Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | May 25, 2020 | Worcester Business Journal 15 C O N N E C T O R S & I N F L U E N C E R S P O W E R 5 0 (800) 508-0048 Edward M. Augustus Jr. CITY MANAGER CITY OF WORCESTER Residence: Worcester Colleges: Suffolk University & Johns Hopkins University Usually, it's a city manager's job to make sure neighborhoods are safe, streets are paved, parks are clean and schools have the resources they need to teach students. Once in a while, it's about swinging for the fences, to use a sports cliche. Augustus, Worcester's city manager since 2014, is doing that now with the $132-million Polar Park to host the Worcester Red Sox next year. Augustus took a directive from the city council in 2017 to do everything in his power to get the team and ran with it, drawing the team away from its decades-long home in Rhode Island. Augustus is focused on economic development in other ways too, with his administration supporting incentives for a planned hotel in Washington Square, a new Table Talk Pies facility, and a manufacturing building for Chinese life sciences firm WuXi Biologics and others. Augustus and his team have supported the fledgling downtown business improvement district and signed on to the state's vacant storefront occupancy program making new businesses eligible for up to $10,000 in refundable state tax credits. What makes Central Mass. unique? Worcester and Central Massachusetts are both very rich in intellectual capital. We're committed as a city to keeping our best and brightest here in Worcester and the region. Worcester is a growing city, and we expect the 2020 U.S. census to illustrate that growth. The 2000 census data had our population at just under 173,000. That census estimate in 2018 had jumped to just under 186,000 – an increase of 7.6% – which far outpaced many cities in the Northeast, including Manchester, N.H., Providence, Albany, and Hartford. History buff: I have always been fascinated with history, especially political history. At the age of 13, I began collecting political campaign buttons, and to date my collection has grown to more than 2,000. Rachel Lopez PRESIDENT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INC., FITCHBURG Sue Mailman OWNER COGHLIN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS & COGHLIN NETWORK SERVICES CO., WORCESTER Timothy P. Murray PRESIDENT AND CEO WORCESTER REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Residence: Fitchburg A long succession plan has come to fruition as Rachel Lopez has taken over leadership of the largest minority-owned business in Central Massa- chusetts (with 685 employees) from her father, founder and CEO Reinaldo Lopez, and is working with her brother, Vice President Alex Lopez, to create success for another generation. The firm provides employment opportunities by servicing its clients' payroll, risk management, human resources and employment law needs, and then helping to promote growth at those companies. Rachel serves on a variety of boards and projects with the community as well, perhaps the highest profile one as a member of Gov. Charlie Baker's Latino Advisory Board. RMI helps out in the community, participating in the Rally Against Cancer for The Jimmy Fund. What makes Central Mass. unique? Central Mass. as a community provides a very diverse culture enriching the lives of so many. Our leadership whether its municipal, educational or business is second to none. This is my home; I have lived here my entire life. My job presents many opportunities to travel all over the country and abroad, and I can tell you there is no place like home. Dinner at Rachel's house: I am a foodie. I love to eat and cook. It is fun to try a dish, reverse engineer it, and recreate the recipes at home. Residence: Worcester College: Northeastern University As the owner of the fourth generation company with 150 employees and more than $130 million in annual revenue, Mailman can wield a strong voice over almost any topic she likes. She uses much of that influence to advocate for unions and union jobs offering living wages and benefits. At a time when the strength of unions is diminishing politically and in the workplace, Mailman's advocacy is important for those people who were left behind in the growing economy and will soon struggle in the economic recession following the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to being outspoken for workers' rights, Mailman prioritizes mentoring young people and those new to Greater Worcester, encouraging them to support nonprofit organizations with their dollars and volunteer time. She is helping to lead the capital campaign for the $24-million renovation of the YWCA Central Massachusetts facility in Worcester. What makes Central Mass. unique? The size of our community seems to allow a range of individuals and businesses to engage with all sectors, including our very important not-for-profit sector. Snip, snip: I will be cutting my own hair during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residence: Worcester Colleges: Fordham University & Western New England University School of Law It is difficult to understate Murray's importance to all the business developments happening in Greater Worcester. As the former mayor of Worcester and lieutenant governor under Gov. Deval Patrick, he is a main reason Worcester is constantly cited in having its act together when asking for government assistance. Knowing this, it is easier to understand why Worcester was able to get designation for an emergency field hospital in the DCU Center to battle the coronavirus, a week ahead of Boston getting a similar designation, despite the larger city having a more pressing need. Or why the state announced $50 million in transportation infrastructure improvements the same day as the Pawtucket Red Sox and the City of Worcester announced the team was moving to the city. While being the public face of the Greater Worcester business community, Murray plays important roles serving on boards like for Anna Maria College in Paxton and Worcester Latino Dollars for Scholars. What makes Central Mass. unique? The level of collaboration and our diverse regional economy. Music man: Bruce Springsteen's "Western Stars" is my new favorite album.

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