Belknap EDC announces four new directors

LACONIA — Belknap EDC recently added four new members to its Board of Directors: Alexandra (Ali) Pelletier of Bank of New Hampshire, Steve Caroselli of Orion Entrance Control, Patrick Cate of Lakes Region Community College, and Shanna Saunders of the Lakes Region Planning Commission. Directors provide leadership for carrying out the organization’s mission to promote economic vitality and opportunity in Belknap County.

Pelletier is the vice president of retail banking administration at Bank of New Hampshire, where she has worked for 15 years. With a deep commitment to enhancing both staff and customer experiences, Pelletier is dedicated to fostering meaningful relationships with businesses and community members across New Hampshire. Her focus on continuous improvement drives her passion for creating positive, lasting impacts in the communities she serves.

Caroselli is the founder and CEO of Orion Entrance Control, Inc. With innovation and intention, Caroselli has always seen the direction Orion needs to head, leading the industry with deliberate use of disruptive technologies since he started Orion in 2009. In under a decade, Orion Entrance Control has tripled its workforce, expanded sales to eleven countries, and provides solutions for some of the biggest names in the business.

Cate, president of LRCC, served as the interim president from July 2022 to his permanent appointment to the position in April 2024. He brings a wealth of experience in higher education and student success with over 20 years’ experience in higher education including roles at Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Rivier University in Nashua, and Plymouth State University in Plymouth before embarking on his tenure with LRCC in 2018. Throughout his career, Cate’s passion for education and commitment to student success have been evident.

Saunders, executive director of LRPC, is a dual graduate of the University of New Hampshire. She started her career path at UNH Cooperative Extension’s Great Bay Watch program and then moved on as director of the non-profit watershed group, The Parker River Clean Water Association in Newbury, Massachusetts. After a few years, she decided to move her talents to NH, working as director for the past 20 years in several communities across New Hampshire including Laconia, Somersworth and Rochester – all communities with a strong tie to the water. In June 2024 she accepted the position at LRPC where she feels like she has found her forever home. Saunders has been an NHPA executive committee member since 2009 and served for five years as President.

Returning directors include Chair Allison Ambrose, with Wescott Law; Vice Chair Chris Dickinson, with Northway Bank; Treasurer Brian Bozak, president of Franklin Savings Bank; Secretary Jodie Gallant, with JMG Marketing & Business Strategy and WORK Lakes Region; Jennifer Anderson, with Lakes Region Community College and Laconia Motorcycle Week Association; Bill Bald, with Melcher and Prescott Insurance; Jeanie Forrester, with State of New Hampshire; Andrew Pike, with Opechee Construction; and Chris Walkley, with Bank of New Hampshire. Justin Slattery serves as Belknap EDC’s executive director.

For more information, visit belknapedc.org.