Worcester Business Journal

Kate Sharry President Group Benefits Strategies, Auburn 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 W hat makes Kate Shar- ry – owner of Auburn business consulting firm Group Bene- fits Strategies and chairwoman of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce – a powerful leader? Her friend Kate McEvoy has an anecdote that helps sum it up. McEvoy, the vice president for Central and Western Massachusetts for insurer Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, attended the chamber's Women's Leadership Con- ference with Sharry earlier this year. "She bought us T-shirts that said 'You can sit with us,'" McEvoy said. For women in early stages of their careers, McEvoy said, that invitation provides a needed sense of welcome. "You go to these networking things, and you don't know anyone, and you're very intimidated," she said. McEvoy said it's part of the way that Sharry's friendly personality is an asset both in her day job and in her work promoting economic development. "She's one of the funniest people I know," McEvoy said. "She is absolutely hilarious." Sharry – who has served on the Worcester Business Development Corp., Worcester Homeless Youth Task Force and Planting the Seed Foundation, and is involved in local politics – is following in the footsteps of her father, Jack Shar- ry. He founded Group Benefit Strategies, which she bought from him in 2012, and he was a politically engaged civic leader. Sharry has been grateful for his assistance, first as her boss, then as her employee, and even now in his retire- ment as a trusted adviser. But Sharry said one lesson she's learned as a business owner and local leader is to embrace her own way of interacting with colleagues and clients. "It's part of how I've build my confi- dence – just be myself, not take myself too seriously," Sharry said. "I used to try to act like my father, or act like other business leaders I've seen." Sharry said she sees women taking bigger roles in Worcester's business com- munity, and she sees more men taking women's ability to lead for granted. "I feel respected and valued by a lot of the men in our business community,' she said. "I see a lot of town or city managers come on board – it just seems to be less of a challenge with them." As an insurance consulting firm, GBS works mainly for municipal clients, helping cities and towns to find insur- ance for their employees and retirees. It's tough work, sometimes involving nego- Sharry creates a fun, inclu- sive business community tiations with multiple unions represent- ing different groups of city workers. "You have to factor all of these into whatever kind of strategic solution I'm trying to offer," she said. "I like being able to go in and have, really, sometimes very tough conversations about benefits. Health insurance is so personal to so many people." Sharry said holding a leadership role with the chamber and being involved in business development is especially rewarding to her since she grew up in Worcester and still lives in Paxton. e first concert she ever went to was a Cyn- di Lauper show at the Centrum – now the DCU Center – and she's seen the region change around her. "I'm so thrilled with the direction that the city is going," she said. "I'm honored to be a part of that." For McEvoy, who grew up in Worces- ter, Sharry's understanding of the com- munity is key to her success. "ere's something about coming from here that makes it really unique," McEvoy said. Going forward, Sharry plans to con- tinue working for the local business and civic community, and supporting the success of women and girls in particular. "She's incredibly committed to focusing on boosting up other wom- en, supporting people in pathways to leadership," McEvoy said. "Always when you call her and say 'Look, I'm work- ing on this, can you help?' She's a very ready and willing partner, and always over-delivers." BY LIVIA GERSHON Special to the Worcester Business Journal Residence: Paxton Colleges: Boston College, Worcester State University What has been the key to your success? Get up, dress up, show up – that's half the battle. Surrounding myself with a strong support team. Advisement from other business and community leaders. Making mistakes and learning from them has made my confidence grow over time. If you could go back and change one thing, what would it be? Every bump in the road, every mistake, every success has brought me to where I am today and made me who I am today, so it's hard to say I'd change anything. What is your primary motivation? Even though they are 20 and 21, my children have always been and remain my primary motivation. 34 Worcester Business Journal | October 29, 2018 | wbjournal.com W 2018 W I N N E R

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