2026 WINNER
Sponsored by
HEB Engineers, Inc. was named the 2026 Coolest Employer for Young People for creating a workplace where young professionals can build meaningful careers, grow into leadership, and still have the flexibility to build full lives in New Hampshire. Today, 65% of HEB’s workforce is age 40 or younger and 44% of its managers are 40 or younger. As an employee-owned company, HEB gives eligible employees a real stake in its success while supporting them through mentorship, professional development, continuing education and licensure assistance, flexible and remote work, paid family and medical leave, paid volunteer time, and a commitment to a true 40-hour workweek. Headquartered in North Conway, HEB also embraces the quality of life that makes the Mount Washington Valley special, building a culture where outdoor recreation, community involvement, and career growth can coexist.
This marks HEB’s second Coolest Employer for Young People win, following its first award in 2013, making it only the second employer in the award’s history to earn the honor twice. Many of the young professionals who helped shape HEB’s culture more than a decade ago are now leading the company and creating those same opportunities for the next generation. HEB continues to strengthen New Hampshire’s talent pipeline through internships, school and college recruitment, mentorship, and workforce development efforts, while also making meaningful progress in representation: since 2019, women have grown from 15% to 36% of its total staff. Together with fellow two-time winner Mainstay Technologies, HEB represents a standout model for what it looks like to attract, develop, and retain young talent in New Hampshire.
The Coolest Employer for Young People Award recognizes a New Hampshire company that stands out as an exceptional place for young people to work. This employer goes beyond traditional workplace benefits, fostering a culture that attracts, supports, and retains young talent.
From professional growth opportunities to innovative workplace policies and an engaging company culture, this organization sets the standard for what it means to be a great employer for the next generation.
past winners
The first-ever 2X winner of the Coolest Employer for Young People, one of Mainstay Technologies‘ core values is “uncompromising commitment to excellence.” In action, that means that they are miserable when their clients are only moderately happy with Mainstay as their IT or Information Security department. They design roles that provide room for creativity and “ownership” of the work they do. Each job role should be enjoyable and life giving to the human being who is in that role, and that focus on human flourishing is embedded with every new role created. Recognizing that above market rate pay will bring exceptional individuals, Mainstay also offers PTO, flextime and sabbaticals, and a pet-friendly and child-friendly workplace.
Dartmouth Health, the largest private employer in New Hampshire, has a strong commitment to fostering a dynamic and innovative workplace that empowers early-career professionals. Nearly 46% of Dartmouth Health’s workforce is aged 40 or under, and about 30% of its management team falls within that age group, offering significant leadership opportunities for young employees.
Fidelity cares about their employees, it’s something they show everyday through their $15,000 Student Loan Assistance Program, the organic farm that grows cafeteria food, extended parental leave time, fertility and adoption assistance, and onsite gyms, walking trails, bikes, yoga, games, basketball, baseball, ultimate frisbee, and of course - pickleball.
The Currier Museum of Art not only shows established artists, but invests in young talent and creates pathways for budding artists, art managers, performers, aspiring curators, and students to launch their careers.
Friendly Pets is a local family-owned pet store with locations in Lee, Exeter, and Bedford, New Hampshire. Friendly Pets strives to give an extremely high level of service to guests and staff. As a Company made up of 99% of employees under 40 years old, they provide a young person-friendly workspace by providing extensive training, support professionally and personally, professional development, and more.
GYK Antler is an integrated marketing company of creative entrepreneurs who believe the most impactful ideas happen at the intersection of strategy, creative, and media. A fiercely independent agency, GYK has spent decades delivering excellence to its clients and putting the growth and success of its people first. Their executive and HR team focuses on setting their people up for success from day one through a robust week-long onboarding program, meeting with department heads and executive team leaders, and being paired with a work “buddy.” Staff is encouraged to take advantage of its flexible work culture – working remotely or from another office.
C&S Wholesale Grocers is the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the U.S. and the industry leader in supply chain innovation. In 2018, the company was named by Forbes as the 10th largest privately held company in the United States. C&S has built a dynamic year round internship program through partnerships with Keene State College and Franklin Pierce offering internships and co-operative experiences.
BerryDunn is one of the largest independent CPA & management consulting firms in New England. They are ranked the 7th fastest-growing firm by Accounting Today. They build relationships with colleges to develop internship and staff-level opportunities. They offer significant community involvement, helping their employees know that BerryDunn cares about their hometowns as much as their employees do. They give back to the local community through food and clothing drives, soup kitchens, gardening, building, and a variety of United Way volunteer hours. The company supports team members who want to serve as Board and Committee members for charitable organizations throughout the state, including the Adult Learning Center, Girls at Work, Granite United Way, High Hopes Foundation of NH, and more.
Founded in 1984 as a small carpet co-op, CCA Global Partners has grown to 15 divisions including lighting, bike retail, nonprofits and childcare. CCA Global Partners supports the local, family-owned businesses that add color to their cities and towns.
CoreMedical Group’s mission statement revolves around connecting people, improving lives, and giving back. Giving back to the community is one major mission as a company. They strive to support employees in their own personal endeavors to give back – donating to charitable events employees participate in and providing PTO hours to put towards volunteering. The Manchester campus has a game room with poker table, shuffleboard, PacMan, or PlayStation under the disco ball.
In 2017, Freedom Energy Logistics was named the 6th fastest-growing family business in the state by Business New Hampshire Magazine. They were also named to Inc. Magazine’s 5000 list for fastest-growing companies in America for the last two years. With a strong commitment to corporate responsibility, they encourage their people to get involved in the community. They sponsor “time/talent/treasure” contributions and serve on various New Hampshire boards and committees.
FoodState cherishes its employees and offers benefits such as 24 hours of volunteer paid time off, bowling parties, movie nights, trips to the White Mountains, an internal leadership training program, tuition reimbursement, and wellness benefits including free and subsidized healthy snacks, and free and discounted products. Their nominator said, “without a doubt, it is our employees that distinguish FoodState!”
Merchants Fleet recognizes that taking care of and supporting its employees is important to retaining them. Some of their benefits include a breakfast bar, reimbursement for fruits and vegetables bought, an internal training program called “Merchants University” and an education assistance program for employees to take college classes.
TIBCO Software said its people really are the crown jewel of what has made the company so successful. Their benefits include a quarterly “People’s Choice Award” where the winner gets a $500 travel voucher, $500 spending money and a front row parking space at their office in the Manchester Millyard. They also host a highly competitive video game tournament (with a giant goomba trophy) and have designed their internship program to build the employee’s skills along with the interns.
Appcast is working to “revolutionize the recruitment industry” by linking employers with potential candidates through online tracking systems and management tools. With revenue of $350,000 in 2014, the company is experiencing exponential growth with anticipated revenue of $8 million for 2016.
With a belief that “all people should love their jobs,” Digital Prospectors maintains the type of culture that guarantees their employees do too. Company perks include a flexible schedule, 1.5-hour lunches (allowing time for exercise or appointments to ensure more family time at night), 100% company-paid health benefits, tuition reimbursement, company-sponsored co-ed sports teams, birthdays off, and an employee lounge with TVs, gaming and foosball.
As one of only six Certified B Corporations in New Hampshire, ReVision Energy helps homeowners, businesses, and institutions in the state transition to solar energy. An impressive number of their employees are under 40 years of age, including the management team and 78% of their workforce.
Cranmore Mountain Resort, based in North Conway, has invested over $9 million in improvements in the last five years, and has added numerous entry-level jobs. In addition to engaging their staff in charity and community events and providing several traditional benefits, all employees receive a season pass for skiing or snowboarding, plus season passes for their dependents or one guest, discounts at other New England resorts, complimentary lessons and rental equipment, discounts at local sports retailers, and much more.
Red River, an information technology solutions company based in Claremont, was founded on the core values of hard work and honesty. To find the balance of hard work and promoting a “cool” culture, Red River offers annual paper airplane flying contests, bake-off and cook-off events, blue jean Fridays, birthday cupcake celebrations, scavenger hunts and 16 hours of paid community service time. Their nomination said “Our employees rock out to Pandora playing throughout the office every day,” and as one employee stated, “The people really make the company the cool place it is.”
Single Digits, located in Bedford, is a provider of high-speed Internet access management and support. Ranked in 2008 as one of Inc. Magazine’s 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies, Single Digits continues to experience growth as displayed from a recent acquisition; reinforcing a positive office environment is crucial to a company’s success.
W.S. Badger manufactures certified organic and all-natural personal care products. They provide: Free organic lunch every day for all employees with 30 minutes paid time, yoga classes, foosball, basketball, vegetable gardens, paid maternity and paternity leave, plus their unique “babies at work” program that allows new parents to bring their babies to work until six months of age.
Lauchlan is a marketing agency focused on the technology sector. One of their employee’s said, Lauchlan also offers many of the perks and quirks that together add up to a satisfying and fun workplace,” some of which include: A monthly “WOW” award for recognizing employee thoughtfulness, pets in the office, an annual company weekend ski trip, Lauchlan University where staff teach lunchtime training classed, lunch is provided by the company, and teachers get a $100 gift card.
Mad*Pow is “a design agency focused on improving the experiences people have with technology, companies, and each other” and has national clients like Google, ESPN, and Monster. In their application they referred to the atmosphere in their office as “fun and funky” describing flex time for powder (ski) days, surf lunches, charity work days, design contests, an annual lobster fest, and an annual pumpkin carving contest. They have standing desks, hammocks, comfy couches, education assistance, flex-time, “Summer Fridays” when the office closes at 3p, and employees are given FIVE paid days off per year to volunteer.
SilverTech is “a digital marketing agency that helps brands tell their stories in unique and meaningful ways.” They place significant emphasis on the relationships of members of the SilverTech team, treating each other as family, including trust, respect, helping each other succeed and grow their careers, but also, as they said, “while having an absurd amount of fun.”
The Birchtree Center is a nonprofit “that exists to promote independence, engaging relationships, and productive lives for children and youth with autism at home, at school, and in the community.” This year the Birchtree Center has had eight interns from NH; three high school students, three college students, one recent college graduate, and one graduate student who serve as peer mentors to their students and assist with programming giving them hands-on experience and the opportunity to explore future careers in the autism field.
When you are in business to provide the latest and greatest in communications, whether that be phone, Internet or TV, it makes sense to employ people adopting and desiring the most current trends. But Comcast doesn’t just hire people for what the company can get out of the deal. The company goes out of its way to make sure its young professional workforce feels valued.
The International Association of Privacy Professionals says they are smart, fun and get things done. The company, which is in the field of information privacy and data protection, has been in business for 12 years and boasts almost 50 employees. Of those, 61 percent are under 40. The president says he doesn’t draw lines between the personal and professional, and he makes sure that the work gets accomplished with smiles and a “nice” attitude.
Located in vibrant downtown Portsmouth, Vital designs “websites and digital marketing strategies that work” for some of the most exciting clients around. With unlimited paid time off, free lunch, flexible hybrid work schedules, and a list of other perks a mile long, this creative agency is known for being super cool. Young professionals will find a culture designed for growing careers, including an internship program and tons of investment in professional development and continuing education.
When it comes to investing in young professionals, it’s hard to beat HEB Engineers in North Conway. Over the years, the company has funded the MBA degrees of five employees. It is also in the midst of a succession plan to transfer ownership of the company to three employees—all of them young professionals—with one more owner being added next year.
Who wouldn’t want to work for a company that gives iPads as Christmas gifts, breaks out play-doh during strategy sessions and provides camping chairs for holding meetings outside on nice days? For PixelMEDIA, a Web development company in Portsmouth, it’s all part of a work atmosphere designed to spark creativity and make people happy to come to the office.
Realizing that the average age of employees in the defense aerospace industry was 51, BAE Systems in Nashua launched a concerted effort to attract younger professionals. Part of the effort is an extensive summer intern program that helped the company find talent easier and helped to show students that BAE is a serious employer.
Some of the methods this Manchester firm uses to attract young professionals include flexible schedules, tuition reimbursement and full company paid health care. They have a lounge complete with arcade games, ping-pong and darts, a company Segway and they host regular fun outings. Dyn even hosts a “Geek Week” every year, where employees can express their inner geek with hopes of being crowned the “Biggest Geek” at week’s end.