Worcester Business Journal

16 Worcester Business Journal | January 12, 2026 | wbjournal.com B E S T O F B U S I N E S S O W N E R S H I P HaBBQ mixes barbecue with Palestinian flavors BEST MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS Winner: Bri's Sweet Treats*, in Worcester Bri's Sweet Treats creates handcraft- ed, award-winning confections and customized candy experiences. The company has two retail locations and specializes in branded and person- alized treats for businesses and personal events, on-site truffle-making classes for team-building and fund- raising, and wholesale candy pro- duction. Signature products include the famous giant peanut butter cup, branded Bri-wiches made with Oreos, chocolate barks, and freeze-dried candy. Website: www.shopbrissweettreats.com Top executive: Briana Azier, owner and head treat maker Founded: 2021 Employees: 2 full-time and 19 part- time and seasonal employees Notable runners-up: Fisher Contracting in Worcester, Fuel America in Worcester BEST WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS Winner: CenterMass Training Compound, in Worcester CenterMass Training Compound offers group classes, personal training, nutri- tion counseling, and specialty classes including Strongman, Olympic lifting, and Hyrox. The facility focuses on in- dividualized programming within group settings to help members achieve health and fitness goals. Website: centermasstc.com Top executive: Owner & Head Coach Elyce Roy Founded: 2009 Employees: 13 Notable runners-up: empHowered PR in Leominster, Bri's Sweet Treats in Worcester, Pagano Media in Worcester BEST EMPLOYEE-OWNED COMPANY Winner: Paragus Strategic IT, in Hadley and Worcester Paragus Strategic IT provides man- aged and co-managed IT services including cybersecurity and risk management, cloud and Microsoft 365 optimization, strategic IT consulting, compliance support, and end-user support. The 100% employee-owned company serves organizations in Mas- sachusetts with proactive IT solutions. Paragus offers executive AI coaching to help business leaders adopt and govern AI technologies. Website: paragusit.com Top executive: CEO Delcie Bean Founded: 2002 Employees: 54 Notable runner-up: Consigli Construction in Milford BY MICA KANNER-MASCOLO WBJ Staff Writer J ordan El-Qasem never thought he would find a career path he loved and would be truly passionate about. But then came the COVID pandem- ic in 2020. Lockdown had quieted the streets, and El-Qasem was at home scrolling YouTube when he came upon videos about cooking barbecue. "I'm watching YouTube videos 10 hours a day like a lunatic, just really studying barbecue, and I fell in love with traditional barbcue," said El-Qasem. "I'm like, 'Man, I love this. I need to try this for myself.'" Aer cooking barbecue himself for the first time, he knew he had found what he was searching for. "I was like, 'Okay, this is it. I found my thing,'" he said. ough he grew up in the South, barbecue was never really a part of El-Qasem's childhood. Coming from a Palestinian home, he loves the taste of foods like koa and maqluba, so when he decided to open his own barbeque establishment, he knew he wanted to bring those flavors into the food he would serve. us, HaBBQ was born: a food truck selling a combination of both traditional barbecue and dishes with Middle Eastern spices. El-Qasem opted for a food truck because it was cheaper than a brick-and- mortar restaurant, and he didn't have business credit or restaurant experience. "ere's going to be no lenders out there who's going to invest in somebody like me, because it's too big of a risk," he said. So he established HaBBQ with his own capital and a small business loan from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. Operating a food truck comes with its own challenges: e truck has already gone through four gen- erators. Yet, the business model allows him to build a region-wide fan base by travelling to events throughout Central Massachusetts. Most HaBBQ first-time clients aren't familiar with Middle Eastern flavor pro- files and can oen express apprehension. El-Qasem finds once they give his food a chance, they're hooked. "Typically, people are just so thrown off by the idea, and I'm like 'Hey, just give it a shot' you know?" he said. "Every time they do, they're like 'at's the best food I've ever had.'" HaBBQ just finished its first season, and El-Qasem and his business partner and fiancé Mercedes omas are parking the truck until the spring. e two have big plans for the future. El-Qasem wants to transition to working the truck full- time, and he's looking to launch a sister coffee company. "I need to do this for me and my family," said El-Qasem. "Because this is the only way. is is the only way that I want to live." HaBBQ owner Jordan El-Qasem and his fiancé Mercedes Thomas BEST NEW BUSINESS Winner: HaBBQ Food Truck, in Rutland Top executive: Jordan El-Qasem, owner Founded: 2025 Employees: 0 Notable runners-up: Gyro & Soulvaki in Worcester, Fresh Monkee in Westborough and Worcester W W W W Briana Azier

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