Scott McKenzie Profiled by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
Scott McKenzie was recently interviewed and profiled by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. In the interview he discusses BNN’s work environment, his professional experience, and mentorship: “The best thing you can do is be open to connecting with colleagues and other professionals, and take advantage of organizations that support the local business community through networking and professional development, like local Chambers of Commerce.”
Interview with Manchester Chamber:
What makes your company or work environment unique?
McKenzie: Spend any time with a Baker Newman Noyes (BNN) professional and you will quickly see that we have the expertise and resources of a Big 4 firm with the collaborative, relationship-driven approach of a smaller regional practice. Our team includes technically savvy professionals, who are also down to earth and approachable. Our clients are diverse in industry, size, and geography. With five offices across New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts, we’re able to maintain a culture of camaraderie through cross-office collaboration. We have a team of more than 230 dedicated professionals across a host of service lines, from Tax and Assurance to our Business & Technology, Healthcare, and Transaction Advisory practices. No matter what office you’re based in, you get the opportunity to work with different teams and really get a sense of the bigger picture, and the core values everyone at BNN brings to serving our clients.
As a Managing Director and Lead of the Transaction Advisory Practice, I work with a lot of unique clients. We certainly see a diverse group of businesses, from software companies to distributors and manufacturers. This gives us a well-rounded perspective and insight on how to support entrepreneurs, owners, and businesses not only through their significant business transactions, but with day-to-day operations as well. The variety in client base makes BNN a fun and exciting work environment, and an ideal environment to grow professionally.
What accomplishments within your company are you most proud of?
McKenzie: We celebrated our 25th anniversary last year! Longevity in any business is certainly something to be proud of. I joined BNN in September 2020, and in my 10 months leading the Transaction Advisory practice, I am proud to have formalized the amazing services BNN already offered in this area. We have expanded our presence throughout New England and are growing the team who continues to knock it out of the park.
I’m also proud to be part of a firm like Baker Newman Noyes, which gives back to the community both formally and informally through volunteering time and fundraising, and by helping entrepreneurs grow by providing mentorship, teaching, and workshops. BNN believes in enriching the communities we call home, in Manchester and beyond.
What advice would you give to up-and-coming leaders in the Greater Manchester community?
McKenzie: I think being able to find a mentor, or someone who can provide guidance personally and professionally, is really the most important thing you can do. People often wonder how to find a mentor, but I think many times it happens naturally. The best thing you can do is be open to connecting with colleagues and other professionals, and take advantage of organizations that support the local business community through networking and professional development, like local Chambers of Commerce. The best mentor might not be within your own company or office, and sometimes not even your industry, but I found that just having someone as a sounding board was instrumental to becoming who I am today and where my career has taken me.
Now having been in the industry for 20 years, I volunteer my time to a couple of organizations that work with entrepreneurs to offer guidance and help get them up and running. Engaging with resources in the community is so important to building lasting, mutually beneficial relationships. There are definitely a few great options here in Manchester, like Manchester Young Professionals here at the Chamber.
What attributes do you think makes our business community and Greater Manchester region special?
McKenzie: I think Manchester flies under the radar a bit. People always talk about Boston, but Manchester has a great mix of talent and a deep base of businesses and entrepreneurs that have built and are continuing to build a vibrant community. It’s a place with the perfect balance of work and fun. You get great quality of life and the outdoors at your fingertips, with all the opportunities and variety of a larger city. People are starting to see why a business and community environment like Manchester is so valuable, especially through times like the pandemic.