Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1464571
wbjournal.com | April 18, 2022 | Worcester Business Journal 3 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 2022. 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 A division of: I N T H I S I S S U E W ho doesn't love a good underdog story? One person or organization fighting against the odds to succeed against a seemingly superior opponent: It's practi- cally the story of America. e problem, of course, with having the odds stacked against you is you will lose more oen than not. Superior opponents are favored because of their superiority, despite whatever pluck, grit, or other in- tangible qualities an underdog may bring. Tiger Woods dominated professional golf for a decade because he was the best play- er. An underdog can sneak through every now and again with the right combination of strategy, preparation, and luck, but the odds-on favorite is favored for a reason. From the moment in 2018 when the Pawtucket Red Sox announced their in- tention to move into a new public stadium in Worcester for the 2021 season, the writing may have been on the wall for the Worcester Bravehearts. Back when they were the top baseball attraction in the city, the Bravehearts were among the top six in attendance for futures collegiate teams, and that attendance had been growing steadily since their first year in 2014. Last season, in their first year competing direct- ly against the WooSox, the Bravehearts at- tendance was cut by more than half. Some of that may have been due to the lingering impacts of COVID, which depressed base- ball attendance across the country, but that was not a good start for the Bravehearts' first attempt at going head-to-head with the WooSox. As WBJ Editorial Intern Anthony Bus- carino explores in his first-ever feature sto- ry "Change-up" on page 8, the Bravehearts leadership are hopeful they have found a new formula for success. By embracing the fun and letting fans play a larger role in the entertainment, the Bravehearts are hopeful they can carve out a niche to coexist with the WooSox. e odds of the Bravehearts actually besting the Triple A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox in attendance are practically impossible, but success can be defined in a number of ways, including sponsorship dollars, concession sales, and profits. In the movie "e American President" screenwriter Aaron Sorkin shaped one of my favorite lines; to paraphrase: You don't fight the fights you can win. You fight the fights that need fighting. As a business, the Bravehearts have the odds stacked against them. But maybe, with the right combina- tion of strategy, preparation, and luck, the Central Mass. market can be a place where the WooSox and the Bravehearts succeed. – Brad Kane, editor Fighting a losing battle 4 Central Mass. In Brief 5 Worcester 300 trivia contest 12 Focus on Health care 16 The List: Top NIH grant winners 17 Guest Column: A digital world 18 Know How 19 Movers & Shakers 20 Photo Finish 21 Opinion 22 Shop Talk: B.T.'s Smokehouse 695 Main Street, Holden MA 01520 Phone: (508) 829-5566 holdenhearingaid.com/audiologist HAVE YOU EVER HAD A HEARING EVALUATION? Matthew Moreno, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology • Hearing Aids • Batteries & Accessories • Assisted Listening Devises • Amplified Phones • Hearing Evaluations • Wax Removal • Hearing Protection • Musician's Ear Plugs • Swim Plugs Many hearing issues go undetected and that can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus and balance disorders. We offer comprehensive hearing care services including complete hearing evaluations, hearing loss rehabilitation, education and counseling. W CORRECTIONS A story in the Economic Forecast edition on Dec. 20 entitled "22 People You Should Meet in 2022" incorrectly said Laury Lucien led cannabis company Major Bloom. She exited the company in November. A story in the Spring 2022 edition of WBJ's HEALTH magazine incorrectly said Joe Liscinsky commuted from Uxbridge to New York City, when he really was commuting from Connecticut to NYC. Editor, Brad Kane, bkane@wbjournal.com Senior Staff Writer, Monica Benevides, mbenevides@wbjournal.com (Health care, diversity & inclusion) Staff Writers Katherine Hamilton khamilton@wbjournal.com (Real estate, higher education) Sloane M. Perron perron@wbjournal.com (Banking & finance, manufacturing) Editorial Intern Anthony Buscarino abuscarino@wbjournal.com Contributors Susan Shalhoub, Sarah Connell Sanders, Giselle Rivera-Flores Photographers 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 N E W S & A N A LY S I S 14 Addressing rural health New technologies are being developed to help those further removed from key healthcare facilities. D E P A R T M E N T S