About the Publisher

Susan Caldwell
Owner, Publisher &
Founder of
Applaud Magazine

I wanted to take this opportunity to explain how this magazine came into being. The fall of 2002 I met a very enterprising woman by the name of Lacy Harte who publishes New Hampshire Guide to Local Crafters. I was so impressed with Lacy’s magazine that I considered attempting to publish a magazine of my own. I got the focus for the magazine from my own business experience. Not long ago, I left my accounting career to fulfill a long-held dream of being a graphic designer. In starting my own business, I knew how important it was to network, yet found it difficult to get started. Eventually, I did develop a support system, which has been very important to me as I've faced the challenges of being self-employed.

After my experience, I wanted to help other women entrepreneurs. I developed Applaud because I saw it as another way for women to network and support each other. Through this magazine, women can share their stories--how they got started, how they have survived, and what they have achieved. Through this magazine, we can be resources for each other, sharing information about our goods and services. And through this magazine we can laugh, cry and commiserate as we share our "Wins, Wows and Ughs"--those stories of mistakes we've made, things we've learned--sometimes the hard way!--and obstacles we have overcome

This magazine has been the fulfillment of a dream for me and the direct result of my "third career". Born and raised on Long Island, New York, I earned my first bachelor's degree in 1973, a BA in Social Science, from Dowling College in Oakdale, Long Island. I moved to New Hampshire in 1976, living in New Durham, Loudon, and finally in Raymond.

I worked as a Social Worker and Case Technician for NH's Health and Human Services until 1985, when I went back to college and earned a second bachelor's degree, a BS in Accounting from Franklin Pierce College in Concord, NH. I worked as an accountant/auditor for various public and private businesses for almost eleven years. Since my original goal was to be a teacher, I enrolled in Notre Dame College's (Manchester, NH) master's program in Elementary Education. I graduated in 1996, but unfortunately, because of the limited number of available jobs, I never actually became a teacher.

In 1999, both my parents passed away, and that loss made me reassess my life and career path. I enrolled in the Commercial Design and Illustration program at NH Community Technical Institute in Manchester, NH. After graduating with a certificate in 2001, I started my own graphic design firm. Last fall, I decided to bring the knowledge and experience of many of my friends to the public and created Applaud Magazine. I now divide my time between working on the magazine and my graphics business. My goal and hope is that our readers will enjoy and learn from our articles.