Excellence in Transportation: Mark Lore: Ride Away, Londonderry.

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Mark's company Ride Away customizes vehicles for those with mobility impairments. In a nutshell he gives those who have disabilities the freedom to travel. That alone is a worthy accomplishment. But his company also has 24-hour roadside assistance, specially trained technicians and a program that provides free operational maintenance on adaptive equipment for disabled veterans. Ride Away also donates 10 percent of its earnings to charity. And this is just the business!

The list of the charities and nonprofit organizations Mark has been personally involved with literally took up well more than half a page in his nomination packet, lust to name a few are: the Moore Center, Easter Seals New Hampshire, Granite State Independent Living and Big Brothers & Big Sisters.

Mark and Ride Away also show that the best just keep getting better. Last year, we honored Mark with our 2007 Excellence in Transportation Award. Since that time, Ride Away has given away a converted van to the Vitale Family of Athens, Vt., whose home and life story were featured on an episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." The van allowed the family to safely and easily move their son Louie, who was born with multiple handicaps.

Mark proves that good guys can indeed finish first. And so we have again selected him as our 2008 winner of Transportation Excellence.

About the awards

The NHBR Business Excellence Awards recognize small-business owners and operators of businesses with 100 employees or fewer in 14 different categories.

The Awards also induct members into its NHBR Business Excellence Hall of Fame, the individuals that have made a profound and lasting impact on New Hampshire's business community and the state with their many years of service and dedication.

Visit NHBR.com and click on the NHBR Business Excellence Awards link for more information.