Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | August 21, 2017 | Worcester Business Journal 13 4 0 U n d e r F o r t y F O C U S Six years ago, Murrieta and a group of artist wanted to pool talents and pas- sion for mentoring youth, launching free youth arts program Main IDEA. The first year, the number of students tripled after the first day; and over the years evolved from an annual tradition to a year-round nonprofit organization making art accessible to youth in the Main South neighborhood. A musician, Murrieta performs throughout Greater Worcester as a solo artist and with the Women of Worcester Production. She teaches music and works as an outreach coor- dinator atWorcester Music Academy. What person do you look up to? Jessica Walsh of Worcester Wares, who has a contagious love for Worcester What goal do you set for yourself at the start of every workday? Not let fear be the reason I don't go after some- thing, be gracious with myself and remember to pace myself! What is your favorite Central Mass. restaurant? BirchTree Bread Co. Where is your ideal vacation spot? Anywhere I haven't been yet. Brooklyn born-and-raised, Worcester became home to Mangione after she went to Clark University to receive her doctorate in developmental psychology and settled roots in the city, particularly in the LGBTQ community, co-founding the organization Airspray throwing queer dance parties at Electric Haze monthly with 200+ people in atten- dance. Realizing her passion was cen- tered in social activism, she landed in the nonprofit sector while being engaged in arts and education. Mangione co-founded the Worcester chapter of FemSex Feminist Workshop and serves on boards at ArtsWorcester and Safe Homes LGBT Youth Center at the Bridge of Central Mass. How do you define success? When I make someone else's life better. What is your favorite piece of Central Massachusetts history? The National Women's Rights Convention held the first inaugural meeting of the group in Worcester in 1850! What superpower would you like to have? Flying, mostly to avoid sitting in traffic. Since joining Hanover, Travis designed product architecture to improve speed to market for the firm's broadening products by more than 50 percent, also providing leadership to successful new product launches, including modernization of the busi- ness owners and life sciences products. Travis serves as an advisor to region- al technology startups, provides insight for private equity firms investing in the insurance sector and mentors young adults. He participates in the Worcester Chamber of Commerce Diverse Professional Roundtable and serves as first impressions leader in Liberty Church. Travis enjoys traveling to new countries with his wife, Alexis, and their children, Aleya and Asher. What would a movie made about your career be called? "To be contin- ued" because the best is yet to come. What will your work colleagues say at your funeral? Finally, some peace and quiet about product architecture. What is the one Central Massachusetts location everyone should visit? Purgatory Chasm Semidei is a dancer, choreographer and director for Raices, with experience such as co-founding Hispania Dance Co. and working with local programs like Worcester State University Latino Education Institute's Isla Theater. Upon the success of Raices, she acquired two additional franchise companies for her roster of managed teams, La Fuerza Dance and The New York Movement. At City of Worcester, Semidei helped create marketing strategy for the cul- tural development department, includ- ing partnering with 70+ organizations. She oversees the redesign of Worcester Cultural Coalition's website. Semidei is married to business partner John and has two children, Gabriel and Gianna. What do you daydream about? Either a slower-paced lifestyle running my own business remotely from my beauti- ful island of Puerto Rico, or hitting the lotto and starting a Puerto Rican cul- tural arts center in Worcester. What actress would play you in a movie? Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno, best known for her role in "West Side Story" Residence: Worcester Birthplace: Weymouth College: Crown College Joy Rachelle Murrieta, 30 Co-founder & program director, Main IDEA, Worcester P H O T O / E R I K A S I D O R Residence: Worcester Birthplace: New York College: Clarkson University, Long Island University Abel Travis, 34 Assistant vice president, product man- agement, Hanover Insurance Group, Worcester Lindiana Semidei, 33 Co-owner & co-director, Raices Latin Dance; Special projects assistant, Worcester Cultural Development Department Residence: Worcester Birthplace: Worcester College: Dean College Heather Mangione, 32 Community relationship manager, United Way of Central Massachusetts, Worcester Residence: Worcester Birthplace: Brooklyn, N.Y. College: SUNY New Paltz, Clark University Murals on WCUW building, 910 Main St. W W W W

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