Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | May 15, 2023 | Worcester Business Journal 5 Girls Inc. puts CEO & COO on leave as programs suspended e CEO and chief operating officer of Girls Inc. of Worcester have been placed on administrative leave amid the suspension of all programming at the non- profit, the organization announced May 5. Aer school drop-in pro- grams and summer camps are suspended as of May 8, accord- ing to a May 5 press release from Girls Inc., because "it does not have the staff in place to safely and effectively provide these services." e organization has been challenged with staffing shortages since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. e May 5 announcement didn't specify the names of the CEO and COO who have been put on leave, but the organization's website lists Victoria Waterman as CEO and Allison James as COO. Waterman has been the CEO at Girls Inc. since 2012, before which she was president of the board of directors. Waterman didn't respond May 8 to a message le by WBJ. James said she is unable to make a statement. In March, Girls Inc. announced Waterman would step down from the role of CEO on June 30. e board of directors has placed both on admin- istrative leave to conduct an external investigation into concerns raised by employees around workplace equity issues, according to the release. "We know how vital this organization is to so many girls in this community and do not take this step lightly," Pamela Daly, board president at Girls Inc. of Worcester, said in the press release. "We must be certain, beyond any doubt, that we can safely operate our programs, and in this instance we did not feel this is the case and thus we are pausing the program until we can get the staffing where it needs to be." Wages and benefits will continue for all Girls Inc. employees. People who paid for Girls, Inc. services scheduled for May 8 or later will be refunded. Marlborough drugmaker lays off hundreds amidst restructuring Sunovion Pharmaceuticals and two other subsidiar- ies of the soon-to-be-combined Marlborough drug- maker Sumitomo Pharma America will lay off 223 workers as their Japanese parent company restructures the entire organization in America. Starting on July 1, Sunovion will combine with six of the seven U.S. subsidiaries of Japanese parent com- pany Sumitomo Pharma to form Sumitomo Pharma America, to be headquartered in Marlborough. Ahead of that restructuring, Sunovion plans to lay off 101 employees while Sumitomo Pharma Oncology in Cambridge plans 38 layoffs and Sumitomo Pharma America Holdings is planning another 84. e latest round of layoffs come aer Sunovion laid off 360 em- ployees at its Marlborough facility in November. e Japanese drugmaker announced on April 3 it will restructuring its subsidiaries with Sunovion com- bining with Sumitomo Pharma America Holdings, Sumitovant Biopharma, Myovant Sciences, Urovant Sciences, Enzyvant erapeutics, and Sumitomo Phar- ma Oncology to form Sumitomo Pharma America. B R I E F S "When You Don't Know Where You are Going, Any Road will Get You There..." -Lewis Carroll Strategic Planning is Essential in Building Business and Sustaining Long-Term Growth At ROCG, our experienced staff will be with you at every stage of your organization's development and business cycle, especially now as you look to work through the current economic environment. With more than 4 decades of proven experience, we have a unique understanding of family-owned and privately-held, small to medium-sized businesses. We offer customized solutions, not cookie cutter plans, and we know how to drive the results you need. We Help Business Owners: • Re-energize their business model • Develop a strategic plan to meet their long-term goals and financial lifestyle needs • Set milestones that work towards achieving the end goal • Successfully execute the strategic plan Want to learn more? Visit our website for more information, or to set up a no-obligation consultation, email or call us at (617) 412-4640 today. 617-412-4640 • americas.rocg.com ROCG - Shepherd & Goldstein Consulting Group, LLC Terry Shepherd Founding Partner Terence.Shepherd@rocg.com Matthew Allison Partner In Charge of S&G's Consulting Division Matt.Allison@rocg.com Today, profitability protection is a first priority. With our knowledge, technical expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and experience behind you, you'll have the tools, resources and services to successfully navigate through the rough waters that lay ahead. Victoria Waterman, CEO of Girls Inc. of Worcester W

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