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Nick Golon Featured in New Hampshire Business Review’s Ask the Experts: Solar Energy

New Hampshire Business Review’s May 24th issue features a solar energy spotlight, with input from Nick Golon, PE. Read Nick’s insights below.

(Ask the Experts) What to Know When Investing in Solar Energy

Businesses seeking to stabilize the expense of their energy use can look at options for decreasing their needs and find alternative energy solutions. Investments in solar energy can help reduce reliance on a variable energy market and carbon emissions.

Our panel discusses what solar project options are out there, and how to take advantage of available incentives for energy system upgrades and solar power.

Our Expert: Nicholas Golon, PE, Civil Department Manager and Principal, TFMoran

Q: What is a “utility-scale” solar facility, and how is it different from a rooftop solar array?
Although the exact definition may vary depending on who you ask, the nature of the answer is typically the same: it is a large-scale solar generator, 1 megawatt (MW) or greater, that connects directly into the power grid, supplying a utility with energy.
Typically, there is a power purchase agreement between a developer and the local utility, guaranteeing a market for the developer for a fixed term of time, but we are also now seeing utility-owned, utility-scale solar projects, driven in part by utility providers’ ongoing efforts to support renewable energy initiatives.

Q: What are the greatest challenges facing “utility-scale” solar facilities in New Hampshire?
Location, location, locations. In that, the scale these facilities require is approximately 6 to 8 acres of usable land to accommodate 1 MW of generation (including solar equipment, panels, access and stormwater management).
Finding a site of this size, and in appropriate proximity to existing utility infrastructure, is a challenge. One par with finding a site that meets these basic criteria are the challenges derived by local land-use restrictions, as many municipalities did not contemplate the use of such facilities in the provisions of their zoning and site plan regulations.
Perceived environmental and wildlife impacts associated with land clearing and site preparation operations is also a challenge in the siting of these facilities, although these impacts may be offset with appropriate considerations of stormwater management best practices, inclusion of appropriate buffers to sensitive receptors, and use of wildlife-friendly fencing to accommodate wildlife activity.

Q: What future technologies/innovations do we have to look forward to with “utility-scale” solar?
Although the advancements in energy storage will be a prolific contributor to the advancement of solar science, we can also look in a different direction for innovation, as sometimes the best ideas are found in the most unlikely combination of two competing uses.
In this case, agrivoltaics, or dual-use solar and agriculture, is the use of land for both agriculture and solar energy generation. One of the acknowledged drawbacks for solar is the conflict it presents with agricultural production, as they share the commonality of preferred land conditions that are flat and provide abundant sun.
The co-location of such uses would provide benefits to both industries. Such facilities do exist in New England, such as the 4.2 MW Rockport Maces Pond Agrivoltaic project, a dual-use community solar project on a blueberry farm in Rockport, Maine, as well as the ongoing efforts of the University of Massachusetts Amherst through their research team.
The team has been collaborating with private solar developers and host farmers to implement agrivoltaic operations at sites around the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Much like to co-location of different land uses in a mixed-use land development project, it will be very interesting to see if this symbiotic practice of co-locating solar and agriculture can be successful.

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TFMoran Enjoys a Night at the BOB Awards

Members of the TFM staff turned out at the NHBR Best of Business (BOB) Awards Celebration on Thursday, March 14th at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. This year’s theme was “Carribean”, encouraging guests to wear their best vacation attire! TFM sponsored the photobooth at the event – attendees enjoyed stopping by to strike a pose!

TFMoran was honored to receive our TWELFTH straight BOB Award as “Best Engineering Firm” in New Hampshire Business Review’s reader’s survey.

A portion of the proceeds from the event benefited Make-A-Wish New Hampshire, a local nonprofit organization that grants “wishes” to children with critical illness.

Thank you NHBR Readers! And congratulations to all the BOB Award winners!

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Jen Porter Featured in New Hampshire Business Review’s Ask the Experts: Women In Construction Overcome Obstacles, Innovate for Change

New Hampshire Business Review‘s February 23rd issue features a women in construction spotlight, with input from Jen Porter, PE. Read Jen’s insights below:

(Ask the Experts) Women in construction overcome obstacles, innovate for change

Women in Construction Week takes place the first full week in March, celebrating the history of women in the industry who faced tremendous challenges in a traditionally male-dominated field. In this issue of NH Business Review, we learn from an expert in the field who shares insights and perspectives on what it’s like for women in construction today, and how they’re helping to foster inclusivity, develop talent and innovate for the future.

Our expert: Jennifer F. Porter, PE, senior project engineer for civil/traffic, TFMoran Inc.

Q: What led you to choose a career in engineering?
A: Throughout high school I always thought my future career would be in the sky, as I wanted to be a pilot and go to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to study.

Sometime during my junior year in the early ‘90s, I attended a Women in Engineering Symposium at New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, NH. That day inspired me and shifted my interests back on the ground to the field of engineering.

When I enrolled at Bucknell University, I was unsure if civil or mechanical engineering was the correct path for me. Luckily, Bucknell requires all potential engineering students to take Engineering 101, a class that explores all disciplines of engineering with weekly hands-on problem-solving labs. It didn’t take long for me to decide to pursue civil engineering.

These early opportunities and hands-on learning not only taught me the skills required for my course work but also set the foundation for my future in engineering. The many hours of traditional academics and practical labs, in addition to my collegiate sports career — I was a member of the Track and Field team — helped me sort priorities and budget time; attributes that would serve me well in my profession. My engineering class had a very high percentage of women enrolled, and it’s where I developed some of my best friendships, many of which went on to be very successful women in the field of engineering.

Q. How can the construction industry attract and retain more women professionals, ensuring a diverse and inclusive workforce that enhances creativity and productivity?
A. Providing opportunities that introduce girls/women to construction and engineering opportunities can be the spark that changes the course of thinking for a young person. Many women do not consider the construction industry based on the simple lack of knowing it is an option. Having a sound understanding of basic construction and engineering principles and receiving proper training early in your career is key to establishing confidence and comfort in the construction environment. Providing resources for mentorship, male or female, can also make a tremendous difference to a new engineer starting out, so providing this resource is pivotal to women entering into the profession and staying with it.

I’ve had the pleasure of working for my current employer, TFMoran, for over 25 years. It has been my first (and only) engineering job since college graduation. I started at entry level in the office, running errands, making prints and reading regulations. I asked a lot of questions.

At TFM, I have had great mentors to educate and support me in my career. Teaching by example, showing patience, providing opportunity and pushing me to be a problem-solver by asking the right question and seeking out the answer. They provided me with challenges and the support I needed to grow as an engineer and a person. I am proud to be part of the team at TFM.

With the good also comes the bad, as I have had encounters in my career where my job experience appeared to be questioned due solely on my gender. When confronted with such a moment, I have felt I had two choices: deflect or stand tall. I have not let those moments define me, and have used each opportunity to build confidence and a greater belief in myself. To treat others with respect, setting boundaries to form positive relationships based on trust, and to project the confidence my experience and knowledge should garner after 25 years in the field of engineering. Much like the values my parents instilled in me, and I hope to inspire in my children, I choose to be fair and respectful to others. We should all expect nothing less. Treat everyone as you want to be treated.

Q. What initiatives or programs have proven effective in breaking down barriers and biases, promoting skill development, and providing equal opportunities for women pursuing careers in construction?
A. Educating men and women that intelligence is not defined by gender. Providing a company culture that brings everyone on the team to the table on equal ground and treated with respect. Engineers are engineers, period.

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Kyle Roy Featured in NHBR Ask the Experts: Engineering Best Practices Help Businesses Gain

New Hampshire Business Review‘s February 9th issue features an engineering spotlight, with input from numerous New Hampshire engineering professionals. Principal and Senior Structural Engineer, Kyle Roy gave his thoughts on engineering best practices and how businesses gain from these practices. Read Kyle’s insight below:

Ask the Experts: Engineering Best Practices Help Businesses Gain

As New Hampshire’s commercial building boom kicks into high gear in 2024, some of the Granite State’s leading engineering firms are using the latest cutting-edge technology to provide the best structural designs for their clients. In this week’s New Hampshire Business Review, we take a deep dive into how some of these tools will help these engineering firms deliver better projects and how they can improve their capabilities to better serve their clients. We also talk with both engineering and legal experts about how businesses can save energy costs and help the planet through NH Saves and what New Hampshire is doing to help curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Q: What emerging technologies are poised to revolutionize the structural engineering landscape, and how should businesses prepare to leverage them?
A: Structural engineers seek to provide innovative, efficient and safe structural solutions for every project. A company’s investment in efficiency will be successful if they are willing to rethink existing technologies and adopt recent technologies.

Q: What is a technology tool taking hold in the engineering sector?
A: Off-site and modular construction is established and currently one of the best ways to streamline the building process, to reduce waste and improve project timelines. New materials and fabrication technologies are challenging the industry to rethink what can be built off-site. Building projects must entertain new approaches and explore more off-site construction methods, materials and modular solutions.

Companies should invest in developing expertise in modular construction design. Building information modeling (BIM) is currently being used to create more accurate models that can be used on the fabrication floor to reduce production time and errors.

In addition to being leveraged in modular construction, BIM is a commonly used technology in the architectural, engineering and construction community. BIM is used to create digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of buildings. The digital models enhance collaboration, streamline design and facilitate better project decision-making.

The next evolution for digital models is to pair them with artificial intelligence (AI), and generative design (GD) software. Structural engineers can integrate the use of AI and algorithms to explore numerous generative design options rapidly. Companies should further invest in AI, adopt GD tools and train staff to effectively use it.

Companies that leverage these tools can speed up cloud collaboration and interoperability with other stakeholders in the design and construction process.

BIM models can also be generated from point cloud data from aerial and surface drone scans for existing site surveys and inspections. Drones provide a safe and efficient way to collect data from challenging or dangerous locations.

This data, when paired with cloud storage solutions, provides a significant improvement over traditional photos and field measurements. Companies should integrate drone and LIDAR scanning technologies in the early stages of design for better visualization, collaboration and more accurate data. Invest in drones or scanners and training for staff to champion the technologies.

Develop protocols for incorporating 3D point cloud data from these sources into the design processes. This can lead to improved project understanding of existing conditions, reduce field time and reduce design and construction errors and omissions.

Q: What should businesses do to support the use of building information modeling?
A: With more data collected, a fast and reliable infrastructure is necessary to process and share the data. 5G mobile promises faster and more reliable connectivity, enabling the growth of data collection and other data-intensive applications.

Businesses should explore how 5G can enhance their operations and services. This may require investing in new equipment, adapting IT infrastructure, and developing new applications that leverage high-speed, low-latency connectivity.

To take advantage of these technological advances, businesses should adopt an initiative-taking and agile approach. To do this, businesses need to hire or train to build a tech-savvy workforce who can understand, implement, and manage these technologies. Employers need to listen to and invest in their employee’s interest in specific fields.

This approach creates a base level of empowered staff to incorporate innovative technologies into the company’s service strategies.

Q: What do engineering firms need to do to remain competitive and productive?
A: Given the rapidly evolving nature of technology, it is important to stay informed on the latest developments. Businesses need to collaborate and network with vendors, technology providers, startups and research institutions to stay abreast of the latest innovative products and regularly monitor industry advancements.

It is important to adapt to changing technological landscapes. Companies that are nimble in adopting new tools and services will remain competitive in tomorrow’s engineering landscape.

Check out the rest of the article here.

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TFM Goes Hollywood For a Night at the BOB Awards!

Members of the TFM staff turned out at the NHBR Best of Business (BOB) Awards Celebration on Thursday, March 9th at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. This year’s theme was “Hollywood”, encouraging guests to wear a costume from their favorite movie or dress to the nines and walk the red carpet! TFM sponsored the Photobooth at the event – attendees enjoyed stopping by to strike a pose!

TFMoran was honored to receive our ELEVENTH straight BOB Award as “Best Engineering Firm” in New Hampshire Business Review’s reader’s survey.

“We are pleased and honored that we have received this prestigious award 11 years in a row! The New Hampshire Business Review readership represents a broad cross-section of New Hampshire’s most influential people, and this recognition is a testament to the skill, dedication, and can-do attitude of our remarkable staff.”

Robert Duval, President

A portion of the proceeds went to benefit Girls at Work, a local nonprofit organization. Girls at Work empowers girls with tools, unleashing their power and potential to accomplish anything. Girls at work builds confidence, trust, resilience, skills, and dreams.

Thank you NHBR Readers! And congratulations to all the BOB Award winners!

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Dylan Cruess Featured in NHBR Ask the Experts

Dylan Cruess participated in New Hampshire Business Review‘s Ask the Experts: “Engineering Tech Enhances Project Design in NH”. The article takes a deep dive into recent development projects and the innovative engineering that makes the industry so exciting.

Dylan and other industry experts discuss some of the most interesting engineering projects happening in New Hampshire this year, as well as state-of-the-art design trends, energy efficiency, sustainability, and much more!

Continue reading below, or check out the full section on NHBR!


Ask the Experts: Engineering Tech Enhances Project Design in NH

What are some of the most interesting engineering projects happening in New Hampshire this year?

We are seeing many redevelopment and expansion projects throughout the State for the coming year.  The inventory of previously undeveloped land, especially in Southern New Hampshire, continues to shrink, so many of our larger projects for 2023 are on redevelopment sites where previous buildings will either be removed, renovated, or expanded to create something new.  Redevelopment and expansion projects are particularly interesting because it is necessary to incorporate the existing site conditions and utility connections into the design.

Are you seeing a change in project design as companies downsize, streamline, or expand their capabilities?

Our project design processes are constantly adapting and changing based on the AutoCAD software that we use and the requirements of our clients.  Since the COVID pandemic, working remotely outside of the office has become the norm for our company and in the broader construction industry, so we have expanded our utilization of different online file-sharing and collaboration tools to make working remotely more efficient and most importantly more accurate.

What are the latest state-of-the-art design trends that you’re seeing?

The increasing use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the most state-of-the-art design trend that we are seeing.  With high construction costs and supply chain delays, we are seeing more clients utilize BIM to virtually see the future construction of their projects.  Our primary design software, AutoCAD, can merge the designs for different aspects of a project, such as the underground utility connections with the architect’s building design model. The project team can virtually see a 3D model of the future project and determine if any conflicts will arise during construction.

How much emphasis do you see on incorporating energy efficiency and sustainability in upcoming projects?

We see a very large emphasis on incorporating energy efficiency and sustainability in just about all of our projects.  Firstly, over the last 10 years, the international building codes have been updated to include many energy efficiency requirements and standards that were previously thought to be “above and beyond. Also, with energy costs at historically high rates, our Clients are asking us to look into every possible option during the design process to increase efficiency and sustainability in an effort to reduce construction and future maintenance costs.

What are some of the best things a construction firm can do to achieve a healthy bottom line in 2023?

There is a lot of uncertainty in the economic outlook for 2023, but the industry has remained resilient and I don’t foresee any change going into the Spring construction season. As a professional service firm, I think the best thing to maintain a healthy bottom line in 2023 is to continue to focus on providing value and practical solutions to clients.

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TFMoran Voted Best of Business in Engineering for 11th Year!

TFMoran is honored to be voted as 2023 Best of Business in the Engineering category by New Hampshire Business Review readers!  2023 marks the ELEVENTH consecutive year TFMoran has received this award. The BOB Awards honors the “Best Of Business” in New Hampshire in over 90 business-to-business categories. According to NHBR’s website, over 3,000 people voted in the BOB Awards survey.

We’d like to take a moment to give A Big THANK YOU to all who voted for us!

NH Business Review will hold the 16th Annual BOB Awards celebration on Thursday, March 9th, at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. This year’s theme is “Hollywood”. It’s an event like no other to celebrate the best businesses in the state and network with business leaders from across New Hampshire.

Thank you to New Hampshire Business Review for this opportunity and for showcasing the Best of Business across New Hampshire, and congratulations to all the winners!

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The Factory on Willow Featured in NHBR’s July “From the Ground Up”

The July issue of New Hampshire Business Review features The Factory on Willow in a special section “From the Ground Up”. TFMoran is proud to be a part of the project team with Eckman Construction and Market Square Architects. We invite you to check out the article by clicking this link or by reading the text below.

Congratulations to the Factory on Willow and the whole project team!


FROM THE GROUND UP: The Factory on Willow: ‘If you restore it, they will come’


Remember the movie, “Field of Dreams” with Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones? An Iowa farmer is summoned by voices from the Great Beyond to build a baseball stadium in his corn field. One of the most iconic lines that is now part of our popular culture is “If you build it, they will come.”

In the case of The Factory on Willow, the saying would be, “If you restore it, they will come” and inspire other investors to do the same with other properties in Manchester’s South End.

When Elizabeth “Liz” Hitchcock decided to purchase the former Cohas Shoe Factory on 252 Willow St. in 2019, she formulated a concept they knew would yield great dividends. Her plan was to restore the 90,000-square-foot factory into a mixed-use development where artists and gig professionals could live, work and enjoy everything that downtown Manchester has to offer while preserving the rich history of the mill that was constructed in 1904.

Preston Hunter, vice president of Eckman Construction Co. in Bedford and the project’s general contractor, explained the end result is a four-story complex that includes 61 studio apartments, commercial space, a food truck court and 16 Airbnb units to accommodate nurses and visiting high-tech workers. The Artist in Residence program also enables artists of all types to live and complete special projects at The Factory on Willow.

Hunter said the space also includes commercial uses that may eventually include a craft distillery, beer garden and office space. Loon Chocolate and 603 Charcuterie have already established thriving retail businesses there, and a large event space is available for rental.

“There are a lot of opportunities for different uses,” Hunter said.

In addition to the food truck patio, Hunter said an amphitheater is planned where live performances will be staged.

“We are in the process of creating a distillery on-site,” said Hunter, adding that it would consist of a free-standing building that would include a tasting room.

“We did create, in addition to the food truck patio, an area for residents who would like to have raised beds and grow some vegetable gardens and other plantings.”

Besides the amphitheater and additional landscaping that will take place throughout The Factory on Willow’s property, Hitchcock recently said she is banking on two transportation projects to spur growth in the South End and fuel greater success for The Factory on Willow. The first includes a $25 million federal RAISE grant that will be used to create a new roadway with a bridge and pedestrian bike access near the intersection of South Willow St. and Queen City Ave. along with a pedestrian bridge over Granite Street. The second is the completion of the South Manchester Rail Trail that runs directly behind The Factory on Willow. The rail trail is part of a much larger network that will eventually run from Goffstown to the Seacoast. When completed, both projects will offer improved access to the South End.

Hunter said that Hitchcock’s vision was to create a living space where art would be promoted and celebrated as well as integrated into the surrounding community.

Hitchcock also selected items to be featured in the building to display its rich history, including the original wood and glass doors, cast iron boiler arch doors and a wooden beam that has been repurposed into a bench in the lobby.

Adam Wagner, owner of Market Square Architects in Portsmouth, played an instrumental role to help Hitchcock transform her vision into a dynamic design that incorporates the mill’s rustic red brick walls and timber frames in the building’s open-air studio apartments. Orbit Group with visiting designers created the furnished Airbnb units so they will appeal to the targeted demographic of artists and gig economy workers.

“What’s unique about this project is residents are looking for more than just cookie-cutter apartments. They want to be part of a community,” Hunter said. “It is set up to be a real live-work studio experience.”

By combining a millennial-style, live-work experience and the history of the former McElwain Shoe Factory, Hunter believes that Hitchcock succeeded with all of her goals.

Hunter’s family also has a direct link to the mill’s storied past.

“My mother-in-law worked in the shoe factory when she was a teenager,” he said.

The two-year project that began in 2019 was completed in March 2021 when the first residents moved into the building, Hunter said.

All of this was happening during the Covid-19 pandemic. “We were able to keep the job site running throughout the pandemic,” Hunter explained.

Hunter pointed out the process to transform the once abandoned factory into its current use was a challenging one. “It is important to remember that this building was a collection of additions that had been tacked on to the original mill building over the decades as the use had changed and it presented a lot of complications and challenges from a design standpoint,” he said.

They partnered with Market Square Architects to deal with those challenges. TFMoran, the structural engineer out of Bedford, played a key role in helping them evaluate the structure of the building and the additions, Hunter said.

“We determined as a team that some of the newer additions were functionally obsolete. We ended up demolishing some portions of the building that were not part of the original mill building that was bult in 1904,” Hunter said.

“We brought the building back to its original form. That allowed us to keep what was best about the building and remove the portions that didn’t add any value. We also exposed portions of the building that hadn’t seen the light of day for a very long time,” Hunter explained.
He noted the project included a lot of masonry restoration. He said there is a tower that was part of the original mill complex that was restored. There was also a great deal of masonry undertaken on the outside and inside of the building.

He said the building also had a timber frame that was showing its age. “The structural engineer evaluated every beam and every column after we had opened and exposed everything to identify the ones that needed to be re-supported.”
Like many mill restoration projects, this one also required its share of environmental remediation.

“The building also did contain some asbestos and lead paint, which had been sort of buried under multiple layers of flooring. We had to remove all of the hazardous materials and everything was disposed of to create a clean environment, so we could start essentially with a clean slate,” Hunter said.

Hunter said the site was also home to a former underground oil storage tank that had failed 50 years ago. The tank had leaked its heating oil, and it was a managed site by the state Department of Environmental Protection. In most cases, developers might leave it alone and pave over it. But Hitchcock decided it was best to remove the contaminated soil and clean up the site with fresh soil. The building and site were then completely cleaned out and restored to their original state.

“The team really put the time and the effort in to understand the unique quirks of the building as much as possible before we started construction. The building really has great bones, and the design goal was to really showcase the existing qualities as much as possible,” Hunter said.

Some of the other improvements included two new stairwells to meet new egress requirements for the apartments on both ends of the building floor to floor. The building was also designed to provide fresh air to every apartment and common space in the building. New windows were installed throughout the building with beautiful black frames that are historically accurate and provide great natural light throughout.

“It is also an investment in the southern part of the city. There has been a lot of redevelopment in the Millyard, the North End and downtown. This project is the first to recognize there is great opportunity in the South End of Manchester. It has created a bit of a destination onto itself by having all those amenities. It will also create an opportunity for development in this part of the city as the need for housing continues to grow,” Hunter said.

The team’s collective efforts to create a new crown jewel in Manchester has also gained recognition from Plan NH, which awarded the project a merit award in June.

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TFMoran Celebrates at the BOB Awards

Members of the TFM staff turned out at the NHBR Best of Business (BOB) Awards Celebration on Thursday, March 10th at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. This year’s theme was “Masquerade”, encouraging guests to dress in their semi-formal attire and a masquerade style mask. TFM sponsored the Photobooth at the event – attendees enjoyed stopping by to strike a pose!

TFMoran was honored to receive our TENTH straight BOB Award as “Best Engineering Firm” in New Hampshire Business Review’s BOB Awards reader’s survey. “It is a great honor that we have now won for the past ten years in a row!” said Robert Duval, president of TFMoran. “I believe this remarkable degree of community recognition is a reflection of our core values: focusing on client service and delivering the right engineering solution for every project.”

Congratulations to all the BOB Award winners!

A portion of the proceeds went to benefit Waypoint, a non-profit organization (formerly Child and Family Services).

See more photos of the event here.

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TFMoran’s Dylan Cruess is Celebrated Among NH 200 Business Leaders at NH Business Review Reception Event

Congratulations to TFMoran’s Chief Operating Officer, Dylan Cruess, who was once again selected as one of New Hampshire’s 200 Most Influential Business Leaders “New Hampshire 200” by New Hampshire Business Review. TFMoran principals Robert Duval, Nick Golon, and Chris Rice. along with staff and associates attended the New Hampshire 200 Reception, proudly supporting him for this great honor. The celebration was held on December 9, 2021, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester for the 200 prominent individuals featured in the NHBR publication, “New Hampshire 200”. Honorees and guests enjoyed networking, refreshments, and hors d’oeuvres.

This year’s theme was fire and ice, as guests enjoyed a smores bar, ice cream from Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream, music from the Nick Goumas Quartet, a champagne toast, courtesy of sponsor United Healthcare, and a photo booth sponsored by TFMoran.

We thank New Hampshire Business Review and their staff for putting on this special event which TFMoran was proud to be a sponsor of.

Congratulations to Dylan and to all of the selected New Hampshire 200 for impacting our beautiful State of New Hampshire in so many positive ways!

Check out the 2022 issue of NH 200 here.