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Participate in Local Job Fairs for Students

Participate in Local Job Fairs for Students

local job fairs

March 13, 2026

Want to meet your future employees?

Several local high schools are hosting upcoming job fairs, and this is a fantastic opportunity to introduce your company to students who are just beginning to explore career possibilities.

Even if you’re not actively hiring, it’s still a good idea to participate. When students meet local employers, learn about different industries, and hear about real career paths in the Monadnock Region, it helps them see that they don’t have to leave the area to build a meaningful career. A quick conversation today could turn into a summer intern, a future employee, or a young professional who decides to build their life right here. And best of all, students ask great questions!

Take a look at the upcoming job fairs below and consider signing up!

Keene High School:

Date: April 15, 2026
Time: 8:30 – 11:30 AM: Businesses wishing to participate must fill out this brief information survey

There will also be an outdoor area that is available to set up vehicles, apparatus, or outdoor activities.

ConVal:

Date: April 23, 2026
Time: 1:30 – 5:30 PM (with a 40-minute break while the busses leave – Wi-Fi will be available)

Businesses wishing to participate can fill out this form:

Fall Mountain Regional High School Career Fair:

Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 AM

To reserve a space, please email School Counselor Kim Chandler at kchandler@sau60.org by April 24, 2026.

Building Stronger Leaders and Organizations: Leadership Monadnock Summit

Building Stronger Leaders and Organizations: Leadership Monadnock Summit

LMS Featured Image

March 11, 2026

Investing in people is critical to thriving organizations and communities. That’s the focus of the 2026 Leadership Monadnock Summit Presented by EVERSOURCE, a ticketed full day professional development experience bringing together community leaders on Friday, April 24th at Keene Country Club.

This event is open to everyone and is hosted by Greater Monadnock Collaborative's nine-month community leadership program, Leadership Monadnock. The event will help participants grow leadership capacity, strengthen collaboration, and apply practical tools they can use immediately in their work.

Spend the day with fellow leaders from across the Monadnock Region - connecting, reconnecting, and exploring the ideas and issues shaping our communities. The Summit will include expert presentations, engaging group sessions, and a full day of meaningful networking. Registration also includes two meals, snacks, and a closing cocktail/mocktail hour to continue building relationships.

We are excited to welcome all participants, including Leadership Monadnock Alumni, current participants of the Class of 2026, and anyone that is Leadership Monadnock curious. When professionals learn and grow together, the entire region benefits!

Presenters

  • Adar Cohen, internationally known mediator and author
  • Adam Wade, 20-time Story Slam champion at The Moth and Keene State College Alum
  • Brian Gottlob, Director of NH Employment Security’s Economic and Labor Market Bureau, and Principal of PolEcon Research, a Dover-based economic research company
  • Julie Schoelzel, President & CEO of the Greater Monadnock Collaborative
  • Corinne Benfield, Executive Director of Stay Work Play New Hampshire

Adar Cohen remarked, “I am excited to work with your community!”

"I’m a proud Keene State College alum, and choosing to go there was one of the best decisions I ever made,” wrote Adam Wade. “The college and the people in that community had a profound impact on my life, and I remain deeply grateful for that experience."

Program Details

  • Hands-on learning sessions
  • Peer networking and collaboration
  • Strategies for tough conversations, effective storytelling, and a deepened understanding of regional opportunities and challenges

Event Details

  • Date: Friday, April 24th
  • Time: 8:30am (check in begins) to 5:30pm (conclusion of closing reception)
  • Location: Keene Country Club - 755 W Hill Rd., Keene NH
  • Registration: Opens Monday, March 16th
  • Audience: Open to All
  • Cost: $150 per person
  • Tickets: Limited to 100 and expected to SELL OUT

Full Details & Sponsorship Opportunities: greatermonadnock.com/leadership-monadnock-summit

About Greater Monadnock Collaborative's Leadership Monadnock Program

LEADERSHIP MONADNOCK is the signature community leadership program of the Greater Monadnock Collaborative - regional chamber of commerce and your gateway to a deeply engaging experience in the Monadnock Region, ideal for community leaders looking to become more familiar with this remarkable area. Once a month for nine months, from October to June, you’ll explore the fascinating elements that define this region—think of it as a blend of education and fun!

With expert presentations, engaging group discussions, and hands-on activities, you’ll dive into various topics that shape the area’s character. You’ll have the chance to connect with other influential community leaders from business, government, nonprofits, education, and the arts.

For more Information, contact: Michelle DellaVita, Director of Leadership Monadnock for Greater Monadnock Collaborative at michelle@greatermonadnock.com

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GMC Launches $340,000 Regional Marketing Effort to Support Workforce, Tourism in Downtown Keene and Peterborough

GMC Launches $340,000 Regional Marketing Effort to Support Workforce, Tourism in Downtown Keene and Peterborough

March 4, 2026

The Greater Monadnock Collaborative Regional Chamber of Commerce (GMC) has launched a comprehensive $340,000 regional marketing initiative designed to strengthen the Monadnock Region’s economy by attracting both workers and visitors. The effort includes two coordinated campaigns focused on manufacturing workforce development and tourism promotion in Keene and Peterborough.

Together, these campaigns represent a significant investment in the region’s long-term economic vitality and are part of GMC’s broader Magnify Monadnock initiative, which works to attract visitors, workers, and future residents by elevating the region’s quality of life and economic opportunities.

“These campaigns are intentionally aligned,” says Julie Schoelzel, President and CEO of the GMC. “Tourism strengthens our downtowns and small businesses, especially during periods of disruption, while workforce marketing helps employers grow and remain competitive. Together, they support a stronger, more resilient regional economy.”

The first initiative is a manufacturing workforce marketing campaign with a total investment approaching $240,000. Developed in partnership with regional employers and Sentinel Solutions media agency, the campaign, called “Build a Rich Life,” is running advertisements across multiple digital platforms throughout New England, promoting the opportunity to live and work the Monadnock Region. The campaign responds to a long-standing workforce shortage identified by regional employers, particularly in manufacturing, that has limited growth and competitiveness across the Monadnock Region.

Central to the campaign is a dedicated landing page: www.monadnocknh.com/work-here/manufacturing/ — designed and built by Keene marketing agency Communicators Group, where job seekers can submit their resume once, which is then shared with all participating manufacturing employers. Users can also opt in to have their resume submitted to Masiello Employment Services, further expanding their employment opportunities. The campaign, which was launched in late December 2025, has already had more than 750,000 impressions, driven more than 10,000 visitors to the manufacturing page where more than 120 people have submitted their resume.

In addition to highlighting immediate job openings, the campaign promotes education-to-career pathways, including the one-year Precision Optics certificate and four-year degree programs at Keene State College.

“Identifying and hiring the best talent to support and grow local companies, like Nanotech, is vitally important to both the company and the region” shared Mark Boomgarden, President & CEO of Moore Nanotechnology Systems. He added “Partnering with the GMC, Keene State College and other area manufacturers to find creative ways to market the region, to include The Build a Rich Life campaign, helps people see the real career opportunities available, while also showcasing why the Monadnock Region is a great place to live.”

The Build a Rich Life campaign is funded through a Catalyst Grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC).

In addition, GMC is launching a $100,000 tourism marketing campaign developed with Freitag Marketing to promote visitation to Keene and Peterborough throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Seventy-five percent of this investment will focus specifically on driving visitors to downtown Keene, supporting local businesses during the downtown reconstruction project scheduled to begin this spring. Twenty-five percent of this investment will focus on driving visitors to downtown Peterborough and highlighting its festivals and outdoor recreation.

This tourism campaign is funded through Joint Promotional Program (JPP) grant funding from the BEA’s Division of Travel and Tourism Development.

The tourism campaign will target visitors from across New England and beyond, highlighting the region’s vibrant downtowns, outdoor recreation, arts and culture, dining, and community events. The campaign will run across multiple digital platforms and direct potential visitors to dedicated landing pages designed to make trip planning easy while driving traffic to local businesses and attractions. Both initiatives fall under Magnify Monadnock, GMC’s long-term strategy to market the Monadnock Region as a place where people can work, visit, and build a rich, fulfilling life. These efforts reflect the unique role a regional chamber can play – bringing together employers, educators, and state partners to invest strategically in the long-term success of the communities it serves.

For more information about the campaigns or the Greater Monadnock Collaborative’s work, visit www.monadnocknh.com.

Campaign Creative Examples

Below are several examples of campaign creative from the regional marketing initiatives currently underway as part of the Greater Monadnock Collaborative’s Magnify Monadnock effort.

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The GMC’s Move to Marlboro Street

The GMC’s Move to Marlboro Street

Dear Members,

For 36 years, 48 Central Square has served as home first to Keene's Chamber of Commerce, and now the Greater Monadnock Collaborative (GMC) Regional Chamber of Commerce. That small brick building, a former bank at the heart of Central Square, has long been home to the team behind our ribbon cuttingsbusiness celebrationsleadership programsregional marketingcommunity conversations, and countless moments that have strengthened and connected our region. 

Wall at New GMC Office at 310 Marlboro
Wall at New GMC Office at 310 Marlboro

As we look ahead to the future of the GMC, we have made the decision to sell and move out of our longtime home and begin a new chapter, one that positions us to better serve our members, strengthen our regional mission, and give us the flexibility to thoughtfully plan our next permanent location. 

Beginning in January 2026, the GMC will maintain an office at 310 Marlboro Street in Keene, where I will work consistently and where you can continue to meet with me and our team. This transitional space allows us to stay fully operational while giving us the breathing room we need to evaluate where the Chamber should be located for the next generation of our work. During this time, we will explore options, gather input, and ensure our long-term home aligns with the needs of our members and the region we proudly serve. 

310 Marlboro Street carries its own remarkable history of innovation, craftsmanship, and resilience, mirroring the very qualities that define the Monadnock Region’s business community.  

Built in 1947 as a paintbrush factory, the building went on to serve Kingsbury, Don Brehm’s early precision manufacturing ventures, and later a mix of educational and social service organizations. In recent years, it has been reimagined as “@310,” a flexible hub for businesses, our new home, and soon a sustainable live-work community with 57 apartments (not to mention, GMC’s newest member!). 

Moving into a space with this kind of history, and into a project that will soon bring much-needed housing to our region, reflects the values we carry forward: innovation, collaboration, sustainability, and community impact. 

While our physical footprint will temporarily be smaller, our work will not be. We will continue hosting events, convening leaders, supporting businesses, championing regional marketing, and moving our strategic initiatives forward with the same energy and commitment you expect from us. Most importantly, this move gives us the opportunity to step back, ask big questions, and ensure the Chamber’s next permanent home strengthens our mission, expands our reach, and reflects the future we want to build together. 

We will also be taking this moment to be more present in the community, holding meetings, conversations, and even “office hours” at member businesses across our region. This transition is as much about flexibility as it is about connection. You’ll hear more about that in early 2026. 

Thank you for your continued support, your belief in our work, and your partnership during this transition. After 36 years in one place, change brings both emotion and possibility, and I am confident this step positions the GMC for long-term success. 

Finally, I want to express my gratitude for the generations, past and present, of Chamber leaders, staff, Board Directors, and members who have carried this organization for over 70 years. This stewardship built a legacy that inspires us today and will continue to shape our path forward. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly. I look forward to welcoming you to our new temporary space and, more importantly, to seeing you out in the community as we continue to move our region forward. 

With gratitude, 

Julie Schoelzel
President & CEO
Greater Monadnock Collaborative 

P.S. Please update your records with our new address – we’re ready to start receiving mail today!  

Greater Monadnock Collaborative
310 Marlboro Street, Suite 207
Keene, NH 03431 

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