Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | June 22, 2026 | wbjournal.com QCC President Luis Pedraja to retire next year Quinsigamond Community College President Luis Pedraja is set to retire in 2027, with a search for his successor to begin in the coming weeks. Pedraja is set to retire on July 31, 2027, the Worcester-based community college announced June 1. Pedraja has led the school since 2017. He cited a desire to spend more time with his family and working on writing-related projects as his reason for retirement. "While this was not an easy decision, I believe it is the right time for both me and QCC as the college prepares for its next chapter and begins work on its 2027–2030 strategic plan," Pedraja said in the announcement. "I am confident that QCC will continue to grow and deepen its impact in the coming years." e college's board of trustees is set to begin the process of selecting a firm to lead the national search for Pedraja's replacement. "We are deeply grateful for President Pedraja's leadership and lasting contri- butions to QCC and the broader com- munity," Dr. Linda Maykel, QCC board chair, said in the announcement. "His commitment to 100% student success has been unwavering." Enrollment at QCC reached its high- est levels since 2012, with about 9,000 students enrolling in the college's fall 2025 semester. Pedraja's annual salary is $258,138, according to state government records. During Pedraja's tenure, QCC expanded its community partnerships through initiatives, including the launch of the Auxilium Center for Entrepreneurship with Beverly-based Rucker Investments. In March 2025, the college launched a partnership with the City of Worcester guaranteeing admission to local students. Pedraja faced a vote of no confidence from a union representing workers at QCC in April 2025, with union members taking issue with the school's decision not to reappoint three faculty and professional staff members who are people of color. QCC's board of trustees remained in support of Pedraja during the dispute. Saint-Gobain's Northborough campus named primary North America R&D hub France-based manufacturer Saint- Gobain is designating its Northborough campus as its new Innovation Hub North America, serving a central spot for research and development in the hemisphere. As part of the shi, the 26-acre Northborough campus is undergoing extensive renovations and upgrades, the company announced June 1. Once done, it is expected to serve as a home- base for 400 employees. Saint-Gobain employs 1,200 people locally and 2,700 statewide, including at its large Worces- ter campus, according to the WBJ Research Department. Globally, the company has 162,000 employees. In 2025, Saint-Gobain reported $54 billion in revenue. Pitcher succeeds Angelini as WRA chair Sherri Pitcher has been named the chair of the influential Worcester Rede- velopment Authority. e director of marketing and com- munications for Notre Dame Academy in Worcester, Pitcher replaces Worces- ter attorney Michael Angelini as the authority's chair. Angelini's term expired in April. Pitcher was appointed by Worcester City Manager Eric Batista. Pitcher was already a member of the WRA prior to her appointment as chair. WRA has had a part in key devel- opment projects, including the Polar Park baseball stadi- um, the attempted redevelopment of the Denholm Building, and com- mercial operations at Union Station. Pitcher previously worked as senior director of marketing and business development at Worcester-based con- struction firm Fontaine Bros. Luis Pedraja, QCC president 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) Contributors Sloane M. Perron, Sara Bedigian, Emily Micucci, Livia Gershon, Monica Benevides 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 Account Executive Jeff Swerdlick, jswerdlick@wbjournal.com Special Product Manager Regina Stillings rstillings@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 $1.9 billion Purchase priced paid by Italian pharmaceutical firm Chiesi Group to acquire Framingham-based KalVista Pharmaceuticals, expanding its U.S. commercial footprint. Souce: Chiesi Group September 2027 Month when attorney Padraic Rafferty, clerk-magistrate at the Uxbridge District Court, will take over a president of the Worcester County Bar Association, after being selected as president-elect in June. Source: Worcester County Bar Association Aug. 8-9 Weekend the annual Massachusetts sales tax holiday will take place this year. Source: Massachusetts Legislature Layoffs planned this year at three Central Massachusetts employers – Community Healthlink in Worcester, Jabil in Clinton, and Chase Corp. in Oxford – as they are closing regional facilities. Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development 302 Sherri Pitcher, WRA chair CORRECTION: The Power 100 profile on Dr. David McManus in the June 8 edition incorrectly said he became UMass Chan chancellor at the end of May. His tenure is actually set to begin on July 1. W

• Cover