Vapotherm recognized for its outstanding efforts in promoting and implementing workplace diversity and inclusion

Manchester, NH – The Diversity Workforce Coalition (DWC) and NH Health & Equity Partnership announced that Vapotherm of Exeter, NH, is the winner of the 2019 Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Award.  The City of Nashua and Comfort Inn of Concord were finalists.  The award was presented at DWC’s annual diversity conference, Building and Sustaining a Diverse Workforce, March 14 at the Puritan Conference Center in Manchester.

“All three finalists demonstrated a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion,” said DWC Board President Tina Sharby.  “They understand the importance of acquiring and maintaining a diverse workforce.  The Selection Committee felt Vapotherm took it to the next level.”

Vapotherm is a medical device manufacturer that employs 300 people.  It has been recognized as one of the Best Companies to Work For by NH Business Magazine for the past four years. 

“Increasing diversity in the workplace is critical to our success,” said Vapotherm Corporate Human Resources Coordinator Elizabeth Chick, who accepted the D&I Award on her company’s behalf.  “We’ve worked hard to build and uphold a culture of trust where diversity and inclusivity drive excellence in performance at every level.”

Vapotherm’s accomplishments include its Diversity & Inclusion Roundtable series, which brings together teammates to discuss challenging topics such as bias, the inherent danger of a single story, gender in the media, and transgender issues in the workplace.  Vapotherm has also launched a Women’s Leadership Group to encourage and support future female leaders of the company.  In addition, it has implemented an ESL training course that is further bolstered by an ESL Conversation Partners program designed to help participants practice their language skills while getting to know other colleagues.  The firm’s Professional Conduct Principles encompass respectfulness and inclusion, and all programs and benefits are offered to all team members.

The City of Nashua was recognized for its My Brother’s Keeper initiative, as well as its broad-based Diversity and Cultural Competency training program, which has been implemented across multiple community partners.  Comfort Inn of Concord was lauded for its ability to hire people with disabilities that have been largely overlooked, such as the hearing-impaired and those from the New American community.

Prior to the awards ceremony, the three finalists participated on a panel with last year’s inaugural winner, Hutchinson Sealing Systems.  Panelists included Vapotherm’s Elizabeth Chick, City of Nashua’s Kim Kleiner, Comfort Inn’s Joyce McCabe, and Hutchinson’s Shelley Lake.

The formal portion of the program concluded with the D&I Award presentation by Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig.  A networking event, sponsored by Economic Vitality New Hampshire, followed.

From left to right:  Kim Kleiner - City of Nashua, Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, DWC Board President Tina Sharby, Joyce McCabe - Comfort Inn, Elizabeth Chick - Vapotherm

The Diversity Workforce Coalition comprises employers and other community members whose purpose is to promote diversity in the workplace through education, training, enhanced networking opportunities, and to identify and connect resources to its members and the public. To learn more, please visit diversityworkforce.org

The New Hampshire Health & Equity Partnership is a public-private collaborative effort of philanthropic organizations, public health agencies, community based organizations, advocates and others concerned with health equity.