Worcester Business Journal

14 Worcester Business Journal | October 29, 2018 | wbjournal.com F O C U S O U T S T A N D I N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S 2009 ALUMNAE F rances Anthes, president and CEO of Family Health Center of Worcester, is gearing up for her next big transition: retiring from her post at the nonprofit health center, a role she's had since 1997. Before that, the former teacher had been a deputy director at the center since 1991, when the facility served 6,500 patients with a $2.3-million dollar budget. Under Anthes' purview, those numbers have reached 36,000 and $40 million, respectively. In the years since she won the Outstanding Women in Business Award in 2009, the organization has grown in other ways, as well. Grants and awards populate its timeline over the past decade and beyond, with Anthes named to the inaugural class of the Worcester Business Journal Hall of Fame in 2017; the center's $8.3-million renovation and opening of its vision center in 2014; the addition of the breast health center in 2011; the launch of the center's multilingual website in 2011. "Diversity has continued to grow," said Anthes. "We have services now in even more languages – 53. We have tried to make our services more broad … responding to the opioid crisis with a broad-based approach of prevent, treat, recover. We are serving the transgender community more, as we are seeing a fair number of folks involved in that process medically," hiring and training to meet that need. A New Jersey native, aer retirement she has no plans to leave Worcester or to not seek to make an impact in some way. ough Anthes has agreed to stay on at the center until the search for her replacement concludes, she plans to volunteer in the health or social services field in the city. At the core of the center's service, she said, are the relationships built with families and the community. Whether or not she's at the helm, she expects that to continue. - Written by Susan Shalhoub Frances Anthes Current role: President & CEO at Family Health Center of Worcester Kathryn Hunter Now: President & CEO at YMCA of Central Massachu- setts in Worcester What have been your career highlights since 2009? Cele- brating the YMCA of Central Massachu- setts' 150 years of service with a success- ful capital campaign funding more than $10 million in projects. And personally? My husband, Jim, and I are proud of our two sons, who are enter- ing adulthood. is has provided us with the opportunity to travel more. I began horseback riding aer a 40-year hiatus. How has the world changed since 2009? Diversity in the workforce has changed in a positive way, and I have witnessed the exceptional results when different talents, ages and backgrounds work together. Deborah Penta Now: CEO of PENTA Commu- nications, Inc. in Westborough What have been your highlights since 2009? Won the YWCA Katherine Forbes Erskine Award in Business & Law in 2013; renovated the historic 1790 house in 2014 in celebration of the company's 25th anniversary; won the Silver Hammer from the Worces- ter Regional Chamber of Commerce; produce a TV show called "Top Growth;" presented with a key to the City of Worcester in 2014. How has the world changed since 2009? More doors are opening for women in all industries. We are seeing more female CEOs in the corporate world, in politics and in higher education. ere are more women on corporate boards. Jill C. Dagilis Now: Executive director of Worcester Community Action Council What have been your career highlights since 2010? I am proud of WCAC's work, the growth we have achieved and the positive impact the agency's services have had for so many people in need. Every day, I am thankful for the amazing board and staff team I am blessed to work with and the respect the organization has earned in Worcester. And personally? Volunteering for many years on several local boards has been very inspiring to me. From small to large organizations whose missions range from social services, research and women, to construction and development, I have loved it all. Currently, I serve as chairwoman of the Worcester Business Development Corp. My husband and I – together for 40 years – are so proud of our son and daughter-in-law, our daughter and son- in-law, and just over the moon with our adorable and fun-filled grandchildren: Lucie, Winnie and Macallen. How has the world changed? e national funding and political challenges are numerous. At the beginning of this year, the president's dra budget zero-funded nearly all of the programs WCAC offers. Our network of agencies across the country worked to ensure broad bipartisan support, and that budget didn't stick. It is essential to change the narrative around poverty and highlight what all of us doing this work know: We are more likely to succeed when we take care of each other. W W W Hanishi Thanawalla Ali Founder & managing partner of Mithras Law Group in Westborough Gail Carberry President of Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester Janet Ceddia President of Security Construction Services in Hudson Jill Dagilis Executive director of the Worcester Community Action Council Elaine Fluet CEO of Gardner Visiting Nursing Association Catherine Hoover-Smith Owner & executive director of South County Physical erapy in Auburn Outstanding Women in Business in 2010 Frances Anthes President & CEO of Family Health Center of Worcester Kathryn Zingg Hunter President & CEO of YMCA of Central Massachusetts in Worcester Patricia L. Jones Founder of P.L. Jones & Associates PC in Worcester Cynthia B. Normandin Vice president of Braun's Express Inc. in Hopedale Deborah Penta President & CEO of Penta Communi- cations in Westborough Karen Wall Senior vice president of global infrastructure services for Akibia in Westborough Outstanding Women in Business in 2009

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