wbjournal.com | June 26, 2023 | Worcester Business Journal 3
is really far from perfect, but I'm no
longer waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Everything is going to be ok.
– Brad Kane, editor
I
'm not an optimistic person
anymore. When I was younger
and in my early years as a
journalist, it was easier to see
the brighter side of things, as I
believed everything would work
out as it should, curving toward the
betterment of all.
Today, though, I've seen too many
recessions, politicians peddling half-
truths and lies to get what they want,
bigger organizations bullying smaller
ones, executives making short-term
financial decisions to benefit themselves,
and structural injustice keeping down
underserved populations. I no longer
believe everything will work out for the
better.
Yet, I'm optimistic about the Central
Massachusetts economy in 2023 and
beyond.
For this edition, WBJ decided to
publish a Midyear Economic Update
on the local business community, to see
how all the major events so far in 2023
impacted people's feelings about the rest
of this year. e heart of this effort is the
results of the Midyear Economic Survey,
which run from page 10-19. Following
up from WBJ's year-end survey in
December, this midyear gauge shows
WBJ readers are significantly more
pessimistic about the economy now
than they were a few months ago. e
results aren't all doom and gloom, but
2023 hasn't instilled more confidence
in the Central Massachusetts business
community. It appears we're all just
counting the days for this long-awaited
recession to drop.
However, I see the light at the end of
the tunnel. We're not out of the woods
yet, but aer nearly two years of talk
about a potential major recession, I don't
see it happening. e labor market has
remained strong all this time. Inflation
might finally be getting back under
control. e stock market is nearing
new peaks. Central Massachusetts is still
awash in development proposals and
people wanting to buy real estate here.
ere will certainly be turmoil. Even
in strong economies, pain points rise
to the forefront. Right now, everything
Everything is going to be ok
W
I N T H I S I S S U E
Worcester Business Journal (ISSN#1063-6595) is published bi-weekly,
24x per year, including 4 special issues in May, September, October,
and December by New England Business Media. 172 Shrewsbury
St., Worcester, MA 01604. Periodicals postage paid at Worcester, MA.
Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address
changes to: Worcester Business Journal,
PO Box 330, Congers, NY 10920-9894.
Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions are available for $84.00. For
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Worcester Business Journal
172 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, MA 01604
508-755-8004 tel.
• 508-755-8860 fax
www.wbjournal.com
Worcester Business Journal
WBJ
A division of:
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
20 The economy remains resilient
In his column as part of the Midyear Economic
Update, columnist Ryan Kittredge details how
business leaders can navigate the uncertain
economic waters of 2023.
25 Economics of health inequity
In this opinion column, health foundation
CEO Audrey Shelto writes how racial
inequities in health care are putting a
$6-billion strain on the state economy.
Editor, Brad Kane,
bkane@wbjournal.com
Staff Writers
Timothy Doyle
tdoyle@wbjournal.com (Real estate,
higher education)
Isabel Tehan, itehan@wbjournal.com
(Health care, diversity & inclusion)
Editorial Intern
Moesha Nugent,
mnugent@wbjournal.com
Contributors
Giselle Rivera-Flores, Laura Finaldi,
Monica Benevides, Alan Earls, Susan
Shalhoub, Livia Gershon
Photgraphers
Matt Wright, Edd Cote
Research Director,
Stephanie Meagher,
smeagher@nebusinessmedia.com
Research Assistant, Heide Martin,
hmartin@nebusinessmedia.com
Production Director, Kira Beaudoin,
kbeaudoin@wbjournal.com
Art Director, Mitchell Hayes,
mhayes@wbjournal.com
Senior Accounts Manager
Christine Juetten,
cjuetten@wbjournal.com
Senior Special Accounts Manager
Mary Lynn Bosiak,
mlbosiak@wbjournal.com
Senior Account Executive
Yasmin Nasrullah,
ynasrullah@wbjournal.com
Marketing & Events Manager
Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com
Human Resources Manager,
Tracy Rodwill,
trodwill@nebusinessmedia.com
Accounting Manager, Sara Ward,
sward@nebusinessmedia.com
Accounting Assistant, Rae Rogers,
rrogers@nebusinessmedia.com
Account Receivable Specialist,
Patty Harris, pharris@
nebusinessmedia.com
Audience Development Manager,
Leah Allen, lallen@nebusinessmedia.com
Business Office Assistant,
Nicole Dunn,
ndunn@nebusinessmedia.com
Publisher, CEO, Peter Stanton
pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com
Associate Publisher, Mark Murray
mmurray@wbjournal.com
President, Tom Curtin
tcurtin@hartfordbusinessjournal.com
4 Central Mass. In Brief
10 Focus on Midyear Economic
Update
21 The List: Top chambers of commerce
22 The List: Largest Worcester property
taxpayers
23 Know How
24 Movers & Shakers
25 Opinion
26 Shop Talk: Vintage Rebel Curiosity Shop
