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Posts Tagged ‘NH Public Television’

Ballantyne Named NH Made Executive Director

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

We at the No Bull Business Blog have the philosophy of “buy local and buy often.” With that in mind, we want to issue our congratulations to Trish Ballantyne for being named the new Executive Director of NH Made, an organization that truly demonstrates the power of local small business ownership. Here’s the official release:

Ballantyne Named NH Made Executive Director

New Hampshire Made announced today that Trish Ballantyne has been named Executive Director of the organization. Ballantyne brings 25 years of nonprofit fundraising, marketing, event planning and leadership to NH Made. Previously with NH Public Television, Ballantyne looks forward to leading NH Made towards continued success and growth. Ballantyne, a UNH graduate, is a recipient of several prestigious PBS Awards for Excellence.

nh-made1“Trish brings a range of nonprofit management and business development skills to the organization,” NH Board Chair, Link Moser said. “Trish knows New Hampshire and will do a great job supporting the organization’s mission of strengthening New Hampshire’s economy by increasing the awareness and demand for NH made products and supporting programs local businesses need to grow.”

Ballantyne succeeds the late Laurie Ferguson who recently passed away following a courageous battle with cancer. In her seven year tenure with the organization, Ferguson earned a number of prestigious state and regional awards including the 2007 New Hampshire Business Review Business Excellence Award and the 2010 Outstanding Women in Business Award.

Thriving During the Recession

Monday, December 6th, 2010

Please be sure to check out the Division of Economic Development’s own Christine Davis who will be hosting a special edition of NH Public Television’s “Outlook” program this Friday on Channel 11 at 6 p.m. to discuss businesses that not only survived, but thrived during the recession. Here’s a background piece that Christine recently wrote about the experience:

The recession impacted just about every business in New Hampshire. Some of those businesses are now closed, some are still struggling and others are growing. I wanted to know more about those that are growing and what they were doing to get there.

I don’t often get lucky, but I certainly felt lucky (and flattered) when I received a call from N.H. Public Television asking me if I would like to guest host a special edition of “N.H. Outlook.” Since it was up to me to choose the topic, I decided to seek out businesses that used the challenges of the recession to rethink how they were running their businesses, take some risks and make changes.

NH Division of Economic Development Business Services Specialist Christine Davis

NH Division of Economic Development Business Services Specialist Christine Davis

Many businesses weathered the recession through cutbacks, dipping into financial reserves or picking up customers from businesses that closed. That’s all well and fine, but I wanted to meet with people who took a risk and made changes to how they ran their business. It takes courage to take a risk, especially when you have staff that is counting on your decision-making abilities for their livelihood.

I met with four very different businesses with very different stories. They did possess one common trait — a willingness to overcome adversity by taking risks and making changes to how they ran their businesses.

The owners of The Governor’s Inn in Rochester, Herman and Anthony Ejarque, did a complete 180 in the type of atmosphere that they offer their patrons. Gone are the linen napkins and menus loaded with French words. Now you will find walls covered in Spaulding High School sports memorabilia and hamburgers on the menu. Their other initiatives will also be discussed during the broadcast on Dec. 10.

I also spent time speaking with Geoff Martin, owner of the Cedar Mill Group in Webster. Martin’s home remodeling business was on the brink of disaster when he decided he had to go against the status quo for his industry. His competitors thought he was crazy, but Martin’s business is now thriving, and his only regret is that he didn’t make the change sooner.

Another great story is Goss International in Durham. Known for manufacturing print presses, Goss is taking its manufacturing capabilities in some new directions, including wind turbines. While they still manufacture print presses as their core business, they are using their resources in ways that might surprise you and most certainly will inspire.

My fourth guest is a real bundle of energy and determination. Scott Johnson started Certified Parts Warehouse on the second floor of the old Stratham Town Hall in 1992. He now has two buildings in Dover and a rapidly growing business due to his willingness to take risks and embrace change. Johnson’s story is about how developing all potential aspects of your business — combined with a commitment to the highest quality products and services — can only lead to good things.

I hope you will join me by tuning into this special edition of “N.H. Outlook” to learn more about these insightful and inspiring stories. The show airs on N.H. Public Television, Channel 11, at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10. Repeat showings will be at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 12 and on Monday, Dec. 13 at 5:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Christine J. Davis is a business resource specialist with the N.H. Division of Economic Development. She can be reached at 271-2591 or Christine.Davis@dred.state.nh.us.

A Touch of Hollywood Comes to NH’s North Country

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Hollywood is coming to the North Country – check out the all of the stars making their way to the Granite State and the special touches planned for the Flickers North Country Film Festival taking place in a few weeks at The Balsams Grand Resort:

Flickers North Country Film Festival to Feature Screenwriter Chris Sparling

The Flickers North Country Film Festival (NCFF) is pleased to announce that Hollywood screenwriter Chris Sparling, whose credits include the suspense thriller BURIED starring Ryan Reynolds and who is working on a film with M. Night Shyamalan, will be a special guest at the festival. 

Screenwriter Chris Sparling

Screenwriter Chris Sparling

The non-profit festival aims to promote New Hampshire’s Great North Woods as a regional center for the arts, and is expected to bring celebrities, audiences and international filmmakers to the area.  This exciting event will be held September 30 – October 3, 2010 with screenings of a variety of films in multiple locations and gala events. 

NCFF is in partnership with the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIF) one of the most respected in the country.  Sixty films are scheduled to be screened at NCFF, including 37 short films, 6 feature narrative films and 18 documentaries.  The films are truly international, with 21 countries being represented.  For a full listing of the films being screened, visit http://northcountryfilmfestival.org

Saturday, Chris Sparling will share details about BURIED, which was recently screened at the Sundance Film Festival and opens nationally this October.  Sparling, a Rhode Island native, will also talk about his other projects including an upcoming production entitled “ATM” and his current project with producer/director M. Night Shyamalan on a supernatural drama titled “Twelve Strangers”.   

Film star Marlyn Mason

Film star Marlyn Mason

Other special guests at NCFF will be actress Marlyn Mason, who has appeared in almost 100 films and television shows with stars like Elvis Presley and Bruce Lee, as well as well-known filmmaker Paul Sanderson of “Our Town Films” who created the PBS documentary “Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master of American Sculpture” will premier his latest film, “I Can Dance.” 

There are also multiple special events planned during the festival, including rides in the famous “Cannibal Queen” biplane and screenings of the “best of” winners from the August 2010 RIIFF.  As many as three concurrent screenings will take place all weekend throughout The BALSAMS, including the Ballot Room and The Switzerland of America Ballroom.  Shorts, feature length films and animated films across several genres including comedy, drama, fantasy and romance, to North Country and Franco-American culture will be screened.   

Watch for updates and announcements at http://northcountryfilmfestival.org and follow the NCFF on Facebook at Flickers North Country Film Festival and on Twitter at @FlickFilmFestNH.  

Festival rates for film screenings are only $10 per 2 hour +/- block.  A full access pass for all three days of the festival is $45.00.  Featured event pricing including the Red Carpet Opening Night, NHPTV Reception and more can be found at http://northcountryfilmfestival.org/featured_events.htm.  

Room rates at The BALSAMS for Friday and Saturday nights (October 1 and 2) start at $229.00 per person, per night, double occupancy, taxes not included.  Guests staying Thursday night also will receive a free room upgrade.  This rate includes free admission to the festival, breakfast and dinner, including the famous BALSAMS Table d’hôte dinner, unlimited golf and full use of resort facilities.  Festival attendees interested in staying at The BALSAMS are invited to call (800) 255-0600, e-mail reservations@thebalsams.com or visit www.thebalsams.com for full rate information.   

The non-profit festival is sponsored by MVP Health Care, Delta Dental, AutoFair and Smutty Nose Brewery and is supported by The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel and NH Public Television. 

Individuals and organizations interested in becoming a sponsor can contact Gary Armitage at 603-255-2669 or garmitage@thebalsams.com for more details.   

An elegant soiree will also be held on Saturday, October 1 to benefit the Brattleboro Retreat, a mental health and addiction treatment center that provides a wide array of services for children and adults. Its newest program for uniformed service professionals is designed for police, firefighters, correctional officers, EMTs and military personnel who struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder as a consequence of their duty.  The Retreat works with patients from Hollywood, CA to Hallowell, ME.  (www.brattlebororetreat.org)  This soiree costs $200.00 per person.  BALSAMS guests who wish to attend the event will receive a $50.00 credit if staying on the resort’s American Plan.  Reservations for the soiree must be made in advance of arrival.