I Came to Manchester, NH, for College and Stayed for My Career
An SNHU alum details why he started and grew his career in Manchester.
With a population of just over 115,000 residents, Manchester is New Hampshire’s most populous city – not to mention the state’s largest sports, entertainment, and arts and cultural destination. The city boasts must-visit venues, like the Currier Museum of Art, exquisite outdoor offerings, like the 2,500+ acre Lake Massabesic, and fun events, like the world’s largest taco tour.
In addition to its quality-of-life amenities, the city is also a great place to start and grow a career. In fact, numerous grads who came to the area for college have chosen to stay in Manchester for jobs postgraduation.
One is Stephen Denis, who moved from Warwick, Rhode Island, to study sports management at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) in 2014. Though he moved back to Rhode Island briefly after graduating in 2017, he returned in 2018 to work for the university and obtain a master’s degree. Today, he remains SNHU’s relationship manager and strategic adviser and is an adjunct business instructor.
Why did you choose to come to Manchester for college?
SNHU was one of several schools I applied to and got accepted to, but it was the last school I toured. I only toured because we had a family friend who was a senior there at the time, and they encouraged us to visit. It’s about two hours away, but I had that feeling, which is sort of cliché – I just had this sense of “This is where I belong.” I loved that the school had small class sizes, a true feeling of belonging, and your instructors recognized you and knew your name. There was an affordability aspect, and I was also able to finish my degree at a faster pace than a typical four-year degree.
What brought you back to Manchester?
I just had a sense that it was where I belonged. I had the opportunity to work for my alma mater. I was also interested in pursuing my master’s; by working for the university, the cost of my tuition would be covered.
Growing up, I was pretty introverted, and SNHU was a place that really transformed me. I gained so much perspective and met people from different backgrounds. Manchester became a second home for me. I saw Manchester as a great starter city. I was intimidated by bigger cities like Boston and New York. Manchester was a great place to find my footing, and as my first experience as an adult, it offered a lot in the way of giving me the life I wanted to have.
How did you start making connections in the community after graduation?
I came back to Manchester in 2018, and the first thing I got involved in was the local political scene. Politics is tourism here, and every few years, it becomes like a lightning rod. As a young person interested in progressive politics, it was an opportunity to get involved, knocking on doors and getting familiar with different neighborhoods.
That led me to learn about Stay Work Play, an organization in New Hampshire whose goal is to attract and retain young people and understand why young people are leaving New Hampshire. They had an event called the Rising Stars Awards. It’s a leadership awards ceremony, and I volunteered for that. I was looking for opportunities to meet involved and engaging people. That led me to Manchester Young Professionals, which I’m still a member of now. The mission of the Manchester Young Professionals is to connect young people and advocate for the issues impacting young people and how to make Manchester a desirable place to live.
What do you love about living in Manchester?
There’s a movement here for young people to get involved in the issues impacting the city, and there is an avenue here for people to get involved. I love the food scene here, too. I’m a regular at The Bridge Café, Industry East – it’s all really local. There aren’t many chains, and the atmosphere is very welcoming. We have a big stretch of downtown, but there are also tons of walking and biking trails. Lake Massabesic is a great place to get out on the water and check out the fall foliage. Manchester also has a lot of public art. You can’t drive through downtown without seeing a painted box or a mural. It’s a city that’s really made an effort to inject color and life into the culture of the city. We have the Courier Museum of Art, too. I didn’t have much interest or any experience in going to museums before living here, but now, they’re some of my favorite places to hang out.
Describe your ideal Saturday in Manchester.
On my ideal Saturday, I’m probably waking up and going to The Bridge Café for a breakfast sandwich and a smoothie. Assuming the weather is nice, I’d find a place by Arms Park along the Merrimack River. I’m lucky enough to have all of this within walking distance, so I’d walk back to my apartment in the Millyard along the river.
In the afternoon or evening, I’d stop at Industry East, which is usually packed to the brim. It’s the most elevated bar in town. They have great cocktails and mocktails. It’s a great place to go either before or after dinner or whatever other plans you have that evening. I’d hit Puritan Backroom for dinner or hang out with friends downtown. I have a fire pit at my place, too, so I might come back to my place with friends, too.
Why would you recommend other students consider staying in Manchester for their careers?
Manchester is a city with a well-connected hub of young professionals finding their footing, growing their careers and figuring out how to be functioning adults. It’s easy to get your name out there. The city also has a great food and drink scene. [Manchester is] a great blend of city and nature, with a number of local parks, hikes and trails.
This article was sponsored by the Manchester Economic Development Office.