Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | April 1, 2019 | Worcester Business Journal 5 B R I E FS Dennis Tully, president of MTD Micro Molding, dies Dennis Tully, president of Charl- ton-based plastic injection mold manu- facturer MTD Micro Molding, has died. Tully, 58, died unexpectedly on Feb. 28. He leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Darlene, three children, two grandchil- dren and a host of family members. Tully purchased the company from his father, the company's founder, in 2008. He re-positioned the company for the medical device market, helping the company grow to enormous success. e company was named Processor of the Year by Plastics News on March 6, less than a week aer his death. "It's the biggest accomplishment in Dennis' eyes," said Marketing and Sales Director Lindsay Mann, also Tully's niece. "at was extremely bittersweet." MTD is preparing to break ground on a 12,000-square-foot expansion of its Charlton facility aer investing about $1 million to increase production capacity. Because of Tully's planning, his death should have no material effect on the company. He had stepped away from the day-to-day operations about two years ago. Gary Hulecki, executive Midtown Mall needs to catch up The Worcester Redevelopment Authority is exploring acquiring the Midtown Mall, possibly by eminent domain, to market the building to a developer. The low-cost space downtown is largely occupied by small businesses, primarily owned by minorities. The city would provide relocation assistance for displaced businesses. A WRA public hearing on the building is set for April 4. When polled online, the majority of WBJ readers said the property needs to be improved to fall in line with other downtown properties. F L AS H P O L L Should the Worcester Redevelopment Authority acquire the Midtown Mall to bring in a higher-end developer? vice president, has been running the company. Ownership of the company will stay within Tully's family, Mann said. ere are no plans to sell or become public. As an uncle, Mann described Tully as full of life and extremely generous. As a boss, he was a whip-smart business man who set the company up for future success by establishing a core team of leaders and instilling a successful business culture, she said. at included keeping things loose and keeping his employees happy, including routinely providing breakfast, lawn games and company field trips. Dennis Tully "The WRA should not be allowed to take some- one's property just because they don't like the way the owner operates his property. Eminent domain's purpose is when the gov- ernment takes property for public use, not to resell the property to another developer to gen- erate more tax revenue for the city." "We need to, as a city, bring up neglected locations to connect with renovated and new properties to make the city more attractive to business and people looking for a new place to live." Continued on Page 6 14% "The owner has been uncooperative for a long while ... The city needs to move forward and it will relocate those small busi- nesses to other locations where they can prosper." No. How the current owner wants to run the building is his prerogative. 16% SPN3685_0419 Congratulations to the Worcester Business Journal's 2019 Manufacturing Excellence Award honorees. We applaud your leadership and the contributions you have made to our communities. Where You Lead. (855) 460-0574 healthnewengland.org/summit No. Downtown needs a place where lower- income businesses can get their start. Yes. The mall is in a prime location and needs a higher financial use. 13% Yes. The rest of downtown is upgrading and the mall needs to catch up. 57%

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