MANCHESTER – On Thursday June 19, 2019, Mayor Joyce Craig announced the first round of her “Business Leaders for Joyce Craig” advisory group. This group includes more than 50 business leaders representing a variety of industries located in Manchester including technology, retail, hospitality, developers and more. This bipartisan group of business leaders representing small and large businesses are committed to working to re-elect Mayor Craig because they know her collaborative approach and her focus on education and economic development has spurred economic growth in the city and they want her to return to City Hall for another term to keep Manchester’s economy growing.
Throughout her term, Mayor Craig has regularly visited and met with Manchester businesses to ensure that she and the City are responsive to their needs. To highlight her support from the Manchester business community, Mayor Craig will visit several businesses in the coming days.
“Manchester has experienced unprecedented economic growth and I’ve worked hard to ensure our businesses are thriving with help from City Hall, not in spite of it,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “As Mayor, I’ve seen firsthand the commitment our business community has to our city and our future and I am honored to have the support of leaders dedicated to our collective success.”
“Having elected officials like Mayor Craig recognize the needs of business is refreshing,” said Tom Boucher, Owner of CJ’s Great West Grill and Great NH Restaurants, Inc. “Joyce is a strong ally and advocate for businesses in Manchester.”
“As Mayor, Joyce has been accessible and responsive to the needs of downtown businesses like ours,” said Keating Tufts, co-owner of Board and Brews. “As a Manchester public school graduate who chose to open a business here, I appreciate her being present downtown, understanding the unique challenges facing businesses, listening to the needs of the business community, and responding to them.”
“With Joyce as Mayor, I know my business has a true partner in City Hall,” said Danielle Perreault, co-owner of Fortitude Health and Training. “Knowing that Mayor Craig is always available and willing to work with us to address any challenge we may face makes Manchester a great place to do business.”
In her first term as Mayor, Craig partnered with the state to develop a comprehensive proposal to bring BAE Systems into Manchester, along with 800 new, high-paying jobs. Understanding the current challenges businesses have finding employees, Craig worked with Velcro USA Inc. and started Velcro University at Manchester West High School to help our students become college and career ready. Craig also implemented a joint initiative with the Greater Manchester Chamber to establish the “Manchester Business Council” to create a more business-friendly environment in Manchester to aid business growth and attraction efforts, and expand the municipal tax base.
Under Mayor Craig’s leadership, the city experienced the first new development in the millyard in decades with the construction of the Tru by Hilton Hotel. And as a result of her vision and collaborative approach, the city is partnering with the Palace Theatre and the Manchester Development Corporation to renovate the Rex Theatre, a 300 seat live entertainment venue in the heart of Manchester’s downtown that’s scheduled to open this fall.
The following individuals are members of the “Business Leaders for Joyce Craig” advisory group:
Jose Abreu, Owner, B&P Barber Shop
Dave Allen, Vice President and General Manager, Oracle, Internet Intelligence Program
Sandra Almonte, Owner, Don Quijote Restaurant
Dick Anagnost, President, Anagnost Investment
Michael Balboni, Owner, Infinity Car Wash
Roland Bergeron, Owner, Granite State Barber Shop
Dan Biron, Owner, Keystone Press
Kriss Blevins, Owner, Kriss Cosmetics
Lisa Maria-Booth, CEO and Co-Owner, Fortitude Health and Training
Tom Boucher, Owner, CJ’s Great West Grill and Great NH Restaurants, Inc.
Howard Brodsky, Co-Founder, Chairman, and Co-CEO, CCA Global Partners
Dave Casignino, Co-Owner, Boards and Brews
Gray Chynoweth, Entrepreneur and Investor
Robb Curry, Co-Owner, Madears
Kyle Davis, Co-Owner, Madears
Roque De Oleo, Owner, Wilson Complete Auto Repair
Diane Downing, Owner, Firefly
Patrick Duffy, Principal, P. Duffy and Associates
Peter Flotz, Principal, Lansing Melbourne Group
Fred Fricker, Owner, Fricker’s Neighborhood Grill
Tyler Goodwin, CEO, 360 Intel
Sebastian Grasso, President and CEO, Windham Group
Jeremy Hitchcock, Founder and CEO, Minim, and Founder of Dyn
Liz Hitchcock, Entrepreneur and Owner of BookeryMHT
Will Kanteres, Principal Broker, Kanteres Real Estate
Matt Kfoury, COO, Central Paper
Heather Lavoie, Healthcare Technology Executive
Ric Loeffler, Founder, Shorty’s Mexican Roadhouse
Matthew Low, Senior Vice President, Hoyle, Tanner & Associates
Henry Manuel Mendez, Owner, D’Lila Barber Shop
Roland Martin, President, Cornerstone, PDC, LLC
Bob Mongan, President, Mongan Real Estate, former President of the Greater Manchester Nashua Board of Realtors
Tilak Niroula, Regional Care Manager, CarePoint Plus
Norri Oberlander, President, North End Properties, Inc.
Danielle Perrault, Co-Owner, Fortitude Health and Training
Richard Power, Owner, Power Real Estate
Michael Power, Project Manager, Power Real Estate
Raj Rai, Owner, Namaste Nepal
Amjad Rana, Owner, Seven Days Markets
Mike Reed, President, Stebbins Commercial Properties LLC
Jose Rodriguez, Owner, El Tenampa
Isaac Sacramento, Owner, El Rincon Zacatecano
Cathleen Schmidt, Executive Director and CEO, McLane Middleton
Aaron Share, Co-Owner, To Share Brewing Company
Jenni Share, Co-Owner, To Share Brewing Company
Chris Sharpe, President, Cross Insurance
Anadina Sorrillo, Owner, Botanica San Miguel
Bill Stelling, Gallery Director, Kelley Stelling Contemporary
Arthur Sullivan, Partner, Brady Sullivan
Jeanine Tousignant, President, Jeanine & Company
June Trisciani, Owner, j ellen Design LLC
Marlana Trombley, Founder/Growth Strategist, Prosper Peak
Keating Tufts, Co-Owner, Boards and Brews
Nick Vailas, CEO, Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center & Apple Therapy Services
Stanley Ziemba, President, B. A. Roy Steel