Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | December 5, 2016 | Worcester Business Journal 13 P H O T O / E D D C O T E Chairman, Bowditch & Dewey, Worcester Mike Angelini S T A N D A R D B E A R E R S / P O W E R P L A Y E R S F O C U S T hough he's been a major player in Central Massachusetts for quite some time, Angelini had a particularly arduous task ahead of him this past year: select a new leader at the The Hanover Insurance Group to replace longtime CEO Frederick H. Eppinger. In May, the com- pany announced that its board, led by Angelini, select- e d Jo s e p h Zubretsky, who was chosen for his broad insurance experience and detailed understanding the independent agency distribution channel. Angelini is a long- time influential board member of Massport, which has owned Worcester Regional Airport since 2010. A trial and business lawyer by day, Angelini has been with Bowditch & Dewey since 1968, when he graduated from Duke University School of Law in Durham, N.C. What fuels regional economic growth? Provide excellent public education, equal- ize economic opportunity and aggressively recruit job-intensive employers. What has been the biggest change dur- ing your time here? Conversion from a manufacturing-based economy to a ser- vice and knowledge-based economy. - Laura Finaldi T he five Crowley siblings – brothers Ralph, Chris, Jeff and David Crowley and sister Carolyn Stimpson – control two of the region's most iconic businesses in Polar and Wachusett Mountain. At the ski resort, the family unveiled $2 million in new snowmaking equipment in November, as the siblings adjust to what they believe are permanent shifting weath- er patterns of warmer, later winters. At Polar, the fourth-generation, 134-year-old beverage company continues to find new ways to be inventive, finding success with a new string of seasonal bever- ages and mentoring brewers on raising additional revenue by bottling and canning other companies' products. What is the future of legacy industries like manufacturing?Worcester is well posi- tioned going forward. It has excellent rail service and highway access. The workforce is motivated and has terrific work ethic. What can be done to attract more visi- tors? Improved rail has and will be a big help. - Brad Kane I rving is a champion of Gardner. There are others that do it louder, such as the city's young mayor Mark Hawke, and those who have been working for the city for longer, but few are as consistent as Irving. The company he founded, Data Guide Cable Corp., has been in the city since 1983 and still provides the kinds of manufacturing jobs that formed the backbone of the Chair City. His passion expanded when started a realty and development company and pro- ceeded to clean up the former manufactur- ing site that housed his business and cre- ated a development that now houses a Price Chopper, bringing much-needed shopping diversity and jobs and further cementing his long-standing influence. What is the future of manufacturing? As required manufacturing skill sets change, it will be important for schools and manu- facturers to collaborate on STEM pro- grams to develop a workforce. How can cities like Gardner push the regional economy forward? Gardner is a great city to have a business in. If it could develop an incubator program for new start- ups, it could create many new opportunities. - Sam Bonacci General manager, SMG/DCU Center, Worcester Owners & shareholders, Polar Beverages & Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, Worcester & Princeton President, Black Point Realty & Nichols Square LLC, Gardner Don Irving T he uptick in the pace of Worcester's recent revitalization can be attributed to number of factors, but high on that list is Murray joining the chamber back in 2013. "He is tenancious, and he just can't be stopped," said City Manager Edward Augustus. "He is just a fierce advocate." A former Worcester mayor and lieutenant governor, Murray has an innate understanding of how those levels of government work to push economic development on the local level. Coupled with his passion for the city and under- standing of its potential, Murray has a vision and the ability to realize. When Gov. Charlie Baker was first elected in 2015, one of the first stops for his administration was Worcester, where he met with the powerful Economic Development Coordinating Committee, of which Murray and Augustus are executive members. At Murray's suggestion, the EDCC prepared ideas and projects for the new administration. "It showed the new administration that there was a team in Worcester that had its act together," Augustus said. How can the region get government funding for economic projects? Many of the projects recently completed or under way came about as public/private partnerships. Continued collabora- tion and teamwork are required to build on these successes. Who in Central Mass. do you admire? One person is Frank Carroll, who built a small business anchoring an area of Main Street. He advocates on behalf of veterans. He could be comfort- ably retired but pushes to make Worcester a better place. - Brad Kane President & CEO, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce Timothy P. Murray Long-time forces in the business community T he DCU Center plays a larger than life role in the health of downtown Worcester. Any given day, there are monster trucks flying in the air or a regional business conference. Downtown is full of people walking, parking and dining because of Dunn, who keeps the operation run- ning smoothly. Dunn's help with the addition of a new minor league hockey team, retail store and restaurant incubator have extend- ed the center's reach beyond events.. How will the economy change in the next generation? Our intellectual capital will define our economy. Our location and quality of life on the Boston metro-edge will enhance the speed of our growth. How has downtown changed? When you are working to create change, it seems to move so slowly, but when you can look back 10, 20, 30 years – Wow! - Sam Bonacci The Crowleys Age:48 Hometown: Worcester Years working in Central Mass: 38 Age: 74 Hometown: Leominster Years working in Central Mass: 48 Age: 66 Hometown: Westminster Years working in Central Mass: 47 Age: 58 Hometown: Punxsutawney, Pa. Years working in Central Mass: 33 Ages: 50s-66 Hometowns: Worcester, Southborough, Westminster, Princeton Years working in Central Mass: 50+ Sandy L. Dunn

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