Business of the Year
Since 2003, the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce awards the Business of the Year to deserving
business in the Hillsborough area.
The primary purpose of this award is to recognize an area business for their contribution
to our community. This business must:
- Must be a current member in good standing of the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce
- Must show a dedication to making our community a better place by giving back to our community in some manner
- Factors of consideration would include this business's/organization's reputation of honesty and integrity in their practices
Farmsteads of New England,
2009 Business of the Year
2009 Business of the Year
Farmsteads of New England, Inc. (FNE) is a human services agency that has developed an intentional farming community that
caters to the needs of people who have autism and other developmental disabilities. FNE was founded by Deborah DeScenza, M.Ed.
Deborah is the mother of a child with significant special needs and has worked in the field of special education as a teacher,
program coordinator, and consultant for almost twenty years.
FNE offers day and residential care. FNE is located on the former Rosewald Farm site and consists of the original 13 room farmhouse, garage, barn, greenhouse, caretaker's cottage, several other outbuildings, and a gazebo. FNE finished construction of Phase I of Woods Edge Apartments in February 2008. Phase II and III will be built simultaneously in 2010 using a combination of funds from NH Housing Finance Authority and a Community Development Block Grant.
In 2009 FNE started providing day services to 5 individuals at Verdant Pastures in Epping and will start providing residential services in 2010.
Among the criteria for being chosen Business of the Year is that a business "must show a dedication to making our community a better place by giving back to our community in some manner." FNE has contributed to the Hillsborough community by growing food for the community, by accepting Farmers' Market Nutrition Program coupons (sponsored by the New Hampshire Dept. of Health and Human Services in conjunction with the New Hampshire Dept. of Agriculture to provide free fresh produce to low-income families and senior citizens), by delivering food to the Food Pantry, by donating food to those who live in the senior housing complex, by sponsoring planters downtown, by participating in the annual parade during the Hillsborough Balloon Festival and in various Chamber of Commerce and other Hillsborough events, and perhaps most importantly by employing approximately 50 local people (and more in the future).
FNE offers day and residential care. FNE is located on the former Rosewald Farm site and consists of the original 13 room farmhouse, garage, barn, greenhouse, caretaker's cottage, several other outbuildings, and a gazebo. FNE finished construction of Phase I of Woods Edge Apartments in February 2008. Phase II and III will be built simultaneously in 2010 using a combination of funds from NH Housing Finance Authority and a Community Development Block Grant.
In 2009 FNE started providing day services to 5 individuals at Verdant Pastures in Epping and will start providing residential services in 2010.
Among the criteria for being chosen Business of the Year is that a business "must show a dedication to making our community a better place by giving back to our community in some manner." FNE has contributed to the Hillsborough community by growing food for the community, by accepting Farmers' Market Nutrition Program coupons (sponsored by the New Hampshire Dept. of Health and Human Services in conjunction with the New Hampshire Dept. of Agriculture to provide free fresh produce to low-income families and senior citizens), by delivering food to the Food Pantry, by donating food to those who live in the senior housing complex, by sponsoring planters downtown, by participating in the annual parade during the Hillsborough Balloon Festival and in various Chamber of Commerce and other Hillsborough events, and perhaps most importantly by employing approximately 50 local people (and more in the future).
Past Businesses of the Year
Knapton, Reade & Woods Agency, 2008 Business of the Year
Knapton, Reade & Woods Agency was founded in 1949 as the Knapton Agency. Donald
Knapton, Jr (DJ), the current owner, started working for his father in 1977 and bought
the business from him in 1984. In 1986 he joined the Knapton Agency with the Sterling
Insurance Agency and entered into a partnership with Jeff Towle of the Davis & Towle
Group who had bought the Sterling Agency in 1985. The partners then purchased the
Reade & Woods Agency in 2003 and moved into their current office on School St. Eleven
employees are employed by Knapton, Reade & Woods Agency as they celebrate their 60th anniversary.
DJ Knapton previously served on the Board of Directors at the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce and Wendy Restuccia, the office manager, is a current Board Member. Knapton, Reade & Woods Agency is a generous sponsor of many Chamber events, such the annual Awards Celebration and the Golf Tournament which benefits the Chamber's Scholarship program and sells tickets or collects donations for various Chamber events. The office conference room is used by many organizations for meeting space, such as the Friends of the Food Pantry, the Schnitzelfest Steering Committee and the Lions Club "Call Santa" program. Various employees participate in the annual Balloon Festival, volunteering for on the field jobs and the agency has been a balloon sponsor since the inception of the Balloonfest in 1981. They hand out water each year at the Parade during Balloonfest. Many employees volunteer at Schnitzelfest and Ms. Restuccia serves on the Steering Committee for the event as well as the Friends of the Hillsborough Food Pantry. The office is a drop off location for the Shaw's receipts which benefit the Food Pantry. DJ Knapton donated 4 Red Sox tickets as a fundraiser for the Food Pantry project. The office organized tables in the office parking lot during the Town-wide Yard Sale and donated the proceeds to the Food Pantry. The agency also donated the funds for one of the four Welcome to Hillsborough Signs when these signs were constructed in 1984 and sponsors signage at the ball fields in town. The agency supports numerous organizations in town through advertising, golf tournament hole sponsorships & similar promotions such as Project Genesis, Scouts, Hillsborough Fireman's Association, Heritage Museum, Hillsborough Pride & HYAA.
DJ Knapton previously served on the Board of Directors at the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce and Wendy Restuccia, the office manager, is a current Board Member. Knapton, Reade & Woods Agency is a generous sponsor of many Chamber events, such the annual Awards Celebration and the Golf Tournament which benefits the Chamber's Scholarship program and sells tickets or collects donations for various Chamber events. The office conference room is used by many organizations for meeting space, such as the Friends of the Food Pantry, the Schnitzelfest Steering Committee and the Lions Club "Call Santa" program. Various employees participate in the annual Balloon Festival, volunteering for on the field jobs and the agency has been a balloon sponsor since the inception of the Balloonfest in 1981. They hand out water each year at the Parade during Balloonfest. Many employees volunteer at Schnitzelfest and Ms. Restuccia serves on the Steering Committee for the event as well as the Friends of the Hillsborough Food Pantry. The office is a drop off location for the Shaw's receipts which benefit the Food Pantry. DJ Knapton donated 4 Red Sox tickets as a fundraiser for the Food Pantry project. The office organized tables in the office parking lot during the Town-wide Yard Sale and donated the proceeds to the Food Pantry. The agency also donated the funds for one of the four Welcome to Hillsborough Signs when these signs were constructed in 1984 and sponsors signage at the ball fields in town. The agency supports numerous organizations in town through advertising, golf tournament hole sponsorships & similar promotions such as Project Genesis, Scouts, Hillsborough Fireman's Association, Heritage Museum, Hillsborough Pride & HYAA.
TDS Telecom, 2007 Business of the Year
TDS Telecom has been providing telecommunications services to the greater Hillsborough
area since 2002 when it acquired MCT Telecom based in Contoocook, NH. TDS owns & operates
over 120 local telephone companies in 28 states. TDS also owns a comptetitive local
telephone company that provides services in Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
TDS is an industry leader in providing local and long distance services, DSL internet
connections, DISH TV, business telephone systems and a wide variety of networking solutions.
TDS is very community minded, providing the office space for the Hillsborough Chamber
of Commerce at their location on School St. free of charge. TDS is also very active in
local organizations providing employee support for the Chamber, Hillsborough Pride and
various town government officials.
During 2007, TDS was a major sponsor of the Hillsborough Balloon Festival, a sponsor of
Chamber's Annual Awards Celebration, and provided a $1500 scholarship during the
Chamber's Annual Golf Scramble which raises money for the Chamber's Scholarship program
for local students.
Marc Violette, Manager of Market Management for TDS Telecom is a longtime Hillsborough
Chamber of Commerce Board Member and serves on the Executive Board of the Chamber as well.
Hillsboro Ford, 2006 Business of the Year
Hillsboro Ford is a family operated business. Their philosophy of "Dealing with Integrity" shows through
in all that they do for the community. Hillsboro Ford contributes to the Hillsboro House and the
Historical Society and is a major sponsor of the annual Balloonfest. They participate in Operation
Christmas and KidSafe ID Program, a digital fingerprinting and child ID service that is nationwide.
Hillsboro Ford also loans vehicles to the Hillsborough Food Pantry for use in food pickup & delivery
and they loan cars to the Hillsboro Police Dept. & Osram Sylvania for testing safety equipment.
Hillsboro Ford also participates in the Job Show Program at the HD High School. They bring in 4 or 5
students and place them in various departments throughout the dealership to learn about the various
aspects of the automotive business.
Bailey Home Improvement, 2005 Business of the Year
Jim Bailey, owner of Bailey Home Improvement, started his own business
in 1987 and has been
in the carpentry
business for over 35 years. He and his wife, Adrienne and their four children have lived in Hillsborough
for 26 years. He is an active community volunteer, currently serving the community through the Lions
Club, HYAA, the Hillsborough Park Board and Zoning Board. Jim worked tirelessly on the BalloonFest &
Fair as a member of the Hillsborough Civic Organization for many, many years. Jim has served on the
Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors since 1994.
Osram Sylvania, 2004 Business of the Year
This employer of 807 has contributed greatly to the community through their various
charitable programs. Their Volunteer Initiative Program donated $32,700 and 10,297 volunteer hours
to 50 different agencies. Their Neighbor of Choice Program donated $46,000 to dozens of charities
and causes including Operation Christmas, various local fire departments, Meals on Wheels,
Hillsboro-Deering Schools, and Fuller Public Library, just to name a few.
Osram also made a total contribution of $40,620 to the Monadnock United Way. They sponsor
quarterly blood drives for the American Red Cross, adopt a highway, and donate 200 Thanksgiving
turkeys to local organizations. Osram’s commitment to their employees’ safety also won
them the Star Status through OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program. Osram is also committed
to the environment. They have assisted the Schoolyard Ecology group at Hillsboro-Deering Elementary
School & expect acceptance in the EPA Performance Track Program & Honorable mention for
the State’s Pollution Prevention Award.
Supporting the Community! Now that’s a bright idea!
Mamakating Electric, 2003 Business of the Year
Mamakating Electric has been awarded Business of the Year for 2003. As event sponsor of the
first Schnitzelfest, Mamakating Electric started a new traditional event for the Town, boosting
the retail business for area, and earmarking the event proceeds to go to two local organization
who each received a $1000 donation, is just one of this year's contributions to the Town. In
the thirty years Mamakating's been in business in our Town, owner Carl Goodman has seen his business
grow along with the Town. He has a social conscience and feels the only way to make a difference is
to be involved, which is reflected in his many contributions to our community. Mamakating makes
regular contributions to the Food Pantry, they also donate to various school activities
(Penny Sale, Breakfast with Santa, Yearbook, etc.), the Hillsboro Lion's Club, the HYAA
(has a sign at Grimes Field), Hillsboro Arts Council, Hillsboro Historical Society, Henniker
Historical Society, Riverbend Community Center in Henniker, the Chamber, Hopkinton Rotary Club,
Henniker Rotary Club, Hillsboro Operation Christmas, Hillsborough Pride and purchases 8 tickets
which are donated to children for them to attend the Concord Bektesh Shriners Circus every April.
All this in addition to their annual contributions of time and effort at the Balloonfest each year, as well.