Meet ‘40 Under Forty’ honoree Elena Alois
Chatting with Elena Alois, it’s not hard to see how she’s packed so much into her thirty-something years on Earth. A member of the just-announced 40 Under Forty Class of 2024, Elena operates at a decidedly up-tempo pace. That’s one reason. Another? She got a very early start on her accomplishments.
Elena grew up helping feed her community through the Capital Region Food Program (CRFP), a nonprofit her grandfather Mark E. Manus founded in 1974 and her family has been running ever since.
“I was at the National Guard Armory loading boxes as soon as I could walk,” said Elena, Granite Edvance’s assistant vice president of human resources.
As she got older, Elena helped coordinate the volunteers for the all-volunteer program, which distributes more than 100 tons of food annually to individuals, families, and local agencies in Concord and 17 surrounding communities. Since graduating from college, she’s been serving the organization in leadership roles, becoming chair of the board in 2023. On the board, Elena has led important changes such as replacing the traditional holiday food baskets with vouchers so families can purchase the food they want. She also continues to help with hands-on tasks: Once a month, in all kinds of weather, she helps load food into the cars of partner agencies from the Associated Grocers of New England (AGNE) parking lot as part of the CRFP Year Round Distribution Project.
Elena’s dedication to the food program is one reason she was selected for the 40 Under Forty Class of 24, which was announced in the Union Leader on Saturday and will be honored with a reception at the Capitol Center for the Arts next month. The distinction recognizes influential young professionals, often focusing on their commitment to the community.
“It’s very flattering. I’m humbled,” Elena said during a fast-paced interview shoehorned into a busy day at Granite Edvance, where for the past five years she’s been handling many of the tasks that keep the organization running smoothly.
Her work here aligns with her passion for helping her community and suits her preference for working behind the scenes to make a difference. “I like to be part of something that’s bigger than myself. I’m not usually the one that’s forward facing. I like the fact that I’m helping other employees do that,” said Elena, who’s also been serving in leadership roles for the Human Resources Association of Greater Concord (HRAGC) for the past several years, helping other HR professionals find resources, support, and networking opportunities. “Collectively, we can do more than we can independently.”
A graduate of Concord High School and Southern New Hampshire University, Elena also loves working for an organization that helps young people find their future pathways. That passion extends beyond her workplace as well. Along with her other volunteer responsibilities, Elena serves on the board of the NH chapter of Jobs for America’s Graduates, which works in school systems across the state helping students prepare for the workforce.
Juggling all of these roles can be exhausting, but Elena says she has a great support system in her husband and friends. She also swears by her color-coded calendar. And perhaps most importantly, she’s always been energized by helping others.
“It’s something that’s been instilled in me. When you have the ability to do some good, you do it in the ways you can,” she said.
A new mom, Elena has already begun instilling that value in the next generation. When she heads to Associated Grocers to load food into cars for the monthly Year Round Distribution Project, or prepare vouchers for the Holiday Project, 6-month-old Theo tags along.
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