Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1015970
24 Worcester Business Journal | August 20, 2018 | wbjournal.com F O C U S 4 0 U N D E R F O R T Y Alden had a job in midtown Manhattan in corporate restructuring – making strategic and financial assessments of underperforming firms and defending clients in litigation – when he decided to take a career detour into human services. At Ascentria, Alden has made his mark on its Language Bank, an interpretation and translation service based in New Hampshire and since expanded into Massachusetts, securing a major pro-bono contract with Community Action Partners, a program of the Harvard Business School Association of Boston. Alden has executed strategic transactions of Ascentria's largest business units, managed the purchase of two senior-living communities, refocused its sales and marketing strategies, and developed analysis capabilities to help grow key business. Through his help, Ascentria has grown, providing interpretation and translation in more than 60 languages, in-home health care, children and family services, and mental health and and disability services, as well as elderly facilities in West Brookfield, Boston and two locations in Connecticut. He taught economics and entrepreneurship in Ghana while in a study-abroad program, and he is a pastoral council member at St. Luke's Church and does startup consulting work. – G.W. From judge Milka Njoroge: "Michael's achievements by expanding the Language Bank Program highlight the role that organizations play in reducing social and economic inequalities." What is your proudest accomplishment? My kids What movie character is most like you? Cooper from "Interstellar." I would travel through space to save my family. Michael Alden, 35 Vice president of business development Ascentria Care Alliance, Worcester Lives: Westborough Birthplace: Worcester Colleges: University of Massachusetts, University of Virginia, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Stanford University Copeland has had a hand in dozens of complex restoration projects in significant U.S. buildings, including the New York State Capitol and the Massachusetts State House, but particularly in higher education at places like Harvard University and MIT. When he was director of building envelopment sciences at Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects in Hopkinton, he more than doubled the size of the building envelope sciences group in just one year. Prior to that, he started the building envelope consulting practice at Thornton Tomasetti in Boston. Now, Copeland is striking out on his own, starting in June a building envelope consulting practice out of his home in Stow. His expertise on envelopes – the physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned sections of a building – makes him a sought- after author and speaker for events like Build Boston and the International Roofing Expo. He served as den leader in the Stow Cub Scout Pack 39 and coached Little League baseball. Copeland maintains a healthy work-life balance and took a one-year sabbatical with his family to Southeast Asia from 2014-2015. At the end of the day, he can't escape his love of architecture, as he has been gutting his home for the last three years, with most of the work done himself. – Z.C. From judge Milka Njoroge: "Matthew has excelled in his career and become a well-published and sought-after speaker. He is committed to giving back to the community." What do you want people to say about you when it is all said and done? He was kind. What is the best advice you've ever heard? "Reality is largely negotiable," by author Tim Ferriss. Matthew M. Copeland, P.E., 35 Principal Copeland Building Envelope Consulting, Stow Lives: Stow Birthplace: Boston Colleges: Northeastern University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Photo taken at Bancroft Tower in Worcester.