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wbjournal.com | August 19, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 9 Leominster | Clinton | Holden | North Leominster | Sterling | Worcester Congratulations! YOU ' RE SOMEBODY Congratulations to Katie Najjar, SVP, Retail, at Leominster Credit Union on receiving the 40 Under 40 Award from the WBJ. All of us at LCU are all very proud of your leadership, dedication, and commitment to our members! Visit us today. (800) 649-4646 | leominstercu.com We congratulate Julia McGuinn and the rest of the 40 under Forty class on a job well done! 4 0 U N D E R F O R T Y Since 2011, Smith's name has become a mainstay of Central Mas- sachusetts real estate, as he has guided countless local businesses and developments through the local planning process. Assisting ev- eryone from small minority developers to large corporations, there's an ever-growing pile of evidence Smith is one of the most sought- out real estate attorneys in the region. Weathering the retirement and departure of longtime colleagues, changes in management, economic downtown, and increasingly stiff competition, he has now worked his way up the ladder at the 110-year-old law firm Bowditch & Dewey into an ownership position. Outside of the law firm, he remains plugged in to a number of organizations giving him a wider perspective of the local business and governmental landscape, serv- ing on the boards of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Worcester Regional Research Bureau. With a number of long-tenured Bowditch & Dewey lawyers departing to join Boston law firm Prince Lobel Tye's soon-to-open Worcester office, Smith is in a prime position to further deepen his influence over the Central Massachusetts legal landscape. – E.C. What did getting the 40u40 award mean to you at the time? It was the first real award I had received since becoming an attorney, and it was a tremendous honor at the time. However, it really hit me how special this award was when I eventually got to meet my fellow honorees and learn about their many impressive and inspiring backgrounds. What does it mean to you now? Beyond making me feel really old, I am proud to have won the award and grow in my career alongside my fellow honorees. What advice do you have for this year's 40u40 winners? Take care of your body, mind, and soul. I have seen my family, friends, and colleagues have health issues as they aged. I experienced my own scare, prompting me to transform my eating habits and exercise. How has Central Mass. changed since you won the 40u40 award? One of the first proj- ects I worked on at Bowditch was the initial CitySquare development. That project eventually became a reality, and we started to see an influx of investment within the city. Class of 2011 Joshua Lee Smith Then: Associate at Bowditch & Dewey, in Worcester Now: Partner at Bowditch & Dewey, in Worcester 2011 2024