Hassan Announces Live Free and Start Advisory Council

Continuing efforts to make it easier for high-tech businesses to start up and flourish in New Hampshire, Gov. Maggie Hassan and New Hampshire Business Finance Authority (BFA) Executive Director Jack Donovan have announced the members of the Live Free and Start Advisory Council.

Launched last month, Live Free and Start is an initiative between the Governor’s Office, the BFA and the Department of Resources and Economic Development aimed at creating jobs in New Hampshire by making it easier for high-tech companies to start up. The advisory council will work with the initiative to develop proposals for either executive or legislative action in order to make changes to state laws and regulations.

“In order to keep our economy moving in the right direction and expand opportunity for middle class families, we must ensure that the Granite State continues to be a modern and attractive place for high-tech businesses to start up and grow,” Governor Hassan said. “Our low-tax environment, our small, responsive state government and our high quality of life make New Hampshire as attractive a state for business as any in the country. The Live Free and Start Advisory Council brings together accomplished business leaders and entrepreneurs from across the state to help us build on these advantages.”

The advisory council will work to address concerns raised by New Hampshire’s high-tech business community, including the need to modernize business regulations and improve technology used to do business with the state. The council will also work to expand opportunities to support startup financing and investment and focus on more effectively marketing the state as a place where high-tech businesses can thrive.

“The Business Finance Authority is proud to be spearheading this effort to make New Hampshire a better place for entrepreneurs to do business,” BFA Executive Director Jack Donovan said.

“I am pleased to have been asked to serve as the Chair of the Live Free and Start Advisory Council,” said Matt Benson of Cook, Little, Rosenblatt & Manson and chair of the council. “The council is just one more way that New Hampshire is working hard to make this state an excellent place for entrepreneurs.  We have a lot that we hope and expect to accomplish, and I am excited to get started and to be working with this outstanding, committed group of individuals. 

The Live Free and Start Advisory Council brings together accomplished high-tech business leaders and entrepreneurs and includes representation from each of the state’s geographic regions. The members are: 

• Ryan Barton, Mainstay Technologies in Belmont;
• Matt Benson (Chair), Cook, Little, Rosenblatt & Manson in Manchester;
• Maurice Gilbert, Devine Millimet in Manchester;
• Allison Grappone, Nearby Registry in Concord;
• Parker Hansel, Turmoil Inc. in West Swanzey;
• Mark Kaplan, Alpha Loft, with locations in Durham, Manchester and Portsmouth;
• Kevin Low, Secured Network Services Inc. in Littleton;
• Paul Mailhot, Dyn in Manchester;
• Ryan McGovern, Adimab LLC in Lebanon; 
• Shawn McGowan, Newmarket International Inc. in Portsmouth;
• Hollis McGuire, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center in Nashua;
• John Orcutt, University of New Hampshire School of Law in Concord;
• Alan Reische, Sheehan, Phinney, Bass + Green in Manchester;
• Nick Soggu, SilverTech in Manchester; 

The first Live Free and Start Advisory Council meeting is Tuesday, July 15, at 3 p.m. at Alpha Loft, 844 Elm St., Suite 100, Manchester. 

Submitted by Gov. Maggie Hassan's Office.