Worcester Business Journal

14 Worcester Business Journal | July 9, 2018 | wbjournal.com P O W E R 5 0 F O O D & C U L T U R E ROBB & MADELEINE AHLQUIST CO-OWNERS WORCESTER RESTAURANT GROUP, WORCESTER Residence: Shrewsbury College: Syracuse University For nearly four decades, the Ahlquists have been at the forefront of Worcester's restaurant scene, elevating the city's dining options through a focus on offering food typically only found in larger cities like Boston, New York or Chicago. First came e Sole Proprietor on Highland Street nearly 39 years ago, followed 20 years later by One Eleven Chop House and 27 years later by VIA Italian Table, both on Shrewsbury Street. e focus on excellence has carried over to service, as the Ahlquists understand the importance of the limited time business lunch customers have available. e husband and wife give out a scholarship to a Graon High School graduate every year, and serve on boards like Alternatives Unlimited in Whitinsville and Community Harvest Project in Graon. What advice would you give up-and-comers? Go work for a successful organization, learning everything you can about what made them successful. Aer enough experience, go build your own company. Biking & cooking: Robb is an avid cyclist, while Madeleine loves to cook. LYNN CHENEY OWNER & CHIEF LETTUCE OFFICER LETTUCE BE LOCAL, STERLING Residence: Sterling College: Eastern Connecticut State University Cheney is the tie between Worcester County's 7,000 farms and its budding restaurant scene looking to serve fresh, locally grown food. Without her one-woman operation – although she added a part-timer and her father helps – the Central Massachusetts food scene wouldn't be the same. She founded Lettuce Be Local in 2012 aer noticing restaurants pressed for time couldn't get fresh local produce in the same way she could. Cheney connects more than 100 area farms with more than 45 restaurants, schools, breweries and farm stands, including notable clients like restaurant deadhorse hill and the new North Main Provisions shop in Worcester from the owner of Crust Artisan Bakeshop. What advice would you give up-and-comers? Have that coffee, grab lunch, network with everyone, because it is only aer you meet someone in person that you can begin to know how your relationship will blossom. Enjoying the music: I was a radio disc jockey and also taught dance for five years. SANDY DUNN GENERAL MANAGER SMG/DCU CENTER, WORCESTER Residence: Holden College: Allegheny College in Pennsylvania Dunn's role at the DCU Center alone would makes her one of the Power 50. As general manager, she oversees all aspects of the operations at the facility hosting nearly 500,000 attendees annually. Home to the Worcester Railers hockey team, Massachusetts Pirates arena football team and shows like Disney on Ice, country music duo Sugarland and e Game of rones Concert Experience, the DCU Center is oen the first impression for visitors in the region. e DCU Center has incubated high-profile businesses Worcester Wares retail and Figs & Pigs Kitchen + Pantry. Beyond the DCU Center, Dunn has a heavy hand in how Central Massachusetts markets itself and serves existing businesses, by serving on the boards of Discover Central Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. What advice would you give up-and-comers? Show up – in all ways. Participate in the community, be passionate about what you care about, be there for friends and family members, volunteer and engage. Famous origins: Born and raised in Punxsutawney, Pa., home of the famous groundhog, Phil. KARIM EL-GAMAL OWNER, RAIL TRAIL FLATBREAD CO., NEW CITY MICROCREAMERY AND LESS THAN GREATER THAN, HUDSON Residence: Hudson College: Babson College, McGill University El-Gamal and his business partners didn't single- handedly make downtown Hudson what it is today, but it can sometimes feel that way. Starting in 2012, El-Gamal opened Rail Trail Flatbread Co., New City Microcreamery and Less an Greater an with partners Michael Kasseris and Jason Kleinerman. e three storefronts – well, Less an Greater an is a bit hidden, if you're not in-the-know – are at the center of Hudson's revitalized center. El-Gamal is the head of finance for the three eateries, and they've made news for opening up their books to workers, so they understand the cost of doing business and the value of portions. El-Gamal plays a big role in the Hudson Business Improvement District, which uses a slice of tax dollars to improve downtown aesthetics and attract new businesses. What advice would you give up-and-comers? Consider small cities and towns because the support and the impact can be greater. He's got the beat: I used to be a full-time touring drummer for e Delegates, a punk rock and reggae band that toured North America four times, including the Eastern leg of the 2005 Vans Warped Tour. ERIC, SAM & JACK HENDLER CO-OWNERS JACK'S ABBY BREWING, FRAMINGHAM Residences: Holliston, Hopkinton, Framingham e Hendler brothers have quickly become giants in the beer-making industry, running the second largest Central Massachusetts brewery at 44,250 barrels produced in 2017, a 145-percent growth rate since 2015. In the seven years since Jack's Abby was founded, the company grew from one employee to 140. In 2018, the brewery was named the U.S. Small Business Administration's Massachusetts Manufacturer of the Year, on the heels of launching its new Springdale beer division in 2016. e brothers are active members in the Massachusetts Cra Brewers Guild, hosting its first-ever Technical Brewing & Business conference in May for new breweries. e brothers sponsor organizations like the MS Society and Downtown Framingham, Inc. What advice would you give up-and-comers? Be ready to take advantage when you get that lucky break. Spinning off the family business: We grew up in a family-run packaged-ice business. Beer has many of the same customers (beer stores were the best ice customers all summer long) but is much more fun to work with! TROY SIEBELS PRESIDENT & CEO THE HANOVER THEATRE AND CONSERVATORY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, WORCESTER Residence: Shrewsbury College: North Carolina School of the Arts A decade aer its opening, e Hanover eatre is cruising. It hit 231 performances and 214,000 patrons last year, both all-time highs. e theater signed a lease for a 1920s-themed restaurant to open out front on Southbridge Street, a key part of Siebels' plan to create a eatre District in Worcester with other artistic venues. Siebels has led the Hanover since the beginning, including the first four years of building a business plan, fundraising and hiring staff before the curtains even opened for the first performance. Siebels chairs the board of Discover Central Massachusetts and serves on the board of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. What advice would you give up-and-comers? Worcester is a very supportive city where most of us believe a rising tide lis all boats. It's important to embrace that and to be as selfless as possible, to support other leaders and organizations. As I've done so, they've been supportive of me and of the theatre. Bookman and Batman: Last year we built and put up a little free library in our front yard. It has become pretty popular and all sorts of people stop by now to take a book or leave a book. Also, I'm Batman.

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