire community named for a Revolutionary War battle. Primarily known as an agricultural community, the advent of the Lake Shore Railroad in the 1800s led to the beginning of a tourist economy as local farmers began to board visitors to supplement their income. By the mid 1840s, a group from Intervale produced their first tourism brochure, and by 1895, island properties were being marketed for seasonal use. In the 1930s, Gilford was the destination of America’s first “snow train,” transporting skiers from Boston to what is now the Gunstock Mountain Resort. Many of the state’s first cross country ski trails, as well as New Hampshire’s first motorized ski lift, are right here on the western slope of Gunstock Mountain.
GILMANTON
The original town of Gilmanton was a bit larger than it is now. According to the 1790 US Census, Gilmanton was one of the largest cities in the United States, with villages and parishes including Belmont, Gunstock Parish (now Gilford), Hurricane, Tioga, Factory Village and Lakeport. A parish first called “Averytown”, the site of an unprofitable iron-mining enterprise, is still known as Gilmanton Iron Works. A quiet town, Gilmanton is known for low crime, great schools and, with lakes and mountains all around, an
incredible four-season experience.
LACONIA
The Belknap County seat, Laconia is situated at the heart of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. In fact, the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Winnisquam, Opechee Bay and Paugus Bay all fall within Laconia city limits. Also within Laconia are the villages of Lakeport – home of the historic Lakeport Opera House – and Weirs Beach, host of one of the nation’s largest annual motorcycle rallies. Known as the “City on the Lakes,” Laconia’s pedestrianfriendly downtown offers a variety of shops, eateries and live entertainment options amongst its historic brick buildings - including the oldest brick textile mill in America. The fully restored Belknap Mill now serves as a year-round cultural arts center. During the warm summer days, you’ll have to spend some time at Weirs Beach. Located at the water’s edge between Laconia and Meredith, you can’t miss Weirs Beach thanks to its classic 1950s era neon sign that directs you to a waterfront boulevard, boardwalk and beach. The village is lined with specialty stores, an oldfashioned arcade, waterside restaurants and never-ending entertainment.
MEREDITH
Founded as New Salem, after Salem, Mass., Meredith was regranted in 1768 after Sir William Meredith, a prominent member of English Parliament who spoke out against taxes on Americans. In April 2021, Meredith was listed by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of the top 10 best small towns on the East Coast. According to the experts, Meredith is “one of those unbearably cute east coast towns — especially in the autumn when the fall colors pop … but this lakefront community has a lot more going for it than beautiful fall foliage; the town is nestled on Lake Winnipesaukee in the foothills of the White Mountains.” Lake Winnipesaukee isn’t Meredith’s only water feature. Lake Winnisquam, Lake Waukewan, Lake Wicwas and Lake Pemigewasset are prominent as well. Meredith’s extensive shoreline includes Bear Island, Stonedam Island, and dozens of smaller islands considered part of the town. Hamlin Recreation Conservation area, Hesky Park, Leavitt Beach, Meredith Community Forest, Prescott Park, Clough Park, Swasey Park, Waukewan Highland’s Community Park, Waukewan Beach, and the town docks offer unlimited forms of outdoor recreation. The Winnipesaukee Playhouse and the Interlakes Summer Theatre provide great cultural and performing art venues. Meredith’s shoreline along the village district is dotted with unique lakeside hotels and inns, including Church Landing, Bay Point, Chase House, and the Inn at Mill Falls. With the fully restored mill and shops set on a beautiful waterfall, it is considered one of the area’s premier hospitality destinations.
MOULTONBOROUGH
Motorcycle Week at Weirs Beach. Page 8 — LiveWorkPlay — 2021
Moultonborough is where the north shores of the Lakes Region meet the Ossipee Mountains. The town is home to Moultonborough Bay, an 8-mile arm of Lake Winnipesaukee, and Castle in the Clouds, an estate overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee from the Ossipee
Quality is at the forefront of everything that we do because lives depend on us.
Viant is a trusted design and manufacturing services provider to the medical device industry with 24 facilities worldwide. For over 50 years, we have partnered with our customers to bring to market the highest quality medical devices. We have been located in the heart of the Lakes Region for over 40 years, operating out of our medical device assembly facility at 45 Lexington Drive in Laconia. In Laconia, we assemble a range of life-saving and life-enhancing medical devices including robotic surgical instruments, instruments used in orthopedic and cardiac procedures, drug delivery devices and more. Quality is very important to us, and our quality vison states: Quality is at the forefront of everything that we do because lives depend on us. To achieve this vision, we pledge to maintain a medical device manufacturing culture of quality and compliance. We will strive daily to achieve our mantra: Quality for Life. Our Viant team members are critical in their dedication to serving our customers and the patients who utilize the medical devices we build. Our associates enjoy a clean, regulated temperature environment with a generous benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401k with match, ample vacation, life insurance, bonus incentives, tuition reimbursement, and much more. Serving our community is important to us as well. Each year we donate to local food pantries, raise donations for the Boys & Girls Club, Make a Wish Foundation and Toys for Tots. Our customers are growing, and therefore, we are growing as well. From new product launches to increases in demand…we are always looking for dependable, quality-minded associates to join our team. Our team tenure is impressive with most associates having been with Viant for over 10 years. Our associates take pride in the quality work they do, knowing they are making devices that save people’s lives.
To learn more about Viant, visit www.viantmedical.com To contact our Laconia, NH facility, 603-528-1211
Mountains. Moultonborough is connected by bridge to Lake Winnipesaukee’s largest island, Long Island. Steeped in history, Moultonborough’s first town meeting was held in March 1777. The town was formally incorporated on Nov. 27, 1777.
NEW HAMPTON
Known primarily as a winter sports recreation area and home to a prominent private academy, New Hampton boasts Pemigewasset Lake, Winona Lake and Lake Waukewan as well as the Pemigewasset River. Ernest Thompson, Oscar-winning author of “On Golden Pond,” lives in New Hampton, not far from where the movie was filmed. With a population around 2,100 spread over nearly 40 square miles, New Hampton offers residents a rural lifestyle that’s near both outdoor recreation and more urban activities.
NORTHFIELD
Originally an agricultural community known as “the north fields of Canterbury,” Northfield took advantage of dams along the Winnipesaukee and Merrimack rivers to grow a substantial mill economy. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the town’s growth was linked to hydropowered industry, with sawmills making way for paper mills, textile mills and large-scale manufacturing plants. Today, Northfield’s gently rolling hills are a reminder of its argicultural past, though most residents tend to live in or near the Village of Northfield, in the town’s northernmost corner, across the Winnipesaukee River from neighborhing Tilton.
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Details & applications at CastleInTheClouds.Org/Employment #CastleMoments Route 171 - Moultonborough Page 10 — LiveWorkPlay — 2021
The Mt. Washington on Lake Winnipesaukee.
SANBORNTON
Sanbornton embodies all that one expects to find in an old New England town, starting with historic town buildings - including three churches, the Town Hall, Lane Tavern (now housing the Sanbornton Historical Society), the old Woodman Academy (now the town’s library) and a large number of homes. The town’s rural character shows in rolling fields framed by stone walls, some with grazing cattle and others offering an occasional moose, bear or fox. Visitors to Sanbornton choose between a large timeshare inn or several small bed and breakfast establishments. Visitors can join in the town’s varied activities of hiking, crosscountry skiing or snowmobiling on rolling mountains that change from green to scarlet to white with the seasons. Depending on the season, Sanbornton’s lakefront offers swimming, boating or skating. The town boasts two golf courses.
TILTON
What was once considered a sleepy town just off Interstate 93 is now one of the fastest-growing communities in the region. Retail, restaurants, auto dealerships and an industrial park with Interstate access continue to drive tremendous growth to this gateway to the Lakes Region. Located on the Winnipesaukee River, Tilton’s downtown village is home to a number of local businesses and a private college preparatory school. The historic Tilton Inn, built in 1875, has hosted a few famous guests over the years, including Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. The building has burnt down three times over 100 years.
WOLFEBORO
“The oldest summer resort in America,” Wolfeboro’s seasonal visitors have included the likes of Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon and even Monaco’s Princess Grace Wolfeboro’s claim dates all the way back to 1770, when British Governor John Wentworth built his summer mansion on the shores of the town’s Lake Wentworth. Wolfeboro isn’t just a summer resort town.“The jewel of Lake Winnipesaukee” is home to more than 6,000 Granite Staters.
AT A GLANCE Laconia
Alton
Barnstead
Belmont
Center Harbor
Franklin
Gilford
Population 2019*
16,476
5,328
4,744
7,333
1,097
8,686
7,233
Land Area (Square Miles)*
26.11
63.9
42.9
30.46
13.3
27.28
38.88
Population Density
795.3
83.4
110.5
243.2
82.3
310.8
183.3
Tax Rate 2020
$19.72
$13.95
$23.10
$25.34
$15.33
$22.84
$15.03
Median Home Value (2019)*
$193,300
$275,500
$225,535
$190,700
$349,299
$164,800
$255,400
Total Households (2019)*
6,933
2,075
1,422
2,998
2,861
3,909
3,032
Median Household Income (2019)*
$57,960
$86,266
$71,903
$70,407
$87,292
$52,795
$84,192
City/Town Offices
45 Beacon St. E 527-1270
1 Monument Sq. 875-2161
108 S. Barnstead Rd. 269-4631
143 Main St. 267-8300
36 Main St. 253-4561
316 Central St. 934-3900
47 Cherry Valley Rd. 527-4700
Fire Deptartment (Emergency 911)
848 N. Main St. 524-6881
65 Frank C Gilman Hwy 875-0222
106 S. Barnstead Rd. 269-4121
14 Gilmanton Rd. 267-8333
36 Main St. 253-4451
59 West Bow St. 934-2205
39 Cherry Valley Rd. 527-4758
Police Department (Emergency 911)
126 New Salem St. 524-5257
15 Depot St 875-3752
24 Shackford Corner Rd. 269-4282
16 Fuller St. 267-8351
36 Main St. 253-9756
5 Hancock Terrace 934-2435
47 Cherry Valley Rd. 527-4737
Post Office
33 Church St. (800) 2758777
9 School St. (800) 2758777
55 S. Barnstead Rd. (800) 2758777
24 Post Office Rd. (800) 2758777
44 Main St. (800) 275-8777
65 Franklin St. (800) 2758777
4 Country Club Rd. (800) 2758777
*US Census data Page 12 — LiveWorkPlay — 2021
AT A GLANCE Gilmanton
Meredith
Moulton borough
New Hampton
Northfield
Sanbornton
Tilton
Wolfeboro
3,773
6,456
4,184
2,221
4,942
2,994
3,543
6,418
57.6
39.91
60
36.8
28.6
47.3
11.4
47.87
65.5
156.4
69.7
60.3
172.9
63.3
310.5
132.8
$23.20
$14.02
$7.13
$17.95
$22.77
$20.18
$18.47
$13.01
$272,795
$287,600
$351,945
$225,000
$282,313
$494,900
$296,253
$289,500
2,294
2,861
4,523
1,117
1,953
1,707
1,795
3,000
$73,209
$64,023
$77,028
$79,875
$78,274
$102,805
$60,536
$60,703
503 Province Rd. 267-6700
41 Main St. 279-4538
6 Holland 476-2347
6 Pinnacle Hill Rd. 744-3559
21 Summer St. 286-7039
573 Sanborn Rd. 286-8303
257 Main St. 286-4521
84 S. Main St. 569-8183
1824 Rt. 140 364-2500
286 Daniel Webster Hwy 279-6061
26 Intervale Dr. 744-6520
149 Park St. 286-4781
565 Sanborn Rd. 286-4819
12 Center St. 286-4781
251 S. Main St. 569-1400
297 Rt. 140 267-7401
400 Daniel Webster Hwy 279-4561
24 Intervale Dr. 744-5423
138 Park St. 286-8514
565 Sanborn Rd. 286-4323
45 Sanborn Rd. 286-4442
251 S. Main St. 569-1444
365 Rt. 140 (800) 2758777
76 Main St. (800) 2758777
15 Rt. 132N (800) 2758777
66 E. Main 542 Sanborn St. Tilton Rd. (800) 275(800) 2758777 8777
66 E. Main St. (800) 2758777
34 S. Main St. (800) 2758777
1035 Whittier Hwy 476-5658 1035 Whittier Hwy 476-2400 995 Whittier Hwy (800) 2758777
LiveWorkPlay — 2021 — Page 13
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Opportunities abound across the Lakes Region By Jeff Peyton THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
Summer 2021 marked a renaissance of sorts for downtown Laconia, first with the reopening of the historic Lakeport Opera House in July, and then the grand opening of downtown’s historic Colonial Theatre just before Labor Day. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, speaking at the Colonial’s ribbon cutting ceremony, called the venue “the jewel of the state,” predicting a renewed economic vitality that would be felt across the Lakes Region and across the Granite State. For a region laden with a hospitality and tourism economy – as well as a diverse industrial base – an arts revival just adds opportunity. After all, Arts as an economic sector contributes as much to state GDP as Construction and Education. According to the New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts, creative culture generated more than $2.3 billion in 2015 – accounting for 3.5 percent of state GDP.
Jobs in every sector
As the Lakes Region re-emerges from a pandemic-stricken year, area employers are realizing that there are far more jobs than qualified applicants. With the state’s unemployment rate hovering just over 2 percent, a regional labor drought is impacting practically every segment of the economy. Nurses, licensed childcare workers, hospitality support staff, assembly line workers, landscapers and mechanics — from entry-level to the highest-skilled — positions across the Lakes Region remain unfilled. “This is the number one topic of conversation every day,” said Karmen Gifford, Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce Laconia’s downtown comes alive after dark with the addition of the Colonial Theatre. (Karen Bobotas / The Laconia Daily Sun)
LiveWorkPlay — 2021 — Page 15
president. “It doesn’t matter what industry or economic sector.” Gifford said employment recruiting is a critical priority for her membership. But, like efforts elsewhere, she reports seeing only marginal success with matching qualified candidates to open positions. “It’s a problem everywhere,” she said. “At a state meeting last week, it’s all we talked about. Businesses that can’t find workers can’t grow.” “I don’t know anyone who isn’t looking for workers,” New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said. “On top of that, add on all of these tech companies, these manufacturers that moved here in the last year. “There is a lot of opportunity out there,” he added. Will Stewart, executive director of the statewide Stay Work Play initiative, said area employers do indeed have a unique opportunity. “Pre-pandemic, New Hampshire was one of only 10 states experiencing a net increase in young people,” he said. “And during the pandemic, so many more moved to New Hampshire working remotely. If they can work for people out of state, they can work for local employers.” And local employers are working hard to make that happen. Realizing that potential employees are, in Gifford’s words, “deciding things differently,” regional employers now recognize that potential employees have a much greater say in where and how they’re going to work. “Once, employers controlled the process,” Gifford said. “Today, potential employees really are the ones who decide where they want to work.”
Growth is coming, ready or not
The Lakes Region Planning Commission, in its 2021 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, notes that the region’s economy hosts over 6,300 businesses and nearly 66,000 employees. The region’s top five industries are Healthcare, Retail, Construction, Manufacturing and Educational Services. A report issued by the New Hampshire Employment Security Division and the Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau in June 2020 projects employment opportunities in the professional, scientific and technical sectors will experience an 18-percent growth over the next decade. Healthcare jobs will grow almost as fast, with experts projecting 12,800 new jobs in that sector alone. “Now is the time if you’re looking to make a jump, make a change,
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to look at some training opportunities,” said Joe Doiron, workforce development director for New Hampshire Business and Economic Affairs.“There are a lot of great New Hampshire employers that will train you, that will invest in you and support you.”
A No-brainer
People who already live here might think that choosing New Hampshire’s Lakes Region to build a career – and raise a family - is a no-brainer. After all, there is no state income tax, no state sales tax, and recreational opportunities that literally exist nowhere else in the world. The Lakes Region offers four-season excitement. Warmer weather offerings range from hiking, biking and ATVing to white water rafting (see page 32) and canoeing to sailing,
skiing, tubing and SCUBA diving. After the leaves turn and cold weather takes over, snow skiing, skating, ice boating, ice fishing, snowmobiling and even dog-sledding enter the picture. If you are a motorcycle rider or just a bike enthusiast, you can take in the Annual Laconia Motorcycle Week rally that takes place every June. If you are an avid race fan or casual spectator, your new career could place you a few miles from a NASCAR race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Prefer the indoors? The Lakes Region offers a multitude of shopping, dining and entertainment options. Whether you prefer professional theater or live music, bar food or five-star chef specials, you only have to look around. Are you looking for arts and culture? Nominated 10 Best Concert Venues Across the USA by USA Today, Bank of NH Pavilion is Northern New England’s premier concert venue featuring a 9,000-seat amphitheater. Winnipesaukee Playhouse is a cultural gem performing offBroadway style theater along with the Interlakes Summer Theatre and the Franklin Opera House. And, of course, newly renovated venues such as The Colonial Theater and Lakeport Opera House are changing the face of downtown Laconia. And all of that is within driving distance to big-city lights, professional sports, ocean beaches and Boston-Logan International Airport. If you’re looking for a career, there are plenty of reasons to put New Hampshire at the top of your list. As important as tourism, recreation and the arts are to the economy and lifestyle that makes New Hampshire so appealing, the Granite State is actually home to a large number of global manufacturers. These potential employers produce everything from Velcro to rocket engines, and they need qualified people to join their teams.
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Rocking Careers
in New Hampshire Freudenberg-NOK employees discuss career opportunities and supportive teams When Bill Balch joined Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies in 1995, he was drawn to the company by a competitive compensation package and opportunities for advancement. Nineteen years later, the company’s steadfast focus on continuous improvement and learning has kept Balch, a Tool and Die Process Technician in Bristol, motivated and excited about opportunities to learn new skills and grow in his career. Balch is not alone in how he feels. As the North American venture between Freudenberg Sealing Technologies in Germany and NOK Corp. in Japan, Freudenberg-NOK is committed to six foundational pillars: people, innovation, leadership, customer service, a long-term outlook and responsibility to communities and the environment. The plant culture that emerges out of these principles prioritizes employee achievements, safety, new ideas and clean, sustainable operations.
Thriving in the Granite State Freudenberg-NOK operates five manufacturing sites in New Hampshire. They encompass production lines, a mixing facility, a research and development laboratory and an advanced machine tool development center. As the state’s largest industrial employer, Freudenberg-NOK provides jobs to more than 1,000 Granite Staters at facilities in Manchester, Northfield, Bristol and Ashland. The plants collectively manufacture millions of complex seals, gaskets and other unique components that can be found in everything from cars and trucks to commercial airliners and construction machinery. And they do it well – the five facilities consistently win supplier excellence awards from major automotive and general industry customers and have helped set internal benchmarks for continuous improvement and lean manufacturing. “We are proud of our plants in New Hampshire,” said Lisa Riccio, Human Resources Manager at Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies’ Bristol facility.
A robust approach to education and on-the-job training is a hallmark in Freudenberg-NOK’s New Hampshire facilities. In addition to black belt and green belt training in lean manufacturing and Six Sigma tools, the plants host technology workshop and global exchange days to share information and harvest new ideas. Employees also volunteer in local schools to educate students about careers in manufacturing. Support for STEAM and STEM programs is an ongoing volunteer commitment. The plants have also partnered with institutions like Lakes District Community College and ApprenticeshipNH to help develop a curriculum and classes that provide the essential skills needed to thrive in a manufacturing environment.
plants are outstanding on “soThese many levels -- safety, quality, innovation,
“
training and development, sustainability, operations, you name it.
“Our employees make this possible. They are dedicated to our company’s success and to the growth and well-being of our communities as well. They truly are rock stars.”
Rocking New Hampshire So how, exactly, does one acquire rock star status at Freudenberg-NOK’s New Hampshire plants? In Balch’s case, it came down to commitment, skill and a willingness to learn. “Bristol has a culture of continuous learning. Innovation is alive in our facility with new technologies on the horizon,” Balch said. “I’m applying all the skills I’ve learned throughout my career every day on the shop floor. I continue to learn new skills daily as new engineering designs are developed. I get excited working in an environment in which I’m continuously learning.” Page 18 — LiveWorkPlay — 2021
Bill Balch applying skills acquired on the job and through FreudenbergNOK educational opportunities.
Career Paths Defined Mariah Gallagher understands the power a defined career path can pack in life. When Gallagher joined Freudenberg-NOK’s Ashland team in April this year, she was initially interested in shortening her work commute. She applied herself to her job with enthusiasm and soon learned about the rewards such dedication offers. “When I toured Bristol during the interview process, I found the work and process intriguing so I joined the company as a Full Zone Operator,” she said. Within a matter of months, Gallagher was promoted to a Model Cell Trainer. “If you work hard, the company recognizes it. As part of my new position, they are investing in me and helping me earn my Lean Systems Green Belt,” Gallagher said. “Sometimes it’s difficult when you are new to know what steps you need to take to advance. Here, the company makes it very clear what paths are available. I appreciate that they allowed me to step up even though I am so new.”
Growing Business, Growing Needs
Akiesha Young, lean manufacturing and continuous improvement coordinator at Freudenberg-NOK Northfield.
“Our plants continued to produce components that kept critical public safety and medical services operational,” said Karen MacLeod, Human Resources Manager at the company’s Ashland plant. “Our employees jumped in to reconfigure plant operations for social distancing, develop new safety protocols and make sure masks and sanitizing stations were in place. And when they weren’t working long hours to maintain our facility operations, they were helping their communities and neighbors. “The actions that our associates took to navigate through this crisis is a true measure of their dedication, innovation
Mariah Gallagher, above, applying skills acquired on the job and through Freudenberg-NOK educational opportunities.
and generosity,” MacLeod concluded. Akiesha Young, a lean manufacturing and continuous improvement coordinator in the company’s Northfield plant agrees. The teamwork displayed during the coronavirus pandemic solidified her appreciation for the company and its people. “A lot of collaboration had to happen and happen very quickly,” she said. “The team came together to do what was needed to keep us safe and that really matters to me. When I think about the plant culture in Northfield, I describe it in terms of its diversity, inclusiveness, collaboration, innovation, satisfaction and support. I started in Northfield when I was 18 years old and joined because Freudenberg-NOK was a well-know, well-established company that cared about its employees, their families and the community. “Of course, pay, benefits and those things are important, but being part of a team and global family are really important,” Young said.
Rolling into Overdrive As Freudenberg-NOK pushes full steam ahead in New Hampshire, it is looking for more enthusiastic, hard-working, talented individuals to join its team. The secret to an exciting career?
If you’re looking for a world-class company “that’s innovative, has strong values, is supportive,
“
In fact, all of Freudenberg-NOK’s New Hampshire associates stepped up, in one way or another, in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic and Covid 19 created an international health crisis that communities and businesses struggled to address. Freudenberg-NOK was no different than other corporations: Employee safety, already a top company priority, was redoubled to follow new federal and state guidelines outlining pandemic protocols. As an essential business that was providing seals, gaskets and other components to the country’s transportation industry, Freudenberg-NOK associates dug in to devise new safety and operational procedures that would protect their plants while meeting customers’ product requirements.
challenging, inclusive and transparent, then join our team.
“The only limitations you will face are the ones you put on yourself!” Young said. Balch agrees. LiveWorkPlay — 2021 — Page 19
Points of Pride in New Hampshire
“Freudenberg-NOK is a great place to start a rewarding career with great advancement possibilities,” he said.“Leadership has trust in my skills and allows me to continue to explore and learn new things. The ability to train under highly skilled technical experts who have taken me under their wing has really shown Freudenberg’s investment in my future.”
As part of a global corporation that employs 13,000 people, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leader in material development, advanced sealing technologies and electric mobility solutions worldwide. Many of the products made at its New Hampshire facilities are shipped worldwide to other customer locations. International collaboration and diversity are firmly established concepts at Freudenberg-NOK. Still, the hearts and souls of each Freudenberg facility remain firmly embedded in the communities and regions that surround them. When it comes to the Granite State, Freudenberg is proud of its Lakes Region achievements. Here are five of the many reasons Freudenberg-NOK associates are proud: • • • • •
Bill Balch, a Tool and Die Technician at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ Bristol plant has received training and support to advance his career at Freudenberg. He actively encourages his family and friends to join the company as well.
Freudenberg-NOK’s New Hampshire plants have won eight internal and external excellence awards for quality, innovation, delivery and service during the past five years. More than 40 company employees turned out to plant trees and flowers at The Rocks in Bethlehem, N.H. Freudenberg-NOK’s Ashland and Manufacturing Technology Center locations have gone more than six years without any lost-time accidents. Fifteen internally-trained Lean and Six Sigma Black Belts are working in the company’s New Hampshire locations. The company’s Granite State employees supported their communities during last year’s pandemic crisis by generously supporting local veterans through donations to The Veterans’ Home in Tilton, N.H.
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Looking for The Good Life
Phenomenal growth in state population spurred by younger transplants By Adam Drapcho THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
T
here’s a belief that young- and middle-aged people come to New Hampshire to vacation, and when they’re old enough to retire, their vacation home becomes their permanent home. Recent data shows that story is outdated, if it was ever true to begin with. What’s happening instead is that people aren’t waiting until retirement – they’re moving to New Hampshire much earlier in life than that false truism would have you believe. And in significant numbers, too. During the years 2017-2019, more people died than were born in New Hampshire, which would have resulted in a shrinking population. Instead, the state’s population grew over that time frame, because enough people moved into the state. The Carsey School of Public Policy, which is part of UNH, released a report that looked into who those people were that moved here, and what their motivations were. What they found shows that New Hampshire is largely a
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state of transplants. Only 44 percent of residents were born here, and only one-third of residents 25 and older are natives. The study, conducted by Kenneth Johnson and Kristine Bundschuh and titled, “Why People Move to and Stay in New Hampshire,” surveyed residents in two groups: those that had moved here recently and those that have lived here for longer than ten years. Johnson and Bundschuch discovered that people who move to New Hampshire tend to enrich the state’s human capital, as they are more educated than the average state resident, and they tend to have good earning potential. They’re also younger, the survey found. Of recent immigrants to the state, 61 percent were younger than 50, while only 40 percent of the state’s established residents fit into that age group. That was before COVID. The COVID-19 pandemic sent economic shockwaves through the U.S. economy, tripling the nation’s monthly unemployment to nearly 15 percent and leading to a more than 30-percent quarterly decline in GDP – by far the largest economic contraction in U.S. history. No corner of the country was untouched by the pandemic’s economic consequences -- but some states have emerged better off than others. A range of factors, including industrial diversity, labor force education levels, household income, and long-term GDP growth, have an effect on a state’s overall economic strength -- and its ability to withstand the impact of the pandemic. To determine the states with the best and worst economies, both in the years leading up to the pandemic and during it, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of five measures – five-year economic growth, five-year employment growth, the poverty rate, unemployment rate, and share of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher. New Hampshire’s economy, 24/7 Wall St. found, is the strongest of any state in the Northeast. In New Hampshire, 37.6 percent of the 25 and older population have a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 33.1 percent share of adults nationwide. Better-educated Americans are generally less susceptible to job-loss during an economic downturn, and unemployment in the state is barely 3 percent, half the comparable jobless rate nationwide. COVID hit New Hampshire’s economic growth particularly hard, but Granite Staters were better positioned than most Americans to weather the downturn. The typical household in the state earns nearly $78,000 a year, about $12,000 more than the national median, and just 7.3 percent of the state population live below the poverty line - the lowest poverty rate of any state. Is it any wonder so many people opt to move here? Johnson and Bundschuh found that the most common
reasons given by people who recently moved to N.H. were for family and for employment. Once here, though, the established residents said that it was the natural environment and quality of life, as well as family, that has kept them here.
The runaway tortoise
Derek Gill had been a visitor to Lake Winnipesaukee since he was a child, staying at a lake house his father owned. Stephanie Catanzaro, his partner, also had fond memories of childhood vacations to the Lakes Region. When it came time for them to start their life together, she said, they took a trip to New Hampshire to see if they could make what she called their “happy place” their permanent home. Catanzaro and Gill are both from Massachusetts, and she said that they came up to the region last fall as serious house hunters, and found what they were looking for in Moultonborough. They became New Hampshire residents shortly thereafter and spent a summer transitioning. “It just seems like everything’s different,” Catanzaro said. “The people, the traffic, the scenery, going from a hectic, fastpaced lifestyle to slowing things down, finding a different way of living the rest of your life.” The slow-paced life seemed to invigorate Danali, one of the couple’s pet reptiles. Danali is a 20-year-old African spurred tortoise who was enjoying the green blades of grass at its new home when Catanzaro and Gill were socializing in their backyard with some of their new neighbors. The conversation got a bit dull for the tortoise, apparently, because “Danali” managed to leave the yard without Catanzaro or Gill noticing until later that day. For several days, Gill and Catanzaro canvassed their new
Danali wiggles as its owner, Derek Gill, scratches the back of its shell. Gill said he worried himself sick when the African spurred tortoise went missing from his Moultonborough home. (Adam Drapcho / The Laconia Daily Sun)
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Stephanie Catanzato holds “Danali,” a pet tortoise that had given her owners the slip for six days. (Adam Drapcho / The Laconia Daily Sun)
neighborhood – and were helped by several of their new neighbors. The assistance from people they barely knew helped keep their spirits up, they said. After a few days on the lam, Danali was finally spotted and returned to his owners. Gill and Catanzaro said they wouldn’t have had such a helpful response from their old neighbors in Massachusetts, where relationships with others in the community were more transactional in nature. “We feel that it’s safer up in New Hampshire, and as much as it can seem slower, there’s more opportunity to grow and live a better life. I feel like people appreciate or want the help, rather than just supply and demand as back home,” Catanzaro said. “It’s beautiful up here, it seems like no matter what paths you take or what you choose to take on or do, it’s happier here.” Some parts of the transition are still coming together, Catanzaro said. For example, both she and Gill have found work, though their jobs are not a perfect match for either of them. They’ll find the right job soon enough, said Jaimie Sousa, another Massachusetts native who made the leap eight years ago. Sousa began her professional life in Rhode Island, and got tired of making the drive to the Lakes Region. “I always came up here for hiking on the weekend, or vacationing in the fresh air,” she said, so she made the move in 2012. She now lives in Weirs Beach and works as a financial planner in Franklin. New Hampshire residents also enjoy a lighter tax burden than that shouldered by people in the states immediately to the south, so it often works out that a person can take a slight reduction in earnings and still maintain the same quality of life, though Sousa said that wasn’t an equation she had to make. “I found there were plenty of opportunities to make a similar amount of money,” Sousa said.“I wasn’t taking a pay cut to come here. I think there’s a lot of opportunities, you just have to look for it.” Page 24 — LiveWorkPlay — 2021
Those opportunities aren’t just employment. There are plenty of opportunities for community engagement as well. Sousa, for example, became involved in the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction, an annual affair that raises several thousands of dollars for local nonprofit organizations. Sousa is currently president of the auction board of directors. How does she describe living in the Lakes Region full-time? “It’s interesting, because I always want to say that it’s not as fast-paced, but I don’t mean that people here don’t work hard,” Sousa said. People who live here do work hard, she said, but they do so with a sense of perspective. “It’s a different way to approach life, to say that it’s also important to spend time outside and appreciating nature, not just working from the time you wake up to when you go to bed.”
Employment first
While Catanzaro, Gill and Sousa are part of a trend, they’re a bit exceptional, said Russ Thibeault, because they all decided to make the move on faith that they’d find work. Most people want to be sure that they’ll be able to earn a paycheck before they pull up stakes. “Without a job, you can’t make the move. Once you have the job, you can make a decision,” said Thibeault, owner of Applied Economics Research, based in Laconia. That perspective is bolstered by Johnson and Bundschuh’s survey, which found that employment was the most-cited reason for moving by recent immigrants. Once they get here, Thibeault said, they might find that they like what they see. “You don’t have to deal with a problematic commute, and the lifestyle is good in New Hampshire. We have a lot of pluses, the thing that’s held us back is the growth of quality jobs,” he said - though that is rapidly changing. One side effect of the coronavirus pandemic is many more people being allowed to work remotely – and some offices allowed that change to be permanent. Inevitably, some of
those remote workers will choose to relocate to places like New Hampshire if they don’t need to commute into a major city. As more of those skilled professionals settle in the Lakes Region, Thibeault said, it will create fertile conditions for companies to form and locate near those workers, inevitably improving the job market. Of course, there’s no need to wait for a job to develop, said Karmen Gifford, president of the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce. Visitors might not be aware that there’s a robust manufacturing industry in the Lakes Region, and there are plenty of entry level and high skilled openings. Health care and hospitality are two industries that are always hiring, Gifford said, and there are also positions in sectors such as retail management and automotive sales. Many people, though, don’t want to work for anybody else regardless of the industry, she noted. “We have businesses that are for sale, folks are retiring. It’s succession time,” Gifford said, adding that there are prime opportunities to make the move and be your own boss.
Finding a home
In making the move to the Lakes Region, one of the most important decisions – choosing where to live – can be challenging. Thibeault said the coronavirus made New Hampshire suddenly look a lot better, especially to people who were isolating in small properties in big cities. “We’re seeing that happen all the time now. People came up initially as tourists, they stayed in local hotels and cabin colonies, they’re from the city and attracted to that outdoor lifestyle,” said Frank Roche, of Roche Realty. Roche provided his comments immediately after finishing a showing with a couple from Boston who fit the old trope: they had just retired and were cashing out of their city home to buy a house in Laconia. But here’s the new trope: both of their adult children, who are both professionals working for Boston firms, got word from their superiors that they never have to come into the office again, so they are also looking for homes in the Lakes Region to be near their parents. “That’s going to result in a sale, somebody moving in who previously wouldn’t be able to,” Roche said. Buyers should be cautious, but they also need to be quick, because there are probably other people seriously considering that property. “A lot of people who are buying their first home, it’s hard for them because they are competing against people who are buying a second home and it’s hard in a bidding situation for them to prevail,” Roche said. There is a solution, though, as Thibeault pointed out. While most new construction is for more expensive homes, there are thousands of properties that could be converted from seasonal to year-round residences, potentially filling the need in the market for attainable homes for younger households. “In the last census, nearly a third of all housing properties in Belknap County were vacation homes. We have a huge potential of housing,” Thibeault said. Whether it’s the conversion of seasonal homes or some other solution, he said it is important to find places for these visitors to unpack for good. “We need young families to move into the state to balance the demographic profile,” Thibeault said. “It’s a positive thing.” LiveWorkPlay — 2021 — Page 25
Engage. Empower. Inspire. Lakes Region Community Services offers careers with the power – and opportunity – to change lives. By Jeff Peyton THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
A
re you looking for a job, or are you looking for a career and an opportunity to change people’s lives? Jessica Littizzio wants to know. “Working with Lakes Region Community Services means working with an organization that makes a real difference in the community,” said Littizzio, LRCS human resources coordinator.“Our associates know the value and importance of giving to their community. Their jobs have real meaning.” Lakes Region Community Services began – and continues today – as a support agency for individuals and families experiencing a developmental disability or acquired brain disorder. The organization was established in 1975 as a grassroots effort to provide a variety of services to the community, LRCS was originally known as the Lakes Region Twin Rivers Human Services Coordinating Council. Following a lawsuit, and tremendous period of change in developmental disabilities service delivery, in 1975 RSA-171A in New Hampshire statute formed the Area Agency system, under which LRCS became one of the state’s 10 designated Area Agencies. By 1991 the doors to the Laconia State School were closed once and for all and LRCS was well under way providing community based supports and services, serving more than 1,200 individuals in Belknap and southern Grafton counties.
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But LRCS support doesn’t stop with individuals experiencing a disability, explained LRCS Public Relations Coordinator Emily Ferrer. “Today, LRCS provides services to the elderly, to families with small children, to young parents, to anyone in the community who needs our services or referral to one of our many non-profit partners who provide a service we do not. “We saw over the years that more people needed a variety of services, so we began filling needs gaps in our community.”
See a need, fill a need
Ferrer noted that while LRCS provides a variety of social services to a wide range of individuals, those services are available to anyone with a need and are not income-limited. “A lot of people believe we only provide service to help those with low incomes,” she said. “But we offer our services to everyone in our coverage area.” Local services range from speech therapy for children to play groups and parenting classes, to a range of personal care options for the elderly (laundry, groceries, meal prep and more). LRCS does not turn anyone away on a basis of the ability to pay for services, they work hard to secure appropriate funding sources for anyone who comes through the doors. “That,” Ferrer said, “is how we support our community.” One need the organization filled in 2019 deals with the trauma children can suffer when their families are affected by domestic violence. ACERT, which stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team, was first launched in Manchester in 2015 before being adopted by LRCS in 2019. The program connects police officers with social workers for help for children in crisis, offering immediate counseling and other connections by telephone or Zoom. Since its inception ACERT has become a national model for ensuring that children who witness or experience violence at home or other disturbing events will get mental health care before the effects of trauma set in. ACERT was created in response to a 1998 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente which found that adverse childhood experiences – including trauma, abuse and neglect – increase a child’s likelihood of chronic mental and physical illness as an adult. They can affect career and school achievement, job stability, the likelihood of incarceration, and even lifespan, the study showed. These experiences can include exposure to substance misuse, domestic violence, mental health issues of family members, and the emotional effects of having a parent in jail or unable to provide care because of disability or chronic illness. “This was a definite need in the community that we were able to develop a program to fill,” Ferrer said.
Evolution of programs
Lakes Region Community Services is a complex organization. Some services, such as its programs for individuals experiencing a disability, are highly state regulated. Services are primarily funded by Medicaid, which has very restrictive allowable services, and general funds
from the State of NH’s budget, which are often subject to budget reductions. LRCS relies on foundation funding, private donations and fundraising efforts to supplement critical needs such as employee education, training, and front line wage and bonus supplements to compete for workforce requirements. The mission of LRCS is “dedicated to serving the community by promoting independence, dignity and opportunity.” That, according to LRCS President Rebecca Bryant, means constant evolution. “Our services continue to evolve and expand to meet needs in our communities,” Bryant said. “This is evidenced by our commitment to support all children, adults, and families with our growing Family Resource and Autism Center services, employment support, and Home Assist program for elders.” To meet the diverse needs of the Lakes Region, and the nearly 2,000 individuals served across a broad range of services, LRCS employs more than 400 people in positions ranging from licensed to highly skilled to, as Littizzio puts it, “those who want to change the world.” “We have a number of individuals who are in need of personal care or medical assistance,” she explained. “We offer so many different shift opportunities – Monday through Friday, days only, nights only, part time, full time. We even have an overnight sleep shift option.” A number of LRCS programs involve residential care, which means a staff member on duty and a staff member available to help in a crisis. A literal sleep shift. “We’re very flexible,” Littizzio said. “If you’re a high school graduate, can pass a background check, and want to make a difference in someone’s life, we can work with you.” For more information about Lakes Region Community Services, visit the organization’s website at lrcs.org. Left, Bruce F. and Jon L. share a moment. Above, John B. and Richard D. get ready for some hoops. Lakes Region Community Services respects the privacy of its clients and co-workers. LiveWorkPlay — 2021 — Page 27
Local Schools The 4-1-1 Alton (SAU 72) PO Box 120 Alton 03809 Tel. 875-7890 875-0391 Alton Central School, 875-7500 Prospect Mountain High, 875-3800 Barnstead, Pittsfield (SAU 51) Locke’s Location 175 Barnstead Road, Suite 3 Pittsfield 03263-3102 Tel. 435-5526 Barnstead Elementary, 269-5161 Pittsfield Elementary, 435-8432 Pittsfield Middle-High, 435-6701 Laconia (SAU 30) 39 Harvard St. Laconia 03247 Tel. 524-5710
Fax 528-8442 Early Childhood Education, 455-1517 Elm Street School, 524-4113 Pleasant Street School, 524-2168 Woodland Heights, 524-8733 Laconia Middle, 524-4632 Laconia High, 524-3350 Huot Technical Center, 528-8693 Adult Education, 524-5712 Gilford (SAU 73) 2 Belknap Mountain Road Gilford 03249 Tel. 527-9215 Fax 527-9216 Gilford Elementary, 524-1661 Gilford Middle, 527-2460 Gilford High, 527-7135 Gilmanton (SAU 79) 1386 NH Rt. 140 Gilmanton Iron Works 03837 Tel. 267-9097 Fax 267-9498
Live where others vacation!
The Lakes Region has year-round opportunities waiting for you!
Crystal Bullerwell REALTOR Keller Williams Lakes & Mountains Realty 66 NH Rte 25 I Meredith, NH 03253 cblakesmtn@kw.com I (603) 569-4663 Office I (603) 393-8505 Cell lakesregionhomesnh.com
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Gilmanton School, 364-5681 Inter-Lakes Cooperative (SAU 2) 103 Main Street, Suite 2 Meredith 03253-5857 Tel. 279-7947 Fax 279-3044 (Includes Ashland, Center Harbor, Meredith and Sandwich) Ashland Elementary, 968-7622 Sandwich Central, 284-7712 Inter-Lakes Elementary, 279-7968 Inter-Lakes Middle, 279-6162 Inter-Lakes High, 279-6162 Shaker Regional (SAU 80) 58 School Street Belmont 03220 Tel. 267-9223 Fax 267- 9225 (Includes Belmont, Canterbury) Belmont Elementary, 267-6568 Canterbury Elementary, 783-9944 Belmont Middle, 267-9220 Belmont High, 267-6525 Winnisquam Regional (SAU 59) 433 West Main Street Tilton 03276 Tel. 268-4116 Fax 286-7402 (Includes Northfield, Sanbornton, Tilton) Union Sanborn School,
286-4332 Southwick, 286-3611 Sanbornton Central, 286-8223 Winnisquam Regional Middle, 286-7143 Winnisquam Regional High, 286-4531 Independent Schools Laconia Christian Academy (K-12) 1386 Meredith Center Road, Laconia 524-3250 Holy Trinity Catholic School (K-8) 19 Gilford Ave., Laconia 524-3156 Immaculate Conception Apostolic (7-9) 109 Dane Road, Center Harbor 253-7728 New Hampton School (9-12) 70 Main Street, New Hampton 677-3400 Sant Bani School (1-12) 19 Ashram Road, Sanbornton 934-4240 Tilton School (9-12) 30 School Street, Tilton 286-4342
A GREAT PLACE TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT! Are you looking for a rewarding position with a mission focused organization? Spaulding is hiring for opportunities on our beautiful campus and in the community. SPECIAL EDUCATION
Benefits of being part of the Spaulding Spaulding family family include:
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
• Making a tangible difference in the lives of children
COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS
• Working in an organization focused on service, values and mission ~ including Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
HEALTH SERVICES RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOOD SERVICES HOUSEKEEPING
• Being part of a motivated and dedicated team
• Organizational commitment to staff training and development • Health & wellness benefits, including an onsite fitness center • Coming to work on a magnificent campus, with beautiful facilities and amazing natural surroundings • This is more than a job, this is a chance to change lives and to be changed through the power of possibility, hope and love embodied in the work we do every day.
To learn more about Spaulding and how you can join our team: visit
SpauldingServices.org/hiring
72 Spaulding Road, Northfield, NH 03276 | 603.286.8901 | Spaulding is an equal opportunity employer.
WA N T E D : You can make a difference in the lives of Lakes Region seniors at Golden View
G
olden View’s team lives the senior living facility’s slogan so completely that the entire Lakes Region knows it. The Meredith-based non-profit senior care organization’s motto is “Best place to live, best place to work” – and the entire Lakes Region has voted Golden View “Best Assisted Living” and “Best Non-Profit” every year since The Laconia Daily Sun launched the annual awards program. Now in its 47th year serving Lakes Region seniors, Golden View’s emphasis on taking care of its employees too contributes to the organization’s five-decade staying power. “Caregiving can be stressful,” explained Rosemary Simino, Golden View skilled nursing administrator, “so we really embrace the concept of a strong work/life balance. And with the community resources here – the lakes, the mountains – our employees can really get out and relieve the stress of the job.” One stress-reliever for Golden View staff that is wildly popular with residents is Wacky Wednesday, when staff (and the occasional resident) dons themed costumes. (Super heroes are a favorite theme, for obvious reasons.) Since Golden View Health Care Center opened its doors in 1974, its focus has been on attracting and retaining the highest-caliber skilled, experienced and caring staff who, in turn, provide the highest-quality care to residents. In the 1990s, Golden View expanded its service to include programming specifically for residents who required memory support – adding specially trained staff to assist memory support residents. The vast majority of senior living facilities are for-profit, and most non-profit centers are religious or fraternalbased. In 1999, Golden View became a community-based non-profit organization, governed by a Board of Directors composed of local community members and health care and financial professionals. “As a community-based non-profit organization, we have a lot of flexibility to be fully committed to our local community,” Simino said. “That commitment to our community extends to the people who need our services, and to our employees.” Becky McKeown, case manager at Golden View, echoed the sentiment, explaining that being part of a communitybased non-profit organization gives staff a real sense of family. “We’re all on the same team,” she said. “We share the same goals, the same mission.” McKeown added that this sense of community extends Page 30 — LiveWorkPlay — 2021
beyond Golden View’s walls. “We work with our neighbors in the community,” she said. “We sponsor shows with the local community theaters, and we host a number of community events, including an Easter egg hunt and Halloween for the kids. “It just makes for a great environment.” Golden View integrates with the Lakes Region a number of ways, Simino said. “We are a clinical site for a number of public school programs, and local church programs work with us as well,” she added. “We have a great relationship with local elementary schools, where the younger kids can adopt ‘grand parents.’”
: HEROES Flexible where it counts
Being independent, locally operated and communitybased means Golden View can respond to immediate community needs. In 2000, for instance, Golden View opened The Inn at Golden View, featuring 15 suites that offered seniors and their families additional choice in living arrangements. In 2011, responding to a distinct community need, Golden View opened The Retreat at Golden View, a 32-bed, stateof-the-art transitional care
center offering short-term rehabilitation. “Over the years, we’ve adjusted to meet the changing needs of our residents and the community,” McKeown said. More recently, Golden View addressed community needs by opening additional assisted living options, The Terrace and The Cottage, which provide a slightly higher level of care than previously available. Terrace and Cottage residents get the additional support they need to be as independent as possible. Being a local, community-based non-profit senior care organization has put Golden View in a position unique among senior care facilities nationwide. According to Senior Housing News, non-profit senior care facilities emerged from the pandemic generally in much better shape than their for-profit counterparts. “There is great stability here,” McKeown said, even as many senior living facilities in the for-profit world have struggled post-pandemic. “Even during the pandemic, we were hiring,” she added. “There is a great career ladder here. Golden View supports employee advancement through a variety of programs.” Professional development at Golden View includes ongoing staff training, education reimbursement, scholarships, and a popular mentor program.
Family of heroes
Family is an apt description of how Golden View staff relate to one another, Simino said. “We spend a lot of time together, serving our residents. We work together, and we share the laughs – and the tears – that come with our work. We are a family.” Simino said Golden View is for anyone who wants a career as a superhero. “If you want to work in health care, this is the place to do it. Heroes are always welcome here.” For more information, visit GoldenView.org, or call (603) 279-8111.
Samantha Parent, LNA/MNA, is one of Golden View Health Care Center’s super staff members.
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ADVENTURE
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STARTS HERE
City of Franklin redefines ‘River City’
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ranklin has always been a mill town, but actually it was a river town first. New Hampshire’s smallest city, Franklin is home to the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers, which form the Merrimack River. However, with the mills the city thrived. It was a vibrant place to live, work and play. As the mills began to close, the city’s fortunes waned. City Manager Judie Milner explains. “We went from one of the richest communities in the state to one of the most economically depressed cities in the state. “But,” she added, “all of that is changing.” The city – thanks to those rivers – is reawakening. “Of course, we’re relying on the rivers,” Milner said. “Those rivers – those mills – are why Franklin is here.” Anchored by New England’s only whitewater park, located at the Customers whitewater rafting underneath Franklin’s iconic Trestle Bridge with Outdoor New England. (Outdoor New England / Courtesy photo)
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base of its downtown, Franklin is reinventing itself as a premier outdoor recreation destination. The whitewater park brings a new outdoor recreation industry to Franklin, the region and New Hampshire. Whitewater enthusiasts often bring family and spectators who may enjoy direct access to 150 miles of bike trails, a ski mountain, two disc golf courses, and plenty of glassy water for more serene paddlers. For surfers, bicyclists and whitewater paddlers the city is fast becoming their most favorite New Hampshire destination.
Ripe for reinvention
The new whitewater park within the Winnipesaukee River does more than return the city to its waterborne roots. It is the first step in an urban revitalization, sparking investment in the downtown area, attracting more people – tourists and residents – and with them, more business. That, in turn, provides the city with the resources to continue the momentum with infrastructure improvements and additional funding for the school system. Franklin is a tax-capped community, Milner explained. And the cap doesn’t keep up with inflation. “The city found itself in a position where there wasn’t enough money to pay for capital improvements,” she said. “We had to figure out a way to expand our tax base.” Now, she added, “that’s happening.” Whitewater recreation has occurred in Franklin for over 35 years, building upon that success with a whitewater park, together it will spark the spending of millions of dollars locally, said Marty Parichand, owner of Outdoor New England, a Franklin-based outdoor outfitter. The dollars are already flowing into Franklin (pun intended). Downtown investment is on the rise, Vulgar Brewing Company cited the park project as a major reason for locating on Central Street, and there are new places to get lunch or a cup of coffee within steps of where paddlers will take their boats out of the river after their run. Olivia Zink, Franklin interim mayor, said more investments are underway. Chinburg Properties purchased the largest downtown mill building and is planning a $32 million
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refurbishment that will house people, another brewery, and multiple businesses. She said that kind of money wouldn’t have been spent if not for the whitewater park. Robert Desrochers Sr., a city councilor who has lived in Franklin all of his life, said the project has “sparked a new light” for the city.“I was here when the mills closed in the ‘70s. Shortly after the mills closed, the businesses closed.” There used to be shoe and clothing stores, a theater, and lunch spots that would have lines out the door each day, he recalled. The city hasn’t had that kind of economic activity since. Scott Crowder, director of the state’s Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development, said the recreation industry generates 3.2 percent of the state’s overall Gross Domestic Product, and currently employs 37,000 of its residents. “It’s amazing to see that this city, which was built on the back of the river, is being revitalized on the back of the river,” Crowder said.
Real Partnership
Mill City Park is a non-profit foundation that, in partnership with the city of Franklin, is developing the city’s new outdoor amenities. When complete, the park will consist of 13 acres, with an adjacent 20 or so acres of conservation land, in partnership with Lakes Region Conservation Trust, along the river. It will include a number of shoreline viewing areas
as well as stadium seating for onlookers to watch kayakers perform across three whitewater features on Class II, III and IV rapids, and connect folks to the river. The park will offer plenty for outdoors types who prefer dry land, too, including a mountain bike pump track, a climbing wall, a parkour course, an amphitheater, and campsites. The project isn’t just about economics, but also pride, said Jeremy Laucks, a former competitive paddler and Mill City Park’s Board President. He has seen, in other places, the impact that such a park can have on a community, “but I’ve also heard about all the parks that never happened.” The fact that Mill City Park is one of the few to succeed, he said, was due to Parichand. “It turns out, Marty is a lot more stubborn than a lot of people, he also likes to surround himself with other people who are equally stubborn,” Laucks said.
Water for everyone
Strapping yourself in a whitewater kayak and traversing the Class III and IV rapids is not for everyone, Parichand said. “But many will want to come see New England’s first whitewater park for themselves and relax on the banks of the Winnipesaukee River.” Whitewater kayaking isn’t the only local attraction. Surfing and boogie boarding at the whitewater park will be a major hit with today’s youth, Parichand said. Webster Lake, the Pemigewasset and Merrimack Rivers offer serene paddling
experiences, as well as fantastic fishing opportunities. The beautiful Winnipesaukee River Trail, Northern Rail Trail, Army Corps Dam at Franklin Falls and Veterans Memorial Recreational Area offer chances to hike, bike or ski. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi believes that to improve your happiness you need to find your flow – “moments when people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that people will continue to do it for the sheer sake of doing it.” Franklin believes the key to its revitalization lies in finding your flow through free outdoor amenities all over the city. Franklin invites you to Find Your Flow in their community. Far left, above, rafters getting soaked during an Outdoor New England winter rafting trip. (Outdoor New England / Courtesy photo) Far left, below, Holly Johnson and Kim Bonin enjoy their morning coffee on Webster Lake. (Jeremy Bonin / Courtesy photo) Above, Dominic Capozzi tackles the fantastic trails at Franklin Falls. (Outdoor New England / Courtesy photo) Left, Kayakers enjoy the Winnipesaukee River during Mill City Park’s 2021 whitewater festival, Winni River Days. (Mill City Park / Courtesy photo)
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A Haven for Performers New York stage actors find new life – and new audiences – nestled in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region It’s not unusual for kids who grow up in small towns to chase their dreams in a big city. What is unusual, though, is when those kids decide to retreat from the big city to the small town – and bring their dreams with them. By Adam Drapcho THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
K
aleigh Cronin grew up in Manchester, but soon found herself on Broadway, where she found roles in “A Bronx Tale” and “Cabaret,” and was part of the touring cast for “Jersey Boys.” She was preparing to perform as part of the ensemble for “Mrs. Doubtfire” when the stage lights went dark due to the pandemic. Cronin, along with her husband and their dog, decided to drive up to stay with her parents at their lakeside condo in Gilford. The plan was for them to visit for about a month. That was a year and a half ago. Cronin had been a lifelong visitor to Winnipesaukee. Her parents had a place in Samoset, also in Gilford, when she was a girl. She has many fond memories of summer
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visits to the lake, and briefer winter trips to go skiing at Gunstock. This was the first time, though, that she had seen the region through a resident’s eyes. “In my mind, there is no place better. I absolutely love it here,” she said. Without a stage to perform on, she decided it was the perfect time for her to explore another career, one that had been in the back of her mind since she was a girl and tagged along with her father, an attorney who specialized in real estate. She found an online course and earned her license to sell real estate. “My entire life was performing,” she said about the sudden shutdown of theaters. “It was a shift, but a welcome one to explore my other passions.” Cronin said her time in New Hampshire has been “fulfilling, I really enjoy it.”
In addition to her real estate career, she has earned her safe boater’s certification and become one of Winnipesaukee’s many new boaters, has explored the bars and restaurants around the lake, and has been particularly surprised by the winter activities beyond skiing, such as the Pond Hockey Classic in Meredith and the Alton Bay Ice Runway. Her husband, John, has also found a new role in New Hampshire. They met during a theatrical production, as he was a musician performing the score, while she was on stage singing. In their new life, he is a videographer and producer who helps her create videos to market properties. “We work as a team, and we work really well together,” Cronin said. “It was a natural transition for us.” Yet, Cronin hasn’t completely forgotten about her first passion. Now that she has her feet underneath her as a real estate professional, she is starting to think about some of the Lakes Region stages that put on the same shows she auditioned for on Broadway. “It’s time to merge what I love with living in New Hampshire,” she said. The move out of the city was something they were thinking about for a while, Cronin said, as they were looking for someplace to start a family. “The pandemic pushed us more quickly down this path.” She has been surprised by how much there is to do and see in the Lakes Region – even some of her favorites from New York City, such as a drag queen show.
The drag show must go on
Kaleigh Cronin and her dog, Rosie, have adapted well to Lake life.
Zach Berteletti, who grew up in New Jersey, was bit early on by the dream of being a performer in New York City. “I went to college in New York, after school I moved right to Manhattan, I’ve been there ever since,” until last summer, he said. Berteletti found his audience as a drag performer, performing under the name “Carlos the Uber Driver.” Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, he was busy as a professional drag performer, producer and director, working drag cabarets at three bars that had regular drag shows. Then the pandemic hit. “All of those places either closed down or went away. I
Laconia Academy (High School Diploma) HiSET (H.S. Equivalency) Prep to career classes English as a Second Language Classes
Come and See What Laconia Adult Education Has to Offer! Enrichment Classes Health & Wellness Various classes on Spiritual Health Ballroom, Swing, Line & Two Step Dancing Meditation Yoga
Informational Classes/Seminars Genealogy Estate, Wills, Trusts & Guardianship Planning Language French for Beginners (Conversation & Culture) Spanish for Beginner & Intermediate
Skills Dog Obedience: Beginning, Advanced, Tricks Welding Basics & Lab Basic, Intermediate & Open Shop Woodworking Learn the Ukulele
For more information or to register for a class, visit our website at adultedlaconia.weebly.com Still have questions? Call Laconia Adult Education at 524-5712 LiveWorkPlay — 2021 — Page 37
and carry himself however he wished. When he did that in Gilford, he said he attracted some strange looks. But he didn’t have to dial himself all the way down. “I have found that the people here are very welcoming and friendly, and I have to say, it’s been so nice to see how accepting and open they are,” Berteletti said. “It was refreshing, I thought I would find a lot more the opposite.”
Something for everyone from everywhere
Zach Berteletti performs in drag as “Carlos the Uber Driver.”
was completely out of work,” he said, “and I was too proud to take unemployment.” He left the city and moved in with his parents, who had relocated to Gilford. They were glad to have him, and he found a job working at Patrick’s Pub. Berteletti said he’s been taking advantage of what the Lakes Region offers. “I’ve been really enjoying my time, it’s so much different than the city here. It’s so nice to be back in nature,” he said. “I’m a very active person, I like the outdoors, it’s so nice to breathe fresh air, the views of the lake are so pretty.” Berteletti said he thinks he will return to New York when the conditions improve. While he’s here, though, he is continuing to do what he does best. He doesn’t just perform in the big city; he has often sold his show to vacation towns across the country, or has been called in to help establish new shows. “It’s my mission to bring drag to places, and that’s what I do up here,” he said. Berteletti found a partner with the Tower Hill Tavern, where a drag brunch in May turned into a series of drag shows. “Drag is transformative. It opens people’s minds, it gets them to think a little more, and it’s fun and entertaining. I’m glad I’ve been able to do that here in the Lakes Region,” Berteletti said. While the shows have been well-received, he has found it’s a different task to perform drag in the Lakes Region. In New York, he said, “Work advertises itself and asks people to come to it. Out here you have to carve your own niche and say, ‘I’m here, come see me.’” Social interactions are similar, he said, though he did dial back his personal style – well, when he’s not in drag, that is. Berteletti is gay, and in New York, he could present Page 38 — LiveWorkPlay — 2021
A couple of weeks ago, Frank Roche said, he was showing a property on Bear Island. “The gal shows up, she’s on a jet ski,” said Roche, of Roche Realty. The client was an orthopedic surgeon with a successful practice in New York City who, in the midst of the pandemic, decided to sell the practice and buy a lake home, from which she could work for the FDA – and explore the lakes and mountains before and after work. Accountants, stock brokers, graphic designers, writers, he said his agents have helped all sorts of professionals who have found that if they can work from anywhere, they want to work from here. Roche said that anyone considering such a move should tread slowly. First of all, working from home might not be ideal for everyone. “I think you’ve got to be structured, organized, disciplined, for sure,” he said. Optimistic types might focus too strongly on the benefits of moving to a more rural area, Roche added. Outdoor enthusiasts will be in heaven, but there are also downsides, such as fewer cultural offerings. Yet, looking at the license plates on vehicles driving around the central and northern parts of the state, it’s clear to Roche that the pandemic inspired many people to make a big life change.
Kaleigh Cronin performing the role of “Janet Van de Graaff” in a 2019 production of “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Sacramento Music Circus.
More roofs over
Affordable housing essential to a By Rick Green THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
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hen it comes to affordable housing, New Hampshire has many of the same challenges facing every state in the country - high costs of labor and building materials, exclusionary zoning requirements and land that is difficult to build on. But
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Granite Staters recognize the importance of affordable housing to the state’s economic health, and so are working to put more roofs over more heads. Carmen Lorentz, executive director of Lakes Region Community Developers, is among the optimistic. “I do have hope,” she said. “I know there will be more funding available to build housing for essential workers. It’s not anything that will happen quickly, but state and federal agencies are investing more money in housing production. “I definitely feel like the tide is turning.” There are signs that the public is on
r more heads
o area recruitment, economic health board, too. A telephone survey of nearly 500 people last year by The Center for Ethics in Business and Governance at Saint Anselm College found that 63 percent supported the statement, “My community needs more affordable housing to be built.” Top reasons for this support were: — Letting seniors downsize. — Fairness to the less fortunate. — Keeping young people in the state. — Reducing homelessness. “We are seeing a growing awareness of the connection between an adequate supply of housing and a strong state economy,” said Dean Christon, executive director and chief executive officer of New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. “If employees have an adequate range of housing options near where they work, the state’s businesses will be able to attract and retain the workers needed to keep our economy thriving.” As consensus grows that affordable housing is needed, zoning rules that do not provide the flexibility or density required for a project to materialize are beginning to change. “There’s a realization that businesses are better off when they have a local workforce,” Lorentz said. “Workers do need to have homes. Among our tenants are people who work in health care, education and hospitality.” Still, change takes time. Lorentz’s organization has had to delay a project in Wolfeboro that would provide single-family, starter homes. “We put it out to bid, but the prices came back too high,” she said. “We would have had to sell them for well above the intended price.
That’s on hold until next year.” Labor and material costs in the wake of the pandemic are particularly high, and the hope is that they may decline somewhat in the coming months. Lorentz said municipalities can help by easing zoning requirements that sometimes prevent new apartment buildings or housing subdivisions from ever getting off the ground. “Zoning is a huge part of making it work out,” she said. “As a developer, when we look at a town, if we have to try to get a zoning variance, we’ll just say ‘Never mind.’” Lorentz said the state Legislature can assist by passing a new tax increment financing law that would apply to residential development. This financing, now often used for commercial development, allows municipalities to fund infrastructure improvements in a given district by borrowing money and paying off the debt with increased property tax revenue fostered by those improvements. Infrastructure improvements make land ready for development. This is true in Laconia, where residential growth could take place if Hilliard Road, which runs northeast from Parade Road, could be improved and if water and sewer service could be brought to the area. Laconia Planning Director Dean Trefethen said the city has the ability to work with a developer through “performance zoning,” essentially providing flexibility to move a project along if it matches city goals, in this case for more housing. “What we’d like to see is typical middle class housing,” he said. “This would look a lot like what was built in the ‘60s or the ‘70s, smaller ranches and Capes.” Performance zoning is allowed in the urban commercial zone downtown, along the Court Street and Union Avenue corridor as well as at the former Laconia State School property and a couple of adjacent parcels. Although the Hilliard Road area is not designated for performance zoning, it is mentioned in the city’s Master Plan as a possible place it could be implemented. If smaller, less expensive homes were to be built, middleincome families could qualify for programs that could allow for financing of 90 to 95 percent of the overall cost. LiveWorkPlay — 2021 — Page 41
In it for Life Viant Medical employees manufacture life-saving tools used by hospitals around the world
V
iant is a trusted design and manufacturing services provider to the medical device industry with 24 facilities worldwide. For over 50 years, Viant has partnered with customers to bring to market the highest quality medical devices. Located in the heart of the Lakes Region for over 40 years, Viant operates out of its medical device assembly facility at 45 Lexington Drive in Laconia. “We assemble a range of life-saving and life-enhancing medical devices, including robotic surgical instruments, instruments used in orthopedic and cardiac procedures, drug delivery devices and more,” said Renee Kordas, Viant’s Human Resources Manager. Viant products are of the highest quality, Kordas explained, because lives depend on it. The company’s mantra is simple: Quality for Life. “Our team members are critical in their dedication to serving our customers and the patients who utilize the medical devices we build,” she said. In return, Viant takes care of its team. “Our associates enjoy a clean, regulated temperature environment with a generous benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401k with match, over 3 weeks’ vacation, life insurance, bonus incentives, tuition reimbursement, and much more. All effective on their first day of work.” Viant employees are recognized throughout the year, including work anniversaries and especially milestone years. “With an average employee tenure of 7 years, we have several associates who’ve celebrated 15, 20 and even 30 years at Viant,” Kordas said. Viant’s Laconia operation not only remained open during the 2020 pandemic – it also avoided any layoffs or furloughs. “Employee safety is always our top priority,” Kordas said. “In 2020, we instituted several new practices to ensure that our employees were protected.” Masks, social distancing and daily temperature checks, as well as flexibility for employees to stay home if they weren’t feeling well, meant critical medical equipment could continue to be manufactured and employees could be sure of their safety. Kordas said Viant stresses safety as a critical step in quality manufacturing. “It’s everyone’s responsibility,” she added. “A safety committee is there to review incidents, Page 42 — LiveWorkPlay — 2021
perform ergonomic evaluations and promote safe behaviors. Everyone is encouraged to point out any safety concern, so they can be addressed right away.” Kordas said the emphasis on safety works. The plant has a historically low number of recordable incidents, and no injuries in 2021. Companywide, Viant bestows a quarterly Values Award to individuals or teams that exemplify the company’s values (Own It, Customer Oriented, Be Agile, Teamwork, Servant Leadership, and Integrity.) “Laconia leadership submits stories reflecting the people who exemplify our values, and the winners chosen by our Corporate leaders receive a plaque and a monetary award,” Kordas said. One story that exemplifies how Viant values its associates’ safety and the Teamwork value is the January 2020 snowstorm. That storm came on hard and fast and dumped several feet of snow in only a few hours’ time. “We shut down the first shift early and everyone grabbed their shovels, brushes and even a plow to make sure that all cars were cleared of snow. Not one person was left shoveling off his or her own car. It really reflected just how much we care about our associates and how much they care about each other,” she added. Viant employees actively serve the Lakes Region as well. “Serving our community is important to us,” Kordas said. “Each year we donate to local food pantries, raise donations for the Boys & Girls Club, Make a Wish Foundation and Toys for Tots.” With a growing customer base, and a consistent, growing need for Viant products, the company is dealing with a steady increase in demand. “We’ve grown about 30 percent over the last two years, and have hired a number of new associates,” Kordas said. ”Our team is impressive. And we are always looking for dependable, quality-minded associates to join us.” She added, “Our associates take pride in the quality work they do, knowing they are making devices that save people’s lives.” To learn more about Viant, visit www.viantmedical.com. To contact Viant’s Laconia facility, call 603-528-1211. Viant Medical’s Laconia team assembling medical devices (Greg Folkins / Viant Medical photo)
Higher Education Pays Community College Turning students into well-paid employees By Rick Green THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
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sk Lakes Region Community College President Larissa Baia if workforce development is always in the back of her mind and she’ll correct you. “It’s actually in the forefront of our minds,” said Baia, whose school offers numerous tracks to qualify people for skilled positions in automotive repair, electrical, nursing, machinist work and the construction trades, among others. Baia encourages people to contact the school, ask what financial aid might be available, if needed, and inquire about pursuing fields where employers are clamoring for new employees. Students are virtually guaranteed employment in some instances just by completing training through LRCC. A large issue is declining college student body numbers statewide, resulting from an aging population and the many high school graduates who decide to go to college out of state. “There is a need to find individuals and to bring them into the educational and training pipeline,” Baia said. “In Belknap County, 50 percent of the people have some college but no degree.” LRCC could qualify those people for higher-paying jobs. “There is a population of adults who are currently working, but they may be working in entry-level jobs,” she said. “How do we incentivize those individuals to look at other sectors of the economy, where, with a little bit of training, they can get good-paying jobs?”
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ne hot option for LRCC students is Culinary Arts, where a new kitchen that includes baker’s ovens, double-stacked convection ovens, burners, and 12 student stations with induction burners, cutting boards and utensils opened just last year. The ovens and tables are on wheels. “It’s like an operating room,” said Culinary Professor and Program Coordinator Patrick Hall. “You can move everything out, spray it down and sanitize everything.” Two-year degrees are offered in culinary arts, pastry arts and hotel and restaurant operations. A second kitchen is to be built, while a third phase will include a dining room. The kitchens will allow students to stay on campus for their lab work, which was previously done at Belmont Mill, Canterbury Shaker Village and Concord High School. There’s no lack of work for graduates. “We have more jobs than we have students,” Hall said. “Right now this is a hot industry. People are looking for help and qualified chefs.” The program requires students to work four months in the restaurant business while they are going to school Page 44 — LiveWorkPlay — 2021
earning their associate’s degree. “That’s what really builds their relationships that leads to jobs,” Baia said. “If you’re working with the Common Man or you’re working with T-Bones, the likelihood that you’re going to end up with that company is really good.” Other students will go to a four-year culinary program, and LRCC has partnerships with Johnson & Wales University, the University of New Hampshire, the University of Massachusetts Amherst and New England Culinary Institute. By starting their college experience at LRCC, students can save thousands of dollars in tuition expenses. Hall is a graduate of Johnson & Wales and worked as a chef in the Florida Keys at the Cheeca Lodge Resorts. He also worked in Rhode Island at Westin Hotels and the Spring House Hotel on Block Island. “I keep tabs with these places all the time,” Hall said. “My students go there, too.” Hall, who has a master’s degree in career and technical education from the University of New England, said there are about 60 students in the program at LRCC. The head count for total new students at the college is 278, up 17 percent compared to last year. Baia said expansion of the culinary program has the potential for further increasing enrollment. The average student who graduates with a two-year degree from the culinary program could earn $45,000 a year in the restaurant business to start, potentially advancing to an executive chef position, which would pay
Larissa Baia, president of Lakes Region Community College, and Culinary Professor and Program Coordinator Patrick Hall open a pizza oven in a new kitchen which will serve as a laboratory for students to learn the skills they need to work as chefs in the restaurant industry. (Rick Green / The Laconia Daily Sun)
$75,000 to $80,000, or more. “The industry is growing so fast, and they’re in such need, that that pay level is starting to change,” Hall said. The culinary arts share similarities with other technical education skills. “You’ve got to be able to work with your hands,” Hall said. “You’ve got to be able to think. A lot of people come into culinary, and it’s like, ‘I’m just going to carry a big bag of flour or whatever.’ “No, there’s a lot of math. There’s a lot of science. A lot of people think it’s mindless work, but it’s not.” Eventually, students create their own menus, determine what ingredients need to be purchased and how to prepare. Creativity plays a role. “Sometimes I give them mystery baskets,” Hall said. “Here’s a certain meat. Here’s a certain vegetable. All right, you’re going to create a dish out of these ingredients.” And he puts them under pressure when they provide meal service to the public. “They have to be ready for service at 11:30,” he said. “I say, ‘All right, let’s go,’ and I tell them if they are late they are losing a letter grade.” And the food has to be good. “It has to be edible,” Baia said. “If you’re going to present it to the public, it has to be edible.”
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We’re hiring empathetic caregivers for seniors (603) 536-6060 Apply Now: CKApply.com LiveWorkPlay — 2021 — Page 45
Top 10 Reasons to make New Hampshire home There are many things that could inspire you to relocate to the Lakes Region. Here are 10 really good reasons to consider it. Excellent job opportunities The region offers a variety of employment opportunities in industry, technology, service, medical and professional sectors. Jobs are available for all kinds of individuals at every level of education. Employers range from nationally known retailers and distributors to manufacturers of high-tech medical devices. Entrepreneurial spirit abounds Through the years many businesses have had their start here, rising to become national leaders in their field. A big reason is the can-do spirit of the welleducated workforce. Through the years, the Lakes Region has played host to innovators and entrepreneurs who have built strong businesses while providing excellent jobs. These include heat sinks for computers, assemblies for computer aircraft networks, ball bearings, aircraft parts, space-age polymers, medical devices and more. Many of these businesses are well connected to the global economy. The Region is well connected High-speed Internet services are readily available and provide tremendous opportunity for telecommuters in the postpandemic economy. Laconia Municipal Airport provides services for private aviation - including jets. ManchesterBoston Regional Aiport is a short drive down Interstate 93 and can connect travelers with regular flights to locations anywhere in the world. (Boston International Airport is only a 90-minute drive.) A well-maintained highway system makes major East Coast cities - with their sports, cultural events, economic activity Page 46 — LiveWorkPlay — 2021
and educational institutions - within a short drive from your back door. Boston is an easy drive from most Lakes Region locations. Education is highly valued Public schools across the region rank among the best in the Granite State. A number of independent preparatory schools are located in the area. Post-secondary institutions provide educational and advanced degree opportunities. These include the Lakes Region Community College, Plymouth State University and Southern New Hampshire University. Quality of life is more than just a catch phrase Settling in the Lakes Region puts you in the heart of a recreation mecca with an incredible diversity of opportunities. After work or on weekends, you can enjoy everything from a mountain hike to a swim in a pristine lake (or, when it’s a little colder, skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling and skating).
The region includes three of the Northeast’s cleanest and largest freshwater lakes just below gorgeous mountain trails to explore. Every day is like a vacation in your own back yard. Scenic beauty is what you see out your window Lakes Region residents don’t have to drive far to enjoy breathtaking scenery. Scenic overlooks abound, but spectacular vistas are for many literally out your dining room window, or a regular part of your daily commute. There is a reason they filmed “On Golden Pond” here. Cultural activities are closer than you think Some of the nation’s top performers include the Lakes Region on their tour schedules. The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford plays host to a wide variety of A-list musicians. The New Hampshire Music Festival in Center Harbor is world renowned for its classical concerts. The newly renovated Lakeport Opera House and Colonial Theater in Laconia offer music, comedy and a wide assortment of live entertainment. Across the region, professional and amateur theater productions are widely available. Area museums and cultural centers provide a glimpse into the history that has helped shape not just our region, but the nation. Belknap Mill in Laconia provides rotating art exhibits, while an ongoing display focuses on the knitting industry once powered by the nearby Winnipesaukee River. Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough offers a glimpse into innovation and opulence of a mountaintop home made possible by unthinkable wealth. Nearby Shaker Village in Canterbury provides an up-close glimpse of the agrarian lifestyle its members once practiced. Active lifestyle is celebrated Here, we’ve discovered that residents in their golden years expect more out of life than more rocking chairs. Activities for every level of lifestyle are available, and state of the art medical services are close for when health challenges present. The focus for Lakes Region residents is on living well and living fully. Retirement communities are available, as are opportunities for the fully independent living that dreams are made of.
Low - practically NO - taxes With no statewide sales or income tax, New Hampshire offers the lowest tax burden in New England, providing residents the opportunity to keep (or spend) much more of their own money.
Being #1 is kind of our thing National and international media consistently rank New Hampshire as #1 for Opportunity, #1 for Quality of Life, #1 for Best Place to Retire, #1 for Best State to Raise Children, #1 for Lowest Poverty in the Nation, #1 for Lowest Property Crime in the Nation, and #1 for Best Pre-k thru 12 Education in America. LiveWorkPlay — 2021 — Page 47
The Lakes Region of New Hampshire
Not just a place, a lifestyle! The strong fabric of businesses working together to develop a thriving economy, creates community.
Establish roots, get involved and raise your family.
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You don't have to choose between work and play. Visit our website to find out how you can have it all. Search our On-Line Business Directory - Find Community Events - Get Connected LakesRegionChamber.org ComeCatchtheGlow.com
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