Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | February 23, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 13 BUSINESS LEADERS OF THE YEAR F O C U S BY LAURA FINALDI Special to WBJ D uring COVID, Nick Haritos and his team were approached with an interesting idea: Could their company, AIS Inc., support people with disabili- ties who could no longer work because of pandemic restrictions? It wasn't something AIS had done before, but the factory had been able to stay open. Leadership was on board. Employee Rick Marchand, a former teacher and an active volunteer, took the bull by the horns, Haritos said. e idea evolved into AIS's Radiance program, which now partners with 19 organizations and has 250 participants working at the factory part-time. e Radiance program has been huge for the manufacturing company, which is consistently named among the most charitable businesses in the state through Boston Business Journal's Corporate Citizenship awards. AIS contributes to organizations like the United Way and the Make-A-Wish Foundation and provides paid time off for employees who wish to volun- teer at a nonprofit during work hours. Employees, including Haritos, logged more than 10,000 hours of volunteer time in 2024. "Nick is an incredibly compassionate leader, and he legitimately cares. Not to say I don't care, but he wears his heart on his sleeve much more," said Arthur Maxwell, founder and chairman of AIS. e Radiance program in particular has been special because it makes ev- eryone's days better, from the partic- ipants to the workforce that supports them, Haritos said. "[A participant's] mom told me when he worked at community college and it had to close in COVID, he was floun- dering aimlessly. He was struggling," he said. "For many of them, it's just having a place to come, and they love it." AIS, based in Leominster, manufac- tures commercial office furniture and seating. It's a $350-million company with 980 employees, but somehow, the culture makes it feel like a small compa- ny, Haritos said. "We've been able to grow our busi- ness, but maintain a flat, non-hierarchi- cal organization, and we have a culture of respect and innovation," he said. "I want to try to keep it that way as long as I possibly can, because we have a personality and culture that's second to none in our industry." e Radiance program is a big part of that culture, he said. rough the pro- gram, members come in for a few hours a week, performing tasks like hanging parts for the paint line, sorting raw materials, and making storage drawers while supported by job coaches. Some tasks have nothing to do with manufacturing. A partnership with a local candy store led to a candy stand in the company's front lobby once a month. "Employees go through, and it's a candy store in the front lobby. e first time they set up shop, they sold $1,600 worth of candy," Haritos said. "I'm glad we have a good dental plan." Haritos joined AIS in 2018, when the company he was working for bought a significant interest, said Maxwell, who has known Haritos for 25 years. Haritos had never been a CEO before, so Maxwell said he had some reservations about putting him in the top job, even though he had the right character and disposition. Four years later, Haritos has been successful beyond Maxwell's wildest dreams. "He's a charming guy, not in an overzealous way, but when you sit with him and you chat with him, you'll understand," Maxwell said. "He has the respect of everybody who works at the company. He's extraordinarily approachable, 24/7. He has all of the necessary person- ality traits and disposition to propel our business to new heights." In March, Haritos is traveling to Ra- leigh, North Carolina for World Down Syndrome Day. AIS has partnered with 321 Coffee, a Raleigh coffee shop that employs people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Haritos said he's been asked to speak at a conference. Haritos is excited about working with ArtLiing, a business that sells art made by people with disabilities. His work helping people with disabilities, he said, is giving him a clearer vision for his own future. "I'm on the seventh tee of my career. I've oen said to my wife, 'What am I going to do when I retire?' And she says, 'Yeah, what are you going to do?'" he said. "is Radiance program, I think this is something that will help me stay involved for many years to come." Haritos helps people with disabilities find meaningful work W Large Business Leader of the Year Nick Haritos President & CEO AIS Inc., in Leominster Employees: 980 Founded: 1992 Annual revenue: $352 million His age: 64 W PHOTO | COURTESY OF AIS INC.

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