2008 40 Under Forty: Michael Cimini
Michael Cimini
Age: 38
Title: President
Company: Yankee Spirits Inc.
Company location: Sturbridge
Residence: Sturbridge
Career highlights:
I am the president of Yankee Spirits Inc. I have been with the company since 1993 on a full-time basis and took it over in July 2002, effectively buying two stores. Luckily leveraged buyouts were still fairly strong at that point. Our capable operations and financial teams allowed me to retire the bank debt quickly and now we are in expansion mode. There are now three Yankee Spirits stores, one each in Sturbridge, Attleboro, and Swansea.
Community involvement:
I try to be very involved in my community. I am on the board of Old Sturbridge Village, a cherished Sturbridge institution. I am also the chairman of the town’s economic development committee. Add-itionally, Yankee Spirits is involved in well over 100 community organizations as a donor or participant. I enjoy being part of the Sturbridge community, and I hope helping to make it a stronger one. The difference that one makes can be seen every day in the participation in and success of all of the wonderful causes, programs and events that my neighbors promote.
Biggest professional success:
My biggest success professionally was working with a countless number of my peers to help defeat the wine in grocery stores ballot initiative of 2006.
A very modestly funded group of concerned retailers was able to work at building coalitions and partnerships to generate the resources needed to get the true story out about the potentially dangerous effects of doubling beverage alcohol licenses in the commonwealth at the flip of the switch.
Dream job:
My ultimate job would be as a writer or host doing a series on family travel with my family.
Businessperson you admire most:
I’m really not sure who the business person I admire most is. My knee jerk response would be to say Sam Walton because of his vision and success, but even he didn’t find a way to ensure a legacy of good service and corporate responsibility.
If you weren’t doing the job you’re doing now, what would you do?
I suspect I would try to be professionally involved with a not-for-profit institution about which I care. I work very closely with a number of such organizations and have often been considered “quasi-staff” anyways.
Favorite movie:
If I told you my favorite movie I’d be revealing my “secret question and answer” on at least 100 secure sites.
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