Worcester Business Journal

18 Worcester Business Journal | May 1, 2023 | wbjournal.com P O W E R 5 0 M A N U F A C T U R I N G PATRICK DWYER VICE PRESIDENT OF ABRASIVES NORTH AMERICA SAINT-GOBAIN, IN WORCESTER UDIT BATRA PRESIDENT & CEO WATERS CORP., IN MILFORD RALPH CROWLEY JR PRESIDENT & CEO POLAR BEVERAGES, IN WORCESTER Residence: Wellesley Colleges: University of Delaware, Princeton University in New Jersey It's been a busy year for Waters under Batra's leadership. The Milford company generated more than $3 billion in revenues in 2022, an annual increase of 7%. To go along with strong sales, the company has made numerous investments in its future. In February, it acquired Wyatt Technology Corp. in Santa Barbara, California, for $1.36 billion. Waters invested $5.8 million to grow its Ireland research-and-development center and created a bioanalysis academy in South Korea. On top of this, Waters finished a new $215-million precision chemical manufacturing plant in Taunton that received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification in September from the U.S. Green Building Council. It was the first chemical manufacturing facility in Massachusetts to receive LEED designation. Batra joined the company three years ago, taking over the third largest manufacturing company in Central Massachusetts, with 1,800 employees locally and 8,200 globally. Batra is a member of Boston Children's Hospital's Trust Board, and he has supported Mass General Hospital ImproveCareNow initiative, a network dedicated to transforming care for children and youth with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. n How should professionals best use the power they wield? "At Waters, we have a commitment to leave the world better than we found it. This should be a guiding principle for those in leadership as we have a powerful responsibility as mentors, teachers, and role models to act with integrity and inspiration." n An all-rounder: Batra likes football and basketball, but cricket is his main sport. He played while in India in town and at school. As a senior at the University of Delaware, he made a team of expats and created a competitive team. Batra was the captain of his team and played at Princeton with some of his life-long best friends coming from the Princeton cricket team. Residence: Worcester Colleges: Bowdoin College in Maine, Clark University in Worcester Polar Beverages may still be a family business led by Crowley, but its has become a national player in the beverage industry. Polar is the 11th largest manufacturer in Central Massachusetts, and it's growing. With 800 local employees, the company has 1,100 across the state and another 2,000 globally, Polar isn't slowing down. With the 2021 acquisition of the Temple Bottling Co. in Texas, to go along with the expansion of its factory in Fitzgerald, Georgia, and long-term partnership with Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., to distribute in the Midwest – and contract produce the conglomerate's products in the Northeast – the 141-year-old company has pushed itself further from its home in Worcester. On top of Crowley's work as the president and CEO of Polar, he is part owner of the Worcester Red Sox, which plays in the aptly named Polar Park. Crowley was the first Worcester-based investor in the minor league team after it announced it would leave Pawtucket for Worcester in 2018. With that spot in the ownership box, Crowley owns some control in who the WooSox sell to when ownership decides it's time. It also means he has his hands in the ongoing redevelopment of the Canal District and Kelley Square. Crowley and his four siblings own The Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Princeton, which is the largest tourist attraction in Central Massachusetts with more than 655,000 annual visitors in 2022 and 1,421 employees. n How should professionals best use the power they wield? "We are thrilled with our investment in the WooSox and Polar Park. It is amazing to see what is happening in the city and the Canal District in particular." n Orange you glad I didn't say plain seltzer? Crowley's favorite Polar flavor is Orange Dry, and his favorite seltzer is Orange Vanilla. Residence: Cumberland, Rhode Island College: University of Connecticut Saint-Gobain has been a bit of a sleeping giant in Greater Worcester since the $57-billion French firm bought the 105-year-old Norton Co., in 1990. The company remains one of the top 15 largest manufacturers in the region with 1,100 employees as part of its 170,000 global workforce, but it's often operated quietly behind the scenes. Along came Dwyer, who in 2021 after 25 years at Saint- Gobain took over leadership of eight of the company's Abrasives manufacturing locations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, including the headquarters in Worcester. In October, Saint-Gobain finished the construction on a new $22-million powerhouse, replacing the previous one used for more than 70 years. The new powerhouse will save $7 million annually in energy costs while using less gas and water to heat the facilities. In November, Saint-Gobain worked with the Worcester Business Development Corp. as part of its Greendale Revitalization Plan and transferred 51 acres of underused parts of its campus to WBDC, which plans to build 1 million square feet of new manufacturing space. Patrick serves as part of Saint-Gobain's Worcester Executive Fund committee overseeing the company's charitable giving within Greater Worcester and last year gave $170,000 to 21 nonprofits in the region. n How should professionals best use the power they wield? "Business professionals should follow our lead in making the world a better home; through a commitment to sustainability, investments in their people, and supporting their community." n Once a G-Man, always a G-Man: Dwyer is a die-hard New York Giants fan and an avid photographer. PHOTO | MATT WRIGHT

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