wbjournal.com | December 6, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 3
Editor, Brad Kane,
bkane@wbjournal.com
Senior Staff Writer,
Monica Benevides,
mbenevides@wbjournal.com
(Manufacturing, diversity & inclusion)
Staff Writers
Katherine Hamilton
khamilton@wbjournal.com
(Real estate, higher education)
Sloane M. Perron
perron@wbjournal.com
(Banking & finance, health care)
Contributors
Susan Shalhoub, Livia Gershon
Photgraphers
Matt Wright, Edd Cote
Lead Researcher, Timothy Doyle,
tdoyle@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
Christine Juetten,
cjuetten@wbjournal.com
Senior Special Accounts Manager
Mary Lynn Bosiak,
mlbosiak@wbjournal.com
Marketing & Events Manager
Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com
COO, Mary Rogers,
mrogers@nebusinessmedia.com
Accounting Assistant, Rae Rogers,
rrogers@nebusinessmedia.com
Account Receivable Specialist,
Patty Harris,
pharris@nebusinessmedia.com
Human Resources, Jill Coran,
jcoran@nebusinessmedia.com
Director of Audience Development,
Valerie Clark,
vclark@nebusinessmedia.com
Operations Assistant,
Leah Allen,
lallen@nebusinessmedia.com
Publisher, CEO, Peter Stanton
pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com
Associate Publisher, Mark Murray
mmurray@wbjournal.com
President, Tom Curtin
tcurtin@hartfordbusinessjournal.com
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 2021. 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 $72.00. 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
Worcester Business Journal
WBJ
W
ell, here we are, the last
month of 2021. Did
anyone else barely even
register the passage of
time this year? I could
be easily convinced it is still 2020. Rather
than developing a new normal since the
start of the coronavirus pandemic, it
seems we are stuck in a never-ending, but
ever-shiing, Twilight Zone.
Either way, 2022 is almost upon us. Be-
fore we ring in another new year, we still
have the all-important month of Decem-
ber. at means short days, long nights,
time to use the last of your vacation days,
and – of course – the holidays. is time
of year is typically spent easing up on
the gas pedal of business, while taking a
few moments to spend time with those
around you who you appreciate the most:
friends, family, employees, co-workers,
clients, and partners. You may even be
bringing back your office holiday party.
WBJ is ringing in this festive month
with Monica Benevides' cover story "e
evolving world of Christmas tree farms"
about how the pandemic has created
unexpected challenges in this steady
industry. As I was reading the story
for the first time, what struck me most
was the ending. roughout the article,
various farmers discussed how they are
adjusting to the increased demand caused
by the pandemic, how they are shaping
their future crops to hopefully sustain
that demand a decade from now, and
how Christmas tree shopping has become
much more of a festive family experience,
rather than the traditional chop-it-down-
and-move-on approach from years past.
At the end of the story, one of the farmers,
Jan Davagian from Sutton, reminds us all
these are good problems. Christmas trees
are a fun business to be in, and she enjoys
what changes each year brings.
For two years, the Central Massa-
chusetts business community has faced
challenges no one would have expected
back in 2019. Most of these weren't fun
challenges either: layoffs, revenue short-
falls, supply chain issues, labor shortages,
workplace transitions. e list is long and
unique for everybody. And none of these
challenges are going away anytime soon.
Yet, as we enter the last month of 2021
and all its festivities, we should take time
to enjoy our lives, both personally and
professionally. Focusing on what is good
won't eliminate what is bad, but using this
moment to reflect on what is fun will ulti-
mately feed your soul. 'Tis the season.
– Brad Kane, editor
'Tis the season
N E W S & A N A LY S I S
4 Central Mass. In Brief
12
Focus on Law & accounting
16 The List: Top law firms
17 The List: Top accounting firms
18 Column: The Hustle Is Real
19 Know How
20 Movers & Shakers
22 Opinion
22 Shop Talk: One Fun Company
6 $15M expansion
After 12 years of planning, Tower Hill has
completed construction on an effort to
diversify its audience.
8 Biotech's diversity problems
The state's biopharmaceutical industry
committed itself to promoting diversity,
equity, and inclusion, but companies need
to set aside resources to see those
promises through.
D E P A R T M E N T S
A division of:
Our team
is here for you
Local, Independent,
Certified Financial Planners
www.CarrFinancial.net
Call for a no-obligation discussion
about what we can do for you
Call 508.795.0264
20 Park Avenue
Worcester, MA 01605
T A X S T R A T E G Y | I N V E S T M E N T | R E T I R E M E N T
Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice
offered through Private Advisor Group, a registered investment advisor. Private
Advisor Group & Carr Financial Group are separate entities from LPL Financial.
W
I N T H I S I S S U E
