Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal • October 26, 2015 www.wbjournal.com I t would be the largest acquisition in the history of the technology sector, but for locals, the bigger story is what's ahead for EMC's Hopkinton operations when Dell acquires the data-storage giant for $67 billion. Despite Dell's statements about the bright future of Hopkinton's largest taxpayer, there is significant anxi- ety about the future of EMC's local workforce, said Paul Joseph, president and CEO of the Framingham-based MetroWest Chamber of Commerce. Joseph predicted a year or two of uncertainty, but speculated that, given the sheer size of the Hopkinton operations and the importance of the local workforce, Hopkinton will remain intact for the foreseeable future. "In the short term at least, I don't see how they can't keep that going," Joseph said. Massachusetts roots Founded in Newton in 1979, EMC moved headquar- ters to Natick in 1983 before eventually settling in Hopkinton in 1987. The main building of the campus is located at 176 South St., but according to the Hopkinton Treasurer/Collectors office, EMC pays taxes on 18 properties in town for a total of about $2.5 million in real estate taxes. All told, EMC employs 9,600 in Massachusetts and 70,000 worldwide. In addition to Hopkinton, EMC has local offices in Franklin, Marlborough, Milford and Southborough. Joseph, a former business owner in the software sec- tor who has interacted with Dell professionally, said the company is surely going through a rationalization pro- cess as it evaluates EMC's workforce and how it jibes with Dell's plans for the future. Cost synergies In a conference call from Hopkinton with industry analysts and reporters on Oct. 12, Dell CEO Michael S. Dell answered a Boston Globe columnist's question about the impact of the deal on Massachusetts opera- tions. Michael Dell said his company is "planning to put our server business into the EMC enterprise data center business," bringing the Hopkinton facility's rev- enue to a $30-billion business. In response to a request for further comment, EMC spokeswoman Katryn McGaughey said "keeping EMC's existing business headquartered in Hopkinton, and adding to it Dell's server business, underscores Dell's commitment to our Massachusetts-based busi- ness and employees. EMC will become a major center of gravity for one of the largest pieces of Dell's business. Dell didn't rule out job losses, saying in response to a question from a Bloomberg reporter that there would be cost synergies and other moves as part of the normal course of business, aimed at making the company strong, innovative and responsive to customers. If there is fallout, Joseph said he prefers to look on the bright side. Other major technology employers, such as Digital Equipment Corp. and Hewlett Packard in Marlborough have ceased operations over the years, leaving large swaths of qualified employees in their wake. "It's also an opportunity for growth. In the longer term, you see other regional employers looking for technology talent, the talent pool opens up," Joseph said. n WORCESTER —Hanover Insurance Group Chief Financial Officer David Greenfield died following a "health event," the company said. Greenfield had been with the Worcester-based insurance company since 2010, and was named executive vice president and chief financial officer in 2011, accord- ing to a release. "David was a loving husband and father, a leader, a col- league, a tireless mentor, and a friend. He made an indelible mark on our company," Frederick Eppinger, presi- dent and CEO at The Hanover, said in a statement. The Hanover's board of directors appointed Eppinger to serve as acting chief financial officer and Warren Barnes, vice president and cor- porate controller, to serve as acting principal accounting officer. N. GRAFTON — Three judges from the first circuit court of appeals have ruled in favor of the Grafton & Upton Railroad's plan to build and operate a liquefied propane gas (LPG) transload- ing facility in its North Grafton rail yard. "I'm extremely happy with this decision, which affirms what the rail- road has been saying all along, that the town would have been better off work- ing with us than spending three years and hundreds of thousands of tax dol- lars fighting this matter legally," Grafton & Upton owner Jon Delli Priscoli said in a statement. The town appealed the initial transportation board's decision fearing that the propane facility could pose a safety threat to the surrounding North Grafton neighborhood and near- by North Grafton Elementary School. WORCESTER — A graduate of Assumption College appeared on national television when he makes his pitch in front of a panel of judges on ABC's "Shark Tank." Rob Bouley, the inventor of Switch Witch and long-time owner of White Farms Ice Cream in Ipswich has already filmed his appear- ance on the show, which aired Oct. 23. His product, which includes a plush doll and book, allows parents to switch out some of their children's Halloween candy for something else, like money or a toy. Bouley has partnered with Operation Gratitude where the candy can be dropped off by parents at local dentist offices to be sent in care pack- ages to troops overseas. WORCESTER — Construction of a new landing system that will make the Worcester Regional Airport a safer and more reliable location to fly has kicked off. The $35-million, CAT III Instrument Landing System equipment helps pilots land and get aircraft safely airborne at airports with low visibility, especially when they're shrouded in fog. Foggy conditions and low cloud cover, a result of the airport's high elevation, have caused flights to be canceled or diverted to Boston since the airport opened up to commercial air traffic again in November 2013. FRAMINGHAM — Framingham ener- gy efficiency firm Ameresco has secured an Army contract valued at $16.7 million to make improvements to the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort Hamilton. The improvements at the Brooklyn, N.Y., facility will include 1.2 megawatts of solar systems, water con- servation and energy efficiency upgrades, the company announced. The contract covers 32 buildings span- ning 580,000 square feet. Ameresco will implement nine energy conservation measures, including the installation of new high-efficiency natural gas con- densing boilers, LED lighting upgrades, a 350-kilowatt rooftop solar system, and three solar carports exceeding a com- bined 800 kilowatts. WORCESTER — StartUp Worcester — the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce's Higher Education- Business Partnership — said its first year was a success and it's getting ready to encourage a new group of possibili- ties. In January, it will begin accepting applications from local students and graduates for the 2016 program. StartUp Worcester aims to encourage people to develop their entrepreneurial ideas and locate their businesses in the city. As it did in 2015, StartUp Worcester will select 12 winners with original business plans, according to a statement from the chamber. Applications are due by March 14. WORCESTER — A paper published by a team that includes a Worcester State University (WSU) faculty member warns that rising sea levels over the next several decades could significantly impact coastal communities. "We really need a drop in carbon dioxide," Douglas E. Kowalewski, assistant professor of earth, environment and physics at WSU, said in a statement from WSU. "We need to cut down to pre-1990 emissions levels. ... That's the only way we don't lose the West Antarctic ice sheet." That precarious portion of the Antarctic serves as a sort of barometer of progress on climate change, researchers say. Kowalewski is the lead American author of the paper in Nature, titled, "The Mu lt i - M i l l e n n i a l A nt a rc t i c Commitment to Sea Level Rise." STURBRIDGE — The Seven Hills Foundation has purchased a 22,750-square-foot building at 208 Charlton Road in Sturbridge for $1.45 million. The purchase will allow the Seven Hills Family Support Center of REGIONAL BRIEFS >> Continued on Page 6 Verbatim "We haven't passed the tipping point where we no longer have control – but, we really need a drop in CO 2." Douglas E . Kowalewski, assistant professor of earth, environment and physics at Worcester State University, who was part of a team that had a paper about climate change published in the Oct. 15 issue of Nature, featuring data col- lected in the Antarctic. Source: Worcester Business Journal, Oct. 15 >> "You've really got to think in terms of technology hubs. This new combined company will have three great major, major hubs in the U.S." Joseph M. Tucci, chairman and CEO of EMC Corp., on Dell's planned acquisition of his company. The hubs will be Austin, Silicon Valley and Hopkinton. Source: Worcester Business Journal, Oct. 12 >> "It's a big step back in meeting our Global Warming Solutions (Act) targets." Matthew Beaton, energy secretary, on the closure of Pilgrim nuclear station. Source: Boston Herald, Oct. 16 >> In Review BRIEFING: HOPKINTON UNEASY OVER EMC ACQUISITION CENTRALMASS

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