Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | February 9, 2026 | wbjournal.com 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, 446 Main St, Suite 201, Worcester, MA 01608. Periodicals postage paid at Worcester, MA. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Worcester Business Journal, 446 Main St, Suite 201, Worcester, MA 01608. Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions are available for $100.00. For more information, please email circulation@nebusinessmedia.com or contact our circulation department at 508-755-8004 x242. Advertising: For advertising information, please call Kris Prosser at 508-755-8004 ext. 286. Worcester Business Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or materials and in general does not return them to the sender. Worcester Business Journal 446 Main St, Suite 201, Worcester, MA 01608 508-755-8004 tel. • 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, banking & finance) Staff Writer Mica Kanner-Mascolo, mkannermascolo@wbjournal.com (manufacturing, health care, education) Contributors Sloane M. Perron, Sara Bedigian, 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 General Manager Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com Senior Accounts Manager Christine Juetten, cjuetten@wbjournal.com Accounts Manager Timothy Doyle tdoyle@wbjournal.com Special Product Manager Regina Stillings rstillings@nebusinessmedia.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 and CEO, Tom Curtin tcurtin@hartfordbusinessjournal.com Chief Operating Officer, Andrea Tetzlaff atetzlaff@mainebiz.biz Publisher Emeritus, Peter Stanton pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com matched precision, speed, and reliability. Eclipse is proud to back a team that is delivering real industrial output today while shaping the future of American manufacturing." M&T Bank names new regional president for Mass. market Buffalo-based M&T Bank has pro- moted Jeff Carpenter into the role of the bank's regional president of Massachu- setts. M&T Bank acquired People's United Bank, a Connecticut-based chain with offices in Worcester, as part of a $7.6-billion deal in 2021. Carpenter joined M&T from People's United in 2022, having served as M&T's executive vice president, head of specialty and corporate banking since 2023. "Jeff 's appoint- ment underscores M&T Bank's com- mitment to strong, local leadership in Massachusetts as we continue to grow our presence in across New En- gland," Augie Chi- asera, M&T Bank's senior executive vice president and head of community markets, said in a Feb. 2 press release announcing Carpenter's hiring. "Having been part of M&T for years, Jeff brings a deep understanding of our culture and strategy and will now lead an already strong, deeply engaged team in Boston." Carpenter spent nine years at People's United prior to the merger, having previously worked about seven years employed at Sovereign Bank, now known as Santander Bank, according to his LinkedIn profile. He graduated from Bentley Univer- sity in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in finance, and serves on the boards of organizations including the YMCA of Greater Boston and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. "I am honored to be given the oppor- tunity to lead this extraordinary team as M&T deepens its impact while support- ing innovation in Massachusetts," Car- penter said in the press release. "Choos- ing where to bank is personal. M&T combines the strength of a large bank with local, tailored service, allowing us to support customers and communities in meaningful ways. I look forward to working across the team to strengthen client service and deliver results that help people grow their businesses, buy homes, and reach their goals." M&T Bank employs 678 people across its 61 branches in Massachusetts. Eight of those branches are in Central Massachusetts, with four locations in Worcester, two in Shrewsbury, one in Marlborough, and one in Westborough. e bank is the 23rd largest in Central Massachusetts, with $472.6 million in local deposits and $209.8 billion in total assets, according to information com- piled by the WBJ Research Department. Workers Credit Union opens new Leominster branch, appoints new growth-focused executive Littleton-based Workers Credit Union has opened a new branch in Leominster, returning to the city it first started serv- ing in 1994, and has appointed a new chief of growth to spur more expansion. WCU's new branch at 866 Merriam Ave. offers both personal and business banking, as well as access to lending products, according to a company press release issued Jan. 28. "Community banking is the bedrock of local communities," Jay Champion, president and CEO of WCU, said in the press release. "Workers Credit Union exists to provide solutions for peo- ple here in Leominster to make their dreams come true. Your dreams are our purpose." e opening of the new branch comes as WCU has appointed Mike Dubuque to the new position of chief of growth initiatives, according to a separate Jan. 28 press release. Tasked with growing the credit union's footprint and part- nerships, Dubuque comes to the WCU from Green Bridge Community Part- ners, a company he founded to advise credit unions with strategic growth. Prior to starting GBCP, Dubuque worked at Lowell-based Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union from 2012 to 2024, with the most recent title of executive vice president and chief operating officer, according to his LinkedIn profile. "Having spent my career deepening my existing roots in the Greater Lowell area, I'm thrilled to join a leadership team that shares my commitment to community-centric growth and innova- tion," Dubuque said in the press release. WCU's new Leominster branch replaces a former WCU location at the Twin Cities Plaza at 927 Merriam Ave. at building has since been demolished and will be replaced with a Starbucks, according to the Sentinel & Enterprise. Additional WCU branches are lo- cated in Athol, Chelmsford, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Orange, Townsend, and Westford, according to its website. e credit union also has PlanIt lo- cations in Worcester and Lowell, where customers can get one-on-one financial coaching. Workers Credit Union is the sec- ond-largest credit union in Central Mas- sachusetts, with $2.44 billion in assets and 123,247 members as of March 2025, according to data provided to the WBJ Research Department. WCU trails Marl- borough-based Digital Federal Credit Union, which had $12.91 billion in assets and 1.16 million members, prior to its December merger with California-based First Tech Federal Credit Union. WBJ moves HQ to Downtown Worcester Aer more than three decades on Shrewsbury Street, Worcester Business Journal has moved Downtown. WBJ's headquarters is now located on the second floor of e Glass Tower at 446 Main St., having completed its move from its former office at 172 Shrewsbury St. on Jan. 20. "Moving our office to this dynamic downtown office space allows our team to be more engaged with our partners and the greater community, support local businesses, and be part of the city's continued revitalization," said Kris Prosser, general manager and events director for WBJ. e move comes amid more change at WBJ, as longtime WBJ Publisher Peter Stanton retired at the end of January aer 46 years in the publishing business. Tom Curtin, involved in WBJ parent company New England Business Media since 2020, took over as CEO, sole own- er of NEBM, and WBJ publisher. e Glass Tower at 446 Main St. is owned by Boston-based Synergy In- vestments, which purchased the site for $16.5 million in 2019. Since then, Synergy has been working to attract new tenants and upgrade the site, including utilizing the top floor of the building as an event space and a cocktail lounge called VUE run by Worcester-based Niche Hospitality Group. Continued from previous page Jeff Carpenter, regional president of Massachusetts for M&T Bank WBJ's relocated headquarters is at 446 Main St.

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