Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1531276
wbjournal.com | January 13, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 3 Fund Your Business with Confidence 800-939-9103 cornerstonebank.com Member FDIC | Member DIF We're here to support your growth and success. Take your business to the next level with tailored financing solutions for construction, equipment, expansion, and working capital. Scan the QR code to learn more. T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 4 Central Mass. In Brief 11 Focus on Best of Business Awards 30 The List: Largest labor unions 31 Know How 32 Movers & Shakers 33 Opinion 34 Shop Talk: Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center 31 Get your payment card security in line before the April deadline Know How advice columnist Janelle Drolet from cybersecurity firm Towerwall lays out six ways businesses need to prepare for an impending security deadline to avoid penalties of up to $100,000 per month. 32 Movers & Shakers Professionals are getting hired and promoted at Central Massachusetts organizations like Mechanics Hall, the Worcester Housing Authority, Clinton Savings Bank, the EcoTarium, and Mirick O'Connell. 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 at Worcester, MA. Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Worcester Business Journal, PO Box 330, Congers, NY 10920-9894. Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions are available for $84.00. For more information, please email circulation@wbjournal.com or contact our circulation department at 845-267-3008. Advertising: For advertising information, please call Mark Murray at 508-755-8004 ext. 227. Fax: 508-755-8860. Worcester Business Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or materials and in general does not return them to the sender. Worcester Business Journal 172 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, MA 01604 508-755-8004 tel. • 508-755-8860 fax www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal WBJ A division of: Editor, Brad Kane, bkane@wbjournal.com Managing Editor, Eric Casey, ecasey@wbjournal.com (real estate, manufacturing) Staff Writer Mica Kanner-Mascolo, mkannermascolo@wbjournal.com (health care, diversity & inclusion) Contributors Sloane M. Perron, Giselle Rivera- Flores, Emily Micucci, Livia Gershon Photographers 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, pattyh@wbjournal.com Director of Audience Development and Operations, Leah Allen, lallen@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 T his edition includes WBJ's annual Best of Business awards, where readers vote on the best companies and organizations in categories like Best Restaurant for a Business Lunch, Best Law Firm, Best Private Golf Course, and Best Nonprofit Fundraiser. You can read all about the 55 winners and the notable runners-up in the bios starting on page 11. As we look forward to the best for 2025, I'd like to take this moment to reflect back on 2024 and highlight some of what WBJ offered last year. Best Story: At the end of October, WBJ Manager Editor Eric Casey and his reporting partner Dan Adams pub- lished a months-long investigation into malfeasance at the state agency Cannabis Control Commission. While the CCC has suffered from numerous problems since its founding in 2017, Casey detailed how widespread its dysfunction had become, including how it is actively harming businesses. No wonder the commission- ers' first choice for the vacant executive director position turned down the job, as the state Legislature talks reform. Best Print Edition: Last year, WBJ expanded its annual Power 50 list of the most influential professionals in Central Massachusetts to a Power 100. While the individual features on the people were in- teresting on their own, the edition became much greater than the sum of its parts. By reading the 30,000+ words in the edition spread out over 100 features, you received a detailed understanding of how power is shared and used throughout the Central Mass. economy, both for good and ill. Best Event: WBJ's events are always out- standing and well-managed endeavors, and each has a much different vibe, ranging from educational to celebrations. Our old- est award, Business Leader of the Year, is full of pomp and circumstance, while our newest award, Champions of Health Care, carries so much meaning to professionals in an industry constantly under pressure. My favorite event from 2024 was our 40 Under Forty awards, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. e event kept the Class of 2024 as the stars of the show, but alumni were heavily represented throughout the ceremony. It turned into a celebration of everything WBJ and the Best of 2024 I N T H I S I S S U E 40 Under Forty award has meant to the business community over the years. As WBJ moves into 2025, we are always looking to make ourselves better, improving on the best of the best. While these were just a handful of the highlights from last year, we're working to make 2025 better than ever. – Brad Kane, editor W