Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1067738
wbjournal.com | January 7, 2019 | Worcester Business Journal 3 Worcester Business Journal (ISSN#1063-6595) is published bi-weekly, 24x per year, including 4 special issues in May, September, October, and December by New England Business Media. 172 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, MA 01604. Periodicals postage paid at Worcester, MA. Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Worcester Business Journal, PO Box 330, Congers, NY 10920-9894. Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions are available for $54.95. For more information, please email wbjournal@ cambeywest.com or contact our circulation department at 845-267-3008. Fax: 845.267.3478 Advertising: For advertising information, please call Mark Murray at 508-755-8004 ext. 227. Fax: 508-755-8860. Worcester Business Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or materials and in general does not return them to the sender. Worcester Business Journal 172 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, MA 01604 508-755-8004 tel. • 508-755-8860 fax www.wbjournal.com A division of: Worcester Business Journal WBJ F or the past six years, WBJ has kicked off the year with our Best of Business awards, where our readers weigh in on what companies help their businesses flourish: banks, accountants, restaurants, cleaners, etc. You can see the full list on page 12, and it is comprehensive. Since Best of Business relies on reader votes, it essentially boils down to a pop- ularity contest and plenty of companies win their categories every year. Popularity when picking new vendors is certainly a good thing – which is why WBJ stands firmly behind this list – but it doesn't allow for the nuance of other Best of … lists picked by an editorial staff, like Boston magazine famously does every year. To this end, I've got a couple of area businesses (and one person) I recommend. Since I'm not heavily involved in the finan- cial decision making at WBJ, these recom- mendations are for what I use to do my job as WBJ editor better. Best Downtown Parking – I'm fre- quently in a hurry when I leave WBJ's Shrewsbury Street offices for an interview along Main Street. Rather than circling the streets endlessly looking for a parking space, I head right into the Mercantile Center Garage. It's cheaper than most lots, takes credit card, has an automated system and is centrally located. Best Restaurant to Meet Business Contacts for Lunch – My preference here is skewed by proximity to WBJ's offices, and it's a tie: neighbors Volturno Pizza Napoletana and simjang. Both have great food, are (almost) affordable and have mastered the all-important timing of getting the business crowd out the door in less than an hour. Best Place to Meet for Coffee (and Breakfast) – I have to agree with the WBJ readers on this one: BirchTree Bread Co. e food is amazing, parking is easy in the Canal District, and the space is a good place to chill and have a conversation. Most Go-To Business Columnist – WBJ runs three guest advice and opinion columns each issue. Occasionally I will need someone to write one on a tight deadline, and Bowditch & Dewey lawyer AiVi Nguyen is the best. She cras intel- ligent, fresh, insightful and entertaining columns all in about 24 hours. Once, she I N T H I S I S S U E did it in about 45 minutes. Best Last-Minute Christmas Shopping – When it's the Friday before Christmas and you haven't gotten all your wife's gis yet, just pop into Seed to Stem and grab the most recommended items from the helpful staff. Easy peasy. - Brad Kane, editor W SPN3599-0119 Visit healthnewengland.org/employer. Health New England Congratulates the WBJ 2019 Best of Business Winners! We're not just any health plan. We're a provider-owned health plan passionate about the health and well-being of our members. And, the right health plan starts with an understanding of the unique needs of your business. Find out how Health New England can provide you with the personal service you and your employees deserve. Talk to your broker today. Or, call us at (413) 233-3535 | (800) 842-4464. NEWS & ANALYSIS DEPARTMENTS 4 Central Mass. In Brief 5 Flash Poll 12 Focus on Best of Business 30 The List: Highest-paid nonprofit chief executives 31 The Struggle is Real 33 Movers & Shakers 34 Photo Finish 36 Business Leads 37 Opinion 38 Shop Talk: Paul Scully, Country Bank 4, 37 Duddie Massad remembered On page 4, Central Mass. business leaders reflect on the legacy of David "Duddie" Massad while the WBJ Editorial Board on page 37 discusses his one-of-a-kind personality. 32 Help employees understand health coverage Know How columnist Kate Sharry says crafting a comprehensive communication plan will allow workers to understand their benefits. My business recommendations for 2019 Editor, Brad Kane, bkane@wbjournal.com News Editor, Grant Welker, gwelker@wbjournal.com (Real estate, higher education, health care) Staff Writer Zachary Comeau, zcomeau@wbjournal.com (Manufacturing) Contributors Susan Shalhoub, Livia Gershon, Sarah Connell Research Director, Stephanie Meagher, smeagher@nebusinessmedia.com Research Assistant, Heide Martin, hmartin@nebusinessmedia.com Production Director, Kira Beaudoin, kbeaudoin@wbjournal.com Art Director, Mitchell Hayes, mhayes@wbjournal.com Senior Accounts Manager Matt Majikas, mmajikas@wbjournal.com Senior Accounts Manager Christine Juetten, cjuetten@wbjournal.com Senior Special Accounts Manager Mary Lynn Bosiak, mlbosiak@wbjournal.com Marketing & Events Manager Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com Distribution and Database Coordinator A Guide to STUFF, a publication of New England Business Media Patty Harris, pharris@nebusinessmedia.com COO, Mary Rogers, mrogers@nebusinessmedia.com Accounting Manager, Valerie Clark, vclark@nebusinessmedia.com Accounting Assistant, Rae Rogers, rrogers@nebusinessmedia.com Collections Manager, Raki Zwiebel, rzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com Human Resources, Jill Coran, jcoran@nebusinessmedia.com Publisher, CEO, Peter Stanton pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com Associate Publisher, Mark Murray mmurray@wbjournal.com President, Joseph Zwiebel jzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com