Worcester Business Journal

22 Worcester Business Journal | August 21, 2017 | wbjournal.com F O C U S 4 0 U n d e r F o r t y Peterssen began his career in public accounting, obtaining his certified pub- lic accountant license and master in business administration. After three years, he decided to try his hand at commercial banking, starting as a cred- it analyst and moving to relationship manager, which allows him to follow his passion of being an active member of the community and develop new relationships with businesses. He volunteered at Veterans, Inc. since his undergraduate days and serves on Assumption's alumni board, mentoring students in the MBA pro- gram. Peterssen lives with his wife, Kristina, and children Brady and Riley, who keep him on his toes at all times. What person do you look up to? Bill Marriott, Jr., who inherited the hotel company and made it his own Who gave the best career advice? My parents, "Do what you love." What one Central Mass. location should everyone visit? Hanover Insurance Park at Holy Cross for a Bravehearts game Hoffman spent eight years as a English teacher in Southbridge – including mentoring new teachers and advising students – and only worked at BirchTree with husband Robert Fecteau on the side, as bookkeeper, farmers' market girl, barista and front-of-house manager. When the restaurant started booming, she switched to full time at BirchTree, handling finances, human resources and marketing while still proudly serving coffee. Her favorite aspect remains engaging with customers and bringing in com- munity activities like local artists and musicians. Hoffman's spare time is spent in her and Facteau's home garden with their dog, cat and chickens. What will colleagues say at your funeral? She loved her animals. She loved to make puns. She didn't stop. Your favorite Central Mass. restau- rant? Vincent's in Worcester. I could eat their meatball sandwich paired with a dirty vodka martini on the daily. Ideal vacation? Anywhere. I value time off when and wherever I get it. Behan is responsible for developing strategic planning for servicing UMass Memorial's relationships with Central Massachusetts community hospitals, working closely with the UMass chief physician executive. Over the past nine years, she has managed 70+ employee on efforts from community collabora- tions to performance initiatives – a long way from her first UMass experi- ence in 1987 as an orthopedic patient. She serves as UMass' loaned execu- tive to the United Way of Central Massachusetts and volunteers at St. Joseph's Church in Medway as a doc- trine teacher. She and her husband, Jay, have two boys, Aiden and Andrew. What goal do you set for yourself at the start of every workday? Make the list and get it done. What absolutely needs to happen today so I can pick up the kids on time? Favorite piece of Central Mass. his- tory? Not my favorite but most signifi- cant was the Worcester Cold Storage fire. I was 19. I'll never forget that night or the weeks and months following. Royce joined UniBank in 2015, after serving in financial roles at other insti- tutions for nine years, including small business development and retail branch management before transitioning into commercial lending. He is now respon- sible for working with companies need- ing to borrow $1 million or more. He co-chaired the bank's 2015 and 2016 United Way of Central Mass. cam- paigns, raising more than $150,000. He serves on the board for Abby Kelley Foster Charter School and chairs the race committee for the Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce Applefest 5K. He lives with Jessica McGarry, his two children, Aidan and Conner, and her two sons, Jeremy and Josh. If you spoke at a college graduation, what would the message be? Do your very best, never sacrifice integrity. Why work in Central Mass.? I was born, raised, educated and raise my kids here. Enough said. What movie actor would play you? Adam Sandler. His comedic style cap- tures my quirky personality. P H O T O / E R I K A S I D O R Residence: Worcester Birthplace: Providence, R.I. College: Assumption College Kevin Peterssen, 31 Vice president, commercial banking, United Bank, Worcester Residence: Medway Birthplace: Holyoke Colleges: Assumption College, Springfield College Kathryn Behan, 37 Director, clinical affiliations, UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester Patrick T. Royce, 38 Vice president, commercial lending, UniBank, Worcester Residence: Sutton Birthplace: Worcester Colleges: Worcester State University, Framingham State University Avra Hoffman, 35 Co-owner, BirchTree Bread Co., Worcester Residence: Charlton Birthplace: Worcester Colleges: UMass Amherst, Worcester State University Wormtown Brewery, 72 Shrewsbury St. W W W W

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