Category: Q&A

Co-Owner of Loon Chocolate

Rachel Mack is the co-owner of Loon Chocolate along with her sister, Sara Steffensmeier, in Manchester. (This interview has been condensed.)

Explain your job and what it entails.

We have two great chocolate makers who help us make the chocolate. … I do most of the work setting up the shop here in the front, getting things ready on the operation and production side of things.

How long have you had this job?

Myself and my sister had bought Laurel Hill Jams and Jellies in February of this past year, but buying Loon Chocolate in June was really when everything changed and it became this full-time job.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

I had worked in finance for years and years, enjoyed the work … but I wanted something different. … Once we had gotten through [Covid, 2020 and homeschooling] I was looking at what was next — was I going to go back to a corporate job or was I going to do something else? — and that’s why we started with the jams and jellies as something on the side to fill the time while my daughter was at school and to keep me busy and mentally challenged. … It worked so well, that’s why we moved so quickly into taking over the chocolate as well. The chocolate is the majority of our time.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

Our merch that we proudly wear that has our logo of ‘Live free and eat great chocolate.’

What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?

We had a big shipment we had to send out in the fall leading up till Christmas and it was to a customer who wanted things a very particular way. If you are in a large business you can send that off to the shipping department and they can deal with it. … When you are a small-business owner you have to do it all. … but it really is fun to have each one of these challenges that you are faced with. That really is the hardest thing. Every day you walk in you don’t know what new thing you are learning that day.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your career?

There is a quote I heard recently, and I know I am going to screw it up, so I apologize, but it was, ‘don’t worry about the right decision, make your decision right.’

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

I wish I could just magically let everyone know … every detail about where the chocolate comes from because I think it is fascinating,

What was your first job?

My first real job, I was 16 years old … I worked for … Suncoast Motion Picture Company.

What is the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

I was so stressed at the beginning of starting all this … and my husband really helped me and he was like, ‘Just say yes. Say yes to the challenges that come to you. … Do the scary thing and great things are going to happen.’ It was absolutely true.

— Zachary Lewis

Favorite book: I love a journey. I loved The Hobbit.
Favorite movie: I know people don’t like Return of the Jedi, but I am going to say Return of the Jedi.
Favorite music: U2.
Favorite food: Any sort of Mexican food.
Favorite thing about NH: I just love the personality. The general vibe. People in New Hampshire are kind, and they don’t stress too much.

Featured photo: Rachel Mack. Courtesy Photo.

Executive Director of Symphony New Hampshire

Deanna R. Hoying leads Symphony New Hampshire, the state’s oldest professional orchestra, known for its blend of classical and modern music and community engagement through music education.

Explain your job and what it entails. 

I am involved in all areas of running the organization. This includes interfacing with the public at concerts, working with our board of trustees, strategizing with marketing about our message and our reach, working with our collaborative partners around the state, all development areas … working with our musicians and working in partnership with our music director to create each season of concerts.

 How long have you had this job? 

I began this position in August 2021, but I have been with Symphony NH since April 2019.

What led you to this career field and your current job? 

I have been in music since I was 7. It began with piano lessons, then studying French horn. I have a music performance degree in French horn from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Then I attended Temple University in Philadelphia to do graduate work in music education. I have been in the world of arts administration since 1996. … I have been the director of education for three opera companies — Cincinnati, Arizona and Kentucky — and the director of education and community engagement for the Louisville Orchestra from 2014 to 2018 before moving to Manchester in 2018.

What kind of education or training did you need?

When I began work in arts administration in 1996, it was on-the-job training. I was originally hired at Cincinnati Opera because I had a background as a musician and music educator and could write curriculum. That honed my writing skills to create grant narratives for development departments.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire? 

Daytime at work is very relaxed. We are on a hybrid schedule with typically one day per week in the office. Concert attire is different with a more dressed-up vibe.

What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?

There are a lot of puzzle pieces in putting together a season. Working with the music director to create concert programs, then finding venues to be able to perform, making sure our librarian/personnel manager has all the information needed to hire musicians, … I try to be very organized and methodical … I do take time for exercise and meditation; that helps me focus on the challenges at hand.

What do you wish other people knew about your job? 

Building partnerships and relationships takes time. Rebuilding an audience after Covid has taken time and effort, but we are finally seeing the results of the hard work.

— Angie Sykeny

What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received? 

It’s important that the community feels a sense of ownership in the organization — it’s their orchestra.

Five favorites
Favorite book: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Favorite movie: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Favorite music: Rush. Favorite songs: “Tom Sawyer,” “Subdivisions” and “Red Barchetta”
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite thing about NH: The sense of community

Featured photo: Deanna R. Hoying. Photo credit Sid Ceaser.

Nashua holds its annual Tiny Film Festival

The Nashua Public Library’s 2nd Annual Tiny Film Festival is now accepting 60-second film submissions in all genres until March 6, with a screening and awards ceremony on Saturday, March 9, at 3 p.m. Pamela Baker, programming and marketing librarian, discussed the festival’s inspiration, its focus on fostering creativity across all ages and how it serves as a platform for community engagement and storytelling.

What was the inspiration behind starting the Tiny Film Festival, and why focus on 60-second films?

The film festival idea grew out of two things we noticed here at the library. One, we’ve met so many creative customers through our programs, especially our craft programs and writing workshops. Part of our mission is to support this kind of lifelong learning; the festival is an opportunity for people of all ages to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves. … As the quality of filming on phones gets better and more and more people of all ages get comfortable using their phones, this also seemed like an opportunity that most people could take advantage of. And for anyone who doesn’t have access to a phone, the library offers free computers where people could create a film. Our Teen Room specifically offers free stop-motion cameras and other technology that teens could use as well. Second, we’re very lucky to have a movie theater space here in Nashua. We have many older adults who come to our free movie series — we show classic films every Sunday afternoon and new releases on Tuesdays — and reminisce about the time that Nashua had several movie theaters. The festival is a great way to remind the community that every week there is a space you can go to relax and watch free films with other people, which is still a special part of going to the movies. … And, because the films are only 60 seconds, we were able to screen all the entries at last year’s festival.

How has the festival evolved since its inaugural event last year?

During last year’s festival, so many people remarked that they loved how connected they all felt watching these stories from their friends, family or even neighbors. In response, this year we’re focusing on enhancing those connections by creating more time to “party.” We’re opening the doors early for our red carpet photo booth and offering free popcorn. We hope people stay after the awards to meet the creators and talk about the films over light refreshments.

Can you describe the judging process and how the Nashua Public Library staff determines the winners?

Our staff love watching these films but hate having to pick just three for awards. We have three age groups for the festival: kids, teens and adults. Our Youth Services team judges the kids and teen entries, and the rest of the staff judge the adult films. Everyone votes through an anonymous form for their top three picks.

What do you look for in a winning submission, and do the criteria differ between age groups?

We judge the films on the same criteria for each age group. We evaluate based on originality, creativity, plot, pacing and structure, characters, cinematography, sound quality and music score.

With the festival open to all genres, have you noticed any trends in the types of films submitted by different age groups?

We’ve noticed that the kids’ age group is excellent at using toys as props in their stories and seem so comfortable in using different technology like stop-motion cameras. Their films are so fun to watch. We were blown away at the artistry of the teen films, especially the technology students at Nashua High South. The teens weren’t afraid to tackle big themes and really captured their perspectives on life well. Those were actually the types of films we expected to see from adults, not teens.

After the festival, how does the Nashua Public Library plan to showcase the winning films and engage with the participants and audience?

We launched a new website in the fall, so while we weren’t able to host the videos for everyone to watch on our old website, this year we’ll have a page dedicated to the festival where everyone can watch the winners and get inspired to make their own films for next year’s festival.

Featured image: Courtesy photo.

Owner of Smittens

LeeAnn Fay-Ellis is the owner of Smittens, a family-run business in Gilford that specializes in crafting mittens from upcycled and repurposed sweaters.

Explain your job and what it entails.

As a small business, so much of the job is staying organized. Scheduling events, accounting, ordering enough fleece for the liners, inventorying the stores we sell in and being sure we have enough product for each event. … Searching and thrifting for good sweaters can be fun, especially when I get to shop with my daughter. My husband does all of the cutting and matching of patterns and colors before sending them to me to be sewn. This starts our assembly line process.

How long have you had this job?

Smittens was started in 2011.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

In 2011 I saw a vendor selling sweater mittens at a craft fair that our 10-year-old daughter was selling at. She did a trade with her for a pair of sweater mittens for me. When we got home and I tried them on again I realized they didn’t fit well. I commented to my husband, David, that they felt more like an oven mitt and not very comfortable. He replied, ‘Why don’t you make your own?’ So we did. We went to our local thrift store to stock up on sweaters, found a pattern online, which I modified to tailor our mittens to fit better.

What kind of education or training did you need?

I have been a crafter for as long as I can remember. Both my mother and grandmother sewed and taught me the basics. I also took quilting classes. But as far as the modification of the sweater mittens, it was trial and error to get them to fit properly.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

The majority of our work is done at home … so I am fortunate to wear sweatpants or yoga pants and be as comfortable as possible. [For] during the selling season … we had fleece vests made with our names by another local artisan (Forever Memories in the Mall of New Hampshire.)

What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?

Finding good wool sweaters. … Another challenge is making enough to supply for the multiple stores we are in and events we do.

What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?

When we first started, we would only make two or three pairs at a time. We now focus on making 50 at a time and have more of an assembly line process.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

We, like many artisans, create year-round and have a very limited selling time, especially with mittens. The unknown expenses can be great and what we sell each pair for is not what we actually make.

Five favorites
Favorite book: No More Excuses by Sam Silverstein and Don’t Bullsh*t Yourself! – Crush the Excuses by Jon Taffer of Bar Rescue
Favorite movie: August Rush
Favorite music: My daughter’s Spotify account! Music from the ’70s to today.
Favorite food: Blackened Mahi Mahi
Favorite thing about NH: I love the beauty of the seasons. I was fortunate to grow up in the Lakes Region with the lakes and mountains as our backyard.

Featured photo: LeeAnn Fay-Ellis. Courtesy photo.

A talk with the Chamber’s Citizen of the Year

Howard Brodsky, co-founder of CCA Global Partners, has been named Citizen of the Year by the Greater Manchester Chamber for his business leadership and community service. He talked about what this award means to him, his criteria for supporting community projects and his insights on balancing local and global business initiatives.

What does being Citizen of the Year mean to you?

I’m deeply honored and humbled to receive this award. Growing up in Manchester, I’ve seen firsthand the resilience and spirit of this community. The past recipients of this award are leaders who have made invaluable contributions to improving lives here. It’s a privilege to now be included among them and to give back to the place that shaped me.

How do you select the community projects you support?

I look for organizations tackling our community’s biggest needs through innovative, collaborative solutions. Some of my top criteria include potential social impact, sustainability, and alignment with my values of inclusion and opportunity for all. I also seek out leaders who show a real commitment to empowering others. By working together, I believe we can build a stronger, more equitable future.

What’s a notable challenge you’ve overcome in your career?

Early in my career running my own business, I encountered significant financial difficulties that almost caused me to close my doors. It was an incredibly stressful time, but it also taught me lifelong lessons about resilience, adaptability and being prudent with resources. Challenges like that stay with you and make you a better problem-solver going forward.

Why fund a prize for young journalists?

My late son Jeff had a passion for journalism and giving voice to important stories. To honor his legacy, we created the Brodsky Prize to encourage promising young reporters across New Hampshire. An informed public is so vital for a healthy democracy. This award celebrates the investigative spirit and brings recognition to students pursuing truth and making a difference in their communities.

How do you balance local and global business interests?

While headquartered here, my businesses operate nationwide and globally. That gives me a platform to foster connections between our community and the wider world. It’s about promoting Manchester on the largest stages but also bringing international innovations and perspectives back home. With open channels of cooperation, I think we can leverage our local talents on a broader scale to make a greater impact.

What’s your main piece of advice for making a community impact?

Listen to understand the real, everyday challenges people face. Then roll up your sleeves and work together to develop bold yet pragmatic solutions that can scale to meet community needs. It’s also about empowering others — through mentorship, resources or opportunities. By investing in one another, we can build the strong, caring society we all want for future generations.

Featured image: Howard Brodsky. Courtesy photo.

Beekeeper

Alexiev Gavriluk is a beekeeper and owner of Mad Russian Apothecary in Derry.

Explain your job and what it entails. 

I keep bees. I help the bees make honey, then I sell the honey. I also teach people about our best practices and how we co-exist … and how they can coexist with the bees.

How long have you had this job? 

My wife and I got the bees during the pandemic, so I’ve been keeping them for four years. I learn from the bees every day and every season, so I’m constantly growing as a beekeeper. 

What led you to this career field and your current job? 

I’m disabled, and I’ve always worked blue-collar jobs. … I needed to find something I could do comfortably on my own. We’d always loved the idea of keeping a few hives … as a hobby. As I grew more involved in the meditation aspect of it, matching the energy of the bees, I also grew more in tune with the hives, and beekeeping became more than just a hobby … Also, I’m just really good at it. I also love talking with our honey customers at fairs and markets about the benefits of pure local honey and how good bees are for the environment.

What kind of education or training did you need?

I attended an online bee school taught by a master beekeeper. Everything else was self-taught, hands-on learning.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire? 

I wear long jeans, work boots, a beekeeping jacket, leather elbow gloves and a special veil attached to a hat. … When I’m working with the honey, I wear whatever I don’t mind getting sticky. When we’re working at a market or fair, my wife and I wear matching yellow plaid shirts.

What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?

I work with hundreds of thousands of stinging insects buzzing around me — most people would find that a little challenging. But since I learned to operate on the bees’ frequency … the hardest part now is dealing with my disability. I had to adapt beekeeping to fit what I could do with my hands. I attached special handles to the boxes, additional bars to lift the frames and other little techniques to make the job more accessible.

What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?

The bees know more than I do, and I’m better off assisting them than trying to control them.

What do you wish other people knew about your job? 

I’d want people to know the systemic harm … lawn pesticide or poison causes to our environment. The bees, the wildlife — everything suffers. … Also, I’d want people to know the value and importance of raw local honey, and why it’s often more expensive than … in supermarkets.

What was the first job you ever had?

Sweeping the parking lot and cleaning the dumpster area of a local convenience store when I was in fourth grade.

Five favorites
Favorite book: Necroscope by Brian Lumley
Favorite movie: Big Trouble in Little China
Favorite music: Punk rock and metal
Favorite food: I have two: shoo-fly pie, and obviously honey
Favorite thing about NH: We’re in the woods but still close to everything – city, mountains, ocean.

Featured photo: Alexiev Gavriluk. Courtesy photo.