Sponsor Spotlight: Northeast Delta Dental

Interview with CEO/President Tom Raffio

At the heart of Northeast Delta Dental’s mission is a deep commitment to community service, a value that resonates with its CEO and President, Tom Raffio. Describing himself as a “servant leader,” Raffio emphasizes the importance of meeting the needs of others. It’s a philosophy that guides both his leadership and the company’s operations. “Now more than ever our model of giving back is really needed and it fits with our way of doing business”, he points out.

Northeast Delta Dental is a nonprofit dental insurance company which means the company is run on a breakeven basis with any profits reinvested into the community. Raffio says the 501(c)4 designation “allows us to take the long view and not be driven by Wall Street stockholder concerns”. For example, the company created a dental program for veterans when it learned that dental services are not typically covered at Veteran Administration hospitals.

Raffio believes Northeast Delta Dental supporting the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction “is a natural fit”. “I’m delighted we’re thriving together”, Raffio declares. “Northeast Delta Dental is happy to be a corporate contributor to the Children’s Auction consistent with our mission of supporting the overall health of our community”. He praised the Auction’s disciplined process to selecting their over 80 grantee agencies which then deliver services to the children of the area.

In 2024, Northeast Delta Dental was honored as a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient. It was one of only five companies in the United States to receive the national award that year, and the first ever in New Hampshire. Established in 1987, the award recognizes organizations that exemplify the highest standards of excellence, innovation and sustainability. Raffio says “we want to take our successes and share them with the community”.

He tries to provide the example to his employees to get involved in their community. He says their employees serve on over 60 nonprofit boards contributing their time, expertise and energy to causes they care about. Their involvement not only strengthen local nonprofits, he believes, but enriches employees’ understanding of community needs.

The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction salutes Northeast Delta Dental’s focus on community health and thanks them for being the 2025 Auction’s Tuesday Wrapping Paper Station Sponsor.