Worcester Business Journal

www.wbjournal.com May 9, 2016 • Worcester Business Journal 3 Sometimes, I feel like a telemarketer and a spammer. Whenever we give out an award – like this issue's Central Mass. Family Business Awards – it falls on me to notify the win- ners/finalists, usually by calling and then emailing them. When I reach out, I also have a to-do list for the honorees: send some photos, meet with our videographer, fill out a short bio on your company, watch for our reporter's call, etc. Typically, these notifications go amazingly, as the winners/finalists are happy for the honor and more than willing to perform whatever tasks we ask of them. This is always the case with our most well-known award, 40 Under Forty, and most other awards, like our inaugural Manufacturing Excellence Awards, which we handed out on April 26. However, that is not always the case. For a number of our awards, companies are nominated by outside parties, so some winners might not even know they were up for the awards origi- nally. Also, if there is a close call in some years, we carry over a nomination to following years' awards, so a company might have nominated itself in 2014 and not win until two years later. This year, when I called the 10 finalists for the Family Business Awards, about half were not expecting my call or email. In a couple of the cases, I had to call and email several people inside those companies for more than a week to let them know they were finalists. Eventually, I did get in touch with the right person for each family business, as evidence by the end result starting on page 12. All were pleased with the honor and will be coming to our awards ceremony on May 25, but it took that extra push to get them past that initial hesitancy of, "Why does this guy keep call- ing me to let me know I won an award I didn't even know I was up for?" Awards ceremonies are fun: they are all handshakes and photos and acceptance speeches. Businesses really like the awards and hang them on office walls for years to come. It always make me smile and laugh when I see one proudly displayed, knowing everything it took to get it up there. -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 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 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: PHOTO CORRECTION: In the April 25 article "Region's incubators driven by startup culture," the photographer on the photo was listed incorrectly. The photographer is Matthew Wright. The fun of award notifications NEWS & ANALYSIS DEPARTMENTS 4 Briefing 5 Real Deal 7 Ticker 19 List: Commercial Contractors 24 Knowhow 25 Fresh Beginnings 25 Accolades ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS The 10 WBJ's Central Mass. Family Business Award finalists are the focus of this issue. They range from a manufacturer founded more than 100 years ago with more than 100 employees to a mom-and- pop fitness center founded two years ago and five employees. Read about their commitment to family values, innovation and philanthropy. See page 12. Tweet of the week "At the @WBJournal manufacturing summit. Great insight on collaborations between organizations. #relationshipsm atter#leadership" – Kemi Sorinmade (@eGrowthStudio) April 26, on the Worcester Business Journal Manufacturing Summit & Awards Top Facebook post "Congratulations to a 40 under 40 alum who has just been promoted!" – Sam Bonacci, April 22, on Clinton Savings naming Mary T. Dean as its new CIO Top Facebook comment "Congrats sis!!! Proud of you babe!!" – Jason Dean, April 22, on Clinton Savings naming Mary T. Dean as its new CIO Most read stories on WBJournal.com 1. WPI grads launch new business 2. Wormtown partners with Spencer Brewery 3. Niche expands Fix; looks at new venture on Shrewsbury Street 4. Worcester named 2nd best New England city to start a business in 5. Five Guys, Unibank opening at Rt. 146 development Editor, Brad Kane, bkane@wjournal.com Digital Editor, Sam Bonacci, sbonacci@wbjournal.com (Real estate, construction, retail) Staff Writer Laura Finaldi, lfinaldi@wbjournal.com (Health care, 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@nebusinessmedia.com Production Director, Kira Beaudoin, kbeaudoin@wbjournal.com Associate Art Director, Mitchell Hayes, mhayes@wbjournal.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 From WBJournal.com to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn, the Worcester Business Journal offers breaking news and thoughtful analysis throughout the Internet. WBJournal .com Worcester Business Journal Online 20 New manufacturing testing facility As the same technology used in pregnancy tests is becoming more widespread and helpful for any array of industries, a new Holliston facility looks to become the proving ground for new ideas. 29 A big stick In the WBJ editorial this issue, we warn Worcester officials should see their new use of eminent domain as a targeted tool for specialized properties, instead of a widespread redevelopment weapon that can be costly to use. Top social story Worcester named 2nd best New England city to start a business in WBJ Facebook post: The national recognition keeps rolling in for Worcester! Our colleges and workforce helped the city hit second in New England (and 33rd overall) on a list of the 150 best cities in which to start a business. • The story reached 4,744 people and had 130 reactions, comments and shares on Facebook. 26 Movers & Shakers 26 Networking & Events 27 Incorporations 28 Flash Poll 29 Editorial 29 Viewpoint 30 Photo Finish

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