Chamber Community Comes Together to Celebrate 2025 Collaborative Award Winners
New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway lauded as Community Connector
PORTSMOUTH — Before a sold-out crowd at The Envio on Monday, Dec. 1, the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth proudly honored exceptional businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders at the 2025 Collaborative Awards Luncheon, presented by Needham Bank, who recently entered the seacoast market through a merger with bankprov.
The event was highlighted by a special award: The Community Connector Award presented by Newburyport Bank, which recognized the New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway. This is New Hampshire’s section of the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway—from the Canadian border to Key West—and partners across seven communities –and it has taken 18 years to bring this vision to life.
In presenting the award, Ben VanCamp, president & chief Collaborator of the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth said, “The first time I visited the trail, it wasn’t even open yet—and it was packed. Runners, walkers, parents with strollers, cyclists—everyone was already there. That’s the power of this project.”
VanCamp, no stranger to the trail himself concluded: “This Greenway will eventually link us all the way down to Hampton and, one day, form part of the East Coast Greenway from Florida to Maine. It’s going to be a driver of our economy for years to come.”
Scott Bogle, senior transportation planner with the Rockingham Planning Commission, accepted the award and said, “The Portsmouth Chamber has been a stalwart supporter of the Greenway for years, and with the first section now open, their work engaging local businesses is helping communities understand how to truly benefit from the trail.”
The event, which reached capacity days in advance – and also revealed the Chamber’s relaunched website-- brought together industry leaders, local employers, and community champions to celebrate excellence across five award categories, plus a special recognition honor. Guests enjoyed a locally inspired three-course lunch with captivating music by Eli Kaynor on cello as the Chamber announced the 2025 award winners.
2025 Collaborative Award Winners
Large Business of the Year Presented by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital to a Chamber member business with 50 employees or more that is excelling in their field or in their local community engagement.
Nominees: Insurcomm Restoration; M&T Bank; Piscataqua Landscaping and Tree Service; Service Credit Union
Winner: Piscataqua Landscaping and Tree Service: Piscataqua Landscaping & Tree Service is known for exceptional work and year-round care of our outdoor spaces. Under Justin Gamester’s steady, people-first leadership, PLTS has grown into a premier green-industry employer with 150+ team members serving the Seacoast and Lakes Region of NH as well as southern Maine.
Small But Mighty Business of the Year Presented by First Seacoast Bank to a Chamber member business with less than 50 employees that is excelling in their field or in their local community engagement.
Nominees: Ability Allies Physical Therapy; BGs Boathouse; Check & Balance Business Solutions; Mallory Portraits; Meconi Financial Management & Advisory; NVEST Financial; Portsmouth Team Building; Recreative + co; Sages Entertainment; Summit Supply; The Vibe Collective; Wild Ivory
Winner: Portsmouth Team Building: Larry and Renee Vanatta have grown multiple local businesses, including Monkey Mind Escape Rooms, Game Show Faceoff at the Mall of Fox Run through December (and then moving to Kittery Premium Outlets in February). But it all started with Portsmouth Team-building events. Folks love watching coworkers take over downtown Portsmouth on a hyped-up scavenger hunt with Larry and the team at the helm. Their creativity, dedication, and community impact make them a standout.
Non-Profit of the Year Presented by WIN Waste Innovations recognizing an organization within the Chamber membership that has achieved exceptional success in its mission this year.
Nominees: Annie’s Angels Memorial Fund; Business Alliance for People of Color; The Birchtree Center; Granite Pathways; Greengard Center for Autism; HAVEN NH; My Breast Cancer Support; New Hampshire PBS; No Brain is the Same; Operation Blessing; Portsmouth Historical Society; Star Island Corporation; Yoga In Action
Winner: Operation Blessing: Tammy and the team at Operation Blessing have been humbly helping those in need with food, clothing, and shelter, well ensuring the dignity of all. When times are hard and resources are scarce, they somehow find a way to give even more. Their unwavering compassion reminds us all what true service looks like.
Volunteer of the Year Presented by Centrus Digital recognizing a member of the Chamber community that gives of their time and talents to support the work and mission of the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth.
Nominees: Shelley-Ann Cullen (Bank of New Hampshire); Nadja Fromm (Fromm Consulting); Sophie Gee (janegee); Jennifer Halteman (Jennifer Halteman Insurance); Fred Poisson (Connections Peer Support)
Winner: Sophie Gee (janegee): Sophie Gee and her incredible team at janegee, have really pumped the monthly Local Love shopping event into a strong heartbeat in our community. Their creativity, commitment, and passion breathe life into this tradition, turning it into a vibrant celebration of local connection.
Collaborator of the Year Presented by Novocure recognizes an individual within the Chamber membership that thrives on bringing people together and forging partnerships.
Nominees: Alina Badretdinova (Holiday Inn Portsmouth); Anne Brown (Daystar); Fred Butts (One Revolution Realty); Kate Constantine (Gather); Matt Dydo (Centrus Digital); Troy Farkas (Seacoast Stories); Nadja Fromm (Fromm Consulting); Kaley Gagne (Kennebunk Savings Bank & Catapult Seacoast); Sophie Gee (janegee); Art Meconi (Meconi Financial Management & Advisory); Wayne & Kali Moulton (Sages Entertainment); Donna Sovie (Check & Balance Business Solutions)
Winner: Kaley Gagne (Kennebunk Savings Bank & Catapult Seacoast): Kaley is a ray of light on the seacoast! Whether greeting us at Chamber events, coordinating young professionals at Catapult gatherings, attending community events to support local businesses, or working at Kennebunk Savings Bank, Kaley is an inspiration of positiveness and collaboration through connection.
Special Recognition: The Community Connector Award: New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway
Presented by Newburyport Bank
Thank You to Our 2025 Sponsors
The Chamber Collaborative extends sincere thanks to all nominees, attendees, sponsors, and community members who helped make the 2025 Collaborative Awards a standout celebration.
About the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth
The Chamber Collaborative works to strengthen the local economy, support member businesses, and champion the people and organizations that make the Seacoast an extraordinary place to live, work, and visit. Learn more at the Chamber’s newly relaunched website: www.portsmouthcollaborative.org.
