Worcester Business Journal

20 Worcester Business Journal | April 29, 2024 | wbjournal.com P O W E R 1 0 0 A R T S & D E S T I N A T I O N S Gloria Hall Preservationist & public art administrator Gloria D Hall & Art in the Park, in Worcester Employees: 1 Residence: Worcester Colleges: Northeastern University, Goucher College Worcester's art scene wouldn't be what it is today, if not for the impact of Hall. As a preservationist and public art administrator, Hall has made an imprint on a number of Worcester landmarks, with one of the most visible debuted this year at Mechanics Hall. e ideator, co-founder, administrator of Art in the Park, Hall plays a key role in turning outdoor spaces in the city into impromptu galleries, displaying thought-pro- voking sculptures, statues, and other pieces of art. Art in the Heart of Main South, a spin-off of Art in the Park, is available for viewing in University Park through October. When Mechanics Hall realized that its portrait gallery lacked any racial diversity, Hall was brought in to lead a six-month formal selection process of artists to help rectify the situation. Her choices resulted in artists who created portraits of four Black historical figures with varying levels of ties to the city, helping paint a more accurate and diverse picture of Worcester's long history. e three portraits of William and Martha Brown, Frederick Douglas, and Sojourner Truth were installed in March and have been a welcome addition to one of the city's oldest meeting places. Her impact on the Worcester community hasn't gone unnoticed, as she was named the recipient of the 2023 Harvey Ball Smile Award, an annual award given by the Worcester Historical Museum to individuals who make a significant contribution and impact in bringing culture to the community. is was just another addition to her collection of awards, which includes the YWCA Central Massachusetts' Katherine F. Erskine Award in Arts & Humanities in 2004. - E.C. Lisa Fiorentino CEO Groton Hill Music Center, in Groton Employees: 28 Residence: Groton Colleges: Merrimack College, Bentley University Fiorentino leads Central Massachusetts' performing arts gem, Groton Hill, home of a new, 1,000-seat concert hall and music education facility featuring two world-class stages and 35 classrooms in the 126,000-square-foot venue. e project has been transformative for 39-year-old nonprofit, formerly named Indian Hill Music. In 2022, the organization had grown to $210 million in assets, according to an Internal Revenue Service filing, making it the largest cultural nonprofit in the region. Opened in September 2022, the center is home to the Vista Philharmon- ic Orchestra and has multiple national acts, including LeAnn Rimes, Leslie Odom, Jr., and Bela Fleck. e venue and school rebranded from the Indian Hill and relocated to the 110-acre property that was once an apple orchard. Groton Hill brings more than 50 concerts to Groton and serves more than 2,000 students annually. Opening the facility, sustainably built of wood and stone to blend with the natural beauty of the grounds, was the opportunity of a lifetime for Fiorentino. e project was eight years in the making and made possible by a major private donor who approached the nonprofit with the idea. Fiorentino cut her teeth in the tech industry and ultimately led West- ford-based NetScout Systems through an IPO as vice president of finance and administration before entering the nonprofit world in 2008. She joined Indian Hill as director of finance, before rising to chief operating officer in 2014 and then CEO in 2019. "Our building, concerts, education, and outreach are all amazing, but it's the people that truly make Groton Hill a success," Fiorentino said. - E.M. Amy Chase Owner Crompton Collective and The Haberdash, in Worcester Employees: 24 Residence: Worcester Despite her well-known success as the owner of e Haberdash and Crompton Collective in the Canal District, Chase admits to some challenges. It's been a rough few years for small business owners, Chase said. "Our staff had to adapt in many ways during COVID and the years following. e fact that we were able to do that is why we are still here," she said. Chase may be reserved, but her impact as a trendsetter in the Central Massa- chusetts small business community cannot be overstated. She was one of the early pioneers in the Canal District before it became Worcester's trendy neighborhood. As small businesses have struggled in the COVID-era, Chase has been upfront about the issues and advocating on behalf of small businesses, while still finding room for growth. Chase employs 24 people at Haberdash, her women's clothing boutique with shops in Worcester, Hudson, and Harwich Port, while Crompton supports nearly 100 small business jobs. ese businesses are big contributors to keeping items like furniture and decor out of landfills. Chase has a unique perspective as an earlier-stage Canal District entrepreneur. When she opened Crompton in 2012, the neighborhood hadn't transformed into the destination it is today. Fast forward about a dozen years, and new development abounds. With the construction and opening of Polar Park baseball stadium in 2021, property values rose at nearly double the rate of Worcester overall. e buzz has posed both opportunities and challenges for existing businesses, including Cromp- ton sellers. Chase opened her third Haberdash location on Cape Cod ahead of the opening of the ballpark to prepare for a potential lull at the Worcester shop during the summer months. at way, she was able to keep her staff employed in Worcester – her lifelong home, which she loves for its close-knit community. - E.M. At Mechanics Hall, Gloria Hall stands in front of the portrait of Frederick Douglass, created by artist Imo Nse Imeh. PHOTO | EDD COTE

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