Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | August 22, 2022 | Worcester Business Journal 19 Each of the 40 Under Forty winners are rising stars, but the Network of Academic Corporate Relations Officers made it official for Ortendahl in 2019, giving him its Rising Star Award. This year, he went on to win its inaugural President's Award for leading the strategic planning commit- tee for the association. Ortendahl joined WPI in 2008 as the assistant director of employees relations and rose quickly to become the director of corporate relations within the Career Development Center. In 2021, he was appointed the executive director of WPI's Corporate Relations Office, where he oversees the strategic partnerships between the school and partners in the business community. In 2022, the Corporate Relations Office took over operations of WPI Seaport in Boston, a 6,400-square-foot facility allowing students, faculty, staff, and alumni to meet with business, aca- demic, and government partners to foster collaboration and innovation. Ortendahl is now enrolled in a doctoral program at Regis College in Weston and researching the complexities and benefits of collaboration between corporations and higher education, with an interest in evaluat- ing the impact corporate partnerships have on student successes and outcomes. Ortendahl has three young sons and finds time to coach kids little league baseball and help run the flag football league in Sturbridge. - T.D. What movie best encapsulates your personality? "Date Night" with Steve Carell and Tina Fey What Central Mass. restaurant should everyone try? I love B.T.'s Smokehouse. The Sturbridge site is the OG! Who is most responsible for the person you are today? The most influ- ential people in my life, who make me a better person, are my wife, Melissa, and my three boys. Without them, l wouldn't be the man I am today. When do you want to retire? Two answers: 1) When I feel I am ready, and the work has a succession plan; or, 2) whenever my wife tells me I must! I look forward to traveling the world! Dave Ortendahl, 39 Executive director, corporate relations Worcester Polytechnic Institute Residence: Sturbridge Birthplace: Dunkirk, N.Y. Hometown: Fredonia, N.Y. Colleges: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Suffolk University, Regis College Four days after she opened Infinity Events, her full-service event planning company, Rowen was faced with the overwhelming challenge of COVID-19. The pandemic threw the event planning industry into a flux: Major affairs that had been planned for months or even years were suddenly canceled at a moment's notice. It was a challenging time, but Rowen was able to persevere. She used her contacts and resources in order to grow Infinity into the company it is today. For several years, Rowen has been involved with the planning of UMass Memorial Health's Hope and Healing Celebration, Worcester's highest-grossing fundraising event at more than $2 million. She offers her consulting and planning services for free to different Worcester nonprofits. Over the years, she has worked with the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, the CASA Project, the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Worcester Tercentennial. She has served on many committees to help plan logistical details and auctions to help raise funds. She lives in Sutton and has two children. - L.F. Would you prefer to live on the equator or in Antarctica? Antarctica. I love to figure skate, so I would be in my element there. Also, I could plan some really fun winter-style events. What will Central Mass. be like in 10 years? Booming. I have seen so much change over the past few years and feel things are getting better and better. What key to business success do most people not know? Being kind. It is so easy to be kind and treat people like you want to be treated. Outside of your career and family, what has been your marquee life experience? Moving to Ireland for five years. I was able to gain experience overseas and expand my knowledge. Ashling Rowen, 39 Owner Infinity Events, in Sutton Residence: Sutton Birthplace: Barnstable College: Endicott College 4 0 U N D E R F O R T Y E X P E R T I S E M A K E S A L L T H E D I F F E R E N C E When you arrive at a certain size, your banking needs become more complex. With Country Bank's commercial banking team, you get customized problem-solving, higher lending limits, industry expertise, and highly responsive service.

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