Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | April 29, 2019 | Worcester Business Journal 17 Mergers & acquisitions, succes- sion planning, growth, start-ups and day-to-day working capital all re- quire financing. But who should you work with and how do you decide which bank is right for you? Money is green. No matter where you bank, money is money. You should find a bank that listens, prides itself on service, and promis- es to be there when times are tough. At Webster Five, we genuinely care about our business customers and have their best interests in mind. I just recently brought in a piece of business from a competitor at a higher rate. e customer came to know that I'll return calls and take the time to understand the business needs. A banker who serves as a trusted advisor is worth that extra cost. It takes a team. An accountant, a lawyer and a banker round out a business's professional team and should all work together. I always make sure we're working toward the same goal, whether it's creating that sister company, minimizing taxes or reducing liability to the owner. Our experienced team of lenders believe in the power of meeting with coun- terparts and discussing the business needs as a team. If everyone does their job, the result will be lower le- gal costs, lower taxes, less liability to the owner, the right succession plan and a better loan structure. Seek help from others. Your banker should know when to ask for help. Not every acquisition is the same. Your banker should know representatives at the local business development corporation (WBDC), SBA, Mass Development and many other quasi government lenders. ey can help bridge the gap and provide guarantees, subordinated debt and assistance to close the deal. In my 25 years of commercial banking, I've been part of many successful business relationships. It's fun to witness the mom and pop business grow to a multimillion- dollar business, ultimately providing jobs and helping our local economy! No matter the size of the deal, Webster Five wants to work with you to provide financial solutions. We hope it's only the beginning of your relationship with the Bank. As additional needs arise, our team recognizes the importance of main- taining relationships to help your business grow and succeed! THE ADVISOR: Thought Leadership Column Christopher Watson SVP, Senior Lending Officer https://www.web5.com ADVERTISING SECTION Working with a Commercial Banker 101 MassDevelopment provides financing and real estate solutions to hundreds of projects across Massachusetts. Our collaborations create jobs, revitalize communities, and stimulate the local economy. Visit MassDevelopment.com or call 800.445.8030 and ask to speak with one of our economic development professionals. @MassDev IN EVERY IN EVERY IN EVERY COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY, WE SEE WE SEE WE SEE OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY. OPPORTUNITY. OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY. OPPORTUNITY. OPPORTUNITY. OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY. OPPORTUNITY KHJ25059_MAS-308_Worcester_community_6.625x5.indd 1 4/24/19 1:38 PM M OV E R S & S H A K E R S Dr. BRITTANY FALCONE of Worcester Family Chiropractic has been granted certification by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. The certification allows her to expand her care to women throughout their pregnancy. She is specially trained to provide chiropractic care for infants and children. KELLY BENOIT, a senior vice president for compliance and training at Homefield Credit Union in Grafton, has received her certification as a credit union compliance expert, one of more than 2,000 such desig- nees nationally. SEAN W. BRENNAN of Lamoureux Pagano Associates | Archi- tects of Worcester is now a registered architect in Massa- chusetts. Brennan, a lifelong Worcester resident, has been with the firm for nine years and has worked on projects for the College of the Holy Cross and the city of Worcester, and is now working on the Beal Elementary School project in Shrewsbury. He has bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. CARLA CARTEN of Shrewsbury, the assistant vice chancellor of diversity and inclusion for UMass Medical School, has been appointed a new board member of the Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts, which has offices in Worcester. Carten has a doctorate in organizational behavior, a master's degree in organizational development, and has more than 20 years of experience in the field. She's joined on the board by three students who were newly appointed: EV- ELYN BAGLEY, a 16-year-old sophomore at North Middlesex Regional High School in Townsend; SOPHIE THOMPSON of Harvard, a 15-year-old at the Bromfield School in Harvard; and MARGUERITE KOCSMIERSKY of Springfield, an eighth grader at the Zanetti Montessori School in Springfield. PRISCILLA M. ELSASS has been appointed dean of Clark University's Graduate School of Management. Elsass has served in academic and leadership roles at Clark for 25 years, most recently as the graduate school's interim dean. She joined the graduate school as an assistant professor of management. She is the ed- itor-in-chief of Organization Management Journal and has been a reviewer or editor for several other professional journals. FALCONE BRENNAN W

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