Board of Directors

The Chamber’s Board of Directors is the policy-making body within the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce. The board is comprised of 24 individuals elected to 3 year terms by the membership of the Chamber. Officers of the organization are further chosen to serve 1 year terms. They must be a current Board member and are elected by their fellow board members.

Beth Davis – Board Chair

Beth H. Davis, a New York native, is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College (B.A. cum laude, 1975) and Villanova University School of Law (J.D. 1978). Ms. Davis was admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania in 1978 and in New Hampshire in 1983. She is a member of the American, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Nashua Bar Associations. Ms. Davis has been with the firm of Hamblett & Kerrigan, P.A. in Nashua since January of 1988, and has been a partner since January of 1990. Prior to her association with Hamblett & Kerrigan, she served as in-house counsel for a publicly traded corporation and as a closing attorney for two firms which handled residential closings. Ms. Davis is on the Governing Policy Board of the New Hampshire Bar Association Pro Bono Legal Services Referral Program, and on the Board of Directors of the Greater Nashua Region of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. She is the Vice Chairman of the Amherst Historic District Commission, and an Alternate on the Amherst Zoning Board of Adjustment. Ms. Davis concentrates her practice in matters of real estate law, commercial lending transactions and related commercial law.

Thomas Boucher - Finance Committee Chair

Thomas N. Boucher is Chief Lending Officer of The Nashua Bank, founded in October 2007. Mr. Boucher, who has over 20 years of banking experience, is one of three founding officers of The Nashua Bank and is responsible for the creation and overall administration of the bank’s lending department. Mr. Boucher holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Massachusetts, where he graduated Magna cum laude. A life-long resident of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, he is active in local community affairs, including serving as Secretary on the Board of Directors at the Nashua Pastoral Care Center and Treasurer for the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  Previously, he was affiliated with the Nashua Youth Council, American Heart Association, the Chelmsford Rotary Club, including service as President, and the Greater Nashua Child Care Centers.

Karen Cooper – IUGO Steering Committee Chair

As Executive Director of Development and Marketing at Rivier College, Karen Cooper oversees development, alumni relations, marketing and advertising, public relations, and communications. As a member of the College’s senior leadership team, she works with the administration, faculty, and staff to develop integrated marketing and development strategies. Ms. Cooper serves on the boards of the Gateway Chapter of the American Red Cross and Center Broadcasting Corporation of New Hampshire. She is a graduate of Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. with a degree in English and Psychology. She earned her M.B.A. with a marketing concentration from Rivier in 2003.

David Heath – State & Local Advocacy Committee Chair

David Heath is a shareholder and Director of Commercial Services at Melanson Heath & Company, PC. A CPA in New Hampshire, former Senior Tax Consultant with the Boston Office of Price Waterhouse, and former Accounting and Tax Manager with Sanders/Lockheed Corporation, Mr. Heath has over twenty years experience in accounting, tax, and finance including both the public and private sectors.  He is a past Director of the NH Society of CPAs, past Chairperson of the Society's Technology Committee and is a member of the NH Society of CPAs Tax Committee. He has served as Treasurer, Vice President, and President of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua, and is a former Director and President of the PLUS Company. Mr. Heath received his BS/BA in Business Administration from Hawthorne College with Graduate studies at Suffolk University in Boston.

Sy Mahfuz - Membership Committee Chair

Owner of Persian Rug Galleries in Nashua, Sy Mahfuz has been selling, appraising, cleaning and repairing oriental rugs for more than 40 years. Representing the third generation in his family’s business, Mr. Mahfuz has achieved enormous recognition as one of the nation’s foremost authorities on Oriental rugs. He is a Certified Rug Appraiser (CRA), and a past trustee of the Oriental Rug Retailers of America (ORRA). In 1999, Mr. Mahfuz was named National Oriental Rug Retailer of the Year by his peers and Retailer of the Year by the NH Chamber of Commerce Executives. In 2008, he was named as the Eminence Award winner for Small Business of the Year by the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, he was awarded "2009 Retailer of the Year" by the Retail Merchants Association.

Jeffrey Rose – Strategic Planning Chair

Jeffrey Rose is Director of Government Relations for BAE Systems’ Electronic Solutions (ES) Line of Business within the Electronics, Intelligence & Support (EI&S) operating group. In this role, Mr. Rose supports BAE’s business goals through policy advocacy at the federal, state and local governments, as well as the growth, management and strategic alignment of political resources for the company. Mr. Rose is an active member within the community, currently serving as President of the Board of the NH State Society of Washington, DC, on the Board at Saint Joseph’s Community Services, on the NH Economic Development Advisory Council and NH Telecommunications Advisory Board.  Prior to joining BAE Systems, Mr. Rose spent nearly a decade working for various members of Congress. A graduate of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, Mr. Rose resides in Goffstown with his wife, Amy, and their daughter.

Deb Titus - Community Resources & Development Committee Chair

Deb Titus is the Managing Director at Dale Carnegie - New Hampshire. She joined the training and development industry as a trainer with Dale Carnegie in 1984. In 1992, she pursued interests in organizational development consulting with a focus on human capital management strategies. Ms. Titus is an adjunct professor at Granite State College, as well as a managing partner and co-founder of Human Capital Solutions, LLC. She is very active in connecting and supporting the Young Professionals network throughout the state. Ms. Titus is also an active contributor to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Originally from New York, she lives in Auburn with her husband. She is a proud parent of transitioning adults, Geoff and Sarah.

Michael T. Buckley

Michael and his wife, Sarah, are the founders of Michael Timothy’s Dining Group, which oversees the operations of Michael Timothy’s Urban Bistro-Wine and Jazz Bar, Surf Seafood Restaurant and Buckley’s Great Steaks, all located in the greater Nashua area. Mr. Buckley works in the daily capacity of chef-owner of the three restaurants. He contributes to numerous charity events each year and is a member of The New Hampshire Restaurant and Lodging Association. Mr. Buckley resides in Hollis with Sarah and their three children.

Sanders Burstein, MD

Dr. Sanders Burstein is Medical Director for Dartmouth-Hitchcock Nashua, a multi-specialty medical group practice associated with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Dr. Burstein currently serves on the Board of the NH Endowment for Health, the Dartmouth Regional Primary Care Center, and on the Crotched Mountain Ski Patrol. In his spare time, he has enjoyed singing with the award winning Granite Statesmen Barbershop Chorus. Dr. Burstein completed Leadership Greater Nashua in 2005 and Leadership New Hampshire in 2007. He lives with his wife in Amherst, where his greatest accomplishment has been raising 4 beautiful children.

Jeaneen M. Coolbroth

Jeaneen Coolbroth is Southern Division Manager for Public Service of New Hampshire. She began her career at PSNH in 1977 and has held various positions during her 33 years with PSNH. Ms. Coolbroth previously worked at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, CA and Public Service Gas and Electric, NJ. She is a graduate of New Jersey Institute of Technology with a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering. She is also a graduate of Leadership Greater Nashua and Northeast Utilities Leadership Academy. Ms. Coolbroth currently resides with her family in Meredith, NH.

Diane Currier

Diane Currier, Senior Building Site Manager at Oracle in the NAM Real Estate and Facilities organization, has worked for Oracle for 14 years and has a designation in RPA & FMA. She manages building operations and real estate in the Nashua area as well as several buildings in the Greater Boston area. Ms. Currier works actively to partner with local agencies in Nashua, implementing Oracle’s commitment to the local communities in which its employees live and work through its Community Partnership and event programs, an important theme at Oracle.

Edward Gage

Edward “Jody” Gage III was born and raised in Nashua. He is the co-owner, with his wife Jill, of Fortin Gage Flowers and Gifts located in downtown Nashua and in the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  Jody is a graduate of Bishop Guertin High School and the S.U.N.Y College of Environmental Science & Forestry, earning a BS Degree in City Planning and Public Administration. He attended Hixson’s School of Floral Design in Lakewood, OH.  Mr. Gage holds additional certifications as an  FTD Master Designer and NH Certified Master Floral Designer, and has floral experience at Greenworks Floral Company and at the White House in Washington DC.  Mr. Gage is a member of the  Rotary Club of Nashua, serving as club vice president 2010-2011 and was selected “Rotarian of the Year” for 2009 by his club.

Ardeth Griggs - Secretary

Ardeth Griggs is the Senior Vice President/Central Team Regional Manager for Community Banking at Ocean Bank, which encompasses 12 branches along the I93 and 293 corridors. Ms. Griggs serves as the Treasurer of the Queen City Rotary in Manchester, NH, is on the Board of Trustees for the Greater Manchester Family YMCA, and is on the Board of the Heritage United Way (along with participating on the Community Investment Panel and New Opportunities Committee). Ms. Griggs resides in Goffstown with her husband, Dan. She has two daughters, Ryan, who is a teacher in Chelmsford, MA and Brianna.

Deepak Gursahaney

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Deepak Gursahaney has been part of the Nashua business community for the past 19 years. As owner and president of ActiveEdge, he heads a talented team of creative, technical and marketing professionals to offer Interactive Marketing Services for both online and offline marketing initiatives. Mr. Gursahaney is active in many organizations within the Nashua community, most notably the Rotary Club of Nashua and IUGO, the Chamber’s young professionals organization, of which he is a founding member. He and ActiveEdge have provided support for the Chamber through the development of the Chamber's website, design and implementation of email blasts, and sponsorship of different events and high tech initiatives within the Nashua region.

Debra Hale

Debra Hale is the Manager of Government /Community Relations for National Grid NH, an electric and natural gas distribution company which serves 55 town and cities located throughout NH.  Ms. Hale has over 28 years experience in the energy industry. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Southern New Hampshire University. Ms. Hale was appointed by Governor Lynch to the NH Air Resources Council and the Governor’s Climate Change Task Force Committee, and also serves as the Neighbor Helping Neighbor Board-Coordinator for National Grid’s partnership with Manchester’s Hallsville Elementary School, on the Manchester Government Relations Committee and a member of the Hooksett Kiwanis Club. Ms. Hale lives with her family in Hooksett.

Lucille Jordan

Lucille Jordan, President of Nashua Community College since 1997, is a leader who is creative, energetic and committed to continued improvement of higher education.  She has achieved national and state recognition for her commitment to community service, civic responsibility, developmental education and business and industry partnerships. President Jordan served as chair of Campus Compact for New Hampshire, an association of all the four and two year college Presidents with a commitment to service, leadership and civic responsibility and was selected to serve as the vice-chairman of the National Campus Compact Board. In addition, President Jordan serves on a number of non-profit and collegiate Boards and Committees, including the Greater United Way of Nashua Board of Directors and the NH Women’s Leadership Institute among many others. President Jordan was selected for Who’s Who among Women Executives 1999. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education at The Ohio State University.

Brian Law

Brian Law is the President of Law Warehouses and Law Motor Freight, a family-owned company for five generations. Mr. Law has been a member of the Rotary Club of Nashua for the last 16 years, serving as President in 2000. He serves on the Board of Trustees for Edgewood Cemetery, as a member of the Board of Directors for the NH Motor Transport Association, a state association of trucking companies, and as Secretary for the Nashua Country Club. He is a former member of the Board for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua. Mr. Law grew up in Hollis and has been part of the greater Nashua community all of his life. He lives in Nashua with his wife, Lisa, and their two children.

Shane McLaughlin

Shane A. McLaughlin is managing partner and general counsel for Macair, a firm which develops and manages executive and business jet class aircraft hangars, offices and operations facilities, with headquarters at Nashua Airport.  Admitted to practice before the NH and Federal Bars in 1979 and U.S. Supreme Court in 1996, Mr. McLaughlin concentrates his practice in business law and aviation law.  A Nashua native, he is a graduate of  Nathanial Hawthorne College (B.A., Magna Cum Laude, 1976) and Boston College Law School (J.D. 1979).  He is an active member in the Rotary Club of Nashua, was volunteer lawyer coach for the Bishop Guertin High School Mock Trial Team and helped the Team achieve its first ever NH Bar Association Mock Trial State Championship in 2006 and a second State Championship in 2007.  Mr. McLaughlin resides in Brookline, New Hampshire with his wife, Christine.

Joseph Murray

Joe Murray is senior public affairs director and regional site leader for Fidelity Investments’ regional center located in Merrimack, New Hampshire. In this role, Mr. Murray leads Fidelity’s external relations work which includes government relations, community relations, corporate philanthropy, and external communications. Mr. Murray  joined Fidelity Investments in 2007 following a 20 year career in broadcast journalism and television production. Most recently, he served as the Managing Editor at WMUR-TV in New Hampshire. Prior to his position at WMUR, Mr. Murray produced Boston’s #1 rated newscast, Newscenter 5 at 6 p.m. at WCVB-TV.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Ithaca College in 1986.

Lori Piper

Lori Piper, a New Hampshire native, is a Senior Vice President for the commercial lending division of Merrimack County Savings Bank. She is responsible for the growth, development and management of commercial business clients in the Greater Nashua area. Ms. Piper joined MCSB in 2003, following several years of commercial lending activities for TD Bank and Fleet Bank. She most recently served for eight years on the boards of Marguerites Place, Inc. and MP Housing, Inc. including three years as the Board Chairperson for MPI. Ms. Piper is actively involved as a Member of the Greater Nashua Continuum of Care.  She is a graduate of New Hampshire College (aka SNHU) and resides in New Boston with her husband, Bud and their boxers, Selby and Gigi.

Philip Scontsas

Philip Scontsas is the third generation owner of Scontsas Fine Jewelry & Home Décor. Born and raised in Nashua, Mr. Scontsas became one of the first Graduate Gemologists in New Hampshire upon his graduation from the Gemological Institute of America. He has been active in many downtown initiatives, including the Downtown Development Corp., Destination Downtown, and Great American Downtown, where he now serves as a Board Member. Honored with the “Life Time Achievement Award” by GAD, his work there has included chairing the Winter Holiday Stroll, the Taste of Downtown Nashua, and Nashua’s 2000 Millennium Celebration. Mr. Scontsas has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Nashua since 1989. He and his wife enjoy traveling, gardening and spending time with their family and close friends.

Melissa Sears

Melissa Sears is the Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for St. Joseph Healthcare, responsible for strategic planning, business development and marketing as well as community relations and community health education efforts for St. Joseph Healthcare. Prior to joining St. Joseph Healthcare, Ms. Sears held management positions at Revlon Consumer Products Corporation in New York City, CCBN in Boston, MA, and Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH.  Ms. Sears holds a B.S. in Business from Mount Saint Mary’s College in Los Angeles, CA and is currently an MBA candidate at Franklin Pierce University. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development, and a graduate of the 2008 Leadership Greater Nashua class.

Eric Valliere

Before joining the Nashua Symphony Association as Executive Director in 2005, Eric Valliere served for several years as Executive Director of Volti (a professional choir in San Francisco), as Director of Noe Valley Chamber Music, and Managing Director of the San Francisco Conservatory’s BluePrint Project. He has been a frequent contributor (as classical music critic) to andante.com and the SF Classical Voice, and he’s written for classicstoday.com and San Francisco Magazine. Mr. Valliere holds a degree in Drama from Tufts University, as well as a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree from the New England Conservatory, where he studied composition. He currently serves as Chair of the New England Orchestra Consortium, and is on the board of the Bubs Foundation, which introduces students to a cappella singing.

Tim Whitaker

Timothy Whitaker is Senior Vice President/Team Leader, Commercial Lending, at Citizens Bank. He is responsible for business development and leading a team of commercial lenders that provide commercial banking solutions to companies in southern New Hampshire. A US Air Force veteran, Mr. Whitaker has 12 years of experience in the commercial banking industry, joining Citizens in 2001 as a vice president for corporate loan syndications in the Boston office. Mr. Whitaker currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua and Southern NH Medical Center. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aviation maintenance management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ and a Masters in Business Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Mr. Whitaker resides in Merrimack with his wife and two children.

Terrence Williams

Terrence Williams is president and publisher of Telegraph Publishing Co. in Hudson, publishers of The Telegraph, The (Milford) Cabinet, Hollis Brookline Journal, Merrimack Journal and Bedford Journal and NH.com. He is on the board of directors for McLean Communications Inc. of Manchester, publishers of New Hampshire Business Review, New Hampshire Magazine, New Hampshire Home and Parenting New Hampshire. Mr. Williams currently serves on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nashua and is immediate past president of the Board of Directors for Great American Downtown of Nashua. He is former President and Board member of the Adult Learning Center and Nashua Pastoral Care Center and a former member of the Boards of Directors for the Greater Nashua United Way and The Salvation Army. Mr. Williams is Secretary for the New England Newspaper and Press Association and a member of the Advisory Board for Stars & Stripes newspaper in Washington, DC. He is also on the Board of Directors for the New England First Amendment Coalition.