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www.wbjournal.com February 15, 2016 • Worcester Business Journal 3 As John F. Kennedy famously speech- ified more than 55 years ago, a crisis rep- resents both danger and opportunity. Worcester's economic situation isn't a crisis, per se, but just because the city's household income is 30 percent lower than the state average and its revitaliza- tion efforts still are in the opening stages, that doesn't mean there aren't opportuni- ties for business. As noted in Staff Writer Laura Finaldi's story on page 10, the business at Digital Federal Credit Union's new branch in Worcester is booming, largely because the credit union has name recognition but also because the city has a sig- nificantly sized population susceptible to bad-money scams. DCU has installed an education center at this new branch, is teaching clients proper money management while giving them the option to buy products that will put them on the road to financial health. It's a perfect example of a business helping a disadvantaged population and making money while doing it. It's a win-win for everybody. On another topic that is definitely a crisis, Finaldi details in a story on page six how the rise in opioid addiction and over- doses has led area nonprofits to shift their focus, hire more staff and offer more services to both treat people struggling with addiction and prevent susceptible populations from falling into that trap. Out of a terrible situation, nonprofits are expanding their reach and helping more people. Another win-win. In an ideal world, there would be no crises. I'm sure Worcester government and business leaders would much prefer the city look and act like it does in their renderings for the City Square project or in their overwhelmingly optimistic 10- and 20-year projections. However, life can't be rainbows and uni- corn kisses all the time. Problems do arise. In finding solutions, there are opportunities to make money. That is a good thing. -Brad Kane, editor This Week In The WBJ 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 2015. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Worcester Business Journal, PO Box 330, Congers, NY 10920-9894. Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions are avail- able for $54.95. For more information, please emai l wbjour nal @ cambe y west. 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 responsi- bility 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: Finding opportunities in crises NEWS & ANALYSIS DEPARTMENTS 4 Briefing 25 Editorial 24 Flash Poll 22 Fresh Beginnings 23 Incorporations 21 Knowhow 22 Movers & Shakers 23 Networking/Events 26 Photo Finish 5 Real Deals 8 Ticker 25 Viewpoint ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS Worcester Business Journal's Business Leaders of the Year round out the focus section of this edition. Noted for their vision, planning, historic accomplishments and success in the past year, the three honorees and one corporate citizen represent the best of entrepreneurship, large-firm management, nonprofit and community giving in 2016. See page 12 From WBJournal.com to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn, the Worcester Business Journal offers breaking news and thoughtful analysis throughout the Internet. Tweet of the week "Feels pretty good to be a 3-time @WBJournal Best #Staffing Agency. #BoBawards #3peat" - e DAVIS Companies (@eDavisCos) Jan. 29, about the WBJ Best of Business awards Top Facebook comment "With hundreds of whiskeys to taste, experts to listen to and socializing to be had, the annual 'Go Whisk(e)y' weekend in Westborough is set to bring thousands to the area." - Worcester Business Journal, Jan. 26, about a liquor conference in Westborough Top Facebook post "I'm not much of a hockey fan, but thousands of area residents are, and this will be good for everyone and a number of businesses will ben- efit a bit too....outstanding!" - Matt LaBarre, Feb. 4, about Worcester's new ECHL hockey team Most read stories on WBJournal.com 1. Partner at 31; Worcester advocate since childhood 2. Marlborough tool maker acquired for $7M 3. Hockey returns to Worcester's DCU Center 4. Whiskey conference comes to Westborough 5. Best of Business 2016: Food Editor, Brad Kane, bkane@wjournal.com Digital Editor, Sam Bonacci, sbonacci@wbjournal.com (Real estate, construction, retail) Staff Writers Emily Micucci, emicucci@wbjournal.com (Health care, government) Laura Finaldi, lfinaldi@wbjournal.com (Manufacturing, energy, technology, higher education, finance, nonprofits) Contributors Susan Shalhoub, sshalhoub@wbjournal.com Livia Gershon Research Director, Stephanie Meagher, smeagher@nebusinessmedia.com Research Assistant, Heide Martin, hmartin@wbjournal.com Production Director, Kira Beaudoin, kbeaudoin@wbjournal.com Associate Art Director, Mitchell Hayes, mhayes@wbjournal.com Manager of Video/Multimedia Services, Matthew Volpini, mvolpini@nebusinessmedia.com Senior Accounts Manager Matt Majikas, mmajikas@wbjournal.com Custom Publishing Project Manager Christine Juetten, cjuetten@wbjournal.com Account Manager Daniel Pelletier, dpelletier@wbjournal.com Marketing & Events Manager Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com CFO, Mary Rogers, mrogers@nebusinessmedia.com Accounting Assistant, Valerie Clark, vclark@nebusinessmedia.com Collections Manager, Raki Zwiebel, rzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com Human Resources, Kim Vautour, kvautour@nebusinessmedia.com Publisher, CEO, Peter Stanton pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com Associate Publisher, Mark Murray mmurray@wbjournal.com Group Publisher, Joseph Zwiebel jzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com WBJournal .com Worcester Business Journal Online 10 Servicing Worcester's disadvantaged Digital Federal Credit Union and other firms in the industry have found success in helping the Central Mass. populations that need good financial education. 25 Pitching tax programs for bioscience Travis McCready, head of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, makes a pitch for Central Mass. businesses to apply for an incentive program to grow the bioscience industry, as his organization tries to spread its funding beyond Greater Boston. Top social story Worcester colleges make "bang for the buck" list WBJ Facebook post: Congratulations to WPI, Holy Cross and Clark University for being recognized on the latest Princeton Review list of colleges providing a great return on students' investment. • The story reached 1,910 people and was shared or liked 51 times on Facebook.