The Secret Sauce of Small Biz in Portsmouth
Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth
Welcome to Portsmouth, NH!
With talk of shared free business resources peppered with acronyms (SBA, SBDC, SCORE, CCGP and more) the Secret Sauce of businesses thriving in Portsmouth discussed during the June 6 event at 3S Artspace wasn't one simmering up on the city's many restaurant stoves.
Rather, the ingredients of the secret sauce involved a more complex blend: Reaching out to more than one organization, more than one time, and don't be hesitant to do so—that's what we're all here for!
In addition, thriving in business requires turning to fellow businesses around you—family, friends.
It involves being genuine, not spreading yourself too thin, and knowing when to hand off the mixing spoon to those who want to help you with your recipe for success.
The secret sauce, according to Jonathan Smith, VP– Small Business Lending, from Live Oak Bank , might even involve listening to a few of the 500+ "How I Built This" podcasts on NPR (Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield , your name was dropped—and held in high regard.)
A special thank you to Suzanne Foley for sharing her Port City Pretzels and Stacey from Stroll for bringing coffee.
The agenda:
This was an interactive morning hearing from the small business community and business resources that support them. This event was open to Chamber members and non members alike.
SBA New England Regional Administrator Mike Vlacich and Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern kicked off the event.
Sean Clancy , Assistant City Manager for Economic Development, Portsmouth, served as emcee.
We heard from two panels.
Unleashing the Entrepreneurial Spirit – A panel of Portsmouth-based business owners who will discuss why they choose Portsmouth and the benefits to doing business in the Port City.
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Business Resource Panel – Meet your local business advisors and mentors who provide 1-on-1 individualized guidance and training opportunity to area businesses and some of the local clients they serve.
9 a.m. - Introduction - U.S. Small Business Administration New England Regional Administrator Mike Vlacich / Deaglan McEachern Mayor of Portsmouth
9:30 a.m. - Panel #1 - Why Portsmouth Works? ( Ben VanCamp , President & Chief Collaborator of the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, moderated)
Drift Collective - Owner Emily Stearns
SoHo Creative Studio - Michael Cinquino
10:45 a.m. - Panel #2 - Resources (Amy Bassett, District Director at U.S. Small Business Administration moderated)
Ed Miles, Seacoast Regional Director of the NH Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Steve Goldberg - SCORE Mentors Seacoast
SBDC - Port City Pretzels - Owner Suzanne Foley
Jonathan Smith, VP – Small Business Lending, Live Oak Bank
Jonathan Day, MBA , Owner, Centrus Digital and leader of the Chamber Collaborative Ambassadors(!)
SVP/Regional Vice President TD Bank - Eastern New Hampshire
1 年Great event and should be an annual celebration of Small Business success stories in Portsmouth, NH. It was inspiring to hear how the business owners were able to overcome obstacles and follow their passion.