Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | August 19, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 23 Call today to learn more about our limitedtime Charter Resident program! Crowley Drive Marlborough MA PleasantHillRetirement.com Pleasant Hill Retire to the Fullest It's the right time to make your move into allinclusive living• Now is the time to make your move to worry free retirement living! With everything taken care of by our professional staff you…ll have the time and freedom to enjoy all the amenities and services we have to offer! The best part ‰ everything is included for only one monthly price with no buy in fee or long term lease! Opening Soon! 4 0 U N D E R F O R T Y A lot has changed in the decade since Jake Sanders' class of WBJ 40 under Forty winners. While his former employer in Becker College has since gone defunct, Sanders' career has grown. In 2015, he joined the Office of the Worcester City Manager under Ed Augustus as coordinator of intergovernmental affairs, eventually being promoted to chief of staff. In those roles, he helped guide Worcester through the thorny process of regulating newly legalized cannabis businesses and played a role in the negotiations to bring the Pawtucket Red Sox to Worcester. He assisted the City with securing state and federal funds, totaling nearly $50 million. But perhaps his current role is the most daunting: In 2021, he joined the Architectural Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit leading efforts to save the Worcester Memorial Auditorium, a historic venue on Highland Street that has sat mostly vacant for a quarter-century. He is the first to admit the task is difficult, but if AHF can bring the Aud back from the dead, more accolades for Sanders are certainly on the horizon. - E.C. What did getting the 40u40 award mean to you at the time? I was born and raised in Worcester, so receiving the 40u40 recognition felt like I was taking a step in the right direction toward supporting the betterment of my hometown. What does it mean to you now? It is a reminder my leadership journey is evolving. I'll be aging out of 40u40 soon and although my career growth continues, I want to support the rising generation of professionals any way I can. What advice do you have for this year's 40u40 winners? Be kind and strong in your convictions. How has Central Massachusetts changed since you won the 40u40 award? Worcester is the only midsized city in New England with a growing population. It has be- come a known entity on a national scale, which brings both positive opportunities and new challenges to overcome. Class of 2014 Jake Sanders Then: Director of external relations at Becker College, in Leicester Now: Project executive at Architectural Heritage Foundation, in Brighton In the four years since her original recognition, Connell Sanders has experienced many firsts. She co-authored her first book, "Small Teaching K-8", a book focused on decreasing teacher burnout through increasing instructional efficiency. In 2022, it was published by Jossey-Bass, an imprint of internationally-known Wiley. Still an educator within Worcester Public Schools, Connell Sander has targeted her efforts to better prepare herself and her fellow teachers for the learning practices of the future. During the 2023-2024 school year, she became an inaugural member of WPS's first future-ready task force, Spark Team, and later joined Wellesley-based AthenaK12 Educational Consulting, offering pro- fessional development for school districts looking to utilize artificial intelligence. She has spoken at conferences for the Massachu- setts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Computer Using Educators, and the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Connell Sanders holds positions on eight boards, including the UMass Memorial Medical Center Patient and Family Advisory Council and the American Antiquarian Society. - M.K.M. What did getting the 40u40 award mean to you at the time? Growing up in Worcester, I moved from Vernon Hill to Park Ave. to Grafton Hill to Tatnuck, and as a result, I never really felt a sense of permanence. Receiving the 40u40 award in 2020 gave me the acceptance and belonging I was craving from my hometown. What does it mean to you now? Now, I am a mom. My husband Jake and I have a 2-year old daughter and a son on the way. It's important to me we model community engagement and civic pride for our kids. What advice do you have for this year's 40u40 winners? Never read the comments. How has Central Massachusetts changed since you won the 40u40 award? My husband and I both graduated from Doherty Memorial High School. The original building was demolished to make room for a new state-of-the-art school, set to open this fall. Class of 2020 Sarah Connell Sanders Then: Media specialist at Pop It; writer; and teacher at Worcester Public Schools Now: Co-author of "Small Teaching K-8" and teaching librarian at Worcester Public Schools 2024 2014 2024 2020

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