Worcester Business Journal

16 Worcester Business Journal | August 19, 2019 | wbjournal.com 4 0 U N D E R F O R T Y 2 0 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y Hare's WSU duties include overseeing campus-wide activities and acting as a liaison to the board of trustees; but his actions go far beyond that, and well beyond the WSU campus. Hare conceived of and manages a leadership program in Washington, D.C., that has so far taught around 100 WSU students to advocate on behalf of their fellow students and learn first-hand how government policy is made. The program runs over the course of a semester and includes talks with Congressional officials to discuss issues in higher education. A bit closer to home, Hare oversees the university's State House Day, in which WSU and other public-college students advocate on Beacon Hill. Hare is a visible presence, both on campus when he stands in for President Barry Maloney at some events and elsewhere in the city, including on the Worcester Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Committee, which helped the city update its longtime hiring policies to be more inclusive. That type of advocacy is one Hare has been a part of since his days as a WSU student, when he was president of the school's Pride Alliance and served on the Student Senate. He is president of the Planting the Seed Foundation, a nonprofit providing back-to-school supplies, toys for the holidays and summer camp opportunities. – G.W. What four people would you like to travel with for a year? My late mother, to fulfill her dream of traveling. Michelle Obama, for inspiration. Anthony Bourdain, for great food. Franklin D. Roosevelt, to learn the politics of human betterment. What is the highest compliment anyone could give you? You're an amazing friend. Now at IC Federal for more than a decade, Perla has been promoted five times, with her responsibilities at the Fitchburg banking institution growing to include oversight of seven branches and its education scholarship awards program. She has had a hand in the credit union's new branch in Marlbor- ough's Apex Center, which carries a layout the company plans to make standard in all of its locations. Perla, an Uxbridge na- tive, started out at IC Federal as a deposit operations represen- tative and today represents the company at local events including for the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, the Leominster Education Foundation, and Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School's Superintendent's Dinner. Perla has served on the board at the Fitchburg shelter Our Father's House since 2013, has coached two youth soccer teams, and has volunteered for the United Way's Day of Caring, the Relay for Life in Gardner and at the Boys & Girls Club's Community Cafe. When she went back to school to get her MBA, she graduated last De- cember as the recipient of Fitchburg State's graduate achievement award, the first graduate business major to receive the award and take home a 4.0 grade-point average. – G.W. If you could live anywhere for one month, where would it be? On the beach in Wells, Maine with my family! What's the hidden gem of Central Mass.? Cherry Hill Ice Cream on the Lunenburg/Leominster line! Great ice cream in the summer and an awesome spot for sledding in the winter! What would you say to an intern entering banking? Get involved as much as you can with your organization, create solid relationships in your community, listen, and treat everyone with respect. Carolyn J. Perla, 35 Vice president retail banking IC Federal Credit Union, Fitchburg Residence: Leominster Birthplace: Framingham College: Fitchburg State University Patrick D. Hare, 29 Staff associate & assistant for government & community affairs Worcester State University Residence: Worcester Birthplace: Leominster College: Worcester State University Wachusett Brewing Co., Westminster

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