Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1532573
wbjournal.com | February 24, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 11 FOCUS Big leaders, big legacies 2025 Honorees B U S I N E S S L E A D E R S O F T H E Y E A R E ven though it's always been centered around the idea of economic and community excel- lence, Worcester Business Journal's Business Leader of the Year award has evolved over the years. First launched in 1982, the award was originally given to a single person, with the first honoree being Herb Dunnington, CEO of First Safety Fund Bank. Over the past four decades, the award has expanded to honor professionals from different categories, including small businesses, large businesses, nonprofits, family businesses, and innovators. Since the introduction in 2017 of the WBJ Hall of Fame, which inducts profes- sionals with a sustained history of success, the Business Leaders of the Year awards tend to focus on people with significant achievements in the past 12-ish months. e 2025 Business Leaders of the Year certainly have notable accomplishments in the past year, but they also will cast long shadows on the Central Massachu- setts economy and community for decades to come. Barry Maloney has spent 14 years building a legacy of integrity at Worcester State University, which is now bucking the statewide and national trends of plunging higher-ed enrollment. Mari Gonzelez took over her parent's nonprofit, broadened its services, and is need- ed now more than ever. Tim Quinn realized the dream he and his brother hatched in their younger years and has created two community staples. e executive trio behind Koopman Lumber appears primed to achieve the rare feat of a family business: transition from the third generation to the fourth generation. Jean Qiu built a successful life sciences startup and now uses her expertise and skills to support the entire entrepreneur- ial ecosystem, all while building another startup. WBJ will honor these winners' legacies, along with the WBJ Hall of Fame Class of 2025, at a special ceremony the evening of March 18 at the AC Hotel in Downtown Worcester. If you'd like to hear directly from the best professionals in Central Massachusetts, I invite you to visit WBJournal.com and register. . – Brad Kane, editor (from left) Tony Brookhouse, Denise Brookhouse, Dirk Koopman Barry Maloney Tim Quinn Jean Qiu Maricelis "Mari" Gonzalez • Large Business Leader of the Year Barry Maloney President Worcester State University Page 13 • Innovative Business Leader of the Year Jean Qiu Founder & CEO Conigen Bioscience, in Worcester Page 14 • Family Business Leaders of the Year Dirk Koopman, Denise Brookhouse, Tony Brookhouse Executive team Koopman Lumber, in Whitinsville Page 16 • Small Business Leader of the Year Tim Quinn Owner Quinn's Irish Pub in Worcester & Quinn's Blue Plate in Holden Page 18 • Nonprofit Business Leader of the Year Maricelis "Mari" Gonzalez Executive director El Buen Samaritano Food Program, in Worcester Page 19 W PHOTOS | MATT WRIGHT