Recently, Foy Insurance made an investment of $1,500 to support the American Independence Museum, a financial contribution whose roots extend back nearly 400 years for Co-Owner Jeff Foy.

“I am a direct descendant of Anthony Colby, who was one of the first settlers of Amesbury, Massachusetts where his home, the Macy-Colby house built around 1650, still stands today,” he said. “For so many years growing up, I heard the stories from my grandparents and great-grandparents.”

This interest in history was also encouraged by his schooling.

“I had great history teachers growing up in all levels of school at Sanborn in Kingston, New Hampshire and at UNH,” he added.

For Emma Bray, executive director at the museum, Foy’s enthusiasm and support is important on many levels.

“It gets other people excited about and interested in history and what we are doing here,” she said.

Foy agrees and added, “The museum embodies so many of the things I care about–our national and local history, supporting local enterprises, being part of the fabric of Exeter, making sure young people learn about history…We feel that we succeed when Exeter and the Exeter area is prosperous so we do as much as we can to support it.”

Home to a world-class collection of 3,000 historic artifacts, the museum welcomes more than 5,000 visitors annually and offers a diverse array of programs and events for all ages.

For Foy, history is not just a subject that interests him on a personal level, though, as he noted it is also reflected in his professional narrative.

“Foy Insurance and its predecessors insurance agencies called Elwell Insurance and then Elwell-Collishaw Insurance have been operating in Exeter for 125 years,” he said. “My family is the third family to own it.”

In referencing Foy’s personal and professional story, Bray said it helps to illustrate one very important key concept.

“History is not just something from our deep past,” she said. “It is happening today.”

History can also be predictive of the future.

“I have always looked to the past to predict and prepare for the future,” said Foy.

About Foy Insurance
Foy Insurance Group is a family of Independent Insurance Agencies located in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts with community roots back to 1893. They are one of New England’s largest insurance agencies, representing over 100 insurance companies allowing them to do the insurance shopping for you.

Learn more about Foy Insurance here.

Dave Mansfield, CEO of The Provident Bank, announced today the addition of Joe Reilly to The Provident Bank and Provident Bancorp, Inc. Board of Directors.

“I admire Joe’s vision and courage as the founder of Centrix Bank, the first dedicated Commercial Bank in New Hampshire,” comments Mansfield. “He brings to our Board of Directors the expertise of a successful bank CEO, the character of a dedicated community member, and the respect of the entire banking community. It is an honor to introduce Joe Reilly to our Team.”

Reilly co-founded Centrix Bank in 1999 and served as CEO until 2014. Centrix was established to provide NH a true commercial bank that was focused on helping businesses grow and be successful. The bank reached over $1 billon in assets and was acquired by Eastern Bank in 2014. Reilly became the Eastern Bank Regional President. He retired in December 2017.

“I have a deep respect for everything Joe has accomplished throughout his forty-year career in banking,” continues Mansfield. “He is a pioneer in the banking industry and will bring critical insight, sound judgement and hands-on experience to The Provident as we continue to grow and thrive as a commercial bank.”

Reilly was elected to the Boards of The Provident Bank and Provident Bancorp, Inc. on June 21, 2018.

“I have been watching The Provident’s transformation and growth from a small community bank to an innovative commercial bank over the past several years,” comments Reilly. “The Provident has an outstanding reputation in the banking community for being an innovative institution while maintaining financial strength and sound judgement. Its niche markets in international finance, mergers and acquisitions, search fund lending and renewable energy, are unique in that not many banks its size pursue these financing opportunities. But The Provident is doing it successfully.”

Prior to co-founding Centrix Bank, Reilly was Chief Operating Officer and Senior Lending Officer at Centerpoint Bank. When Centerpoint Bank was acquired, Reilly assumed a senior management position as Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking with Bank of New Hampshire. He also worked in various roles at Fleet Bank for twelve years.

“I was particularly intrigued by The Provident’s strategy to pursue a partial IPO in 2015,” continues Reilly. “That kind of well thought out strategy speaks volumes to the great leadership of The Provident’s executive team and board of directors. It is a business model I am comfortable supporting.”

Reilly has been heavily involved in the community throughout his career. He is currently a Trustee and past Chairman of the New Hampshire Institute of Art College, as well as a Trustee of NeighborWorks of Southern New Hampshire. He also serves as the sole independent Director of a newly formed healthcare insurance company in New Hampshire, Tufts Health Freedom Plan. He also serves as Director and Treasurer of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.

“Joe Reilly has been an influential member of our community for decades,” comments Arthur Sullivan, Provident Bank Board Member and Principal Partner of Brady Sullivan Properties. “He is known for his leadership in business, his generous philanthropy, and his dedication to our local community. I am thrilled for the opportunity to work with him as a Provident Bank Board member. He is a great addition to our team.”

Reilly’s community involvement has not gone unnoticed. His business and community awards include: 2018 UNH Manchester Granite Award; 2018 NeighborWorks Southern New Hampshire David Goodwin Outstanding Neighbor Award; 2016 Granite United Way Live United Award; 2013 Manchester Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year Award; 2012 CMC Charles Whittemore Award; and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce’s 2003 Small Business Person of the Year Award. He was also recognized as one of “NH’s Most influential People” by Business NH Magazine in 2012, as Community Banker of the Year by the New Hampshire Bankers Association in 2000, and was one of New Hampshire’s “Leaders for the 21st Century” by Business NH Magazine in 2000. He also received the 2005 Entrepreneurial Venture/Creations Person of the Year Award from the UNH Whittemore School of Business and Economics, and was a Moore Center’s 2016 Garden Party Honoree.

“It is an honor to have such an influential member of the banking community join our Board of Directors,” comments Mansfield. “I look forward to working with Joe as The Provident continues to expand its niche markets.”

Reilly earned an MBA from Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. He lives in Ipswich, Massachusetts with his wife, Venetia.

About The Provident
The Provident Bank, a subsidiary of Provident Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PVBC), is an innovative, commercial bank that finds solutions for our business and private clients. We are committed to strengthening the economic development of the regions we serve, by working closely with businesses and private clients and delivering superior products and high-touch services to meet their banking needs. The Provident has offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. All deposits are insured in full through a combination of insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF).

Seacoast Helicopters – which has been flying people on tours of the Seacoast in their trademark red helicopters for six years – is expanding its service to Portland, Maine.

Bruce Cultrera, the president, chief executive officer and founder of Seacoast Helicopters, said this week he hopes his company will start flying tours from the Portland JetPort to destinations around Portland by the end of June.

“It’s kind of the same environment in Portland as it was here when we first started in Portsmouth,” he said about the decision to start flying tours up there too. “It’s a beautiful area, there’s lighthouses, islands and a great waterfront.”

“Plus there’s no helicopter service up there. We thought it looked like a good opportunity for us to expand,” he added.

In Portland, Seacoast Helicopters will offer helicopter tours of the city’s historic downtown, Casco Bay and the numerous islands and lighthouses around Portland, Cultrera said in an interview this week.

He has also inked what he describes as “an exclusive” deal with the owner of Halfway Rock Lighthouse, which is nine miles off the coast.

“You fly out to the island by helicopter and you get a guided tour of the lighthouse and if you want to upgrade the experience we can include a gourmet picnic lunch and you can sit there and watch the whales and the seals,” he said.

Cultrera plans to start the Portland operation with one helicopter but is ready to expand “as the interest dictates.”

“We’ll bring in a second or third one if needed,” he said.

Seacoast Helicopters began as a single pilot operation with just one of its trademark red helicopters and has grown over its six-year history to six red helicopters and nine pilots, Cultrera said.

He believes the company has succeeded and grown because of its commitment to customer service and hard work.

“There’s no substitute for hard work. We’re all extremely passionate about aviation, with very few exemptions we’re all pilots and we run the place like a family business,” he said.

But Cultrera acknowledges the company has benefited “tremendously” from being branded as the company with the “little red helicopters.”

“My first helicopter just happened to be red, but it’s turned into a huge branding thing for us,” he said.

The company, which was the target of some noise complaints when it first started operating in Portsmouth, flies charter trips in addition to tours.

“We’ve flown people to New York on several occasions, Vermont, Connecticut, we’ll fly anywhere they want to go,” he said.

The company is also in the process of trying to get approval to build a new headquarters at the Pease International Tradeport, where they’ve operated for six years.

David Mullen, the executive director of the Pease Development Authority, said the PDA’s technical committee will hold a hearing on Cultrera’s request at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Mullen described Seacoast Helicopters as the “little engine that could.”

“He keeps tugging away, tugging away and he’s obviously demonstrated the ability to grow his business,” Mullen said Wednesday. “Obviously something is working if he’s able to do all this and considering adding a second location.”

About Seacoast Helicopters
Seacoast Helicopters brings helicopter services to the New Hampshire Seacoast and its surrounding areas to student pilots, rated pilots, tourists, charter customers, photographers/film makers and utility companies. Located at Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth NH, we offer new, well-maintained aircraft for individual rental, scenic tours, aerial photography, FAA Part 133 Utility and Long Line Lift and FAA Part 135 Air Taxi/charter services. Become a pilot by completing our primary and advanced flight instruction by FAA certified flight instructors under FAA Part 61 and Part 141. We are now offering FIXED WING instruction in addition to helicopter training.