Worcester Business Journal

6 Worcester Business Journal | April 21, 2025 | wbjournal.com Continued from previous page 695 Main Street, Holden MA 01520 Phone: (508) 829-5566 holdenhearingaid.com/audiologist HAVE YOU EVER HAD A HEARING EVALUATION? Matthew Moreno, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology • Hearing Aids • Batteries & Accessories • Assistive Listening Devices • Amplified Phones • Hearing Evaluations • Wax Removal • Hearing Protection • Musician's Ear Plugs • Swim Plugs Our goal is to improve the lives of people with hearing loss through better hearing and quality hearing care services. We offer comprehensive hearing care services including complete hearing evaluations, hearing loss rehabilitation, education and counseling. The economy is starting to sour In March, Massachusetts business confidence fell to its lowest point in the last five years over a number of concerns but largely centered on President Donald Trump's plans to impose tariffs, although confidence among Central Massachusetts business leaders rose, according to the Associated Industries of Massachusetts. The implementation of those tariffs, the removal of some of them a few days later, and then increasing tariffs between China led the stock market on a wild ride in the past two weeks, as investors worry about the short-term and long-term impact on global trade. When polled online, a supermajority of WBJ readers said their economic outlook has grown more pessimistic. Has your economic outlook changed from the start of the year? Yes, I'm now more optimistic 14% Yes, I'm now more pessimistic. 67% No, I hold the same outlook as I did at the end of 2024. 19% organization wrote in an email to WBJ. "I have been incredibly fortunate to work with so many amazing and ded- icated people. I look forward to seeing the agency's continued growth and evolution," said Ames. Founded in 1896, RFK is a multi-ser- vice human services agency serving 2,000 children, adults, and families throughout the state living with educa- tional, developmental, mental health, and other difficulties. e nonprofit offers services including adult day and residential care, adoption support, and juvenile justice advocacy. In fiscal 2024, RFK generated $46.5 million in revenue and held $49 million in assets, according to data RFK provid- ed to WBJ's Research Department. e nonprofit has 575 employees, including 437 in Worcester County and 557 throughout Massachusetts. Becker College donates $13M to GWCF Greater Worcester Community Foun- dation has received the largest donation in its 50-year history as the shuttered Becker College has pledged $13 million to the foundation. e donated funds will be used for three initiatives to benefit the Central Massachusetts college student popula- tion, creating the Becker Scholarship Fund, establishing the Becker Global Public Service Award, and transferring the Grace S. Hampel Scholarship Fund. e gi is funded through the assets of the former Becker College, a private four-year Worcester institution that closed its doors in 2021, according to an April 4 press release from GWCF. "is generous gi from Becker Col- lege is a transformational investment in Worcester County students," Pete Dunn, GWCF president and CEO, said in the release. "e Becker Scholarship Fund allows us to expand our scholarship pro- gram significantly, offering meaningful multi-year awards that provide stu- dents with consistent financial support throughout their college journey. We are honored to steward this fund and carry forward Becker College's legacy of opportunity and service." e bulk of Becker's donation, $10.2 million will be directed towards the Becker Scholarship Fund, offering students multi-year scholarships to go toward the costs of tuition, room and board, books, and other costs of atten- dance. e fund will prioritize recipients from communities most connected to Becker, including those in Worcester and Leicester. Another $2 million will be reserved for the Becker Global Public Service Award, which will support humani- tarian projects created and led by an incoming or graduating college or uni- versity senior. Worcester County college and university presidents will be able to nominate one student per year devel- oping a project located anywhere in the world with GWCF and a volunteer com- mittee selecting the award recipients. With the gi, Becker will transfer its $778,000 Grace S. Hampel Scholar- ship Fund to GWCF, a restricted fund given to students at Hoosac Valley High School in Cheshire to attend any college in Worcester County. Harvard Bioscience CFO to resign, interim replacement named e CFO of Harvard Bioscience in Holliston is set to step down from her role aer a three-year stint. Harvard Bioscience CFO and Trea- surer Jennifer Cote will resign from her role with the company effective upon the filing of the firm's quarterly financial report, which is expected to be filed on or before May 12, according to a April 10 press release from the company. "Jen has been a trusted and valuable partner to our senior leadership team," Jim Green, chairman and CEO of the company, said in the press release. "She has also been instrumental in leading our finance team and in driving numer- ous initiatives, such as sponsoring our recent ERP system consolidation project to drive operational efficiency. I would like to wish Jen the best of luck in the next phase of her career." Cote first joined Harvard Bioscience in 2022 as vice president of global finance before taking on the role of CFO and treasurer in 2023, according to her LinkedIn profile. e CFO and treasurer role will be filled by Mark Frost in an interim capacity. Frost has more than 30 years of financial experience, having most recently served as CFO for Fathom, a Wisconsin-based digital manufacturing firm. "Mark is a proven financial executive Site of the former Becker College in Worcester READER COMMENT: "Yes, I'm pessimistic. Fidelity sent my IRA account balance! It lost money (a LOT of money) this year already … I hope to be able to fill that gap in a year or two to at least get back to where I was before President Trump took office." - Deborah Graham

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