NORTH CONWAY, NH – The Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce presented the White Mountains Treasure Awards, Employer of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, and the Steve Eastman Community Spirit Award at the 2023 Annual Meeting held Tuesday, October 17 at the Grand Summit Hotel at Attitash.
“We are proud to honor these individuals and businesses who support our community in so many ways. We can’t think of a more deserving group of honorees than those we will be recognizing at our 2023 Annual Meeting,” stated Executive Director Michelle Cruz.
Each year the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce awards the honor of White Mountains Treasure to local individuals who have given a lifetime of time and talent to Mt. Washington Valley, who exemplify that success is not measured by what you accomplish in life for yourself, but by what you do for others and your community. This year’s honorees are:
Briggs Bunker (Posthumous)
Briggs Bunker is an unquestionably deserving recipient of the White Mountains Treasure Award for dedicating a lifetime of time and talent to the Mt. Washington Valley. Briggs left an indelible mark on this picturesque region, epitomizing the values and commitment that this award represents. Through decades of selfless service, community involvement, and a passion for this unique area, Briggs Bunker not only enriched the lives of those fortunate enough to know him but has also contributed immeasurably to the enduring legacy of this cherished corner of New England.
Charities that Briggs Bunker donated his time to include: The North Conway Community Center, The North Conway Public Library (now The Pope Memorial Library), Christ Church Episcopal, Rotary Club of North Conway, Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce, Mount Washington Observatory, Gibson Center for Senior Services and he was supervisor of the checklist for the Town of Conway.
Briggs was an official NOAA weather observer for 34 years and was probably best known as the morning weather man on WMWV, where he gave the Valley forecast and Home Weather Rating between a nickel and fifty cents from 1973 after founder Joe Dodge passed away until he passed the reins over to Ed Bergeron officially in 2018. Ed had covered winters while Briggs and Bobbi were “snowbirds.”
In April 2023, he was honored by The Mount Washington Observatory for his contributions to weather observation. Sometimes, you don’t realize the scope of what a person has achieved until they are gone.
Thom Perkins
Thom Perkins played a pivotal role in the development of cross-country skiing and tourism in Jackson and the Mt. Washington Valley from the mid-1970s. He developed Jackson Ski Touring from an overgrown trail network with no staff and no budget to the stable, well-funded, and highly regarded institution it is today. Under his leadership, Jackson grew into a premier Nordic skiing destination with an international reputation. As a competition director, he brought in and ran world, national, and regional ski events that benefited area hotels, restaurants, and shops.
Additionally, Thom volunteered his time at the national, state, and regional levels through his service to Ski New Hampshire, The New England Ski Museum, the American Ski Federation and the Cross Country Ski Areas Association. As part of Jackson Ski Touring’s 50th Anniversary last year, the New England Ski Museum created an exhibition that features Thom Perkins’ contribution to the organization.
Thom worked on legislative efforts that resulted in the "brown sign" highway program for all ski areas in the state, plus laws that increased liability protection for landowners preserving recreational activities that rely on the use of private land.
Most importantly, he was passionate about teaching others to ski. This passion showed through whether he was teaching a local school child to ski, or supporting Olympians. Thom has impacted countless lives through his dedication to the sport and the community. His 38 years of dedication to community, tourism, and the sport of skiing all while living and working in the Mt. Washington Valley make him a deserved White Mountain Treasure.
This award goes to a business that demonstrates respect for employees and other business partners; displays excellence in creating a safe, inviting workplace and provides employees with solid pay/benefits, plus the opportunity for training and advancement.
North Country Healthcare
North Country Healthcare in Berlin and North Conway, NH, is the winner of the 2023 MWV Chamber of Commerce’s Employer of The Year Award. This outstanding healthcare organization has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to its employees, fostering a workplace culture that is second to none. With a steadfast dedication to employee well-being, NCH has gone above and beyond to provide a supportive, inclusive, and empowering environment for its staff.
Recognizing the need to reward its employees during its continued focus on improving lives by assuring consistently excellent and integrated healthcare, NCH instituted a socially responsible minimum wage for its workforce, a $1.7 million investment from the organization.
NCH also instituted a formal ethics committee, comprised of stakeholders across multiple facilities and affiliates. The work of this collaborative committee provides a forum to discuss ethical issues among multi-disciplinary team members. Input from all members is encouraged and valued.
NCH uses feedback from its annual employee engagement survey to meet the needs of its employees. Such programs and developments have included the implementation of rounding by senior team members to increase leader visibility. Content from all NCH departments including Quality, IT, Finance, and Marketing is shared with all employees on a monthly basis.
This recognition goes to a business that is clearly filling a need in the community and creating jobs; demonstrates creativity, innovation and community involvement; its business is people and principle-oriented as well as profitable; has grown and evolved over the years; and is a recognized leader in its industry. This year’s award winner is:
Jack Wyman - White Mountain Indoor Golf
After a successful amateur career, golfer Jack Wyman turned pro and continues to make his mark on the golfing community. Bringing his experience to the Valley, Jack opened White Mountain Indoor Golf in Intervale in September of 2022, and his business continues to thrive and grow.
In addition to providing state-of-the-art golf simulators, Jack is also passionate about coaching and helping his clients to hone their skills. His simulators provide the top 75 courses around the world, 360 Driving Range, and a 3trac system that tracks your ball and club. The club offers league play, as well as lessons, and the simulators can also be booked for Corporate events, birthday parties, sports viewing parties, and a variety of other special occasions.
Jack’s mission of bringing year-round golf to the Mt. Washington Valley was a perfect fit for our hospitality industry, offering something special to locals and visitors alike.
This award honors Steve Eastman (1949-2008), honoring how he liked to lead and help the community as a volunteer and as publisher of The Mountain Ear. He always believed you could have fun in fun-draising, too.
MWV Rec Path Committee
This year’s Steve Eastman Community Service Award goes to those representing the MWV Trails Assn./MWV Rec Path Committee and everyone who worked to make the path a reality, starting with the vision of Steve Swenson 20 years ago. The award will be accepted on behalf of the MWV Rec Path by Chris Meier and Larry Garland, committee members who among others volunteered many years of effort to make this path a reality.
Past recipients of the Steve Eastman Award have included Tom Chalmers of Chalmers Insurance; Josh McAllister of HEB, Brian, Emily Smith and family of North Country Fair Jewelers, Cindy Russell upon stepping down from Arts Jubilee, Greg and Ron Frizzell of WMWV, Brian and Kathy Ahearn of Four Your Paws Only and Dr. Marianne Jackson of the Gibson Center for Senior Services.
Steve’s brother Tom Eastman added on behalf of the Eastman family, “Sarah, Grant, Emily and I salute you all for the great amenity you've added to the Valley for all ages and abilities.”
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