Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1440918
12 Worcester Business Journal | Janurary 10, 2022 | wbjournal.com B E S T O F B U S I N E S S FOCUS M uch of the business world is built on referrals. If you or your company need something done right, you lean on the people you trust for recommendations of who will be a good lawyer, accountant, or staffing service; who can fix your plumbing, clean your office, or provide quality coffee for the breakroom; what venue hosts the best events, has the best happy hour, or is good for a fundraiser. When you need help, you go to people in the know. Collectively, WBJ's readership of business owners, executives, and managers have hundreds – if not thousands – of years of experience fulfilling their own company needs and making recommendations to the people they trust. For the ninth year, they have bestowed that expertise for WBJ's Best of Business awards, voting on who the best providers are in 58 separate categories. Nearly 20,000 votes were cast for the 2022 awards, so those atop their respective fields really had to stand out from the compe- tition. Per WBJ's usual practice, we did include the notable runners-up in most categories, in case you are looking for mul- tiple recommendations for your business' needs. For now, WBJ is planning its Best of Business awards reception and networking event on Jan. 26 at the Beechwood Hotel. If you're available and vaccinated, we encour- age you to come down and mingle with the best of the best. Of course, because of the coronavirus, extra precautions are being taken to ensure everyone's safety. – Brad Kane, editor Unless otherwise noted, all photos in the Best of Business section were given to WBJ courtesy of the category winners. WBJ readers recommend… W BEST EMPLOYEE SERVICES BEST HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDER Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts* BEST PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COMPANY MindsetGo* BEST COLLEGE FOR BUSINESS EDUCATION Nichols College* BEST FINANCIAL PLANNING/ INVESTMENT SERVICES FIRM Provo Wealth Management Group* BEST EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CONSULTANT Sullivan Benefits* BEST STAFFING AGENCY The DAVIS Cos.* BEST LUXURY AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP Wagner Mercedes-Benz of Shrewsbury* BEST EXERCISE FACILITY/ FITNESS CENTER Worcester Fitness* BEST YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK YPWA Worcester (Young Professional Women's Association Worcester, Inc.) BEST OFFICE SERVICES BEST HOTEL FOR BUSINESS CLIENTS Beechwood Hotel* BEST WASTE REMOVAL E. L. Harvey & Sons* BEST OFFICE CLEANER Eagle Cleaning Corp. BEST LOGISTICS COMPANY Euro-American Worldwide Logistics* BEST PLUMBER/HVAC CONTRACTOR J.J. Bafaro, Inc.* BEST COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE Kelleher & Sadowsky Associates, Inc.* BEST LIMOUSINE SERVICE Knights Airport Limousine Service* BEST COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPER LEI Corp. BEST BUSINESS INCUBATOR Venture X Marlborough - Apex Center BEST PANDEMIC COWORKERS BEST FURRY DUO Bella and Dave Hebert CUTEST COWORKER James "Jamie" Gardner BEST PAIR OF POOCHES Kylo and Penelope BEST FURRY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Mila* BEST PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BEST FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS Angel-Guard Products, Inc. BEST CREDIT UNION DCU – Digital Federal Credit Union* BEST FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT McLaren & Associates CPA's, PC* BEST LAW FIRM Mirick O'Connell* BEST ACCOUNTING FIRM Stowe & Degon LLC BEST MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS Studio Jade BEST WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS Sullivan Benefits BEST BUSINESS INSURANCE AGENCY Sullivan Insurance Group* BEST BANK UniBank* BEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce* BEST FOOD, DRINK & MARIJUANA BEST MARIJUANA COMPANY Bud's Goods & Provisions BEST COFFEE SERVICE Good As Gold Coffee* BEST LOCALLY OWNED PLACE TO MEET FOR COFFEE In House Coffee BEST RESTAURANT FOR BUSINESS DINNER One Eleven Chop House* BEST CATERER FOR A CORPORATE EVENT Struck Catering BEST AFTER-WORK BAR Tavern in the Square BEST COOKIE COMPANY The Cookie Lady's Daughter BEST RESTAURANT FOR BUSINESS LUNCH The Sole Proprietor* BEST LOCAL BREWERY Wormtown Brewery* BEST EVENTS & VENUES BEST VENUE FOR AN EMPLOYEE OUTING Apex Entertainment* BEST VENUE FOR A CORPORATE EVENT Beechwood Hotel* BEST VENUE FOR A BUSINESS MEETING Beechwood Hotel* BEST PUBLIC GOLF CLUB FOR CORPORATE OUTING Cyprian Keyes Golf Club* BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE Green Hill Municipal G.C.* BEST NEW REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT Polar Park* BEST NONPROFIT FUNDRAISER EVENT UMass Cancer Walk and Run BEST PRIVATE GOLF CLUB FOR CORPORATE OUTING Worcester Country Club BEST PRIVATE GOLF COURSE Worcester Country Club* BEST MULTIMEDIA SERVICES BEST IT SERVICES PROVIDER Cinch I.T.* BEST COMMERCIAL PRINTER Curry Printing* BEST AWARDS & PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS Engraveables, Inc. BEST VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANY Pagano Media* BEST WEB DESIGN FIRM PENTA Communications, Inc. BEST ADVERTISING AGENCY PENTA Communications, Inc.* BEST VIRTUAL ASSISTANCE COMPANY Simplify Simplify BEST SIGN COMPANY Sunshine Sign Company, Inc.* *Repeat winner