Top 100 Private Companies in NH – (1/2 are family owned)
Business New Hampshire Magazine recently rolled out a list of the Granite State’s Top 100 Private Companies. In a business climate that seems to suggest that all companies are struggling and there isn’t a success story in sight, the piece is a refreshing reminder that lemonade is indeed being produced amidst the economy’s years-long lemonpalooza.
Bonus thought: forty eight percent of NH companies in the Private 100 are family owned. That’s amazing, and is a testament to the strength of the state’s community backbone.
From the mag:
“Collectively, the Private 100 employ 35,665 people full-time, with 15,111 of those jobs in NH. Fifty three percent are located in the Merrimack Valley, with 21 percent in the Seacoast, 9 percent in the Upper Valley, seven percent in the Monadnock Region, six percent in the Lakes Region and four percent in the North Country.”
Calypso Communications is fortunate to have worked on marketing and public relations with a number these companies, such as Sprague Energy Corp. and Grappone Automotive Group, with present clients such as Normandeau Associates, an environmental consultancy, also making the “Fastest Growing Companies” list in the same issue.
What’s striking about the list is the diversity of the business sectors – from wholesale grocers to restaurants to oil and natural gas distribution to gym franchises to security and storage products to insurance companies.
From the mag:
“Traditional manufacturing and high tech dominate the list, representing 34 percent of the Private 100. They are followed by business services (25 percent), retail/wholesale (22 percent), construction (10 percent) and health care (1 percent.”
Our take-away is that rumors of the New Hampshire economy’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Here’s a look at some of the top companies:
| Top 10 on the Private 100 List | |
|---|---|
| 1 | C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc., Keene |
| 2 | CCA Global Partners, Manchester |
| 3 | Sprague Energy Corp.,Portsmouth |
| 4 | Associated Grocers of New England Inc., Pembroke |
| 5 | Hypertherm, Hanover |
| 6 | Red River Computer Co. Inc., Claremont |
| 7 | AutoFair, Manchester |
| 8 | Grappone Automotive Group, Bow |
| 9 | Atrium Medical Corp., Hudson |
| 10 | Hitchiner Manufacturing Co. Inc., Milford |
| Five Fastest Growing Companies | |
| 1 | EPE Corp., Manchester |
| 2 | North Branch Construction, Concord |
| 3 | Namtek Corp., Bedford |
| 4 | Wakefield Solutions, Pelham |
| 5 | Adaptive Communications, Portsmouth |
| 10 Companies to Watch | |
| 1 | Leading Edge Design GroupEnfield |
| 2 | SmartFuel America, LLC, Seabrook |
| 3 | RevereIT LLC, Nashua |
| 4 | Big Cat Coffees, Franklin |
| 5 | The Nagler Group, Bedford |
| 6 | DYN, Manchester |
| 7 | The Atom Group, Portsmouth |
| 8 | Alexander Technology Group, Portsmouth |
| 9 | Rustic Crust, Pittsfield |
| 10 | Whaleback Systems, Portsmouth |
PR Agencies – what’s the best Media Database Tool? Cision? Vocus?
This post isn’t a “how to.” It’s an attempt to garner different perspectives from PR people and agencies who’ve done the vetting process to determine the best media database tool.
Calypso Communications is passively looking for a tool to shore up our PR efforts, and there are some key criteria we’re looking at.
- Cost – as a smallish firm, we aren’t inclined to spend like a conglomerate PR firm for the privilege of slicing and dicing media contacts. At the moment we’re using Media Atlas and a handful of manual tools, and while the cost is manageable we’re looking to explore (potentially) more sophisticated options.
- Ease of use – like most things in business, adoption is key. If the product is clunky, too complicated or a pain in the you-know-what, making a change makes no sense.
- Customer service – I’ve read several reviews of Cision and Vocus, and I have some questions about the level of attention we’d receive if we were to make the switch. Responsiveness is a key consideration for our PR team. At a previous PR agency we tried both, each with their own pros and cons. We tried Vocus in its early days and the reviews weren’t great. One person, it might have been me, called it “Hocus Vocus.”
- Bells and whistles – which tools do amazing things that other tools can’t? Which is the biggest help with identifying social media influencers? What other whiz bang services have become a “must have” for your PR firm?
We’re open to hear about newer, less-known options that may be out there quietly doing amazing things. Are there emerging players in the media database game that we should be aware of?
What’s worked/not worked for you? I’d appreciate any and all feedback in the comments section below!
Update: @Vocus just did something smart; it pinged me on Twitter and told me to reach out to users on its Twitter list: https://twitter.com/#!/Vocus/favorites – kudos for listening!
Public Relations We Don’t Need: Portsmouth Named “Great Place to Retire.”
Great. Yay. Portsmouth New Hampshire got a PR boost with the news that Where to Retire Magazine ranked the sparkling Seacoast city as one of the eight best places to retire in America.
A round of butterscotches and cozy slippers for everyone!
Trouble is, that’s precisely the wrong kind of public relations for Portsmouth. Instead, Portsmouth needs to begin working on a proper narrative that exploits the thriving digital, marketing, PR, advertising and technology companies that have become (and will remain) the lifeblood of this progressive city’s future.
The headline I’d like to read: “Portsmouth is New Hampshire’s Silicon Alley.”
Walk the streets downtown and you’ll feel the energy here. Creative types sit outside at cafes with open Macs, taking advantage of the City’s free Wi-fi. Financial execs bustle about to this meeting or that, their well-heeled wingtips click-clacking on the cobblestones. That guy with the mohawk is explaining his new web app to a potential investor. That woman in line at Starbucks is texting her client about a brilliant idea she had in the shower.
Portsmouth is where brainy people of all ages choose to work and live when they can’t stomach the prospect of schlepping into Boston any more. I’m with a marketing and public relations firm in Portsmouth because it’s great agency that doesn’t require me to spend 3 ½ hours commuting every day, my knuckles white on the steering wheel.
Yes, real estate is expensive in Portsmouth, but that’s because there’s a premium attached to areas that have just the right blend of innovation, imagination and visual splendor. Portsmouth is in fact a great place to retire. The tax burden is low and the list of activities and cultural enrichment opportunities is high. And hell, I love old people. I might even become one some day.
But the point this city needs to make is that Portsmouth is a great place to live during your prime working years. That message, properly supported with facts and vignettes, will attract even more brainy, creative, progressive people to the area and create a virtuous cycle of vibrancy.
So, congrats on being named one of the top eight places to retire in the country. But I think I’ll pass on the butterscotch.
Anatomy of a Mom Blogger – a Guide for PR teams
Mom bloggers (also called mommy bloggers) have a lot of clout these days — and many also have a lot of Klout. The best of the bunch have thousands of fans and can truly influence purchase decisions, making them darlings of retailers and the PR agencies hired to spread the love.
But what are mom bloggers all about? Where do they live? What are their habits? What pushes their buttons? Check out the below factoids from Scarborough Infographic. Good stuff:
The difference between Branding, Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations
My mother doesn’t quite know what I do for a living, even though I’ve been at the public relations and marketing game for about 12 years (Boston, San Francisco and now Portsmouth, NH). She still asks me how my “customers” are doing, as if I’m running a bakery.
I’d seen the below graphic before (hat tip to Neutron, LLC). But I think it’s worth keeping handy whenever you’re looking for the simplest way to delineate between marketing, branding, advertising and public relations — even though, clearly, these worlds are merging more and more every day, particularly as it relates to social media.
If you haven’t see this, enjoy a moment of clarity:
Think they’ve got this right? Got a better analogy?
Top 5 Reasons PR is a Great Career – (And Top 5 Reasons to Run Away)
The public relations field has given me the opportunity to attend lavish Hollywood parties with A-List celebrities and to jet-set around the world with international dignitaries. I have backstage passes to all of New York’s hottest fashion shows, and I once spent a hilarious weekend in Aspen partying with Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
If you’d like to get a job in PR to do any or all of the above glamorous things, well, you’re going to be horribly disappointed. Why? Because none of the words in the first paragraph are remotely true. They weren’t for me; they aren’t likely to be true for you. Sorry, pals!
A lot of young folks have grand visions of the public relations industry, and while I can say with authority that PR is a field well worth pursuing, it’s important to have an honest view of the realities of the job (hint: you won’t be partying with Beyonce – unless that’s your dog’s name).
I’ve spent the last 12 years in public relations (and the last seven in social media), working in Boston, San Francisco and now in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. True, I’ve flown all over the place for the job, but there’s nothing glitzy about taking a redeye to Los Angeles, having a meeting in the morning and then hopping right back on a plane on no sleep. In fact, it’s a drag.
But there is a lot to like in the PR game. And like anything else, there are pros and cons. If you’re considering public relations as a career choice, here’s what you need to know:
Here’s my Top 5 Reasons PR is a great career
- Variety of responsibilities – once you climb above an entry level position such as an internship or a job as an Account Coordinator, the work changes constantly. No two days are alike, and you get to improvise constantly. Some days you’re writing a press release; others you’re on the road with clients conducting a multi-state media tour. Busy? Check. Boring? Not even a little.
- Engaging the influencers – over time you’ll find yourself interacting with some of your industry’s smartest, best-connected thinkers. And while it’s pretty heady stuff, you need to keep your wits about you, add smart observations to the dialogue, and always be respectful of others’ time.
- Writing and communications – if you’re a solid writer you will quickly stand out in the PR world. Our industry places a premium on people who can churn out compelling prose – whether for a pitch, a press release or a presentation. Add to that a command of the spoken word, particularly with clients, and you’re well on your way to becoming a PR rock star (provided you get results).
- Fast career trajectory – if you can walk the walk, you can climb the ladder fairly quickly in the PR world. Most PR agencies operate as a meritocracy, and the truly talented can lap the field. And the pay is pretty darn good compared to some professions, so being great at public relations can be a lucrative talent.
- Evolving constantly – the tools you use today will be defunct tomorrow, particularly as they relate to social media PR. If you hate sitting still and love learning new ways of communicating and measuring success, PR is a great fit for you – especially if you like teaching others the ropes.
Here’s my Top 5 Reasons You Should Run
- High turnover – the PR industry, particularly in large metros like Boston and New York, tends to be a revolving door for lots of young PR pros. There are lots of reasons for this (that I won’t get into here), but it’s important to understand the team you work with today might look radically different next month. And again six months later. That can be a real pain in the butt when you’re left holding the bag (read: all the work). If you work for a smaller PR firm outside a major metro, like Calypso Communications in Portsmouth, NH (wink-wink), people tend to stick around longer because they appreciate the work-life balance.
- Fickle clients – you’ll find that some clients will simply never appreciate your had work, which can be soul-sucking. It’s like having parents who have never told you they love you. But you know what? When it comes to PR, sometimes the reward is in the doing of great work. And as long as the client isn’t abusive, at least you can hang your hat on your achievements.
- Office politics – with so much room for advancement, a lot of PR agencies grapple with a handful of folks who put themselves ahead of the company. You know the type – it’s all about them. They steal your ideas and pass them off as their own. They snipe at you to the boss and are always trying to make you look bad. But don’t despair – most savvy PR leaders can smell this a mile away. The self-aggrandizing folks have a way of disappearing of their own accord. Just be yourself, and stay ethical. If you’re good, the rewards will come.
- Ever-changing tools of the trade – this was listed as a positive above, but if you’re a person who hates surprises and change, you might want to rethink your decision to get into PR. You will never get “caught up” on your work in PR, and you will never know how to use “all the tools.”
- Market volatility – recessions aren’t kind to PR pros. Marketing and PR tend to be the first line items cut from budgets in tough economies, and layoffs at PR agencies aren’t far behind. What can you do? Make yourself invaluable to your agency by keeping clients happy, bringing in new business, etc. But never forget that there’s no such thing as “indispensible” at a PR firm. As Charles de Gaulle famously observed, “The cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men.” Substitute “men” with “PR people” and you get the idea.
What do you think – are you still up for PR? And for you existing PR pros, what get right or wrong? I’d love to hear your thoughts below.
Top 5 Things A PR Firm Can’t Fix
Most people who’ve worked at a PR agency for a while will nod their heads in the affirmative when reading this post. We appreciate your readership, fellow communications pros, but with all due respect it wasn’t written for you.
No, the following should serve as a handy guide for companies evaluating whether or not they should hire a PR firm to “fix” a particularly vexing problem. If you’re calling a PR firm to help you solve any of the below issues, you may want to hang up and read this first. Read more
Calypso Communications Expands Creative Talent
Stephanie Cornell, Art Director
Calypso Communications (www.calypsocom.com), a full-service strategic marketing, corporate communications, and business development consultancy, recently expanded its creative services department with the appointment of Stephanie Cornell as the firm’s art director. With 15 years of experience in media, marketing, and public relations at both the national and international levels, Cornell will be responsible for visual direction and implementation across Calypso’s growing client roster of energy, healthcare, and technology clients.
Cornell comes to Calypso after four years in Asia where she worked as a copywriter and project manager with consumer electronics giants such as LG Electronics and Sony Corporation for public relations firm Burson-Marsteller in Seoul, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan.
This international business perspective has refueled her design and adds valuable experience as Calypso continues to add to its international presence. Prior to her move to Asia, Cornell worked as a graphic designer and art director to create advertising, merchandising, and marketing tools for consumer retail, food, and healthcare clients.
“Energy is an international industry and having her global insight will be a huge benefit to our client base,” says Mike Teixeira, Calypso’s creative director. “She is one of those rare creative folks who excels in multiple disciplines. She writes like a photographer, shoots like a story-teller, and designs with a passion-backed intellect. I’m excited to have Stephanie on our team.”
Cornell also brings ten years of experience in television and film production, having worked on numerous television commercials and motion pictures. Most recently, Cornell produced two television programs in 2010 for broadcaster Discovery Channel Asia, including a documentary about Korean figure skater and Olympic gold medalist Yuna Kim.
Cornell holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film from Emerson College in Boston. She has recently relocated to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC)
A wave of success. Calypso helps tell this renewable energy story. Read more
Social Media Tips
