Worcester Business Journal

www.wbjournal.com January 19, 2015 • Worcester Business Journal 3 The TV sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" is remarkable for its writing and the interplay between its key char- acters, one of whom is Sheldon Cooper, a genius physicist with a stratospheric IQ – but also the emotional intelligence of a doorknob. Sheldon hates change, even in someone else's hairstyle. Change to him is not just unnerving, it's wholly upsetting. (Yet it's also hysterically funny, which is why I still like to watch reruns.) Successful business leaders, of course, welcome and even embrace change. And as you read through this issue of the Worcester Business Journal, you'll see that word, "change," lurking behind several stories. For instance, Emily Micucci's front-page story on the home health care industry addresses the growing demand for home-based services as the industry changes in response to health care reform, and the pressure on agencies to pay care providers a living wage. Also on the front page, Sam Bonacci looks at what change may lie ahead for the Higgins Armory Museum building in Worcester after it was sold last month. Finally, on Page 24, Livia Gershon talks with area business leaders about potential changes in salaries as the U.S. economy pushes for continued growth. And if you have even a little uneasiness about change, let me leave you with this quote from author and business advisor Price Pritchett: "Change always comes bearing gifts." Now, who doesn't like a good gift now and then. Rick Saia (rsaia@wbjournal.com) This Week In The WBJ Editor, Rick Saia, rsaia@wbjournal.com Web Editor/Columnist Christina H. Davis, cdavis@wbjournal.com Staff Writers Sam Bonacci, sbonacci@wbjournal.com (Banking & Finance, Real Estate, Manufacturing, Technology) Emily Micucci, emicucci@wbjournal.com (Health Care) Staff Writer/Copy Editor Carol McDonald, cmcdonald@wbjournal.com (Education) Contributors Susan Shalhoub, sshalhoub@wbjournal.com Livia Gershon Research Director, Roger Magnus rmagnus@nebusinessmedia.com Research Assistant, Heide Martin hmartin@wbjournal.com Art Director, Kira Beaudoin kbeaudoin@wbjournal.com Graphic Designer, Mitchell Hayes mhayes@wbjournal.com Manager of Video/Multimedia Services, Matthew Volpini mvolpini@nebusinessmedia.com Director, Major Accounts Bonnie Leroux, bleroux@wbjournal.com Senior Accounts Manager Matt Majikas, mmajikas@wbjournal.com Custom Publishing Project Manager Christine Juetten, cjuetten@wbjournal.com Marketing & Events Manager Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com Sales Admin & Account Coordinator Susan Munyon, smunyon@wbjournal.com Controller, Mary Rogers mrogers@nebusinessmedia.com Accounting Assistant, Valerie Clark vclark@nebusinessmedia.com Collections Manager, Raki Zwiebel rzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com Human Resources, Debbie Amorelli damorelli@nebusinessmedia.com Publisher, CEO, Peter Stanton pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com Associate Publisher, Mark Murray mmurray@wbjournal.com Group Publisher, Joseph Zwiebel jzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com Worcester Business Journal (ISSN#1063- 6595) is published bi-weeky, 24x per year, including 5 special issues in April, July, September, November and December, by New Engand Business Media. 172 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, MA 01604. Periodicals postage paid at Worcester, MA. Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Worcester Business Journal, PO Box 330, Congers, NY 10920-9894. Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions are available for $49.95. For more information, please email wbjournal@cambeywest.com or contact our circulation department at 845-267-3008. Fax: 845.267.3478 Advertising: For advertising information, please call Mark Murray at 508-755-8004 ext. 227. Fax: 508-755-8860. Worcester Business Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or materials and in general does not return them to the sender. Worcester Business Journal • 172 Shrewsbury Street • Worcester, MA 01604 • 508-755-8004 tel. • 508-755-8860 fax www.wbjournal.com A division of: WBJ on the Web From news to information about events and awards, we have it all at WBJournal.com. Celebrate with the 'best' … Join us Thursday, Jan. 29 at The Urban Kitchen & Bar (formerly Coral Seafood) on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester as we honor this year's winners of our Best of Business awards. Register at www.wbjournal.com/BOBawards. ON PAGE ONE Meeting demand for home health care In this new age of health care, there are more patients receiving treatment at home. But how much home health care workers are paid could limit the number of workers who will be needed to meet that rising demand. Higgins museum transitions into a new era With its recent sale, the Higgins Armory Museum may become home to an array of different businesses. City Manager Edward Augustus is pleased with the deal, especially its potential impact on the surrounding neighborhood. NEWS & ANALYSIS 24 How high can wages go in 2015? The economy is improving and unemployment is falling. Will that push wages higher? Central Massachusetts business leaders say no. SHOP TALK 8 Q&A with John Heald, funeral director and partner, Heald & Chiampa Funeral Home, Shrewsbury THE LISTS 23 Top advertising and public relations firms COLUMN 25 DIGITAL DIVA If you're a techie, you probably know all about HTML5. But if you want to know its potential impact on your web presence and how you communicate with clients, Christina Davis offers helpful insight. … and gain insights into the year ahead Our annual Economic Forecast event, which will be held Friday, Feb. 13 at Worcester's Beechwood Hotel, features a panel discussion with a group of area business leaders and economists who will offer their insights into what regional businesses can expect in 2015. Sign up today at www.wbjournal.com/event/ecoforecast. Embrace change? Or resist it? BEST OF BUSINESS FOCUS DEPARTMENTS 21 Accolades & Honors 4 Briefing 33 Editorial 32 Flash Poll 10 Fresh Beginnings 30 Incorporations 26 Knowhow 31 Movers & Shakers 29 Networking/Events 34 Photo Finish 5 Real Deals 8 Ticker 33 Viewpoint 12 12-19 So, who's the best? Our second annual readers' poll on which companies deliver the best products and services in Central Massachusetts yielded a healthy mix of repeat winners and first-time honorees. Read about them, from banks to restaurants to professional services. Awards W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J o u r n a l 2015 B E S T O F B U S I N E S S Awards W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J ou r n a l 2015 B E S T O F B U S I N E S S Awards W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J ou r n a l 2015 B E S T O F B U S I N E S S Awards W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J ou r n a l 2015 B E S T O F B U S I N E S S Awards W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J ou r n a l 2015 B E S T O F B U S I N E S S W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J o u r n a l OMISSION: Our list of "largest private schools," on Page 16 of the Dec. 8, 2014 edition, omitted St. Peter Central Catholic Elementary School of Worcester. With 330 students, it ranks 12th on the list, ahead of Venerini Academy, also of Worcester, with 325 students. Awards W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J o u r n a l 2015 B E S T O F B U S I N E S S W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J ou r n a l 2015 W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J ou r n a l 2015 W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J ou r n a l 2015 Awards W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J ou r n a l 2015 B E S T O F B U S I N E S S W o r ce s t e r B us i n e s s J o u r n a l '15

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