When Judy Duquette was a kid, she tinkered in her father’s workshop.

“He told me and my twin sister to take apart an engine to stay busy and we did,” said the West Swanzey, N.H. native.

Many years later, Judy has made a career of working on machines. At Bortech Corporation, she assembles the portable BoreWelders sold by the Keene company.

What distinguishes her Bortech experience from previous manufacturing jobs is she feels that her voice counts. “You can say things directly here and be heard,” she said.

Bortech owner Leo White believes employee involvement is critical to the success of a business.

“Valuing your employees – giving them a say in how the company is run and share of the profits – drives growth,” he said.

Bortech was the first company to receive financing from a business investment program launched by the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund in 2002. That program provided risk capital up to $500,000 to New Hampshire businesses that invest in employees and long-term growth.

This story was published in the Community Loan Fund's 2003 annual report.