1776 Founders’ Circle

Founders’ Circle

Become a Founder AND Invest in Innovation &
Growth for our Local Business Community

Support the Ecosystem for Entrepreneurs that are the Economic Engine of the Monadnock Region

Since 1997, the Hannah Grimes Marketplace and the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship have served as a simple, beautiful and well-built home and a hub for entrepreneurs working to build a thriving local economy and a vibrant community. The Founders’ Circle strengthens the legacy by building the economy-community connection and offers you a tangible way to support the vibrancy of our local economy.

Founders’ Circle Membership

Immersed in the dizzying changes of these crazy days, it’s easy to lose track of the fact that each age has had its share of change. Hannah Grimes was born in 1776, another era when the political system, transportation, industry, communications and health care were also experiencing fundamental change. Hannah Grimes married in 1806 and built a farm that stands strong to this day. It is simple, beautiful and well-built, and has stayed the course through many seasons of great change. We instituted the Founders’ Circle to ensure that the Hannah Grimes Center will likewise continue to be a well-built structure able to stay the course through many seasons of great change.

We launched the Founders Circle with 22 members in 2019, with Founders Circle members supporting the Hannah Grimes Center with a gift of $1,776 or more. We warmly invite you to become part of an influential gathering of people, foundations, businesses and ideas that are foundational to our work to create a thriving local economy and vibrant community.

More details about Founders’ benefits and Founders Circle Members can be found in the links below.

Founders Circle Current Members

Kim Bergeron

Kim Bergeron owns K.E. Bergeron Mechanical Systems, LLC (KEBMS), specializing in mini-split heating and cooling solutions known for their efficiency and customized comfort. Established in 1973 by Kim’s father Ken, the company proudly serves residential and commercial customers throughout the Monadnock Region. Kim believes in supporting the local community and, in addition to Hannah Grimes, donates to several local non-profits such as the Monadnock Humane Society, MoCo Arts, Cedarcrest Foundation, Cheshire Foundation and the Keene Community Kitchen. In a continuing effort to promote local businesses, KEBMS provides a healthy lunch from the Monadnock Food Coop for the entire staff each day. And, in keeping in line with caring about local employees, KEBMS pays for health insurance for all staff and their families in full. In addition to running a full line HVAC business, Kim volunteers at the local, state, and international level to promote multi-use trails in New Hampshire and Alaska.

C&S Wholesale Grocers

C&S Wholesale Grocers participates in the community as an engaged, values-driven corporate citizen supporting causes that positively impact their communities. Core initiatives include eliminating hunger, strengthening communities, protecting the environment and encouraging volunteerism.

Community Development Finance Authority

Community Development Finance Authority, and Executive Director Katy Easterly Martey, provide financing and other support to maximize the value and impact of community development, economic development and clean energy initiatives throughout New Hampshire.

Annie Faulkner & Bob King

Annie Faulkner & Bob King have deep roots in the region and have immersed themselves in conservation and clean energy work in our region. Annie has been involved in land conservation, including active involvement in conserving her family’s land in Stoddard and Sullivan. Bob is an engineer with decades of experience developing small-scale hydroelectric, solar, and wind power projects, and is the president of Ashuelot River Hydro in Keene, New Hampshire. He owns and operates hydroelectric dams in New England and upstate New York. Both are deeply engaged in land conservation and renewable energy activism.

Peter & Bridget Hansel

Peter & Bridget Hansel are active members in the community, deeply involved with environmental and energy issues. Peter was one of the first Pitchfork presenters and is currently on the HG board. He is the retired President of Filtrine Mfg. Co., a fifth generation, family-owned business. Born in NJ, he grew up in CT, and joined Filtrine after it moved to NH. After five year sales stint in California, Peter and Bridget settled in Keene with wife, Bridget. Peter has been an active member of the committee working to establish business transition programming at Hannah Grimes and Peter serves as chair of the Finance Committee.

Gryzcka & Associates

Gryzcka & Associates, and owner Jennie Gryczka, provides outsourced accounting and book keeping as a woman-owned consulting firm that specializes in small businesses and local non profits. Jennie and her team are passionate about offering business solutions in a personal and professional way. With over 60 years of combined accounting experience they offer the expertise and knowledge to provide quality outsourced accounting solutions. She has lived in Keene for 15 years with her husband Steve Gryczka and they have raised their two children here.

Carl and Ruth Jacobs

Carl and Ruth Jacobs are both from Keene! Carl serves on the City Council, is a well-known local musician, and has led a number of nonprofits over the years – creating amazing momentum in his wake wherever he serves. Ruth has a background in banking and finance both locally and working in microfinance in developing and post-conflict countries, including Africa, south Asia and the Middle East.

Kapiloff Insurance Agency

Kapiloff Insurance Agency, Inc. has proudly served the insurance needs of New England since 1968. Kapiloff helps people across the state find affordable and reliable insurance products from a variety of trusted carriers.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and Senior Program Office Sandeep Bikram Shaw, was founded in 1962 and manages a growing collection of nearly 2,000 funds and awards more than $40 million in grants and scholarships every year.

Linda Rubin

Linda Rubin is the founder and President of Frisky Cow Gelato. She is also a former winner of our PitchFork Challenge prize and has since served as a PitchFork judge.

Savings Bank of Walpole

Savings Bank of Walpole and President Mark Bodin, is a mutual service bank headquartered in the Monadnock region and is an integral part of the community by providing high touch community banking and service to the community.

The Northern Borders Regional Commission

The Northern Borders Regional Commission, and executive director Rich Grogan, work to catalyze regional, collaborative, and transformative community economic development approaches that alleviate economic distress and position the region for economic growth. The Northern Border Regional Commission is a Federal-State partnership for economic and community development in northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Each year, the NBRC provides Federal funds for critical economic and community development projects throughout the northeast.

Steve Silverstein and Melinda Beldon

Steve Silverstein and Melinda Beldon – Melinda teaches the second grade class at the Franklin School and Steve is the founder and President of Tree Free Greetings. Steve was an early board member of Hannah Grimes Marketplace and taught several cohorts of our Business Lab.

Katie Schwerin and Bill Whyte

Katie Schwerin and Bill Whyte are the founders of W.S. Badger Co and both actively involved in many aspects of the community, including HG. Bill’s creative thinking process helped spur the idea of a SXSW-style event for rural areas – the Radically Rural Summit!

Catherine Skove

Catherine Skove is the founder of MOCO and lives quietly and sustainably in Gilsum. Her entrepreneurial spirit and shared experience of starting a nonprofit created a memorable founder connection that was highly valued during the early years of Hannah Grimes.

Dave Therrien

Dave Therrien is a financial advisor with Edward Jones. He was previously an owner of the Melanson Company, Inc. and related businesses for over 30 years until their sale in 2018. Dave has participated in a number of community initiatives as the past president of the Elm City Rotary Club, past board chair of Monadnock United Way and current board chair of the Keene Family YMCA.

The TD Charitable Foundation

The TD Charitable Foundation provides financial support through its charitable investment application process to nonprofit and municipal organizations providing services that align with their four interconnected drivers of change: financial security, vibrant planet, connected communities and better health.

Randall and Marni Walter

Randall and Marni Walter are both active members in the community, raising their two daughters in Westmoreland, NH. While many may know Randall from many years as a company steward and lead architect at Bensonwood, Randall Walter Architect’s current focus is transforming land and buildings to aspire to their highest and best outcomes. In addition to his own development projects, he works with clients to purchase, design, permit, and build appropriate structures that integrate with their surroundings. Randall is a HGC board member and has a wild wide range of entrepreneurial activities including adjunct faculty at KSC, lead designer for Modest Man Brewery, and re-development of a building in Bellows Falls for welders and machinists and 310 Marlboro Street in Keene. Marni is an archaeologist and editor for the Society of Industrial Archaeology.

Chris Wheeler

Chris Wheeler is an accountant and partner in Oster & Wheeler. Chris does our Financial Review and is a strong supporter of small business in the community. Chris has also been part of the team that has helped develop our business transitions program and serves as one of our volunteer 1:1 coaches, providing consulting on business valuation, a specialty area of his CPA practice.

Submit your contribution online or make a check out to:
Hannah Grimes Center
25 Roxbury Street
Keene, NH 03431