President's message: A new year, a new beginning

Happy New Year to one and all. It is an honor and a privilege to have been chosen to lead NH CIBOR for 2015. Our organization is very well respected, and we have an abundance of highly experienced members and affiliates who have always been willing to assist, and will continue to help us grow in character and respectability. I will strive to continue the great work that has been started by our past presidents and past board members for the betterment of our organization. I also plan to reach out to all members and affiliates to solicit the ideas that will carry us forward into an even stronger future. We will be happy to listen to all ideas, and even happier when you step forward and participate in our committees to help us make those ideas become reality. As N.H. CIBOR moves into 2015, we have a lot of exciting work ahead of us. In particular, our new political advocacy committee started working in 2014 to help bring about change at the State level, and at the local community level. Our political advocacy efforts have the ultimate goal of making our great State of New Hampshire the first choice for quality businesses, for quality job growth, and for quality of life for residents. New Hampshire needs to once again become a strong economic engine. This is an ambitious and very exciting goal, but we are up to the task, especially with the involvement of all members. Each of you are encouraged to step forward and take part. Be brave, become involved, participate in your local communities in a way that makes a real difference. Lastly, I ask two questions of our Realtor and affiliate members: What can N.H. CIBOR do to help your business grow? What can you do to help N.H. CIBOR grow? Gerry O'Connell is the 2015 president of the New Hampshire Commercial and Investment Board of Realtors.