Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | August 16, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 21 Congratulations! FLEXcon is proud to celebrate the recognition of Shaun McDonough as a 40 Under 40 award winner. Thank you for your leadership, passion, commitment and hard work that inspires us all. Congratulations to Shaun and to all the 40 Under 40 recipients. Shaun McDonough Executive VP PPP 4 0 U N D E R F O R T Y Kelly, a three-time WPI graduate with a PhD in material science and engineering, helped grow his company from two to 36 employees in less than four years, as well as expand from a 1,000-square- foot operation to a 48,000-square-foot operation across three locations, all in Central Mass. The company provides manufacturing technology solutions, including machine learning and sustainable materials processing. Integral to Solvus, he helped convert the company's first Small Business Innovative Research grant with the National Science Foundation from a $250,000 phase I to a $1-million phase II grant, significantly expanding its funding, and focusing on developing a scrap recycling optimization tool based on research Kelly completed as part of his graduate and doctoral studies. Within Solvus, Kelly helped launch a mentoring program connecting senior staff members with junior staff members, who are then guided and mentored within the organization, providing those newer folks with structure and support, both personal and professional. Outside of work, Kelly is an active member of the WPI alumni community, hosting fundraisers for the Brain Injury Association of Mass., the WPI baseball program, and animal shelters around the region. - M.B. What world record would you like to have? The fastest mile. I chased it for a while but really never got close: 5:15, so off by 1:30. How do you define success? How well you create opportunities and enable others to succeed. What Central Mass. community is best? Worcester. It's culturally diverse with a history to learn from and an exciting future. My roots are there, too, from preschool to small business. What message would you now give to your 10-year-old self? Slow down and enjoy the ride. Reflect and learn but don't be so hard on yourself. Nobody is perfect. Sean Kelly, 28 Co-founder & chief operating officer Solvus Global, LLC, in Worcester & Leominster Residence: Shrewsbury Birthplace: Worcester College: Worcester Polytechnic Institute As creative group manager at Bose, a $4-billion electronics manufacturer, Malo manages a team of more than 15 creatives who work on global marketing, where she is responsible for leading art directors, copywriters, content strategists, animation designers and more. All this came after she helped build the e-commerce firm Edible Arrangements to new heights, helping launch the fruit delivery firm to be a company with more than $330 million in annual revenues, through a variety of roles and eventually as director of integrated marketing. As a side hustle, Malo launched Splitting Diamonds, LLC, a creative consulting business in Worcester she runs when she's not entrenched in her day job. She serves as a coach for Seth Godin's altMBA, where she helps support and develop leaders and business owners from around the world. Malo serves on the Worcester Arts Council, where she's led marketing, public relations, and significant social media growth for nearly three years. She's helped put more than $450,000 over two years into the hands of local artists and creatives through the council's annual grant cycles. All of this experience has produced a powerhouse who is not afraid to get what she wants. - M.B. What Olympic sport would you be the best at? Tug of war. It hasn't been an Olympic sport since 1920, but I think we should bring it back. Who's with me? Is there alien life? Yes. Is this even a question? Favorite Central Mass. restaurant? Baba Sushi, in Worcester What items have you crossed off your bucket list? Met some heroes, visited beautiful places, went skydiving, met my soulmate (my dog, Oatmeal). Lisa Malo, 38 Creative group manager Bose, in Framingham Residence: Worcester Birthplace: Worcester College: Syracuse University

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