wbjournal.com | June 24, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 3
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
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Worcester Business Journal
WBJ
A division of:
in the future, but it's also important to
address the issues of the here and now.
Solving those problems effectively does
create a more prosperous future.
– Brad Kane, editor
E
conomic projections and
forecasts are a funny exercise.
Trying to predict how the
economy will look in the
future is certainly a worthy
effort, and many professionals' lives
are centered around figuring out what
comes next for business and industry.
Yet, economic forecasts like the one
comprising the focus on this edition
are mere snapshots in time. WBJ has
been publishing an end-year Economic
Forecast for the coming year since
before I became its editor in 2015,
and last year we added a Midyear
Economic Forecast in the wake of the
sudden changes in the economy in
early 2023. Major economic changes
like a worldwide pandemic, a bank
collapse, or spiking inflation can happen
at almost any time, so predicting the
economic future of the next six months,
12 months, 16.5 months, or 23 months
largely involves taking current trends
and extrapolating them out for a set
time period in the future, assuming no
major surprise economic disruptions
occur.
WBJ's Midyear Economic Forecast
starting on page 10 includes a survey
of WBJ readers about their feelings on
the economy, as well as Staff Writer
Eric Casey's story "Not feeling the
vibecession" on page 13 about how
economists and business leaders
are optimistic about the Central
Massachusetts economy, even if
consumers aren't.
Beyond the economic forecast,
Staff Writer Mica Kanner-Mascolo
sat down with the owners of three
LGBTQ+friendly bars in Worcester
for her "Providing a safe space" story
on page 18. Over on page 16, Kanner-
Mascolo looks at how UMass Memorial
Health is fighting the problem of burnout
among healthcare providers in her
"Keeping nurses in the field" story. Casey,
meanwhile, looks at a new Massachusetts
effort to diversify the real estate
development profession and address the
housing crisis in his "Developing equity"
story on page 8.
e economy is happening around
us, at all times. Yes, it's important for
businesses to understand what may come
Looking beyond the economic forecast
Member FDIC
To learn more, contact:
Peter Staiti
SVP, Commercial Lending Center Manager
100 Front Street, Worcester, MA
508.769.5725
Peter.Staiti@RocklandTrust.com
All loans and lines of credit are subject to credit approval and standard underwriting, which may require
collateral and personal guaranties. Other terms and conditions may apply. Inquire with a Banker
to learn more.
$4,000,000
Line of Credit –
Real Estate Redevelopment
Worcester, MA
$1,072,000
Commercial Real Estate –
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Maynard, MA
$6,000,000
Commercial Real Estate –
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Marlborough, MA
$3,000,000
SBA 7(a) Term Loan
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Sutton, MA
Supporting the Future of
Worcester County
Editor, Brad Kane,
bkane@wbjournal.com
Staff Writers
Eric Casey, ecasey@wbjournal.com
(real estate, manufacturing)
Mica Kanner-Mascolo,
mkannermascolo@wbjournal.com
(health care, diversity & inclusion)
Editorial Intern
Sara Bedigian,
sbedigian@wbjournal.com
Contributors
Sloane M. Perron, Giselle Rivera-
Flores, Emily Micucci, Livia Gershon
Photgraphers
Matt Wright, Edd Cote, Christine
Peterson
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
General Manager
Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com
Senior Accounts Manager
Christine Juetten,
cjuetten@wbjournal.com
Accounts Manager
Timothy Doyle
tdoyle@wbjournal.com
Human Resources Manager,
Tracy Rodwill,
trodwill@nebusinessmedia.com
Director of Finance, Sara Ward,
sward@nebusinessmedia.com
Accounting Clerk, Rae Rogers,
rrogers@nebusinessmedia.com
Event Coordinator,
Patty Harris,
pharris@nebusinessmedia.com
Director of Audience Development
and Operations, Leah Allen,
allen@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
W
Correction: An article published in the June 10 edition enti-
tled "The school of business" incorrectly said David Jordan
graduated with an MBA from Clark University in 2022. He
actually graduated in 2002.
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
4 Central Mass. In Brief
10 Focus on Midyear Economic Forecast
21 List: Largest chambers of commerce
22 List: Highest Worcester property
taxpayers
23 Know How
24 Movers & Shakers
25 Opinion
26
Shop Talk: EA Medical Aesthetics
18 Providing a safe space
As anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment rises, local bar
owners see their businesses as places of
comfort and safety.
26 Q&A: Preserving natural beauty
After a career as an oncology nurse, Polish
immigrant Kasia Dobman has found a new
calling as owner of a medical day spa in
Worcester.
