Stay Work Play NH

10/16/2026

Five Pillars. One vision.

Discover the new era (and look!) of Stay Work Play, and download our new Strategic Plan “Game On: 2030”.

Opportunity lives here. Let’s make sure young people do too.

Read more here, and download the full strategic plan: https://www.stayworkplay.org/news/game-on-2030

10/01/2026

We've all wished we could be in two places at once at some point.

But have you wished that because you needed to accept two different awards, by two different organizations, in two different NH cities?

Our 2026 Entrepreneur of the Year, Erik Mogensen, can now say he has!

Black Mountain's Erik Mogensen is being honored on Thursday, October 8 by Stay Work Play, as well as New Hampshire Business Review. Congratulations on this double-feat! But apologies for the logistics that now ensue...

Will Erik, in fact, be able to be in these two places at once as the The Conway Daily Sun brings up?

Read more below, then join us next Thursday night at The Rex Theatre in Manchester at the 2026 Rising Stars Awards to celebrate one very busy entrepreneur (and our other phenomenal 2026 winners!)

🎟️ Get tickets here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-rising-stars-awards

Read the full article here: https://www.conwaydailysun.com/business/local/blacks-mogensen-to-receive-two-business-awards/article_c3975ef0-e7c8-46cc-871a-ff896f4d8918.html

JACKSON — Black Mountain owner/general manager Erik Mogensen has a dilemma: He’s being recognized by two New Hampshire business organizations that are both giving him awards the same night in

09/28/2026

✨ MURALS ✨ MASHED POTATO BAR ✨ MUSIC ✨ MEETING NEW FRIENDS ✨ MAGIC ✨

Okay we ran out of M’s, but here’s a few reasons why you need to be at the 2026 Rising Stars Awards!

🗓️ Thursday, October 8
🕠 5:30-8:30PM
📍 The Rex Theatre | Manchester

This is New Hampshire’s night for young people. Come show up, show off (wear THAT outfit!), and show OFF for this years winners.

ALSO: Announcing the 2026 Young Professional Network of the Year nominees! We’ll be revealing the winners LIVE at the event ✨Congrats to these nominees…

Catapult Seacoast | YPN
Concord Young Professionals Network
Kahoots Collective
Lake Sunapee Young Professional Network
Manchester Young Professionals
nhex603

Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-rising-stars-awards

Presented by Eversource Energy and held in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio.

09/16/2026

Another round of applause for the 2026 Rising Stars Awards winners 👏👏👏

✨ Student of the Year: Madison Duffy
✨ Artist of the Year: Aaron Jones (aka Mr. Aaron)
✨ Entrepreneur of the Year: Erik Mogensen, Indy Pass and Black Mountain Ski Area
✨ Young Person of the Year: Fiston Ndayishimiye
✨ Coolest Employer for Young People: HEB Engineers, Inc., sponsored by Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire
✨ Young Professional Network of the Year: To be announced at the Rising Stars Awards next month on OCTOBER 8, 2026!

Do not miss New Hampshire’s night for young people and join us as we celebrate these amazing individuals and organizations for their incredible work.

🕠 5:30-8:30PM
📍 The Rex Theatre, Manchester
👗 Wear the outfit you NEVER get to wear (but always want to!)

We’re showing up and throwing a party for this group next month, and you better be there for an electric and positive night. If you joined us last year, you know the vibes are immaculate 💅

🎟️ Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-rising-stars-awards

The Rising Stars Awards are presented by Eversource Energy and held in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio ✨

09/04/2026

Fisto Ndayishimiye has built a powerful voice in New Hampshire — and he’s using it to build pathways for other young people to find theirs.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Fisto’s journey from displacement to community leadership in NH has shaped a deep commitment to public service, representation + creating opportunities for others.

As Founder + Executive Director of the Young Adults Development Network, he works to empower refugee, immigrant + low-income young people through leadership development, civic engagement, education, advocacy + professional growth.

It’s about giving young adults the skills, confidence, opportunities + platforms to participate in civic life, advocate for their communities and help shape a more inclusive future.

And Fisto leads by doing.

He has run for Concord City Council At-Large, encouraging stronger representation + more young people to get involved in local government.

He’s also continuing to invest in his own leadership — studying Business Communications at SNHU and exploring Political Science as he deepens his work in leadership, public policy + civic engagement.

Our jury saw a leader whose impact keeps multiplying:

When Fisto finds a door, he doesn’t just walk through it. He works to hold it open for others.

Especially for young people whose voices have too often been left out of the room.

Congratulations, Fisto!

Come celebrate him and the rest of the 2026 Rising Stars (we’re not quite done yet!) on Thursday, October 8 at the The Rex Theatre at the Rising Stars Awards presented by Eversource Energy and in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio.

Tickets in bio ✨

09/03/2026

✔️ 65% of their workforce: 40 or under
✔️ 44% of their managers: 40 or under
✔️ Employee ownership. Mentorship. Flexible schedules. Paid professional development. Paid volunteer time. Real pathways into leadership.
✔️ And skiing before work is a perfectly acceptable use of a powder morning 👀⛷️ (Cranmore Mountain is right there after all…💁🏻‍♀️)

Meet our 2026 Coolest Employer for Young People: HEB Engineers, Inc.!

HEB Engineers, Inc. has built something pretty special in North Conway: a place where young professionals can do meaningful work, have a voice in where the company is headed, grow their careers AND actually have time for the lives they’re building outside of work.

They’re helping build the next generation, too: through internships, school + college recruiting, mentorship and even work to create a more accessible NH surveying apprenticeship pathway.

But here’s the coolest part: this is HEB’s SECOND time winning this award 🤯

They first took home the title in 2013. Many of the young professionals shaping HEB back then are now leading the company and making sure the next generation gets the same opportunity to build a great career without sacrificing a great life.

And that puts them in rare company ⬇️

Last year’s winner, Mainstay Technologies, became the first-ever two-time Coolest Employer. Now HEB joins them as only the second.

Consider the bar officially raised, NH employers 👏 Congrats, HEB! 🎉

Come celebrate them and the rest of the 2026 Rising Stars (final announcements incoming!) on Thursday, October 8 at the The Rex Theatre at the Rising Stars Awards presented by Eversource Energy and in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio.

Tickets in bio ✨

09/02/2026

✔️ Bring the companies here.
✔️ Invest in the outdoor industry here.
✔️ Keep an iconic independent mountain open for the people who love it here.

Meet Erik Mogensen, our 2026 Entrepreneur of the Year ✨

As Founder + CEO of Entabeni Systems and Managing Director of Indy Pass, Erik and his teams chose New Hampshire as the new headquarters for both organizations.

And as General Manager of Black Mountain Ski Area, he’s helping ensure a mountain loved by generations of skiers and riders remains open and accessible to the greater community for years to come.

That’s what made Erik stand out to our jury.

That dedication to continue the legacy of a historic operation and the choice to invest in New Hampshire — our economy, our diehard outdoor culture, and the places that make people want to build a life here.

Congrats, Erik 🏆⛷️

Come celebrate Erik and the rest of the 2026 Rising Stars (more announcements on the way!) on Thursday, October 8 at the The Rex Theatre at the Rising Stars Awards presented by Eversource Energy and in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio.

Tickets in bio ✨