Betsey Harrison, left, and Susan Borchertfounders of Counseling Associates of New London, were named New Hampshire Small Business Association Persons of the Year. Photo/NH SBA
CONCORD, NH – Susan Borchert and Betsy Harrison, owners of Counseling Associates of New London, have been named the Small Business Association’s New Hampshire Small Business Persons of the Year, the New Hampshire SBA announced Monday.
The honor advances Borchert and Harrison to the National Small Business Person of the Year competition, with the winner named during Small Business Week, April 28-May 4.
The pair join 10 other New Hampshire businesses as 2024 New Hampshire Small Business Week Award winners. Winners are from across the state, from Salem to North Conway, Portsmouth to Milford.
Manchester-area business owners honored include Pramod Nyaupane and Bibhuti Thapa, owners of Bunny’s Convenience, Manchester; Ken and Joe Whitten, of Apparel Impact, of Hooksett; Richard Tango-Lowy, Dancing Lion Chocolate, Manchester; and Justin Sousa, Sousa Signs LLC, Manchester.
The state’s winners will be honored at the New Hampshire Small Business Week celebration, 8:45-11:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 30, at Tupelo Music Hall in Derry. SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman will kick off her National Small Business Week road tour by attending the event.
“It is our great pleasure to celebrate the success of Betsy Harrison and Susan Borchert,” Amy Bassett, NH district director, said in a news release. “This year they join an impressive group of NH small business award winners who all demonstrate great leadership and commitment to their businesses and communities.”
Harrison and Borchert co-founded Counseling Associates in 2004, leveraging their combined 40 years of clinical expertise after many years of working together and a mutual vision of providing affordable health care, the SBA said. Since then, they’ve expanded to other locations (New London, Plymouth and two in Hanover), comprising 85 professionals who provide in-person and telehealth options. The practice offers mental health therapy including treatment for anxiety and depression, couples therapy, career counseling, and substance abuse services for individuals from all backgrounds and communities.
The pair are active participants and volunteers with many state and federal agencies and several schools, the release said. Their strategic approach included years of consultation with NH Small Business Development Center on their commitment to sustainable growth.
Julie Glossner, NH SBDC Southern NH regional director, who nominated the pair, said, “I am so excited to see Susan and Betsy be recognized as NH Small Business Persons of the Year. The award is well-deserved for their hard work providing excellent quality care to their patients in five locations; growing their business during Covid to be available to more patients, especially in rural areas of the state; and offering a great work environment and ongoing training for their staff.”
NH Small Business Association 2024 award winners are:
Small Business Persons of the Year: Susan Borchert and Betsy Harrison,
Counseling Associates PLLC, New London
Home-Based for NH and New England: Logan Snyder, HasOptimization LLC, Canterbury
Young Entrepreneurs for NH and New England: Bryce Harrison, Ian Lubkin and James Gaudreault; Cheese Louise, Portsmouth, North Conway and Portland, Maine
District Director Award: Richard Tango-Lowy, Dancing Lion Chocolate, Manchester
Veteran Owned: Ken Whitten and Joseph Whitten, Apparel Impact LLC, Hooksett
Woman Owned: Danielle Jones, Abenaki Trail Restaurant, North Conway
Minority Owned: Pramod Nyaupane and Bibhuti Thapa, Bunny’s Convenience, Manchester
Financial Services Champion: Patricia Grauwiler, Enterprise Bank and Trust, Salem
Small Business Manufacturer: Justin Sousa, Sousa Signs LLC, Manchester
Jeffrey Butland Family Owned: Tom and Sally Wilkins, Wilkins Lumber Company, Milford
Micro-Enterprise: Andrea Lee Daniels, Quality Press Inc., Concord