Ben Auger is a renaissance man. When he is not doing high-end remodels in Portsmouth, N.H., the owner of Auger Building Co. serves on the boards of local nonprofits and attends fundraisers for arts and cultural organizations with his wife, Victoria. These extra-curriculars, in addition to enriching his life, help him keep an eye on where his business is headed.
“We keep our senses tuned to the level of community generosity,” Auger says. He notes whether these organizations are able to raise enough money to meet their budgets or are falling short. “This may seem like a funny thing to watch, but the wealthy people in our community — our clients — give time and money to these types of organizations,” Auger says. “If these people are feeling pinched or limited, they cut back on their community giving” — and their remodeling.