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wbjournal.com | December 1, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 11 ty wellness coordinator at the YMCA of Central Massachusetts. She's known Dixon for 20 years, since he was a grad student at Clark University, doing outreach for those experiencing homelessness and mental health issues. Many children don't readily have the sensitivity to deal with the transition of when a parent becomes dependent on them with age, she said, and Dixon has a unique ability to level and connect with these newfound caregivers. "He provides an educational compo- nent, explaining to families the value [seniors] bring, and to remind them we all one day will be aging," said Jenkins. Jenkins, who herself receives services from Senior Connection as a grandpar- ent raising three grandchildren, has seen the way Dixon cares for his clients with compassion and empathy. "He has the great skill of listening. A lot of people have that skill set: people may hear you, but to be listening and to really listen, to understand before he an- swers," she said. "He's a humble person." Listening proved a vital component for Dixon as he worked to establish Senior Connection's Care Express Bus, a mobile clinic providing free health, dental, and vision screenings; medication manage- ment; and referral services for older adults throughout Central Mass. Dixon was motivated to start the initiative aer seeing how seniors strug- gled to access their doctors and dentists during the COVID shutdown, especially those in rural communities. "I knew we needed to do something different," he said. He held listening sessions and met with local seniors to get their input, creating a brain trust to determine what services were needed. In July, Senior Connection was a runner up for e John A. Hartford Foundation 2025 Business Innovation Award, with the New York City-based organization specifically recognizing the Care Express program. Now, Dixon is in the process of getting the mobile health bus designated as a Rural Health Clinic to broaden its range of services, including offering preventa- tive screenings. While the model is thriving today, some community-based partners Dixon approached to launch the initiative didn't see the value in it, he said. But now, with federal cuts to Medicaid and the looming expiration of ACA subsidies, Dixon sees the model more important than ever. "We are going to ride the wave, to continue to provide the rural health services in these communities and part- ner with anybody that wants to partner with us," he said. "At the end of the day, we are doing something positive, and in my view, it is something that is saving people's lives over time." Please visit our locations at: Franklin Village Plaza | Mashpee Commons | Route 9, Shrewsbury www.sachsjewelers.com • Corporate Gi Giving • Corporate Sales Teams and Employees • Staff and VIP Awards For all your Corporate & Holiday Gis... H E A LT H C A R E F O C U S W