Greater Merrimack-Souhegan Valley Chamber Celebrates Business Excellence at Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration

The Greater Merrimack-Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce gathered nearly 200 members, business leaders, and community partners on Monday, June 8, at The Event Center at Hampshire Hills for its Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration. This year's theme, illuminate! Celebrating the Spark of Success, honored the individuals, businesses, and organizations whose dedication and achievements help our region thrive.

The evening began outdoors as guests entered through the beautiful Hampshire Hills gardens and gathered on the decks and patios overlooking the venue's stunning waterfall. Under perfect June skies, attendees enjoyed cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, networking, and the wonderful sounds of the Amherst Town Band, creating the perfect atmosphere to reconnect with colleagues and friends from across the region.

Guests then moved inside for a delicious buffet dinner and dessert as the Chamber recognized the accomplishments of its members and celebrated another successful year of supporting business and community growth throughout the Greater Merrimack-Souhegan Valley.

A highlight of the evening was the recognition of the Chamber's 2026 Scholarship recipients. Through the generosity of our Scholarship Sponsors and the support of our annual scholarship fundraising efforts, the Chamber awarded two $1,500 scholarships to outstanding local students:

• Traditional Scholarship Recipient: Arwen Feng
• Trade Scholarship Recipient: Madison Labrecque

The Chamber also recognized its Board of Directors and celebrated the transition of leadership as outgoing Board Chair Gary Zimmerman passed the gavel to incoming Board Chair Aprille Barker.

The evening culminated with the presentation of the Chamber's Annual Awards, recognizing excellence in business, leadership, volunteerism, and community impact throughout our region.

2026 Award Recipients

Business of the Year
Lobster Boat Restaurant

Business Leader of the Year
Mike Apfelberg, United Way of Greater Nashua

Non-Profit of the Year
Bridges: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Support Services

Small Business of the Year
Lajoie Home Team

Volunteer of the Year
Todd H. Leo

Young Professional of the Year
Jeff Marquis, Bangor Savings Bank

The Chamber extends its heartfelt thanks to the many sponsors whose generosity helped make this memorable evening possible:

Presenting Sponsor: Millyard Bank

Table Gift Sponsor: Primary Bank

Centerpiece Sponsor: Triangle Credit Union

Bar Sponsor: Todd H. Leo & Associates, Ameriprise Financial

Hors d'Oeuvres Sponsor: Bangor Savings Bank

Dessert Sponsor: Ledgewood Bay at Milford

Live Entertainment Sponsor: YMCA of Greater Nashua

Welcome Sponsor: Woodman's Florist

Photography Sponsor: Lynne Duval Photography

We also extend special thanks to the Amherst Town Band for providing the soundtrack to a beautiful evening and to Lynne Duval Photography for capturing the memories of the celebration.

The Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration remains one of the Chamber's most anticipated events, bringing together the people and organizations who make our communities vibrant places to live, work, and do business. Congratulations once again to all of our nominees, award recipients, scholarship winners, sponsors, and volunteers who helped make the evening such a tremendous success.

View event photos below and join us in celebrating the spark of success throughout our region!

Celebrate Small Business Week: Support Local, Strengthen Our Community

May 3–9 marks Small Business Week, a time to recognize and celebrate the local businesses that bring energy, character, and opportunity to the Greater Merrimack-Souhegan Valley.

From the places you grab your morning coffee to the professionals who support your home and business, small businesses are at the heart of our community. They create local jobs, give back to local causes, and help shape the unique identity of the towns we call home.

💛 Why Supporting Local Matters

When you choose to shop local, you’re doing more than making a purchase—you’re making an impact.

• You support local families and livelihoods
• You strengthen our local economy
• You help maintain vibrant, thriving communities

Every dollar spent locally has a ripple effect that benefits us all.

🛍️ Discover What’s Right Here at Home

Small Business Week is the perfect time to explore something new. Maybe it’s a restaurant you’ve never tried, a service you’ve been meaning to book, or a shop you’ve walked by but haven’t stepped into yet.

The Greater Merrimack-Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce is proud to represent a diverse network of businesses across our region—each one contributing to the strength and success of our community.

👉 Start exploring local businesses here:
GMSVCC Member Directory

📸 Join the Celebration

We invite you to take part in Small Business Week by supporting local in your own way:

✔️ Visit a local business
✔️ Share your experience on social media
✔️ Recommend a favorite spot to a friend
✔️ Tag the businesses you love

Your support—big or small—makes a difference.

🤝 Stronger Together

At the Chamber, we’re committed to supporting and connecting businesses across our region—helping them grow, collaborate, and thrive.

Small Business Week may only last a few days, but the impact of supporting local lasts all year long.

Let’s continue to show up for the businesses that show up for our community—today and every day.

💛 Shop local. Support local. Celebrate local.

2026 Annual Awards Nominees Announced

illuminate! Celebrating the Spark of Success

The Greater Merrimack-Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce (GMSVCC) is proud to announce the Top 3 Nominees in each category for our 2026 Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration.

This year, we received an incredible number of nominations from our members, each recognizing the outstanding businesses, organizations, and individuals who make our Chamber community so vibrant and impactful. With so many deserving candidates, selecting just three nominees in each category was no easy task.

These nominees truly embody the spirit of this year’s theme, illuminate! Celebrating the Spark of Success, and represent the innovation, leadership, and community commitment that define the Greater Merrimack-Souhegan Valley region.

🏆 2026 Annual Awards Nominees

Business of the Year
• The Lobster Boat
• St. Mary’s Bank
• Goldfish Swim School

Business Leader of the Year
• Mike Apfelberg, United Way of Greater Nashua
• Mike LaChance, YMCA of Greater Nashua
• Mike Cardoza, Cardoza Flooring

Non-Profit of the Year
• Bridges: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Support Services
• Beaver Brook Association
• Home Health & Hospice Care

Small Business of the Year
• Revolution Wellness
• Mystic Market
• Lajoie Home Team

Volunteer of the Year
• Paula Moran, United Way of Greater Nashua
• Todd Leo, Todd H. Leo & Associates
• Kristin Morrissey Jordan, Second Chance Ranch Rescue

Young Professional of the Year
• Jeff Marquis, Bangor Savings Bank
• Lauren Desmarais, Hampshire Hills
• James Toupin, Toupin Hauling & Junk Removal

We extend our sincere congratulations to all of this year’s nominees. Your dedication, passion, and contributions continue to strengthen our Chamber and the communities we serve.

The winners will be announced at our Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration on Monday, June 8, 2026, at The Event Center at Hampshire Hills. This signature event brings together business and community leaders for an evening of recognition, connection, and celebration.

🎟️ Tickets will be on sale soon — stay tuned for more details!

✨ Sponsorship Opportunities
GMSVCC members are invited to be part of this inspiring evening through a variety of sponsorship opportunities. Sponsorship is a wonderful way to showcase your business while supporting the celebration of excellence across our region.
👉 View sponsorship opportunities here: Sponsorship Opportunities

🎉 Southern NH Healthy KidsFest Returns for its 6th Year!

The Greater Merrimack–Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce the return of Southern NH Healthy KidsFest, now in its 6th year! This FREE, family-friendly event brings together thousands of families and dozens of local organizations for a fun-filled morning focused on health, activity, creativity, and community.

This year’s Healthy KidsFest will take place on:

📅 Saturday, April 18, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 YMCA of Greater Nashua – Westwood Park Branch
90 Northwest Blvd., Nashua, NH

🌟 What to Expect at Healthy KidsFest

Healthy KidsFest is packed with hands-on activities, entertainment, and interactive experiences designed for kids of all ages. Families can enjoy:

🎈 Bounce houses and obstacle fun
🥷 Ninja-style challenges
🎭 Live performances and demonstrations
🎨 Hands-on activities and creative play
🍔 Food trucks and treats
🎶 Music, movement, and more!

From toddlers to tweens, there’s something for everyone to enjoy — and best of all, admission is FREE!

💛 A Community-Focused Event

Each year, Healthy KidsFest brings together an incredible mix of local businesses, nonprofits, healthcare providers, recreation programs, and youth-focused organizations. More than 50 local vendors will be onsite offering interactive experiences, helpful resources, and family-friendly activities.

This event is designed not only to be fun, but to help families discover local programs, services, and opportunities that support healthy, active lifestyles.

🍼 Giving Back: Support the Community Baby Shower

While enjoying the event, attendees are encouraged to bring donations for the Community Baby Shower, hosted by United Way of Greater Nashua. This initiative collects essential items to support local families with young children.

Requested donations include:

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Baby care items and essentials

Every contribution helps support families in our community who need it most.

🤝 Hosted in Partnership

Healthy KidsFest is proudly hosted by the Greater Merrimack–Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Nashua – Westwood Park Branch, whose generous support and space help make this community celebration possible each year.

🎉 Join Us!

Bring your kids, invite your friends, and join us for a morning filled with fun, laughter, learning, and community connection. Healthy KidsFest is one of the region’s most anticipated family events, and we can’t wait to welcome you to this year’s celebration!

📅 Saturday, April 18
⏰ 10 AM – 1 PM
📍 YMCA Westwood Park, 90 Northwest Blvd., Nashua, NH

👉 Mark your calendar and come join the fun!