Dear Catapult Community, It is with great pleasure that I announce the release of the report prepared by Governor Lynch's Task Force for the Retention and Recruitment of a Young Workforce for New Hampshire. I was a member of this Task Force, created by Executive Order in March 2008, and sat at the table representing the Catapult Community. The Task Force was charged to perform research and present key findings and recommendations to the Governor that would aide in New Hampshire's effort to attract and retain a young workforce. The Task Force consisted of 16 people, representing different sectors, ages and areas of the State. Since April of 2008, we collected various types of data to help influence our final recommendation decisions. Our research was in the form of statistical data, 13 state-wide roundtable sessions and several presentations made by key multi-sector industry professionals. All factual data and anecdotal information was taken into account when we narrowed our list to 18 recommendations for our report. Some of our recommendations included commuter rail, college debt repayment incentives, affordable housing, state-wide broadband access, intern and apprenticeship programs, augmenting the NH brand, etc... Interestingly enough, some of our key findings related to the perception of New Hampshire as a place to live, work and play. Although some of the strengths and weaknesses of the State were valid, some misconceptions came through with regard to the availability of competitive jobs, salaries and social outlets. The report is out, so what happens next? The Task Force decided that in addition to the Governor's support, it would be important to establish another entity to help implement some of the changes that the Task Force found to be of importance and achievable at a grassroots level. As a result, a new 501(c) 3 organization called "Stay, Work, Play NH" has been created to help execute some of the goals stemming from the Task Force's Final Report and the University System of New Hampshire's 55% Initiative. Stay, Work, Play NH will help to bolster NH's "brand" as a great place for young professionals to live, work and play. The site will serve as a "non-stop shop" of sorts, for those who are looking for NH activities, job match opportunities and/or additional resources. The website is expected to launch this fall. It is our hope that it will help to prove that there are indeed opportunities for stable career paths, good-paying jobs and vibrant social scenes within the state, all under one umbrella. I encourage the Catapult Community to view the links listed below to read the Final Report and any additional information with regard to the Task Force's efforts and the upcoming Stay Work Play NH website. At any time, please feel free to contact me directly to discuss the report findings in greater detail. I will plan to update you all when the website launches later this year. This is an exciting time for young professionals in New Hampshire! Warm regards, Helen Donington, Chair and Co-Founder Learn More: Report Release PR On the Air Executive Order Stay Work Play NH & Copy of Final Report Tour the Redhook Ale Brewery with Catapult Date: Thursday, August 11th Departure Time: 6:00 pm Location: Redhook Brewery 35 Corporate Drive, Pease Int. Tradeport, Portsmouth, NH - View map Cost: Admission - $5.00 (at the door). -- Includes admission on the brewery tour. Complimentary appetizers will be provided. We're big fans of the Redhook beers and who can pass up a nice cold one after work? Join Catapult on August 11th at the Redhook Brewery to see how the nectar of the gods is made -- close-up. We'll see how beer is made and sample some ourselves, complete with complimentary appetizers. Catapult and Redhook; your hookup to fun this summer. We hope to see you there! UP NEXT: Wednesday, August 26th - Wine Tasting Hosted by Mainely-New Hampshire - 5:30-7pm. Wine tasting and networking event; Mainely-New Hampshire specializes in made in NH products. Wednesday, September 9th - Portsmouth Kayak Barbecue - 5:30-7:30pm. Celebration of the end of summer and the beginning of fall! CATAPULT RECOMMENDS: Pecha Kucha Night - Portsmouth When: Thursday, August 27, 2009 Where: The Gas Light - Third Floor Nightclub Time: Presentations Start at 7pm (Networking from 6-7 on the deck) Door: Free What is Pecha Kucha Night? Each presenter is allowed 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds each - giving 6 minutes 40 seconds of fame before the next presenter is up. This keeps presentations concise, the interest level up, and gives more people the chance to show. Join us on Thursday August 27th for Pecha Kucha #3. Learn more Speed Venture Summit When: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel - Nashua, NH Time: Speed Venturing from 2-5pm (Business Networking 5-7pm) The Speed Venture Summit™ is the premier speed-dating-style event for fast-growth businesses and investors in New England, brought to you by the New Hampshire High Technology Council and the New Hampshire Small Business Development Center. In 2008, the Summit featured the first speed venturing event in New England since the halcyon days of dot.com. The first annual Speed Venture Summit™ whisked New England's hottest young companies together with investors for 15-minute "dates," leading to dozens of follow-up phone calls and e-mails for promising long-term relationships. Twenty-six different investor groups ranked the most compelling stories from fifty entrepreneurs, who then pitched to a feverish standing-room crowd of 325 tech leaders from throughout the region. Learn more The Live Free Or Die Alliance Asks Catapult Members; Do you know about all the issues going on around you? Catapult offered an exclusive event to Catapult delegates on June 24th, introducing the new 501-c3 non-profit, the Live Free or Die Alliance. A private dinner and informational session held at the 100 Club offered Seacoast young professionals a glimpse at the new organization's website: www.livefreeordiealliance.com, expected to launch this coming October. Catapult delegates were asked to provide their feedback on the premise of the LFDA organization as well as the offerings of its website. The Live Free or Die Alliance is a vigorously non-partisan and member-driven organization with a website that will serve as a "Virtual Town Hall", offering information and opportunity for engagement on key state, community and social issues facing the State of New Hampshire. The LFDA site will offer access to legislators, chats and discussion forums and include issues such as mandatory seat belt use, the Old Man of the Mountain, gambling, taxes and spending and much more. The LFDA was founded by many prominent New Hampshire business and community leaders including Paul Montrone, former CEO of Fisher Scientific, Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Farm and Anna Grace Holloway, who currently chairs the organization. Catapult is very supportive of the LFDA's mission to engage and inform the public. The LFDA intends to present the issues in an objective manner, letting members decide while supporting healthy debate. Catapult will be sure to share the October launch of the website with our membership in the hopes that Seacoast young professionals will partake in a spirited debate on the issues and become involved in their communities and the state. As the future business and community leaders of New Hampshire, we should be taking an active role in preserving, protecting and improving upon the fabric of the beloved Granite State. Check out this cover page Union Leader story Learn more about the Alliance itself at: www.livefreeordiealliance.com Celebrate Summer with Catapult on The Edge Finally — a night where the rain held off and Catapulters could enjoy an evening out on the patio! New and returning Catapult members "took the edge off" at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel on a pleasant summer evening. Cool breeze, cool drinks and a very cool spot. 80's Retro Regatta Cruise from Portsmouth Harbor Catapult, in partnership with the Manchester Young Professionals Network and WFNX Radio, came aboard the Isles of Shoals Steamship's Thomas Leighton, for an evening cruise in Portsmouth Harbor. A beautiful sunset provided a lovely backdrop to the sights along the Piscatiqua River. The boat was packed with people straight from the office - and straight from the '80's — which made for quite an evening of jovial networking. Many shared conversations reminiscent of snap bracelets, jelly shoes, ripped jeans and bad hair and by the end of the evening the 80's music had people on the dance floor, feeling the "thrill" of MJ's Thriller! Brent is the founder of Slim Famous (S.F.), a business specializing in product, brand and business development. Since it was founded in 1999, Slim Famous Original products have captured the attention of national media and retail executives including those at Warner Bros./Disney. Brent also provides clients with holistic, strategic marketing plans that are creative, penetrating, effective, unique and with proven results. - brentbeckett@gmail.com A Complete Brand Is Everything Branding, A Holistic Approach The average American child is able to recognize and identify the McDonald's arches before their own written name. The average American adult is able to identify the smells, tastes, menu costs and inside of a McDonald's even when there are no brand symbols available. McDonalds is a fully branded company, and like them or not, a good example of what complete branding is about. Most people, including corporate executives and business owners, are not aware of what complete branding means. The perception is that a company logo is the brand, but that is just the symbol of the brand. A company's brand includes every single aspect of every part of the business. It may serve you well to re-read that sentence. The product, price, quality, location, service, cleanliness, warranty, availability and selling outlet are some examples of the various components that make up a complete brand. It has become common to hear the word 'holistic' associated with the branding process. Holistic means to consider the entirety and wholeness of something rather than individual parts. Holistic medicine is the process of treating the mind, body and spirit to achieve complete health. Likewise, threading all aspects of a business together so they work successfully as a whole unit is necessary to achieve a complete brand. A business can have the best product, but if it is overpriced or never available, then the brand will be negatively affected. We all know places we say have 'bad service,' 'poor quality', 'rude staff,' or are 'hard to get to', and ultimately we don't solicit such places because of our emotions associated with that brand. As consumers we seek out or avoid various places based on what we know about their brand. McDonald's, Las Vegas, Disney and Nike are examples of perfectly branded companies because the consumer has a full understanding of what to expect from the product or service. From California to Maine, a customer knows exactly what to expect when they enter a McDonalds. A company such as Nike has branded themselves so well that just the 'swoosh' is image enough for people to speak in-depth about its products. The lemonade stand is another perfect model for understanding the process of how to develop a brand. All product and service elements are necessary for a successful stand. Product, price, stand, signs, location and the server will all contribute the consumer's perception of the stand. You can have the best lemonadein the world, but if you are set up at the end of a dirt road there won't be many customers. If a customer sees you stir the pitcher with your finger they probably won't want any and so forth. As noted by J.T. O'Donnell at Catapult's recent Social Media Networking Workshop, the same principles that apply to developing a business brand also apply to our personal brands. If you walk around with a frown you can be perceived as an unhappy person, or walk around in a suit and tie and you may be seen as professional. When you understand that it is every single aspect of every part of a business or of yourself that determines a complete brand, you will understand that details matter. Even when most things are in good form — priced right, demonstrated well and/or merchandised properly — the breakdown of any one element can cause destruction to the entire company or person. If you are considering starting a business or starting to elevate yourself within a business this understanding of what a complete brand is about will serve you well. Congratulations to Doug Voss! Always active in the local community, Doug Voss is a volunteer firefighter for the town of New Castle and a Lieutenant in the US Coast Guard Reserve. He earned his Bachelors of Science degree from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Marine Transportation in 2003 and spent the next five years of his career going out to sea in the Merchant Marines. Deciding to find employment ashore, he recently graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree. His business card has the title "Professional Networker" on it. A couple of his personal networking rules are: Never burn a bridge Always prime the pump (for future interactions) Every time you collect a business card, write down on the card the event where you met and something significant that you discussed (preferably something discussed outside of the workplace) Although social networking sites make keeping in touch easy, never forget the importance of face-to-face interactions. Outside of riding his bicycle to Market Square and "watching the world go by," during his free time he enjoys researching the history and collecting old pictures of Portsmouth. Doug's friends have pegged him as "the future Mayor of Portsmouth. Each month, we'd like to highlight an achievement, entrepreneurial endeavor, volunteerism effort or general good news for a Catapult member. If you have a nominee in mind, please send a brief paragraph about their story to launch@catapultseacoast.org. Live Free or Die Alliance In honor of the anniversary of General Stark's famous toast, we are proud to announce the formation of the Live Free or Die Alliance, a vigorously nonpartisan effort to inform New Hampshire citizens and stimulate their interest and engagement in issues facing our state and communities. Learn more 100 Club - Special Thanks to Paul & Anna Grace Holloway, Russ & Marcy McCann and Hopi Stradling One Hundred Club is a member-supported club founded in the tradition of fine private clubs. It reflects a proud spirit that defines its Portsmouth heritage. The Club provides an atmosphere of distinction where diverse members may meet colleagues and friends, enjoying the spirit of social exchange, business and entertainment. Learn more Sheraton Harborside Hotel - The Edge The newest Portsmouth "DECK" experience. Join us on The EDGE, our outdoor patio in the heart of the downtown waterfront district overlooking the harbor. Open seasonally for cocktails and lighter fare. The EDGE is the favorite meeting place for friends and colleagues to kick off an evening of fun in Portsmouth. Don't miss our signature "Salt Pile" Margarita! Open Tuesday - Saturday at 4pm Learn more WFNX In 1983, 101.7 WFNX signed on the air in Boston to provide listeners with the best in new music and comprehensive coverage of arts and entertainment. People quickly took notice and tuned in, and the fledgling station was soon recognized nationally as a pioneer in the alternative music format. Broadcasting worldwide at fnxradio.com and over the airwaves of 92.1 FNX in Maine and New Hampshire. FNX has expanded its reach and vision even farther to its broad, yet eclectic alternative audience. Visit FNX Radio on the web: www.fnxradio.com Isles of Shoals Steamship Company Come join us on the best party ship in the New Hampshire Seacoast! The M/V Thomas Laighton steams throughout the Piscataqua River and Portsmouth Harbor on this 21 and older party ship with Live Local Reggae and Rock bands and DJ's. Learn more Wondering how your business can reach the over 1200 young professionals that make up Catapult? Become a sponsor today! Catapult offers a variety of sponsorship opportunities to local businesses who want to become part of one of the most successful networking groups of young professionals in the Seacoast. For more information, please contact sponsorships@catapultseacoast.org. ATTN: Read the Labels Before You Drink the Career Advice April 8, 2009 by sparktalk By J.T. O'Donnell With the creation of blogs has come a wonderful opportunity for people to become better informed on a variety of topics. Just visit www.Alltop.com and you'll find a 'magazine rack effect' of blogs on almost any subject you can think of. In fact, when you click on the careers tab, you'll find plenty of content providing advice. However, not all of it is worth taking. Blog readers beware! Some online writers aren't giving accurate or sound advice. Here's why... As more blogs are created, it gets harder for sites to increase readership. So, the need to stand out becomes critical. It starts with crafting intriguing titles for their posts so they can capture a reader's attention and get that all-important 'click' on to the site. But, when that doesn't result in enough hits, a blogger may opt to go beyond the headline and into the body of text with advice and commentary meant to shock and gain attention. There's an old saying, "any publicity is good publicity," and many bloggers today are embracing that strategy. They believe that creating a buzz is more important than creating a valuable resource. Sadly, the result is a lot of bloggers offering insights that are more than just a little off-base. So, how does an innocent reader do a litmus test to make sure what they are reading is viable advice? A few suggestions: Confirm the author can back up their advice with reputable facts. A single success is an accident. 2-5 times could still be just luck. But, an ability to provide dozens of examples — now that's a fact. Assess the credibility of the source. What's the writer's credentials? Should they be giving you advice on this subject? What qualifies them? Follow your gut's BS meter. A simple but true test. If the advice flies in convention and makes you think, "Really? Why then aren't more people embracing it?" Leave it alone and let someone else try it first. When we reached out to the current career experts (all 15 of them!) donating their time to answer career questions from followers of the Twitter Advice Project (T.A.P. into CAREREALISM), we chose people with a wide range of experience. The key word in that phrase: experience. Better still, we chose a large number of experts to participate so those seeking advice could see the collective thoughts of the group on the subject. This enables us to offer advice consensus and deliver a comprehensive answer to each career question received. It's a known fact the IQ of a group is always higher than the average of its participants. So, it only made sense that we would create a career advice tool that would leverage the power of a team. In closing, I ask you this: At the end of the day, would you take medical advice from a team of doctors with PhDs and a successful track record of healing, or would you go with the Witch Doctor in the crazy outfit who just landed on the scene? It's your career, treat it well. Seek advice from credible sources to ensure you get the right advice. The health of your career is at stake.				Letter from the Chair Upcoming Events In Case You Missed It Entrepreneurial Advice    from Brent Beckett Member of the Month Sponsor Spotlight Becoming a Sponsor Careeralism with J.T. O'Donnell Our new marketing sub-committee member! As Catapult expands, so does our need to network and communicate with our members and the greater Seacoast community. So, we have added the assistance of Allison Pimley Potter, of Portsmouth, NH. Allison leads the Media team at Rock Coast Media. In her time with RCM, Allison has become an integral part of the media planning and fulfillment team. As Media Supervisor, Potter is responsible for all client media campaigns running smoothly and delivering the desired campaign results. Prior to joining RCM, she has held positions with Wire Belt Company of America and the Boston Convention Marketing Center. She is a graduate of Boston University where she earned her B.S. in Communication. We are glad to have her skills here in New Hampshire! Our new Entrepreneurial Advice Column! Check our second edition here. Launch yourself into a great internship! Catapult is currently looking for an enthusiastic and motivated intern to work with the Board of Directors to support various initiatives for the upcoming fall term. The Candidate would work with board members to gain exposure in various activities associated with the operations of a non-profit organization including Marketing and PR, Finance and Budget Planning, Event Planning and Management, Networking & Sponsorship Programs and Community Outreach & Organized Volunteerism. If you would like to be considered or for a full job description, send your resume to launch@catapultseacoast.org. Candidate is needed 8 - 10 hours per week. Our newsletter feature Member of the Month is now posted on our website! Read about Doug Voss here or see our Member of the Month archive on the website here. In the News; read about the new Catapult Board members here. Join our Facebook page today. Join our Linkedin page today. Seacoast Business Calendar Checkout what's going on around the Seacoast this month. Learn more Portsmouth to participate in National Night Out PORTSMOUTH -- Neighborhoods throughout Portsmouth will be joining forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the 26th Annual National Night Out Against Crime (NNO). Read more N.H. House speaker Norelli elected to national committee CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire House Speaker Terie Norelli has been elected to serve on a national legislative committee. Read more Recession hits N.H. pension fund hard CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- The New Hampshire Retirement System isn't immune from the economic downturn reflected in daily swings on Wall Street. Read more Obama officials: Taxes may rise to pay health care WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two of President Barack Obama's economic heavyweights said middle-class taxes might have to go up to pare budget deficits or to pay for the proposed overhaul of the nation's health care system. Read more US official: 'Clunkers' improving gas mileage WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration appealed to the Senate on Monday to bail out the cash for clunkers car purchase e program, arguing it has already made striking gains in fuel efficiency and is a "wildly popular"... Read more Portsmouth Around the City Port Director Geno Marconi will recommend the Pease Development Authority board of directors approve a five-year contract with Grimmel Industries to... Read more Court fights, recession hold up hotel PORTSMOUTH -- When the city completed its Northern Tier Feasibility Study in 1998, it envisioned the development of a conference center and... Read more No response issued from EPA on Parade Office Mall project PORTSMOUTH -- The Environmental Protection Agency has not responded to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's inquiry into the process... Read more Special session may be held for N.H. budget Is an upcoming special legislative session the worst-kept secret at the statehouse in Concord? Read more Exeter may join in lawsuit over state retirement benefits EXETER -- On Monday, selectmen will discuss whether to join a possible lawsuit against the state over what is being called unconstitutional... Read more Study: N.H. the healthiest state for kids PORTSMOUTH -- New Hampshire retained its title of the best place in the United States to raise children, while Maine hovered just outside of the... Read more Yacht club faces hurdles PORTSMOUTH -- The proposal to build a yacht club at Witch Cove Marina has been put on hold. Read more More news... Friends of Catapult Fishnet Media is a unique, full-service, integrated marketing solutions studio combining strategic marketing, creative, and production services under one roof. Learn More Support the initiative, share ideas on the blog and take part in a state-wide, collective -effort to attract and retain a young workforce. Learn More Congratulations to our friends at JBC Communications for their documentary receiving exposure at the 2008 NH Film Festival! Learn about the "Graying of NH" and form your own opinions on the need for affordable housing in NH. Learn More Networking doesn't stop at Catapult events. Get even more connected by becoming active in the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce. For nearly a century, the GPCC has been helping business leaders and citizens get connected. The Chamber's goals are to support and promote local business, influence public policy, develop tourism and improve the quality of life in the Seacoast. Learn More Learn how Leadership Seacoast has educated and inspired over 500 people in the Seacoast community over the last 20 years. Leadership Seacoast positively impacts the communities of the Seacoast area by developing a base of effective, knowledgeable, and engaged leaders through exploration of community issues, effective leadership practices, and opportunities for personal involvement. Learn More NHBSR aims to build and support a network of businesses committed to adopting socially responsible business practices, recognizing that people, principles and profits are inseparably linked. Learn More The UNH Advising and Career center offers academic advising, career and internship advising, and employer services to UNH students and Alumni. Learn More Are you a UNH Alumni living in the Seacoast? Visit the UNH Alumni site and sign on to Wildcat World. Create your own virtue yearbook page, search for friends, post a class note and learn about future events! Learn More Catapult endorses NH Businesses for Transportation and Infrastructure's initiative to bring rail to NH. Learn More Catapult has partnered with the United Way of the Greater Seacoast in an effort to bring the community together to identify issues that pertain to the Greater Seacoast region and work together to determine the most efficient solutions. Learn More Special Thanks to All Catapult Sponsors Your sponsorship and encouragement allows Catapult to continue working toward making a positive impact on the Seacoast by providing unique and valuable opportunities to enhance personal and professional development for our next generation of business and community leaders. We sincerely appreciate your continued support. Thank you. - Catapult Board Live in the Seacoast but work in another area of NH? Connect with other YP groups around the State: NASHUA www.iugonashua.com MANCHESTER www.mypn.org CONCORD www.concordypn.org KEENE www.keeneypn.org MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY www.mwvyp.org Catapult Wants to Hear from You! Interested in volunteering your time to help Catapult in 2009? Click Here. We welcome your input! Share ideas on what you would like to see from Catapult in 2009. Click Here. Have a great testimonial of how Catapult events have benefited you or your business? We want to hear it! Click Here. Would you like greater visibility for your business while helping to support Seacoast young professionals? Click Here. Found an article you think a friend ought to read? Send him or her to the online version of today's issue of catapult eNews. Connect with other Catapult Members! Join the Catapult LinkedIn Group. catapult eNews August 5, 2009 Volume 3, Issue 5 We hope you enjoyed reading today's issue of Catapult eNews. Written and designed by Catapult in Portsmouth, Catapult eNews is a free email publication. Event dates are subject to change.
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