Worcester Business Journal

14 Worcester Business Journal | October 11, 2021 | wbjournal.com F O C U S O U T S T A N D I N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S PHOTO/MATT WRIGHT Kimberly M. Salmon Assistant vice president of community relations and president of foundation e Hanover Insurance Group and e Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, in Worcester Residence: Worcester Colleges: Newbury College in Boston and The American Women's College at Bay Path University What is your advice for women starting their careers? Believe in yourself and be authentic! It requires a great deal of courage for a woman to lead, be successful, and most importantly, ask for help when needed. Let's all pave the pathway for other women, especially BIPOC women, to contribute and succeed. What do you attribute your success to? I am here today against the odds because I was repeatedly challenged to prove myself against a backdrop of skepticism and the established pathways to success. Today, I am here with a strong and ardent voice because I worked diligently, persevered, maintained my integrity and resilience, and had the courage to lead, with dignity, respect for others, and a drive to succeed. What is the best way to find work/ life balance? Accept your limitations. Say, "No" more and be okay with it. BY SLOANE M. PERRON Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer I f you would have told this former culinary student her career would take her on a journey through nonprofits and community work to a for-profit company, Kimberly M. Salmon would have never believed you. Salmon joined e Hanover Insur- ance Group in the midst of the coro- navirus pandemic and has been with the company for two years, serving as assistant vice president of community relations and president of e Hanover Insurance Group Foundation. "She is courageous, kind and humble with a deep appreciation for our great city," said Jennifer Luisa, chief market- ing officer at Hanover, who has known Salmon for the past 10 years. Salmon's deep connection to Worces- ter and drive for social justice is in her blood: Her mother was a social worker, and her aunt, Elizabeth "Betty" Price, was the first African American woman to be elected to the Worcester School Committee and co-founder of Prospect House, the largest African American social services agency in the city at the time. "Everyone identifies me as a person who gets into the community. I am not someone who sits on the outside," Salm- on said about her roll-up-your-sleeves- and-get-to-work philosophy. Salmon's career began at the Pros- pect House before transitioning to the Walker Home and School in Needham where she worked in a residential treatment program for troubled youths. rough her work, Salmon realized the life-changing impact these services had, but saw lack of funding was a major obstacle. Oentimes, she would find herself in the organization's development office brainstorming different activities and experiences for the children, but was turned down because of the budget. is inspired Salmon to investigate grants and turn to the community for support in order to provide more opportunities for the youths that she served. "at kind of began a transition in my career. Here I was in school for culinary arts; and I was working residential, and I eventually became a fundraiser," Salmon said. rough the rest of her career, Salmon worked for a series of nonprofits such as Two-Ten Footwear Foundation, American Heart Association, YMCA of Central Massachusetts, and Fallon Health, where she served as director of community relations and engagement. In her current position, Salmon oversees e Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, which awards $2 million annually in grants and community spon- sorships. e goal is to provide addition- al resources to help the city. Among her many responsibilities, Salmon provides volunteer and community engagement opportunities for Hanover employees, so they can get out into the city and help residents. "Initially I was questioning, 'Do I want to work for a for-profit? Will I lose who I am? Will I lose my voice? Will I lose my ability to continue to inspire or to lead?' But I haven't. I feel like my voice has got- ten louder, and my reach has gone wider and more broader; and that is because of the opportunity of being at a company Salmon dedicates herself to helping the community like this," Salmon said. Salmon balances her busy work sched- ule with motherhood and serving on numerous boards, including Ascentria Care Alliance in Worcester, Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Worcester Educational Collaborative, and e Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce's Women's Leadership Conference Committee. Over the course of her career, Luisa has watched Salmon develop the ability to mobilize corporate leaders and form meaningful connections with nonprofits throughout Worcester. "Whether it is her response to COVID as an active member of the Worcester Together task force, or her position as board member for the Greater Worces- ter Community Foundation, or her role as chair of the Worcester Women's Leadership Conference, Kim knows how to lead, connect, and get things done," Luisa said. roughout her work, and personal life, Salmon has prioritized helping oth- ers, promoting diversity, and upliing other women. "It's critically important for women to have a seat at the table, and if there is not a seat, you just need to pull your own chair up," Salmon said. W

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