Steve Lewers, Earth Sky + Water and Ed Miles, NH SBDC

A New Chapter in Employee Ownership

After more than 25 years of creating nature-inspired products in Wilton, Earth Sky + Water is entering an exciting new chapter as an employee-owned cooperative.

When founder Steve Lewers decided it was time to plan for retirement, he wanted the company to remain local, independent, and connected to the people who helped build it. With support from the Cooperative Development Institute and guidance from NH SBDC Advisor Ed Miles, eight employees successfully navigated financing, business planning, and the transition to ownership.

Today, the new member-owners are carrying Earth Sky + Water’s legacy forward while building a future of their own. Read the Story →

Meet Jean Nelson: Supporting Small Businesses with Experience and Heart

With a listening ear and welcoming energy, Jean Nelson helps entrepreneurs move past uncertainty and take meaningful steps toward starting or growing their businesses.

As NH SBDC’s Business Advisor for the Seacoast, Jean specializes in working with microbusinesses and clients in the Pathway to Work program. Her goal is simple: she wants every entrepreneur she works with to feel heard, understood, supported and empowered.

Jean brings a unique mix of professional and firsthand small business experience to her advising. Her background includes work in banking and marketing, along with experience as the owner of JP Nelson Photography. She has been closely involved with her family’s small metal fabrication business. There, Jean helped secure a large loan that allowed the business to move from a residential garage into a commercial building.

Her connection to SBDC goes back to 2001. Even as she explored other opportunities over the years, Jean continued to feel drawn back to supporting small businesses. Today, she is right where she wants to be, helping entrepreneurs work through challenges while collaborating with colleagues to find practical solutions.

For Jean, business advising starts with listening. Clients can expect a knowledgeable and down-to-earth partner who takes the time to understand where they are, what they need and how SBDC can help them move forward with greater confidence!

Happenings

NH SBDC Out & About

Our Director of Community Outreach, Loick Muyuka, connected with Governor Ayotte at the Veterans Stand Down event in Manchester, organized by Harbor Care and Eversource!

Great conversations in Manchester last week at our first NH Small Business Roundtable! We were glad to bring together Mayor Jay Ruais, State Senator Pat Long, City of Manchester's Economic Development office leads: Jodie Nazaka and Erik Lesniak, and several small businesses and clients to share ideas, challenges, and opportunities. Thank you Erik for your support organizing and the Greater Manchester Chamber for hosting! 

Business Advisor Ed Miles recently stopped by SIDEROAD63’s Open House and ribbon cutting in North Hampton, hosted by the Hampton Chamber of Commerce, to catch up with client Geoff Smith.

Strengthening our Partnerships

Last week, the NH SBDC team visited our partners at the Department of Business & Economic Affairs, NH Community Development Finance Authority and the NH Community Loan Fund offices for a day of conversation and learning.  It was a great opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen our partnerships.

Our latest Business & Brews in Portsmouth brought together more than 50 attendees and was a huge success! A special thank you to our sponsors and promoters at Bangor Savings Bank, our co-hosts at the Business Alliance for People of Color (BAPOC), and 3 Point Grille for hosting us.

We’re grateful to everyone who came out and helped make the event a strong night of networking, new connections, and community in Portsmouth.

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA ) and through assistance provided by the State of New Hampshire. The NH SBDC is an outreach program of the UNH Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics in conjunction with SBA, the State of NH (BEA), the University of NH, and the private sector.

All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

For more information about the NH SBDC’s federal funding, please visit: nhsbdc.org.