Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | April 1, 2024 | wbjournal.com I N B R I E F Imperial leadership "As we embark on this new chapter in Imperial's history, I am confident that Joe and Naomi, working in tandem, will continue to grow our company with vision and purpose. I am excited for the journey ahead under their leadership." Michael Sleeper, who is stepping into a chairman role after leading Worcester-based Imperial Distributors for six decades and being succeeded as CEO by President Joe Kirby, along with his daughter Naomi Sleeper, who is taking over as president and chief growth officer New general manager "We have relished the rise of Brooke since meeting her in 2015. In our early days in Pawtucket, I remember asking colleagues who might be our best person when it comes to organized, detail-oriented, thoughtful, compassionate work habits, and heads turned like dominoes as each of her colleagues said, 'Brooke.'" Charles Steinberg, president of the Worcester Red Sox, on the promotion of Brooke Cooper to the roles of executive vice president and general manager, becoming the first female general manager in the team's 54-year history. Pictured is Cooper. $18M in donations "Ever since joining WPI a little over a year ago, I have been inspired by our community's passion for our student-centric mission and commitment to our innovative culture." Grace Wang, president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, on the $18.6 million the school received from seven donors for scholarships, faculty research, capital projects, and a new Armenian center, all announced at her March 22 inauguration BY ERIC CASEY WBJ Staff Writer C lark University is on its way to establish a new School of Climate, Environment, and Society, following a $10-million dollar dona- tion from Vickie Riccardo, a university trustee and philanthropist. e new school will seek to produce advanced solutions to fight climate change, a result of a two-year interdis- ciplinary planning effort, according to a March 26 press release from the Worces- ter university. "Clark's School of Climate, Envi- ronment, and Society will offer a truly interdisciplinary approach to address- ing one of the world's most intractable challenges, drawing from nearly every University department," Riccardo said in the press release. "Clark's approach will distinguish it from other programs at other universities. Climate is a universal, multilayered, multifaceted challenge. I am tremendously excited about the po- tential to elevate Clark's distinctive reach and impact through an innovative and inclusive curriculum, rigorous research program, and outreach collaborations." Riccardo made the donation along- side her daughters, Jocelyn Spencer and Alyssa Spencer, who are both Clark alumnae. eir hope is the donation will encourage others to contribute, helping Clark raise $75 to $100 million to launch the school. "We are tremendously grateful to Vickie and her daughters for this trans- formative gi," Clark President David Fithian said in the press release."It will make an immeasurable difference for our university and, even more impor- tantly, the world as we are better enabled to bring forward new solutions and have even greater impact." Clark is in the process of hiring a dean to lead the school once it commences Clark receives $10M donation toward new climate-focused school PHOTO | WBJ FILE operations. Riccardo and her late husband, Don Spencer, contributed $2 million to the university in September 2021 to support a renovation of the university's Little Center and Michelson eater. W Vickie Riccardo

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