Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | May 2, 2022 | Worcester Business Journal 5 M A N U F A C T U R I N G P O W E R 5 0 9 T H A N NU A L S P R I N G - T AC U L A R Lighting The Way Home 7-DAY CELEBRATION & ONLINE AUCTION THURSDAY, MAY 5 – THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2022 PRESENTED BY COUNSELING & ASSESSMENT CLINIC OF WORCESTER, LLC & FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE: THE MURPHY MORTGAGE TEAM Help raise $150,000 to light the way home for women and children! For more information & to get involved, visit abbyshouse.org/spring-tacular AIMEE PEACOCK PRESIDENT FLEXCON NORTH AMERICA, IN SPENCER Residence: Rutland Colleges: University of New Hampshire, MIT's Sloan School of Management Peacock brings immense experience and dedication to her role as president of FLEXcon. Being the first female president of FLEXcon since the company's founding in 1956 is a major accomplishment, but in typical Peacock fashion she prefers to keep the attention away from her and focused on FLEXcon's 700 employees and their hard work at the laminated film manufacturer. This humility backed by intelligence is demonstrated by Peacock's servant leadership model, which puts individuals at the forefront of the company's focus. Prior to replacing Lavon Winkler as president on Dec. 15, Peacock served as CFO of FLEXcon, which generates $300 million in annual revenue. Through various efforts, Peacock saved FLEXcon more than $20 million without executing layoffs. In addition to her financial savvy, Peacock is spearheading FLEXcon's commitment to sustainability. The goal is to make laminated and adhesive products in more sustainable way. Peacock serves as the chairperson of the Sustainability Leadership Awards Committee for the national trade group Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute. n What sets the Central Mass. business community apart from the rest of the world? Community engagement and focus. Dedication to workforce, determining how we can educate and employ local residents, which in turn gives back to the local community. Collaboration between companies through entities such as Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, university ecosystems, and local school districts. n Cold-weather fun: Skiing with my two daughters Annabelle (11) and Abigail (9) is a huge passion of mine. We take every opportunity to head to the slopes in the winter, particularly Vermont, and have begun venturing out West. ULYSSES YOUNGBLOOD PRESIDENT OF MAJOR BLOOM, IN WORCESTER ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT CLARK UNIVERSITY Residence: Worcester Colleges: Northeastern University, Sacred Heart University Youngblood likes being an unassuming man, who people would never guess runs his own cannabis business or teaches about entrepreneurship at Clark University. In August, he opened Worcester dispensary Major Bloom after raising $1 million in investments, hosting – among others – Boston Celtics former star Paul Pierce. Major Bloom was the second economic empowerment applicant and the first Black-owned cannabis business to open in the city. In April, Major Bloom became the first Worcester dispensary to offer delivery, being one of nine businesses in the entire state to further dynamize the burgeoning $3-billion marijuana industry. Youngblood sees Major Bloom as a stabilizing force in the neighborhood just southeast of the $160-million Polar Park baseball stadium and employs 20 local people at the business, at a pay rate above the industry average, he said. In hiring contractors, Youngblood emphasizes local businesses, particularly those owned by people of color. He works with businesses in the neighborhood to help create further patronage, including Westerman Store & Restaurant Equipment, Joseph's Lock & Safe Co., handmade goods maker Alan James Co., hookah bar Electric Haze, and footwear provider Scoop Drip. n What sets the Central Mass. business community apart from the rest of the world? Its proximity to influence and unique geographic location. Everything we need is a walk, bike ride, or quick car ride away. n Unique view on life: I've had learning disabilities since I was 9 years old, including ADHD, selective hearing, and dyslexia. All this is an advantage now because I hear and learn differently. I still struggle with reading and writing, but I love listening to people's stories because I can see images and show empathy for their point of view. I express myself through creative business content. STEPHEN MACMILLAN PRESIDENT & CEO HOLOGIC, INC., IN MARLBOROUGH Colleges: Davidson College, Harvard University MacMillan took over leadership of medical device manufacturer Hologic in 2013. Since that time Hologic has established itself as a leader in the biomedical industry with $3.8 billion in annual revenue and 7,129 employees worldwide, including 983 in Central Massachusetts. Revenue in the company surged after it developed testing to detect COVID-19, but even as demand for those products have decreased, MacMillan kept a steady hand on the wheel, still keeping profits at $329 million for the latest fiscal year. Some of the company's latest innovations include its Panther Trax used for molecular testing, the NovaSure V5 global endometrial ablation device designed to address abnormal uterine bleeding, and a series of new hysteroscopy procedures like the versatile Omni 30° hysteroscope. In June, Hologic completed an $808-million acquisition of Finnish-French company Mobidiag Oy, bolstering its ability to develop molecular diagnostic tests and instrumentation. Hologic is focused on women's health, and diversity health issues have been the basis for the company's innovative and high-profile marketing campaigns. In 2021 and 2022, Hologic partnered with Oprah Winfrey to shine a spotlight on healthcare equity, collaborated with Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ciara Wilson to launch an ad encouraging Black women to schedule health exams, and debuted its first consumer television advertisement with a Super Bowl commercial featuring singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. In January, Hologic was one of six Central Massachusetts companies to be labeled as "America's Most Responsible Companies" by the magazine Newsweek, joining the likes of Hanover Insurance Group in Worcester, Virtusa Corp. in Southborough, TJX Cos. in Framingham, Boston Scientific in Marlborough, and Insulet Corp. in Acton. In May 2021, the company announced a $20-million commitment to Project Health Equality, a new initiative aimed at addressing health inequities for Black and Hispanic women.

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