Members of the PortsmouthNH 400 celebrate with their unique trophy marking their Lighting the Way Award at the Oct. 30 Collaboration Awards held by the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth. (Photo by Will Zimmermann)
PORTSMOUTH—Capped off by a special recognition of the Portsmouth NH 400 organization called the Lighting the Way Award, the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth celebrated its annual business awards on a dark and rainy Oct. 30.
More than 150 members of the Portsmouth business community and their friends filled the Venue at Portwalk Place, where the only sunshine was from their smiles. The occasion was the 2023 Collaborative Awards, the business honors given by the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth to members in the Large Business, Small but MIGHTY Business, Volunteer of the Year, Collaborator of the Year and one special award uniquely bestowed upon an organization for 2023 alone.
The Lighting the Way Award, represented by an artistic sailboat fashioned from driftwood, recognized the efforts of the largely volunteer group that has spearheaded the City through signature activities and partnership with the community at large every chance it could--the Portsmouth NH 400. The goal of the organization was to give the community an opportunity to tell the stories that are important to them, through programs, events, exhibits and legacy projects. The executive team that helped light the way was Karen Conard, Portsmouth City Manager; Susan Labrie, Community Engagement Officer; Valerie Rochon, Managing Director; Denise Wheeler, Minister of Fun and Trevor Bartlett, “Tech & Social Media Guy.”
Traditionally part of the Chamber Collaborative’s street.life! celebration, this year, the Chamber broke the mold, separating the 900-person dinner held al fresco on Aug. 15 in celebration of Portsmouth’s 400th year activities from the Oct. 30 business awards
Ben VanCamp, the president and chief collaborator for the Chamber Collaborative, served as master of ceremonies and a video was presented featuring sponsors and the award winners in each category. VanCamp said, “Normally the awards are part of street.life!, but we really felt they deserved an event of their own, so they didn’t get lost. These nominees and award recipients really needed their own time to shine.” All but the special recognition award recipients received a Portsmouth themed clock created by the Artful Carver and discovered at the downtown store, NH Made.
The following are the 2023 Award nominees and recipients and a link to their videos.
VIDEO: Portsmouth NH 400 - Lighting the Way Award presented by Newburyport Bank
VIDEO: New Hampshire Art Association - Small but MIGHTY Business of the Year Award presented by First Seacoast Bank
Nominees:
3S Artspace
Avery Insurance
Business Alliance for People of Color
Calling All Cargo
Children's Museum of New Hampshire
MacEdge
Port City Chiropractic
Portsmouth Scuba
Radmoto
SoHo Creative Studio
Stroll Café and Wine Bar
TCS Communications Corp.
VIDEO: J.Group Hospitality - Large Business of the Year Award presented by Nvest Financial Group
Nominees:
Bangor Savings Bank
Clark Insurance
Portsmouth Regional Hospital
Rockingham County Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
VIDEO: Joshua Leonard of Calling All Cargo - Volunteer of the Year Award presented by Bangor Savings Bank
Nominees:
Ben St. Jean - Cross Roads House & Strawbery Banke Musem
Ginna MacDonald - Portsmouth Music & Arts Center, Rye400
Ilysse Sirmaian - Portsmouth Music Hall & PNH400
Kaley Gagne - Kennebunk Savings & Catapult Seacoast
Kali & Wayne Moulton - Sages Entertainment
Ryan Kaplan - Envision Group at Compass Real Estate
Wendy McCoole - Strawbery Banke Museum
Latonya Wallace of New Hampshire Community Loan Fund & Business Alliance for People of Color - Collaborator of the Year Award
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/dQHYQ2Lbo2g
Nominees:
Caitlyn Hassett - Atlantic Grill
Evan Mallett - Black Trumpet Bistrot
Shawn Shapiro - Port City Chiropractic
Stacy Moore - Stroll Café and Wine Bar
The Chamber Collaborative wishes to thank Bangor Savings Bank, First Seacoast Bank, The Nvest Group, R.M. Davis, Newburyport Bank and Centrus Digital for their support!