Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/816687
wbjournal.com | May 1, 2017 | Worcester Business Journal 3 Editor, Brad Kane, bkane@wbjournal.com Digital Editor, Grant Welker, gwelker@wbjournal.com Staff Writers Laura Finaldi, lfinaldi@wbjournal.com (Manufacturing, higher education) Emily Micucci, emicucci@wbjournal.com (Health care) Editorial Intern, Savannah Donohue, sdonohue@wbjournal.com Contributors Susan Shalhoub 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 Senior Special Accounts Manager Mary Lynn Bosiak, mlbosiak@wbjournal.com Marketing & Events Manager Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com COO, Mary Rogers, mrogers@nebusinessmedia.com Accounting Manager, Valerie Clark, vclark@nebusinessmedia.com Accounting Assistant, Rae Rogers, rrogers@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 President, Joseph Zwiebel jzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com T he Central Massachusetts high- er education industry is the the midst of a leadership shake-up. These changes first started brewing more than a year ago, but the strategy and new directions these presi- dents bring to their institutions have the ability to shape the region in the coming decades. As a result, WBJ is giving you a steady dose of collegiate presidential coverage. For our last issue on April 17, Staff Writer Laura Finaldi sat down with the new president at Mount Wachusett Community College, James Vander Hooven, who replaced Daniel Asquino after his 30 years at the school. Vander Hooven is still in the process of formu- lating his strategic plan, but it involves continuing the Gardner college's part- nership with businesses in North Worcester County. For this issue, Digital Editor Grant Welker talked with Luis Pedraja, who has been tagged to replace Gail Carberry as president of Quinsigamond Community College. Pedraja said he wants to expand community college education to Central Massachusetts' dis- advantaged populations, such as recent immigrants and low-income residents. He is set to be approved by the state Board of Higher Education on May 9 While these new presidents bring excitement around new ideas, we must reflect on what the region is losing. In our upcoming May 15 issue, we will look back on the tenure of Robert Johnson, who is leaving May 9 as presi- dent of Becker College in Worcester after seven years to become chancellor at UMass Dartmouth. Johnson not only reshaped Becker's narrative, but also played a significant role in the region's business community, such as serving as chairman of board for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. Higher education is big business; after health care, the industry is the second biggest employer in the region. The area's college and universities not only bring scores of young people into Central Massachusetts, but they train and retrain the area workforce, conduct Just call us the Worcester Higher Ed Business Journal 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 available 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 responsibility 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: NEWS & ANALYSIS DEPARTMENTS 4 Central Mass. In Brief 5 Flash Poll 12 Focus on Colleges & Universities 16 The List: Top colleges & universities 17 Know How 18 On the Move 19 Photo Finish 20 Business Leads 21 Opinion 22 Shop Talk: Laura DiBenedetto, Vision Advertising 14 Holy war The College of the Holy Cross is considering changing its mascot from the Crusaders, because of the negative connotations with the Middle Ages holy wars. 21 Bring back sales tax holiday Viewpoint Columnist Jon Hurst from the Retailers Association of Massachusetts says the state and its economy lose out by not having the annual summer weekend without sales taxes I N T H I S I S S U E Worcester Business Journal WBJ REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY MONSON DEVELOPMENT CENTER – FOR SALE The sale and redevelopment of a portion of the former Monson Development Center presents an exciting opportunity to create a unique mixed-use development to support a mainly rural economy (and expanding light industrial economy) in the village-like historic Town of Monson. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is seeking responses to the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase and sale of a portion of this state- owned property. Please refer to the RFP for site tour and specific submission requirements. MONSON DEVELOPMENT CENTER: • 256+/- acres for sale — bid on entire site or an Area • Historic property may be eligible for federal and state Historic Tax Credits • Town supports mixed use development • Adjacent to hundreds of acres of protected agricultural and recreation land • Includes undeveloped rail spur TO OBTAIN THE RFP: www.mass.gov/DCAMM/Monson2017 research, and overall elevate the area's profile. The individual and collective power of their new and existing leaders can't be overstated. - Brad Kane, editor W