603 Stories: Meagan Pariseau
Meet Meagan, the Manager of Programs & Member Relations at the Business & Industry Association of NH!
She recently received this promotion by the way! *cue round of applause* 👏 👏👏
In this series, we’ll hear from YPs across the state on why they’ve stayed in, or moved to, New Hampshire and what they love about it. From their favorite hidden spots to what a day in their professional life looks like, follow along and meet fellow YPs who have found their place in the 603.
Read on as Meagan Pariseau of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire talks everything from growing up in the vast North Country, to what NH offers for YPs (hint- it’s a ton), and why she moved back to NH last summer after years in the Greater Boston area.
Also, raise your hand if you’re embarking with us on the 2025 NH Ice Cream Trail ✋ Major props to Meagan for the tip in this issue!
Stay Work Play: Every NH YP has an origin story …what's yours? Whether a lifer, boomerang, or transplant, lets start at the beginning! What brought you to NH or what kept you here!?
Meagan: I was born and raised in West Stewartstown, NH, just one town shy of the Canadian border. Stewartstown has never had a high school, so we had a choice in where we wanted to go after 8th grade. Due to proximity of the area schools, Canaan, Vermont was the closest, and where I grew up playing sports. Even though I was attending a Vermont high school, whenever we went on school trips and were asked where we were from, I always said New Hampshire.
Like any small-town kid, I had big dreams and aspirations. I wanted the hustle and bustle of the city and the opportunities that seemed endless at the time. I attended Lasell College in Newton, Massachusetts, a large suburb just outside of Boston. I had incredible experiences - interning with a fashion show producer, studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and staying busy with all kinds of clubs and organizations. Between college and post-grad years, I spent 10 years in the Greater Boston Area.
And while I had a blast, I never truly felt settled. It felt like something was missing, but as it turned out, I was just missing home.
I moved back to NH last summer and it is hands down the best decision I could have made for myself. I’m closer to my friends and family, I’ve been able to accompany my sister and nieces on trips to Santa’s Village, Canobie, and the tram at Cannon Mountain. I’ve started taking golf lessons and have gotten back into snowboarding – I even had a ski weekend at Loon for my 30th birthday in January.
But more than anything, being back home in NH has allowed me to reconnect with what matters most: my community. I’ve jumped back into volunteering with local non-profits and it has reminded me that while I once dreamed of making it big, making a big impact is much more important to me.
SWP: What is your favorite quality about living in the 603?
MP: One of my favorite qualities about New Hampshire is the sense of connectedness that comes from being part of a small, close-knit state. It’s the type of place where everyone is friends with everyone and always willing to lend a helping hand. Whether you’re attending a local event, starting a new job, or joining a community group, it doesn’t take long before you start forming connections. This closeness creates incredible opportunities to network and collaborate, both personally and professionally. Businesses support one another, people are eager to make introductions and foster connections, and there’s a shared sense of community that cultivates trust and builds relationships.
That unique sense of community spirit is something I truly value about living and working in NH. It makes the state not just a beautiful place to be, but a meaningful one too.
SWP: What do you love most about your job, employer, or professional life in NH?
MP: What I love most about my professional life in New Hampshire is the opportunity to constantly connect with new people, build meaningful relationships across a wide range of industries, and learn about all that New Hampshire has to offer. At the BIA, we have over 400 members throughout the state and just about every industry is represented. We work with everyone from one-person startups to the industry giants, and whether we’re highlighting the amazing work of some of our non-profits or touring manufacturing facilities, I’m always learning something new and inspiring.
Meagan recently attended the third-annual BIA DC Fly-In, representing New Hampshire in our nation’s capital. June 2025. See the deets.
NH may be small, but there are so many amazing things happening that I never knew about until I joined the BIA team.
I love that my work allows me to not only discover those stories but to be a part of them in some way. There’s a real sense of pride, purpose, and possibility here, and I feel grateful to experience it firsthand through the connections I make and the work I do.
SWP: How do you like to spend your leisure time in the 603? What are some of your favorite activities for young people outside of school, work, etc.?
MP: When it comes to leisure time in the 603, I feel incredibly lucky to live in a state where there's truly something for every season and every mood. I grew up snowmobiling all over the North Country (Colebrook, Stewartstown, and Pittsburg) and my snowboard and I have been working our way through the New Hampshire ski resorts. In the summer, you’ll most likely find me kayaking, at the beach, or chatting it up with Kris Kringle and the elves at Santa’s Village – a summertime staple for my family. I also love live entertainment, so catching a show at the Weathervane Theater or rocking the cowgirl boots at the Bank of NH Pavilion on a hot summer night are both highly possible as well.
What I really appreciate about NH is how everyone comes together to create an environment that’s fun, welcoming, and worth exploring. There are so many programs and initiatives statewide designed to get people involved, connect communities, and encourage everyone to discover something new.
Whether a small-town festival or the NH Ice Cream Trail - something I am making my personal mission to complete this summer - the efforts to make our state a vibrant, thriving, and exciting place to live, work, and play do not go unnoticed. As a young professional, New Hampshire makes it easy to have fun and stay inspired.
SWP: Okay, you are a salesperson now: give us your best elevator pitch for NH to a YP peer considering relocating. We know NH is incredible, but lets convince all the not-yet-Granite Staters.
MP: Picture this: You’re living in a place that has mountains, lakes, beaches, entertainment, and breweries all within reach. Weekend getaways don’t require plane tickets, and there’s always something new to explore. You can hike a mountain to watch the sunrise, go skiing or kayaking after work, and catch live music at a craft brewery for dinner, all without a long commute or big-city price tag. . .that’s New Hampshire.
It’s more than beautiful landscapes and tourist destinations. New Hampshire is a place where opportunity and lifestyle go hand in hand. The professional scene is thriving and very-well connected – think two degrees of separation, not six – which means it’s easy to network, collaborate, and grow your career (or fill out your social calendar.)
Plus, the state is actively investing in its young professional network now more than ever. The wide variety of leadership trainings, professional development opportunities, and statewide workforce initiatives make it easy and exciting to get involved. This is a state that’s full of energy, momentum, and community, without the hassles of traffic, burnout, and unfamiliar faces commonly found in other states.
If you’re looking for a place that feels like home, this is it. New Hampshire always feels like home.
SWP: Last and best question: what’s your hidden gem in NH? What business, hike, organization, experience, food, etc., should be on other NH YPs lists?
MP: My hidden gem for entertainment would definitely be the Weathervane Theater in Whitefield. They put on a number of different shows every summer that draw a crowd every night of the week. They embrace the cultural experiences of both modern-day productions, as well as the classics we all know and love.
Another hidden gem is the Glen at Bear Tree in Pittsburg. There’s nothing better than waking up on a Sunday morning and drinking your coffee on the porch of a beautiful log cabin overlooking the reflection of Mount Magalloway on First Connecticut Lake. Growing up in the area, Bear Tree is very near and dear to my heart, and their restaurant, Murphy’s Steakhouse, has THE BEST maple balsamic salad dressing you will ever have.
