Worcester Business Journal Special Editions

8 Giving Guide 2017 Worcester Business Journal www.wbjournal.com Nonprofit Status 2017 (continued) I n 1979, Mark Silverman needed to find a way to pay his tuition at Northeastern University so he purchased a used oil company van, bor- rowed on his credit card and launched a small moving company. Little did he dream that nearly 40 years later he would be president and CEO of a much-expanded company, founder of a non-profit furniture foundation and would finally have that degree in hand. The early days of Mark's Moving & Storage mainly comprised of small jobs, such as moving a few boxes or a couple of mattresses. In time, business increased, bringing the need to hire more help and purchase more trucks. While his main business initially focused on household goods, over the years the company has branched into office, industrial, hospital, long distance and international moves. More recently, Mark's Moving has assumed fire and flood rescue operations, salvaging and restoring property, whenever possible. As its customer list grew, Silverman continued to operate on a strict business model: to help people. Not only did he treat customers and their property with respect and care, but he also carried that principle into action in the community. The company contributes to a number of local initiatives and agencies from food drives to youth sports teams to school outreach programs. Mark's Moving also supports several non-profit organizations, including the Arthritis Foundation, Household Goods in Acton, Move for Hunger, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and many others. But one of the most important endeavors is an organic outgrowth of the com- pany's main purpose. Mark's Moving takes pride in its efforts to rescue house- hold goods from local landfills and place them in the hands of those who need them. Silverman noted that more than 9.8 million tons of furniture are thrown away every year. "It's the least recycled item in all households," he said. "We collect unwanted household furniture items by the trailer load and deliver them to non-profits who get them to the end user, such as veterans, victims of fires and floods, those leaving transitional housing and others in need." These efforts led to the creation of Mark's Northeastern Furniture Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that has made significant strides in two areas. Mark's Moving has saved more than 44,000 cubic feet of trash from going into local landfills – enough to cover Gillette Stadium with garbage nearly a foot deep, according to Silverman. In the last six years, the company has collected more than 2,700 pieces of furniture that would have been discarded – more than 300,000 pounds or 150 tons – and donated it to charities and families in need. Mark's Moving distributes this furniture through several partners, including the United Way of Tri-County, Household Goods in Acton and the Brookline Community Mental Health Center. The Foundation has received support from The Needham Bank and the Eagle Leasing Company. Since those early days, Mark's Moving has become recognized as an interna- tional presence in the moving industry. Its partnership with Arpin Van Lines enables the company to network with hundreds of agents to coordinate and manage relocations all over the country and the world. But Silverman has never lost sight of his local roots and his basic mission. "While our service area is the globe, much of our business is local. We put a lot of effort into helping people in Massachusetts," he said. "And when we write our legacy, we want to say we've always been there to help those in need." n MARK'S MOVING & STORAGE, INC. Movers With a Mission A t Shepherd & Goldstein LLP, a full-service, certified public account- ing and business development firm, customer focus is the top priority. Since 1980, the firm has been committed to providing "fanatical focus on customer service." Determined to enhance the personal and pro- fessional lives of their clients, the firm serves as a trusted advisor, guiding clients through complex business decisions to reach their goals through effective busi- ness strategies. The company takes pride in providing "1,000 little things" that add up to customer satisfaction. In 1980, Shepherd & Goldstein launched operations in a modest Worcester office with half a dozen accountants. The firm grew rapidly and added manage- ment consulting services as well as a wealth management group and soon earned a reputation for customer-service excellence. In addition to its Worcester loca- tion at 100 Front Street, Shepherd & Goldstein now has regional offices in Framingham, Milford and South Yarmouth. While Shepherd & Goldstein strives for top-notch customer service, the firm goes the extra mile outside of the office as well. "We have always felt it was crit- ically important to support organizations in local communities where we have offices," said Terence Shepherd, Managing Partner of Shepherd & Goldstein. "We do this through the enthusiastic efforts of our team members who gener- ously give time to non-profits that address vital community needs and issues." Since the firm's founding, Shepherd & Goldstein has made their Community Service Program an important part of their corporate mission and culture. Partner Ronald J. Masiello noted that employees are deeply engaged with various charities, including the Rainbow Child Development Center, Play It Forward and the St. Agnes Day Guild, to name a few. "We promote our team's involvement in community non-profits. Once a year, each office chooses a location at which to do charitable work," he said. "Last year, we spent the day working on the playground at Rainbow Child Development. This year we did something similar at St. Agnes Guild." Employees also participate in Project Smile, Pearl Street Cupboard food pan- try and the Dream Factory Community Conference, an educational women's organization focused on training women to take control of their lives. The firm is specifically committed to Why Me, Inc., which is part of Sherry's House, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children with cancer and their families cope with this devastating illness. Shepherd founded this organi- zation, which honors his 12-year old daughter who became the first pediatric patient at UMass in 1985. Why Me built a home in the Tatnuck Square area of Worcester to serve both local and out-of-state families throughout the duration of their child's treatment. The organization provides a number of other important services, including numerous support groups, transportation to and from appointments and treat- ment sessions, camps, education, bereavement support and therapy and fun events, according to Masiello. Several staff members are active on various non-profit boards. For instance, Manager Erin Delaney, CPA, is an executive committee and board member at the Rainbow Child Development Center. "I've been involved with the organiza- tion for the past three years and now serve as treasurer," she said. Other employ- ees sit on the boards of the Metro West English as a Second Language Organization; Higgins Beach Association, Scarborough, Maine; Worcester Pay It Forward and the Guild of St. Agnes Child Center. Shepherd & Goldstein applies its philosophy of "doing 1,000 little things" to both its business model and to its extraordinary philanthropic efforts in the community. n SHEPHERD & GOLDSTEIN LLP Focused on Customers

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