NHBSR Member Northeast Delta Dental Honored with "When Work Works" Award
Thursday, November 6, 2014 - 11:12am
This prestigious award, part of the national When Work Works project administered by the Families and Work Institute (FWI) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), recognizes employers of all sizes and types in the New Hampshire region and across the country.
We are thrilled to be a three-time recipient of this award in recognition of our workplace practices, said Connie Roy-Czyzowski, Vice President of Human Resources at Northeast Delta Dental. By offering flexible work schedules, employee assistance and fitness programs, we are helping our employees achieve their best. When your employees feel good, they are happier and more invested in their work, enabling performance and productivity,” Roy-Czyzowski adds.
The award is the result of a rigorous assessment. Worksites must first qualify in the top 20% of the country based on a nationally representative sample of employers. Two-thirds of the evaluation of applicants comes from an employee survey. Applicants are evaluated on six research-based ingredients of an effective workplace: opportunities for learning; a culture of trust; work-life fit; supervisor support for work success; autonomy; and satisfaction with earnings, benefits and opportunities for advancement — all factors associated with employee health, well-being, and engagement.
“These employers are making work work in innovative and inspiring ways and set an example for employers both nationally and internationally,” said Ellen Galinsky, president of Families and Work Institute.
“The When Work Works Award recognizes organizations that foster a culture of workplace flexibility and effectiveness, which gives them a competitive advantage. Their practices set them apart from other organizations,” said Lisa Horn, director of SHRM’s Workplace Flexibility Initiative.
Northeast Delta Dental was recognized as a When Work Works recipient at a special event hosted by the YWCA New Hampshire in Manchester, New Hampshire on October 28.
When Work Works is a national project that shares research results on what makes an effective and flexible workplace with the business community.
For more information about the When Work Works initiative and the When Work Works Award (formerly known as the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flexibility) visit www.whenworkworks.org
Giving Back to the Community the Hypertherm Way
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - 2:22pm
By Melissa Proulx, NHBR Staff Reporter
With a mission to enrich the community, Hypertherm is working to make its global reach a local presence.
The industrial cutting solutions company, based in Hanover, allows associates to have a paid 24 hours that they can dedicate to volunteering wherever they choose each year. The program was established officially within the last decade, but has been in the company’s overall structure since its creation in 1968.
“It was started years ago by our founders,” said Stacey Chiocchio, Hypertherm’s corporate social responsibility project manager. “They have always been supportive of giving back to the community. Now that we’re associate-owned, we still continue to follow in those footsteps.”
With the choice of using one to eight hours at a time, associates are able to volunteer through the outlet of their choice. They can pick from a wide range of services, including skill-based volunteering, such as strategic planning, carpentry or maintenance work, which allows them to use many of their on-the-job skills. Others are able to leave the office behind them and volunteer by working with children, clearing trails or helping out at the local food pantry.
Chiocchio says that being able to pick not only a social or environmental project of the individual’s choice creates “wide variety,” which “is really the strength of the program,” as well as the inspiring challenge that it presents to associates who want to increase the amount of participation each year.
“On any given day, someone is somewhere doing volunteer work,” says Chiocchio, explaining that this approach often differs from other businesses that choose to volunteer primarily as a whole. “Some teams do it as team-building, so they go out and do it together.”
Hypertherm’s 1,300 associate are not only scattered throughout the United States, but around the globe, with locations in Germany, Italy and China.
“After seeing what we’ve done here in New Hampshire, people are choosing to participate and being active [in their own communities,]” says Chiocchio.
The company reports that nearly 80 percent of associates worldwide were participating in the program in 2012, a number that has been steadily maintained over the last couple of years. Chiocchio says that number is a little higher when looking at New Hampshire alone, estimating about 85 percent participation in total. These numbers both match and exceed the company’s goal of 80 percent participation each year.
“We’re very metric-orientated, throw a metric out there and people will want to meet it,” joked Chiocchio.
In the future, Chiocchio hopes to increase the amount of volunteer participation, saying that programs such as this lead to increased engagement at work as well, thus creating a healthier, happier work environment for employees.
“When we have new-hire orientation, we take people out and show them that this is what we do,” she said. “I think its been proven that associates that are more engaged are going to do better work. By doing good, we will do good.”
Sequoya Technologies Group is redirecting its energy toward sustainability in more ways than one.
The Peterborough-based IT services and software design firm has been taking the heat generated by its large server and redirecting it to other parts of the 2,200-square-foot office during the winter months.
By installing a simple system in the attic that includes an insulated vent pipe and fan, the heat is moved from the server room and pumped out into the front foyer of the office building. Though the company still needs to use propane heat, much less is needed – only $675 over a 12-month period.
“This is a very rudimentary design that just involved regular plumbing parts,” said Debra Strickland, co-owner and finance and HR director of the firm. “I don’t know if this system would scale up for companies with offices bigger than ours, but for us, it works fine. It works beautifully.”
According to Strickland, in total, the company was able to make back the $750 spent on the project within a matter of months – a speed that surprised them considering the size of Sequoya’s space.
The firm also has been experimenting with the fan and vent in the summer months.
“The AC unit in our server room is twice as efficient as the typical window unit,” Strickland said. “This summer, we’re experiment with using the system by piping the cold air out of the summer room. The jury’s still out on whether or not that works, though.”
Before installing the heating system, Strickland said, the company had already begun to work on a “human level outreach program.”
Called Sequoya Seeds, the pay-it-forward program allows the firm’s for-profit clients to donate a percentage of what they spend on Sequoya’s services to nonprofits of their choice to be redeemed for their Sequoya services.
Strickland said the firm is just “barely dipping our toes” into everything they could be doing to give back and is looking forward to designing employee community volunteering outings in the future.
“It’s hard to talk about your business without sounding like you’re bragging. But after making a donation [like with our Sequoya Seeds program], they’re happy to talk about you, for you,” she said. “Moreover, it’s just part of what it means to live in New Hampshire, where community values are so involved. It hits all the right buttons for us.”
NHBR will publish monthly Just One Thing feature stories based on sustainability stories you submit to our Just One Thing campaign. The following is the first in a series.
Monadnock Paper brings a farm back to life
By Melissa Proulx
Published: 07.24.14
Nearly a decade ago, Monadnock Paper Mills made it its mission to help a local farm get the fresh start it deserved and rebuild from the ground up – literally. And it’s a project that still impacts the way the company runs today.
In 2005, the Wilson Farm’s land in Alstead was severely damaged due to flooding, making it impossible for crops to grow. The Bennington paper mill learned the farm’s story after being contacted by Holderness-based Resource Management Inc., a company that specializes in matching consumers with recycled products. RMI sought Monadnock’s help in working with various state agencies to get the approval needed to move the Wilson Farm project forward.
“Because their property is located next to a designated river, there are certain restrictions to what they can use,” said Michelle Hamm, environmental programs manager for the paper mill.
Hamm and Shelagh Connelly, president of RMI, worked with the Department of Health and Human Services, the late Executive Councilor Ray Burton to combat concerns associated with amended soil reclamation. After looking into the specifics, it was found that a top soil known as Nutri-Soil, which is five parts sand, five parts short paper fiber, could be used on the Wilson property.
Hamm said Nutri-Soil “is high in nutrients” due to the short paper fibers, and that allows plants to thrive.
Though Monadnock and RMI had worked together to create the amended top soil previously, the work done with the Wilson Farm was a crucial way to show the state just how beneficial amended topsoils can be for farmers in similar situations.
Since this project, the paper mill has continued to do its fair share to help out with the environment – a sustainability initiative that has been a longtime focus of theirs.
“We have so many environmental projects, it’s ridiculous,” Hamm joked. “This is just a snapshot of one project.”
In the future, Hamm said the Mill will continue to stay involved and look for more projects to tackle.
“We’re a family-owned and -operated company, and we’ve also been strong community supporters. It’s just in our business’s nature to want to help out,” said Hamm. “Obviously, anything you can do to support the local community is a key part of a business model. But it’s also a feel good thing for us and helps up to build good relationships as well.”
The “Just One Thing” Campaign is an 18-month effort of New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility. Its purpose is to challenge businesses to consider incorporating a sustainability initiative into its operations. Companies can celebrate their achievements and inspire others by sharing their stories on the campaign’s webpage. To submit your story or read others, go to www.nhbsr.org/jot.
Goldman Speech Highlights “Just One Day for Just One Thing” for Sustainable Business
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 - 1:22pm
Over 180 packed the ballroom at the Grappone Center on Monday to hear Honest Tea’s Seth Goldman’s startup story at New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility (NHBSR)’s annual conference.
Goldman’s multimedia presentation capped a day of innovative learning and networking for the state’s leading sustainable business organization.
Monday was also the launch of the organization’s new outreach campaign.
Named, “Just One Thing,” the campaign will help businesses begin or advance their own sustainability efforts through the sharing of organizations’ stories of simple but achievable actions.
Key highlights from the day included:
Keynote Speaker Seth Goldman
Goldman, co-founder and “TeaEO” of the bestselling organic packaged tea company in the world, came to NH to tell the story of how his passion for social business helped build Honest Tea into $100m in annual sales and a high-profile acquisition by Coca Cola.
Goldman explained how his passion for a low calorie iced tea drink led him to overcome endless naysayers. He began his talk, and his hit book "Mission in a Bottle," with a beloved Chinese proverb: “Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it.”
Goldman mixed humorous tales from the early days of Honest Tea with a vigorous defense of his partnership with Coca Cola, a company often criticized for its opposition to bottle bills and health initiatives in schools.
Goldman detailed how key challenges with production and distribution made his sale to the world’s largest beverage distributor a huge opportunity to provide an alternative to high sugar drinks that previously dominated the market. He also cited two NH business leaders, Jeff Schwartz of Timberland and Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield, as two key advisors during the early years of Honest Tea’s rise.
Cornerstone Award: Governor Maggie Hassan was on hand to help present the annual Cornerstone Award to Manchester’s Jeff Baker of Image 4.
Image 4’s President and CEO, Baker was recognized for his sustainability leadership in the brand marketing industry and contributions to local nonprofits.
Governor Hassan also presented citations to Trish Taylor, Executive Chef at the Grappone Conference Center, and The Co-op Food Stores of New Hampshire and Vermont.
NHBSR’s Cornerstone Award is awarded annually to an individual, organization, or business that exemplifies the concepts of corporate social responsibility within their organization and promotes these concepts to the greater business community within New Hampshire.
Huddle Ups: Unusual Unsessions Led by Attendees
For the second year, NHBSR adapted the well-established “unconference” format to offer a unique range of participant-driven “Huddle Ups.”
Rather than a one-to-many lecture or panel, Huddle Ups allow attendees to propose ideas, topics, or questions for discussion.
Conference attendees pre-chose eight topics via online voting, and added two additional topics on the “floor” of the conference. The ten topics discussed were: Convincing Your Peers that Sustainability is Profitable, How do I assess and address my business’ environmental impact?,
Sustainability for Small Businesses, Sustainable Investing, Can Your Business Go Zero Waste?, Recruiting/Supporting Talent for Sustainability, How Do We Create Shared Value in the NH Economy?, How to Market Your Sustainability, Young Professionals & Sustainability, Sustainability Metrics: How Do You Measure?
Power Panel
The day concluded with insights from sustainability leaders across the region’s leading industries.
The panel included Tom Raffio, President and CEO of Northeast Delta Dental, George Mandragouras, CFO of Cirtronics, Todd Leach, Chancellor or the University System of New Hampshire, Jeff Baker, President and CEO of Image 4, Rauni Kew, PR and Green Team Manager, Inn by the Sea and George Parmenter, Sustainability Program Manager for Delhaize America, Hannaford parent company.
Panelists shared advice and sustainability trends businesses should be aware of and addressing.
Honest Tea CEO to Keynote NHBSR Conference
Thursday, February 27, 2014 - 11:33am
by Madison Neveu, New Hampshire Business Review
The co-founder of the world’s largest organic bottled tea company will be speaking about his entrepreneurial experiences at a New Hampshire conference in May.
Seth Goldman, the co-founder and so-called “Tea-EO” of Bethesda, Md.-based Honest Tea, will be the keynote speaker for New Hampshire Business for Social Responsibility’s annual conference on May 12, at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord.
In his keynote address, Goldman will share the story of how he co-founded and grew Honest Tea from a small-home based business into the world’s largest organic tea company in just over a decade. The company, which he co-founded with Barry Nalebuff, one of his professors at the Yale School of Management, had more than $100 million in sales in 2013 and is carried by more than 100,000 outlets nationwide.
Goldman will also address the changes and opportunities that Honest Tea faced when it was acquired by Coca-Cola in 2011, along with his best advice to mission-driven business leaders who are seeking profit, commitment to transparency and unconventional marketing techniques.
Manchester - What does it take to attract the finest talent in the state? Ask NHBSR members, Hypertherm Inc, Wire Belt Company of America and W.S. Badger Company Inc. They were just named to New Hampshire's Top Companies to Work For in the December issue of Business NH Magazine (BNH)! Winning companies went through an extensive review of benefits, company culture, and employee development, which in addition to an extensive application, included on-site visits (tours and interviews with CEOs and employees).
We share our congratulations with Hypertherm, named as the #1 in the large company category and Wire Belt, named #1 in the small company category! We are also thrilled that W.S. Badger, with only 47 employees in Gilsum broke into the top five and is featured on the cover of the December issue!
Winning companies go beyond typical benefits to build cultures of proud, engaged employees. These companies demonstrate that respect and teamwork build successful foundations.
Wire Belt provides space for employee gardens knowing that many of their employees do not have the space at home. In addition to providing tuition reimbursement, they understand that employees may need the funding up front to make the opportunity feasible and provide the channels to make it happen.
Hypertherm's employee-focused culture is reflected in their flexible scheduling, focus on wellness and community involvement, as well as individual professional growth benefits. They have also taken the additional step of making their employees owners through the Hypertherm Stock Ownership Plan.
W. S. Badger, soon after building a facility that reflected their environmental ethics, renovated their old headquarters to provide quality daycare for employees. The new facility was constructed with a large dining room where employees gather daily for a free organic lunch prepared by their company chef.
These are just a few of the creative approaches these NHBSR members have taken to distinguish themselves as incredible employers. Congratulations WIre Belt, Hypertherm and Badger!
BNH and NHBSR partner to present this competition, culminating with the Breakfast With The Best, an opportunity to get a more in-depth understanding of how these leading companies create a workplace culture the fosters loyal, engaged employees. Breakfast With the Best will take place on February 14th at the Radisson in Manchester. Mark your calendars and plan to attend - it's an event you do not want to miss!
I would like to thank the many NHBSR members who contributed significant time to the judging process ...
•Robin Eichert, PeopleSense Consulting
•Mirjam IJtsma, Cultural Chemistry
•Mike Jurnak, Berry Dunn
•Pat Vaillencourt, Delta Dental
•Yusi Turell, Carsey Institute at UNH
•Josh Robinson, Checkmate Payroll
•Melissa Clickner, Schleuniger, Inc.
•Mike Elmer, Coca-Cola Northern New England
We are also grateful to Bruce Mast (Bruce Mast Associates) for managing the challenging scheduling and on-site judging process!
NHBSR and UNH Announce Next Institute for Corporate Sustainability
Friday, November 1, 2013 - 2:08pm
Durham - The University of New Hampshire's Paul College of Business and Economics and New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility have announced the dates for the next Institute for Corporate Sustainability. The Institute is a 3-day program for professionals interested in deepening their understanding of sustainability issues and the benefits to their organization, while acquiring tools and resources to drive change and developing a network of peers to support their efforts. The 2014 Institute will be held from April 2nd - 4th at UNH's state-of-the-art, LEED-certified Paul College Executive Education facility in Durham.
The Spring Institute will once again feature a unique partnership of cutting-edge academic sustainability study with perspective from leading sustainability professionals. The Certificate program encourages attendees to apply the concepts learned to their own professional environments through a mentored, self-defined Capstone project following the Institute. For more information, visit www.sustainabilitycertificate.org or email info@sustainabilitycertificate.org.
Searching for the Best
Thursday, August 15, 2013 - 9:55am
Would you like to see you company on the cover of Business NH Magazine? Does your company work hard to attract and retain the best and brightest employees? If so, we're interested in knowing what makes your workforce tick. The deadline for the Best Companies to Work For application is rapidly approaching.
At the end of the day on August 26th, Business NH Magazine and NHBSR will begin judging applications to find the companies that provide innovative benefits and work environments to their employees. Bruce Mast & Associates will once again lead the on-site judging panels. Winners will be named in both small (under 100 employees) and large company categories.
There is still time to apply! Click here for the application and guidelines for the competition.
W.S. Badger Company Wins 2013 Cornerstone Award!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 - 11:44am
Governor Maggie Hassan presented the 2013 Cornerstone Award to W.S. Badger Company at NHBSR's Spring Conference on May 21. W.S. Badger Company was selected because of its dedication to responsible business practices, environmental stewardship, and community involvement. Read more.
Also recognized were prior Cornerstone Award winners Hypertherm, Inc. and Monadnock Paper Mills, both of whom were inducted into the Cornerstone Hall of Fame.
This prestigious award, part of the national When Work Works project administered by the Families and Work Institute (FWI) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), recognizes employers of all sizes and types in the New Hampshire region and across the country.
By Melissa Proulx, NHBR Staff Reporter
learned the farm’s story after being contacted by Holderness-based Resource Management Inc., a company that specializes in matching consumers with recycled products. RMI sought Monadnock’s help in working with various state agencies to get the approval needed to move the Wilson Farm project forward.
Governor Maggie Hassan was on hand to help present the annual Cornerstone Award to Manchester’s Jeff Baker of Image 4. 
Manchester - What does it take to attract the finest talent in the state? Ask NHBSR members, 
Durham - The University of New Hampshire's Paul College of Business and Economics and New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility have announced the dates for the next Institute for Corporate Sustainability. The Institute is a 3-day program for professionals interested in deepening their understanding of sustainability issues and the benefits to their organization, while acquiring tools and resources to drive change and developing a network of peers to support their efforts. The 2014 Institute will be held from April 2nd - 4th at UNH's state-of-the-art, LEED-certified Paul College Executive Education facility in Durham. 
Would you like to see you company on the cover of Business NH Magazine? Does your company work hard to attract and retain the best and brightest employees? If so, we're interested in knowing what makes your workforce tick. The deadline for the Best Companies to Work For application is rapidly approaching.
Governor Maggie Hassan presented the 2013 Cornerstone Award to W.S. Badger Company at NHBSR's Spring Conference on May 21. W.S. Badger Company was selected because of its dedication to responsible business practices, environmental stewardship, and community involvement. 
