SBA’s 2023 New Hampshire Woman-Owned Business of the Year
Kerri Dutton ~ LNA Health Careers ~ Manchester
There is no occupation facing a more critical shortage than nursing. If anyone envisioned themselves in the healthcare field, now is the time to meet Kerri Dutton, Director of LNA Health Careers, NH SBA’s 2023 Women-Owned Business of the Year. Kerri is a strong, intelligent, and compassionate person who started her career as a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) in 1992. While continuing her career she worked her way through school and successfully graduated in 2012 with a master’s degree in Nursing.
Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2020 at a time when schools and businesses were shutting down and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) prevented students from entering nursing facilities. Kerri was determined to find a way to ensure NH continued to have a workforce of healthcare-ready graduates. With a focus on education and strong leadership, Kerri purchased an existing healthcare-focused trade school that offered training courses in licensed practical nurse (LPN), licensed nursing assistant (LNA), Medication Nursing Assistant (MNA), Phlebotomy, Pharmacy Technician, Electrocardiogram (EKG), IV training, and CPR. LNA Health Careers is dedicated to providing a core foundation in healthcare education and graduating workplace-ready professionals.
With assistance from the Center for Women and Enterprise (CWE), Kerri received guidance and improved her business acumen. She gained insight and knowledge to successfully operate an existing business and position it for growth. CWE helped her navigate the process of obtaining financing to purchase a building with an SBA 504 loan through Granite State Economic Development Corp and third-party lender, St. Mary’s Bank. LNA Health Careers' student population has grown significantly in the new facility which increased capacity from 2,000 sq feet to an impressive 15,000 square feet. The campus-like facility is equipped with offices, classrooms, clinical labs, kitchen, store, and meeting areas for students to learn in a warm and comfortable setting.
In addition, Kerri created ten satellite simulated nursing lab classrooms approved by the NH Board of Nursing and Department of Education. These satellite labs resulted in over $1 million in increased sales in the first eight months and are expected to reach approximately $2.5 million in annual sales going forward. LNA Health Careers’ team has grown in both full-time and part-time employees and its territory expanded with an additional instructional campus in Meredith. While NH struggles with workforce shortages, especially in the healthcare industry, LNA Health Careers graduates over 100 work-ready LNAs each month with 110 hours of classroom and clinical training. Kerri is proud to be able to offer over $200,000 in student scholarships so far making it an affordable option for anyone with a passion for healthcare.
Nominator Tricia Utley of CWE commented, “We nominated Kerri to be the SBA 2023 Woman Small Business Owner of the Year for her tenacity, drive, and determination to improve the quality of healthcare in New Hampshire.”