Mary Carroll Murphy

Mary Carroll Murphy, a distinguished business owner and former Fortune 500 executive from Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, was born and raised in Western Massachusetts. In 1990, Digital Equipment Corporation recruited her to Bedford, New Hampshire, to lead marketing initiatives for their innovative integrated office systems.

Having worked in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, California, and various international locales, Murphy has carved a successful path through the information technology and financial services industries, earning numerous high-profile awards along the way.

Currently, Murphy leads a groundbreaking software company and, alongside her husband, owns a considerable amount of land in Francestown, New Hampshire. Here, they have built their "forever" home, Black Shoals, by the scenic Piscataquog River.

Current Roles

Cost Cures

As the CEO of Cost Cures, based in Peterborough, New Hampshire, Murphy heads a software company founded in 2024. This innovative firm is set to revolutionize the healthcare industry by providing transparency in pricing for dental, healthcare, and vision services, aiming to reduce the high costs associated with medical care nationwide.

The company is developing an AI-driven database and search tool that allows users to find low-cost options for medical, dental, and vision tests and procedures across the country. Murphy and her team are also working on integrating telemedicine and medically trained concierge services, which will be accessible directly through the company's website and a dedicated mobile application.

Black Shoals Farm

In 2022, Murphy and her husband started Black Shoals Farm, a non-GMO, chemical-free farm in Francestown, New Hampshire. The farm aims for sustainability and produces fruits, vegetables, edible flowers, and medicinal and gourmet herbs.

Career History

Charles Schwab

In 2011, Murphy was selected from a pool of thousands to become the first Charles Schwab Independent Branch franchisee in the nation. Charles Schwab is a leading provider of investment products and services, including brokerage and retirement accounts, and is the largest publicly traded investment services firm in the nation, with assets under management totaling approximately $7.4 trillion.

Within ten years, Murphy grew her franchise to become one of the largest independent wealth management practices in New Hampshire, managing nearly $1 billion in assets by early 2022. In recognition of her pioneering work, Charles Schwab instituted the Charles Schwab Champion Award. She sold her successful franchise in mid-2022.

Earlier Roles

Her career began in 1979 with what is now known as Eversource in Western Massachusetts and Connecticut. Recognizing early the potential of technology in the insurance industry, she secured a position as a Technical Analyst at ITT/Hartford Insurance Group in 1982, quickly ascending to Assistant Systems Manager. Then, the Director of a subsidiary focused on selling programmer productivity software. From 1982 until 2001, Murphy climbed through the ranks of senior management at various high-tech firms, including Digital Equipment Corporation, Lotus Development Corporation, IBM, and several startups. IBM/Lotus Development eventually relocated her to Europe to manage a global division that collaborated with governments and major companies to deploy public Internet and email services worldwide.
After a hiatus in 2001 to care for her ailing parents, she earned a Master's degree from Rivier University in 2004 and taught mathematics and personal finance at Manchester High School West. She then transitioned to financial advising, joining UBS Financial Services and later becoming an independent financial advisor with MassMutual.

Academic Background

Bridgewater State College

Murphy graduated from Bridgewater State College in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, in 1978, having studied there from 1975 until 1978. She graduated early after excelling in advanced placement exams, earning a bachelor's degree in communications, arts, and sciences, with minors in psychology and English. During her time at college, she was a class officer, swim team member, and forensic and debate team champion.

Rivier University

In 2004, Murphy earned an M.Ed. with high distinction from Rivier University in Nashua, New Hampshire, a private Catholic university accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and approved by the New Hampshire Department of Education.

Awards

Throughout her career, Murphy has received numerous accolades, including DEC 100 and Decathlon sales awards from Digital Equipment Corporation. She was part of a team that significantly advanced the global adoption of email in the early 1990s, earning an Electronic Mail Association Leadership Award in 1992. While at IBM/Lotus Development Corporation, she received a Lotus Achievers Award in 1994 and the Summit Award for Manager of the Year in 1995. During her time as a financial advisor, she received two UBS Leaders Circle Awards for asset growth. As a Charles Schwab franchisee, she won Small Business of the Year in 2018 from the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, among other peer and industry awards.

Philanthropic Endeavors

Murphy and her husband are active in their community, regularly donating to local organizations such as the Francestown Old Meetinghouse, the Francestown Volunteer Fire Department, and the Francestown Food Bank. They also support Monadnock Community Hospital, where she is a member of the Parmalee Society. The couple donated an 11-acre riverfront conservation easement in 2020 to protect local wildlife habitats and have been active in community events and fundraising for various local causes.

Board Memberships

Murphy has served on the Board of Trustees of Rivier University since January 2016, committed to the institution's mission of transforming hearts and minds to serve the world. She also served on the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph Hospital between 2016 and 2019.

Personal Life & Interests

Mary Carroll Murphy considers New Hampshire her "forever" home, having moved there over three decades ago. She and her husband, a former chemical engineer and Professional Engineer, live in Francestown, New Hampshire, with their Belgian Malinois and several Jubilee Orpington chickens named after close friends and family. She enjoys gardening, reading non-fiction, antiquing, kayaking, sport shooting, and cooking for friends and family. She continues to be an influential figure in her community and an inspiration in both her professional and personal life.