Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1161311
wbjournal.com | September 2, 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 2019. 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 O ne day, I want to be as brave as Renee Diaz and Joshua Croke, two of the columnists in this edition of Worcester Business Journal. ese two Central Massachusetts business owners really put themselves out there, writing honest and fearless columns to make readers re-examine their lives and hopefully inspire all of us to be better people and be better to those individuals around us. Diaz brings her trademark emotional poignancy to her monthly e Struggle is Real column on page 17 entitled "I put the world on my shoulders, and it broke me," talking about how she has struggled with depression for the last few months, in a year where her business and herself personally have had more successes than most people could hope for. For all the progress of the last few years, mental health is still a taboo subject; and it is even harder to admit one's own shortcomings, much less publicly in a magazine column. Yet, here is Diaz, leading the way, letting everyone know it is OK to struggle sometimes, too, and that it is important to recognize when you need help and then seek it out. Fresh off becoming WBJ's first non- binary winner of the 40 Under Forty award and about a year since they came out as nonbinary publicly, Croke has a Viewpoint opinion column on page 21 about the need for the business world to be more inclusive of the way people want to live their lives, and how companies can identify and minimize bias against marginalized groups. e aptly named "I have a beard & wear heels" column by Croke positions them as a leader and advocate on a subject still making many people uncomfortable. Yet, they are straightforward and resolute in their opinion, which I imagine is reflective of the personality of a person who wears a beard and heels to a business meeting. ere is a difference between being honest and being so honest about who you are and what you stand for that it will change the way people think and feel. I N T H I S I S S U E Speaking just for myself, I am so grate- ful to have people like that in our Central Massachusetts business community. ey li us up. - Brad Kane, editor W You're Invited to the 176th ANNUAL MEETING WORCESTER COUNTY MECHANICS ASSOCIATION MECHANICS HALL 321 Main Street, Worcester Tuesday, September 24, 2019 ▪ Mechanics Hall 11:30am: Buffet Luncheon & Networking 12:15pm: Business Meeting & Program GUEST SPEAKER: EDWARD AUGUSTUS, JR., Worcester City Manager The City Manager will provide an update on Worcester's revitalization and how Mechanics Hall and our North Main Street neighborhood are part of the new face of downtown. TICKETS: Mechanics Hall Members: Free Non Members: $15 www.mechanicshall.org or 508-752-0888 NEWS & ANALYSIS DEPARTMENTS 4 Central Mass. In Brief 5 Flash Poll 9 The List: Top SBA loan recipients 10 Focus on: Higher education 16 The List: Top colleges and universities 17 The Struggle is Real 18 Know How 19 Movers & Shakers 20 Photo Finish 21 Opinion 22 Shop Talk: Bill Minkle, RCAP Solutions 14 Training new healthcare bosses Fitchburg State and Anna Maria have gotten strong responses to new health administration majors. 18 Workforce training is easier than you think Quinsigamond Community College President Luis Pedraja details ways companies can use state programs to upgrade their employees' skills. Creating a bold, new standard 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 CORRECTION: The 40 Under Forty profile for Anna K. Zheng, MD in the Aug. 19 edition of WBJ incorrectly said she stated at Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center in August. She started there in October. While correct in the headline of the story, the 40 Under Forty profile for Gilmarie Antoniette Vongphakdy in the Aug. 19 edition of WBJ misspelled her last name.