Granite Edvance’s Christiana Thornton and Elena Alois to be honored at New Hampshire 200 event
Flip through the pages of this year’s edition of New Hampshire 200, and you’ll find not one but two Granite Edvance team members: Christiana Thornton, our President and CEO, and Elena Alois, our Assistant Vice President of People and Talent Management.
Not a bad showing.
New Hampshire Business Review magazine’s New Hampshire 200 list recognizes the state’s most influential business leaders across major industries. The 2025 winners will be honored at a reception Tuesday, May 6, at the Grappone Conference Center.
Christiana Thornton
Joining Granite Edvance in 2018, Christiana has sharpened our organization’s focus on supporting NH students and families, working closely with the board and leadership to hone our mission and ensure all of our work aligns with it. She has also focused on building a strong team and positive organizational culture, while also prioritizing partnerships around the state in order to maximize our impact. Under her leadership, we have dramatically increased our scholarship program, created two new grant programs for community college students, developed strategies to expand access to higher education, and provided resources and support to thousands of students and families.
Last fall, Christiana was included in Business NH magazine’s list of top women-led businesses and nonprofits, and Granite Edvance was featured as one of its “Intriguing Women-Led Nonprofits.”
“Our goal is for [education] to be as affordable as possible,” she said in an interview for the magazine.
A NH native, Christiana understands firsthand the difficulty some students face on their postsecondary pathways. The first in her family to attend college, she credits her high school guidance counselor with helping her to identify her path and then navigate the college application process.
Christiana served as a staff member for former United States Senator John E. Sununu and then as President of the NH Bankers Association before joining Granite Edvance. She serves as a trustee of the University System of New Hampshire, as chair of the New Hampshire College Tuition Savings Plan Advisory Commission, and on the board of the Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire.
Excerpt from the NH 200’s Q&A with Christiana
Most excited about: Each year we’ve enhanced our support of all NH students. Granite Edvance has increased its financial support for scholarships, emergency grants and tools and resources to help students navigate their future funding and pathways. I’m so thrilled with the progress.
What keeps you up at night? The financial needs are so great among students today, with rising costs of tuition and basis needs like food and housing. There are tremendous needs and many students are struggling. These significant barriers lead me to consider what more we can do.
Elena Alois
While Christiana is often seen as the face of Granite Edvance, Elena enjoys playing a supporting role here, handling many of the tasks that keep the organization running smoothly and helping team members access resources and perform at their best.
A graduate of Southern New Hampshire University, Elena joined Granite Edvance in 2018. She serves as chair of the board for the Capital Region Food Program, a nonprofit her grandfather founded more than 50 years ago, and is a member of the Human Resources Association of Greater Concord and an honorary board member for the NH chapter of Jobs for America’s Graduates.
The NH 200 is the latest in a string of accolades for Elena. Last February, she was named to the Union Leader’s 40 Under Forty Class of 2024, and last May, she was named one of NHBR’s Outstanding Women in Business.
Excerpt from the NH 200’s Q&A with Elena
Most important business lesson you’ve learned:
The value of adaptability. You must be willing to start over again. Growth happens in those moments of resiliency when you adapt your approach and perspective to remain open to new ideas, methods, and outcomes.
Bucket list item that you’ve already checked off:
Seeing the Northern Lights dance across the sky while staying in an Icelandic bubble hotel. It was an unforgettable experience and reminded me of the importance of seeking out those once-in-a-lifetime moments and embracing the adventure.