DURHAM, N.H.—Top business leaders from across the state will join the University of New Hampshire to partner on efforts to advance economic development and increase the skilled workforce in the state as part of an advisory council working directly with President James W. Dean, Jr.

“One of the university’s top priorities is to embrace New Hampshire,” said Dean. “We are committed to be a trusted and valuable partner in efforts to advance the Granite State’s quality of life and support its economy. I’m honored that these business leaders in our state have agreed to take the time to share their unique needs as well as be sounding boards for me as we work to make UNH a national and international example of higher education innovation and success.”

Members of the Business Advisory Council include:

• Adria Bagshaw, co-owner and vice president, W.H. Bagshaw Company
• Nicole Carrier, co-founder and president, Throwback Brewery
• Toral Cowieson, senior director of Internet leadership, The Internet Society
• Jeff Huntington, vice president, COO and partner, Pleasant View Gardens
• Dean Kamen, founder, DEKA Research
• John Morison, chairman and CEO, Hitchiner Manufacturing
• Joe Murray, vice president of public affairs, Fidelity Investments
• Bill Quinlan, president, Eversource Energy
• Nick Soggu, founder and CEO, Silver Tech
• John Truslow, director of business conduct and ethics, BAE Systems
• Greg Walker, CEO, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

“We are in excellent company with UNH, President Dean and business leaders whose fingers are on the pulse of the state’s workforce development challenges,” said Murray. “Through the collaboration among these stakeholders and state leaders, we will strengthen and retain a workforce that makes New Hampshire an even better place to live and build a career.”

“I’m honored to serve on President Dean’s new Business Advisory Council and to work with UNH and other business leaders from across the state,” said Bagshaw. “I also serve as the chair of the board for the Small Business Development Center, an outreach program of UNH’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, and I look forward to representing the interests and perspectives of the state’s small businesses to this new council.”

While UNH has a number of college level advisory boards as well as fundraising and alumni focused boards, this is the first time the university has assembled a presidential level business advisory council.