Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | May 1, 2023 | Worcester Business Journal 21 Residence: Newton College: Indiana University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Andover Newton Theological School WPI may be best known for its engineering power, but Jackson is putting the business school on the map in the region and, most recently, across the world with its newest program in partnership with a university in Nigeria, announced in April. Jackson took over the top leadership role at the business school in early 2021 after serving on the WPI board of trustees since 2012, and she has been full steam ahead in developing WPI's uniquely technology-focused business school. The partnership between WPI and the Nigerian University of Technology and Management will make WPI business analytics courses accessible to students at the Lagos university to catalyze the region's economic growth. Under Jackson's leadership, the business school has already established a successful program with FLAME University in Pune, India, a partnership allowing for resource sharing in finance, operations, and supply chain research, and an opportunity for student exchanges. Closer to home, the business school launched a new accelerator AMP! (Advisors, Mentors, and Partners), an entrepreneurship accelerator out of the business school's business development lab. The lab supported 22 startup companies throughout this academic year. n How should professionals best use the power they wield? "To make a difference for others. Luke 12:48 says, 'To whom much is given, much is required.' When you have been given the opportunity to wield power, it must be used to lift others and make the world a better place." n No cooking necessary: Jackson loves chocolate chip cookie dough, but not chocolate chip cookies. KASKA YAWO CO-FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AFRICAN COMMUNITY EDUCATION, IN WORCESTER Residence: Auburn College: University of Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire, Boston University Yawo has changed the landscape that immigrants and refugees to the Worcester area encounter when they arrive. The resources ACE provides in the form of education and social services enables independence and community development and has done so increasingly each year since Yawo co-founded the organization in 2007. ACE started when Yawo went door-to-door around Worcester offering to help newly arrived individuals and families, and he has grown it to be a thriving nonprofit with more than $600,000 in annual revenue. Catching attention from private donors as well as state and federal governments, ACE has multimillion dollar grants and gifts, including $3 million from the federal budget in December, allowing for the unprecedented growth of its programs. With the $1.8-million purchase in 2022 of a new building to be the organization's headquarters, ACE now provides a holistic community center that centralizes its offerings and will be built up to add to the services the immigrant community counts on Yawo to provide. ACE has helped hundreds of students make it through high school and into college, changing their outlooks for the future. ACE helps parents and other adults receive the training they need to become self-sufficient and subsequently contributing members of the regional economy. n How should professionals best use the power they wield? "I believe investing in people is the best use of power wielded by business professionals. Not only does it help our local economy, but we are also able to empower members of our community to be self-sufficient and secure." n On key: One of Yawo's hobbies is singing, and he is an alto in the choir at his church. TIM GARVIN PRESIDENT & CEO UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS, IN WORCESTER Residence: Sudbury College: Clark University, in Worcester Garvin is as dialed into the nonprofit and human services world in Central Massachusetts as anyone. Under his leadership, the United Way's mission is to build up communities through investment across the spectrum of needs and programming in 30 towns across the region. The organization brings in $5 million from donors and supporters each year and directly reinvests that funding into the community by funding nonprofits and mission-driven organizations. The United Way works to get residents invested in their own communities through thousands of volunteer opportunities and advocacy. In the past year, United Way projects have spanned from multimillion-dollar programs to direct aid. Garvin and the organization brought a $4.5-million grant to support After School and Out of School Time in Central Massachusetts. So far, 151 programs have received support, and 28,000 children and teens have been served. United Way created and seeded a Formula Equity Fund, which raised $70,000 and purchased truckloads of baby formula and distributed it through eight neighborhood partners. In July, when a roof collapse at a Worcester apartment complex displaced residents, the United Way provided hotel room stays for more than two weeks. In partnership with the Worcester Department of Health & Human Services, United Way helped administer a U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention grant to deliver more than 55,000 COVID-19 vaccines to area residents. In March, United Way celebrated the third year of its Worcester Together coalition, which was formed with the City of Worcester and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation in the initial days of the coronavirus pandemic, to help address pressing community needs. n How should professionals best use the power they wield? "Use power for the common good." n Moved by the music: Garvin's favorite song of all time – so powerful that when it comes on he has to pull over to the side of the road and stop driving – is Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up." N O N P R O F I T S P O W E R 5 0 DEBORA JACKSON DEAN OF THE WPI BUSINESS SCHOOL WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

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