Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | September 26, 2016 | Worcester Business Journal 25 Southbridge High School and flight train- ing center AeroVenture Institute, headquar- tered at Southbridge Municipal Airport, are teaming up to offer a college-credit aero- nautical science course, Exploring the Fundamentals of Aviation Science. The course will be held at both the high school campus and AeroVenture Institute campus after school for up to 25 students per year. Last year, the institute's president and CEO, George Charles Allen, pledged $100,000 as an in-kind donation over the next 10 years toward the education effort. Educational toy franchise Learning Express Toys opened a store and play center Sept. 23 in the Bedford Marketplace in the Whole Foods plaza. The play center will host classes, birthday parties, a rock-climbing wall and open play. Learning Express Inc. is headquar- tered in Devens. Its founder is Sharon DiMinico of Groton. The former Hannaford Supermarket in Milford has opened as a Big Y market. It's one of eight sites the supermarket chain bought from Hannaford earlier this year. Virtually all of the Hannaford employees have been rehired, according to a state- ment from Big Y. When all transitions are complete, Big Y will have a total of 79 locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. LAURIE MARIN has been hired in the department of inter- nal medicine at Reliant Medical Group, and will see patients in the Auburn office. She is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and holds a medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. Marin had 10 years of experi- ence as a hospitalist. FRANCISCO MELON has joined Scheier Katin & Epstein P.C. in Acton as an attor- ney, serving clients in Worcester and Middlesex counties. In his new role, he will represent buyers and sellers in real estate transactions, establish and maintain LLCs and corporations, and provide estate plan- ning and probate services. He has previ- ously worked at Reynolds Law Offices and the Law Offices of Thomas J. Frain. Linda M. Smith, managing partner of Worcester's Smith, Sullivan and Brown PC, was selected as one of the Women to Watch by the Massachusetts Society of CPAs, in the Experienced Leader category. MSCPA award winners will be honored at the 2016 Women's Leadership Summit on Nov. 2 at the Westin Waterfront in Boston. Family Health Center of Worcester honored Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty and Worcester City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. Petty and Augustus both received 2016 Healthy Communities Awards for their leadership in promoting the health of all local residents, and their advocacy in getting low-income, vulnerable popula- tions access to quality health care. Winners of silver or bronze in The 13th Annual International Business Awards include Applause, a Framingham software and application quality company; enter- prise software company Aternity Inc. of Westborough; employee-recognition solu- tions company Globoforce of Southborough; Ranier Communications, a marketing firm in Westborough; and Virtusa Polaris of Westborough, which specializes in financial technology. Anna Maria College was recognized as a College of Distinction for the 2016-2017 academic year. Colleges of Distinction have engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful out- comes. The college is in Paxton. Sheppard Envelope Manufacturing Co. of Auburn was selected by the Smithsonian National Postal Museum to include its story in an online history of the U.S. Postal Service. This research project investigates the 200-year-old partnership between private industry and the USPS. The Auburn company is 95 years old. Reliant Medical Group of Worcester was named to Becker's Healthcare list of "150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare," one of five physician practice and medical groups in the U.S. to get the honor. It's the third time Reliant has made this list, since it was first published in 2011. MARIN Augustus Looking for a host offering Four Diamond hospitality in a central, convenient location? Well... Offering space for 5 to 300 guests, world-class cuisine and Central Massachusett's only AAA Four Diamond approval rating, we host exceptional meetings and dinners of all sizes. Let's meet. 363 PLANTATION ST • WORCESTER • 508.754.5789 • BEECHWOODHOTEL.COM F R E S H B E G I N N I N G S O N T H E M O V E ACCOLADES & HONOR S Workers Credit Union branches from Orange to Acton have been remodeled and reno- vated. Workers is headquartered in Fitchburg. Phase 2 of a rebranding effort will take place over the next few months, with branches getting new flooring, décor and furniture. Workers has 16 locations. Tío Juan's Margaritas Mexican Restaurant opened its eighth Massachusetts location in Northborough on Aug. 23 at 10006 Shops Way. Margaritas Management Group owns 23 of the restaurants across Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire, with three franchises in Pennsylvania. More franchise locations are planned for New Jersey later this year. C H A R I T A B L E G I V I N G Hudson-based Avidia Bank donated $1,000 for a parent-infant program at The Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham. Worcester-based Fidelity Bank raised more than $3,000 for local charities like the SHINE Initiative since it began Jeans Day in mid-June. For the privilege of wearing jeans to work every other Friday, most employees contribute $5, which the bank matches. Barre Savings Bank, which recently merged with Fidelity Bank, gave a $4,000 grant to Barre Library Association for summer children's programs. Framingham-based office-supply company Staples presented the Framingham chap- ter of Voices Against Violence with $3,291. Staples associates raised money to honor the memory of Katie MacDougall, a Staples associate who was the victim of domestic abuse in 2007. Since that time, Staples has made an annual donation in her name to the local charity raising approximately $20,000. Charles River Bank of Mendon donated $500 to the Mendon Police K-9 program. Whitinsville-based UniBank donated $2,000 to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry at St. Blaise Catholic Church in Bellingham. Worcester Community Foundation is awarding $348,717 through its endowed Fairlawn Foundation Fund to the Center for Health Impact; and to the Worcester State Foundation. The money will be used to set up an opioid prevention program for com- munity health workers at the Center for Health Impact; for an early childhood edu- cator to work with pediatrics teams at Continued on next page

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