Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | May 2, 2022 | Worcester Business Journal 17 A R T S & C U L T U R E P O W E R 5 0 Business Banking doesn't have to come from a bank. Insured by NCUA 800-262-1001 | iccreditunion.org Business Solutions GRACE LAM OWNER FIVEFORK FARMS, IN UPTON Residence: Upton College: Emory University In an age when sustainable farms are struggling to maintain relevance, Lam has cracked the code to the modern-day customer. Lam founded Fivefork Farms a decade ago after quitting her job as a Wall Street international equities sales trader, and, with the help of her four siblings, has cultivated one of the most popular flower farms in the region. The 38-acre farm offers a community-supported agriculture program where customers can purchase a share of the season's flowers, which are delivered over a set period. The farm has distributed more than 1,000 CSA shares. Fivefork also provides flowers at local farmers' markets, retail stores, florists, and designers. Perhaps most impressively, Fivefork has a following of more than 64,500 on Instagram, eight times the population of the entire town of Upton. The farm was featured in the final print issue of Martha Stewart Living. In 2021, Fivefork raised more than $10,000 for refugee farmers at Flats Mentor Farm in Lancaster, who endured loss of crops due to flooding. That came on top of Lam's annual Father's Day fundraiser, where last year's proceeds went to Father Bill's & Mainspring in Brockton, in memory of Father Bill McCarthy, who was a close friend of Lam's dad. Fivefork is not only a model for the agriculture industry in Central Massachusetts, but its successful online presence has made it an influential player in the region's business economy as a whole. n What sets the Central Mass. business community apart from the rest of the world? Every small business owner I've met cares so deeply about their community here. n Twice as good: I'm an identical twin! CLIFF RUCKER OWNER WORCESTER RAILERS HOCKEY CLUB, THE FIDELITY BANK WORCESTER ICE CENTER, OFF THE RAILS, THE PALLADIUM, THE DISTRICT WOOD FIRED KITCHEN Residences: Danvers & Worcester College: Tufts University Rucker has invested so heavily in Worcester's entertainment industry, he is single-handedly bringing more than a million people to the city each year. The Railers attracted a million fans last year and has won the ECHL league's community service award for three consecutive years. The Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center, which he help build for $18 million, brings in 500,000 annually. Rucker finds success in his vision for downtown Worcester; when he makes an investment, it promises to transform the surrounding block. Over the last five years, he has invested heavily in the Railers' neighboring music venues, essentially giving him the leading hand in Worcester's music scene. He owns a significant stake in The Palladium, and in 2021 opened Off The Rails, a country-themed restaurant which promises to include a 10,000-person outdoor concert space. Less than a mile south, Rucker's vision for the Worcester Ice Center block is taking shape. He began a $500,000 renovation project on the beloved Compass Tavern bar, which is set to become a family-friendly eatery called The District Wood Fired Kitchen. n What sets the Central Mass. business community apart from the rest of the world? The Central Mass. business community cares!! I have always been struck by the vast number of business leaders here who put community focus above all else, and I believe that is what makes our business community special. n Spectator sport: Although I own a professional hockey team, I have never actually played hockey! TROY SIEBELS PRESIDENT & CEO THE HANOVER THEATRE & CONSERVATORY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, IN WORCESTER Residence: Shrewsbury College: North Carolina School of the Arts Siebels has been part of the fabric of Worcester's arts scene since he took over leadership of Hanover Theatre 18 years ago. Siebels faced his biggest hurdle when the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns led to show cancellations and public apprehension to attend events. The 2,300-seated theater stayed afloat with $3.8 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, a $1-million grant from The C. Jean and Myles McDonough Charitable Foundation in Worcester, and public donations. During the pandemic, Siebels focused his energy on keeping his staff employed despite the doors being closed. Rather than being disconnected from the community, Siebels puts theater right in the heart of the city such as when he allocated $250,000 to bring a free production of "Julius Caesar" to the Worcester Common for the public to enjoy. Beyond the theater, Siebels' influence is seen throughout the business community, including through his work with Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District, Discover Central Mass, Worcester Homecoming, and the Worcester Cultural Coalition. Siebels believes in a roll-up-your-sleeves- and-get-to-work mentality, and he wants theater to be accessible and enjoyed by all. n What sets the Central Mass. business community apart from the rest of the world? We are more collaborative than anywhere I've ever worked. We are better able to put the notion of competition aside and work together to move forward projects that benefit the city and region as a whole. n Acting the part: I grew up painfully shy. I love to speak in public now, but it's something I've only grown into over the last 10 years.

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