CONTACT
NHEDA
New Hampshire Economic Development Association
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Carmen Lorentz
PRESIDENT
A Belknap County native, Carmen Lorentz studied international affairs at George Washington University and spent several years in Washington, DC addressing foreign policy issues and working at an international foundation. She earned her Master’s degree at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and later analyzed state economic development policies at New York’s Public Management Institute.
She returned to the Granite State in 2011 to become the executive director of the Belknap Economic Development Council, responsible for its strategic goals of enhancing the region’s workforce; retaining and attracting young talent and encouraging creative entrepreneurs.
By a unanimous vote of the Executive Council in 2014, Carmen was appointed as the director of the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, overseeing the mission of the division, including business retention and recruitment, government procurement and international trade.
Carmen now serves as the executive director of Lakes Region Community Developers, developers of high-quality affordable housing, based in Laconia.
Lorna Colquhoun
Business and Economic Affairs Representative
Lorna Colquhoun is the communications director for the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development at the Department of Business and Economic Affairs.
Before joining BEA, she was a journalist for over 25 years, including 20 years as the North Country correspondent for the New Hampshire Union Leader. Her work has been published nationally and internationally.
An avid photographer, Lorna lives in the North Country.
André L. Garron, AICP
PAST PRESIDENT
André Garron is the Hooksett town administrator, bringing over 25 years of community planning and economic development experience to the position. André has led and developed the Business Retention and Expansion, the Economic Development Academy and the Economic Assessment/Profile program over the past two years with Extension.
André earned a M.S. in community economic development from Southern New Hampshire University and a B.S. in Community Development from the University of New Hampshire.
Laurel Adams
TREASURER
Laurel Adams is the president of the Regional Economic Development Center, a non-profit alternative lender located in Raymond.
Laural earned her Certified Economic Developer Certification (CEcD) and has spent more than a decade studying the fields of economic and business development through various national and state programs.
Along with her many duties at REDC, she is on the board of the New Hampshire Alliance of Regional Development Corporations and several advisory committees dedicated to economic development, Brownfields' cleanup, and workforce housing.