DERRY — The Business & Industry Association, New Hampshire’s statewide chamber of commerce and leading business advocate, elected officers and directors for 2024-2025, and honored outstanding volunteer members at its Annual Business Meeting Wednesday, May 15.

The meeting and networking event was held at the LaBelle Winery, a BIA member, in Derry. BIA has over 400 members and its Board of Directors is one of the largest in New Hampshire, featuring executives of New Hampshire’s top employers.

“Our members drive our mission to champion a competitive business climate and prosperous economic future for New Hampshire,” said BIA President & CEO Michael Skelton. “BIA continues our advocacy, networking and educational programs to advance the goal of New Hampshire becoming the top state for business in the country.”

Elected as officers were Chair Katherine Garfield, president, Keller Companies; Chair-elect Bryan Granger, senior vice president, compliance & administration, C&S Wholesale Grocers; Past-chair John Kacavas, chief legal officer & general counsel, Dartmouth Health; Treasurer Steve Lawlor, principal and CPA, Nathan Wechsler; Secretary Scott Ellison, partner, Sheehan Phinney; and President Michael Skelton.

Elected to the Executive Committee were Pat Closson, director, McLane Middleton law firm; Rob Dapice, executive director and CEO, NH Housing; Christiana Thornton, president and CEO, Granite Edvance; and Thomas Raffio, president and CEO, Northeast Delta Dental. Reelected to the Executive Committee were Jamie Burnett, president, Sight Line Public Affairs; Joseph Murray, vice president, public affairs, Fidelity Investments; Maria Proulx, president, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield; Leslie Walker, managing director, Mason + Rich.

Newly elected to the Board of Directors were Kat Bourque, vice president, policy & corporate relations, Unitil; Ryan Clark, regional director external affairs, AT&T Services; Peter Giorno, senior vice president/region manager, M&T Bank; Jonathan Lapointe, environmental, social and governance lead, Associated Grocers of New England; Christopher Logan, president & CEO, Bank of New Hampshire; Larry Major, Jr., government relations director, Pike Industries; Lindsay Nadeau, attorney, Orr & Reno; EJ Powers, partner, Montagne Powers; Veronica Rosa, chief advancement officer, Concord Hospital; Ron Roope, director of main street banking & New Hampshire commercial, Bangor Savings Bank; Mark Rubinstein, chancellor, Community College System of New Hampshire; Gregg Tewksbury, president & CEO; NH Mutual Bancorp; Michael Vlacich, principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs.

Reelected as directors were Timothy Archer, CEO, UnitedHealthcare; Andrew Curland, CEO & president, Momentum Manufacturing Group; James Faulhaber, NAFTA operations lead, Osram Sylvania – Automotive Lighting; Chris Hodgdon, vice president, government affairs, Comcast; Theodore Kitchens, airport director, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport; Don Marsolini, vice president of finance, DECCO; Michael O’Reilly, New England regional president/Maine regional president, NBT Bank; Mike Rizzo, CEO, Admix.

Wendy Hunt, president & CEO, Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, and John Nyhan, president, Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce were reelected as representatives of the N.H. Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Four departing directors were honored: John Kacavas of Dartmouth Health, past-chair; Dan Cronin, president, CGI Business Solutions; Steven Poggi, director of disposal operations, Waste Management; and James Dean, president, University of New Hampshire.

Above and Beyond Award recipients

The following members received BIA’s Above & Beyond Awards, honoring their standout volunteer efforts: Katherine Bourque, Unitil; Ryan Clark, AT&T; Michelle, Cruz, Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce; David Cuzzi, Prospect Hill Strategies; Rob Dapice, NH Housing; Bryan Gould, Cleveland, Waters, and Bass, P.A.; Margaret Joyce, Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce; Michael McClory, Mainstay Technologies; Neil Proudman, Liberty; Alex Ritchie, Ritchie Associates; Amanda Savage, North Branch Construction; Gregory Smith, McLane Middleton; Christiana Thornton, Granite Edvance; and Allan White, UHY Advisors.

Click here to see photos of the Above and Beyond award recipients.