ABOUT PORTSMOUTH NH 400
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.A, was settled by Europeans in 1623. For many years prior, it was the land of the Wabanaki tribal nations and was visited by European commercial fisherman. In 2023, Portsmouth will celebrate its 400th anniversary by honoring the city’s diverse and dynamic social, political, intellectual, cultural, economic, and spiritual history, from the time of the early Native American settlements to the present. And we’re going to have fun doing it.
The goal of Portsmouth NH 400th, Inc. is to bring our community together to create opportunities to celebrate and tell our stories through programs, events, exhibits, and legacy projects.
The Executive Team, formed to guide signature events and projects, is comprised of Managing Director Valerie Rochon, Community Engagement Officer Susan Labrie, Portsmouth City Manager Karen Conard, Minister of FUN Denise Wheeler, and Marketing & Tech guy Trevor Bartlett, with City’s Finance, Legal and Public Information resources in support.
The Portsmouth NH 400 Board of Directors is composed of a diverse group of people dedicated to creating a memorable 400th anniversary celebration: Chair Susan Labrie - Engineer; Vice Chair Ron Baisden - Steward of the African Burying Ground; Treasurer Steve Butzel - Library Director; Secretary Marlon Pinto - Co-chair of the DebateTeam at Portsmouth High School; City Manager Karen Conard, and Managing Director Valerie Rochon.
PNH400 INVITES YOU…
…to be a leader in our collaborative effort to engage the community in shaping Portsmouth’s 2023 celebration, building a legacy for your organization and city, New Hampshire’s only seaport and a gateway to the founding of America.
A key intention is for the PNH400th team to engage the next generation(s) in exploring what the City’s 2023 legacy might be and how they might steward Portsmouth and its history beyond 2023.
OUR MISSION
Celebrate Portsmouth’s rich history, its challenges, successes, and innovations.
Celebrate the present – the people, events, art, culture, buildings.
Create, with multiple organizations and community members, vibrant, immersive, and engaging programming that tells the stories from the past to the present and which are relevant and meaningful to people today.
Engage, educate, inspire today’s citizens of all ages to become new community leaders.
Engage and promote local artists, historians, and diverse communities.
Preserve and encourage our culture of community pride that is collaborative and future oriented to develop meaningful, visible, and permanent legacy programs.
OUR VALUES
Diversity, Inclusion, Respect, Accessibility
Historical accuracy
Community pride through education and engagement
Sustainability
FUN!
OUR GOALS
Create events, programs, projects, and activities that are educational, fun, and promote cultural celebration and recognition.
Tell, collect, and preserve our stories and traditions; sustain historic infrastructure
Promote civic engagement, education, pride, and stewardship
Develop new traditions, create new amenities that enhance quality of life
Foster domestic and international recognition
WHO ARE YOU GUYS?
Executive Team
Karen Conard, Portsmouth City Manager
Susan Labrie, Community Engagement Officer
Valerie Rochon, Managing Director
Denise Wheeler, Minister of Fun
Trevor Bartlett, Just a Guy
Board of Directors
Susan Labrie, Chair, Community Engagement Officer
Ron Baisden, Vice Chair, African Burying Ground Memorial Stewardship Committee
Steve Butzel, Treasurer
Marlon Pinto, Secretary
Karen Conard, Portsmouth City Manager
Valerie Rochon, Managing Director
Marketing Team
Trevor Bartlett, Website, Design, Social, Community Engagement
Christiana R. Arsenault, Social Media Manager and Artist Recruitment & Engagement
Stephanie Seacord, City of Portsmouth Public Information Officer
Karina Quintans, Newsletter Editor, Photo Team Wrangler
Additional Organizational Support
Ilysse Sirmaian, Volunteers
Beth Gross-Santos, Merchandising
TASK FORCE & TEAM LEADERS
Minister of FUN – Denise Wheeler, Rye Public Schools
Arts & Culture – Lauren Rosen, Consultant
Commerce & Trade – Ben VanCamp, Chamber Collaborative; Ben Wheeler, Piscataqua Savings Bank
Community & Neighborhoods – Dawn Przychodzien, Port City Bike Tours; Robyn Aldo
Education – Marlon Pinto, PHS
Oral Histories Collaboration – Drew DeSimone
Maritime & Military – David Rheaume, PNSY
Signature Events – Beth Moreau, Great Oak Title
Legacy Projects – Ernie Greenslade, Northern Essex CC
400 Trees for the 400 th Project – Jillian Richmond, PHS
Operational Departments
Management Consultant – Michele Pecoraro, Ideas Ablaze
Fundraising – Susan Labrie, SHM Anne Arnold
Finance – Steve Butzel, Terri Nulph, Valerie Rochon
Marketing & PR – Trevor Bartlett; Karina Quintans; Stephanie Seacord, Valerie Rochon
Volunteers – Ilysse Sirmaian
Program Partner Manager – Paula Munch