2008 40 Under Forty Winners

Click here to view the class photos of the Worcester Business Journal's 40 Under Forty winners for the year 2008 and scroll below to find out where many of them are now (listed alphabetically by last name):

Allison Alaimo
Current Job: Director of finance and development, Veterans Inc., Worcester

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
It was just last year, so not much has changed...I still have a very positive outlook.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Don't be afraid to take a risk and look for opportunities and an increase in responsibilities in your job. Work hard, get involved, help others in need, while still saving time for yourself.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
It was a great honor to be recognized amongst so many talented and accomplished people!

Mariette Barsoum
Current Job: Owner, Divine Kitchen LLC, Westborough

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
Same, trying to work very hard to reach my goals.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Keep your dreams ahead of you. You can get things done if you want to. If there is a will there is away.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
I was touched that my hard work has been recognized at a young age.

Bill Blanchard
Current Job: Director of IT, RIC International, Cambridge

What was your job when you won?
MSB Consulting

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
I am more aggressive to pursue available opportunities.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Be hungry. Nothing will be given to you. It must all be earned.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
It was a major high point of my career.

Dennis Braun
Current Job: Director of graduate and continuing education admissions, Anna Maria College, Worcester

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
I think in our current economic condition it is hard to answer. I feel appreciative of my position and role with AMC and enjoy what I do.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Be diligent in your research and be aggressive in your mission. Take the same approach, if you are either starting a company or entering the workforce.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
Winning 40 Under Forty has made me feel more connected with the city of Worcester and has provided a great group to be connected with.

Michael Cimini
Current Job: President, Yankee Spirits Inc., Sturbridge

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
A little bleaker due to the economy and the failure of state government.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Be adaptable. Count on change.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
It was a nice honor.

Aileen Clemente
Current Job: Chief financial officer, Vanguard Health Systems, Worcester

What was your job when you won?
Vanguard Health Systems, regional director of finance

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
I'm hopeful people will find new or different opportunities in the midst of this economic crisis.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Need to be highly adaptable and absorb/learn as much as possible in an ever changing business environment.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
Hard work and perseverance do get recognized!

Douglas Eisenstein
Current Job: Managing director/founder, Advanti Solutions, Ashland/Boston

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
Times have changed, we need to change with them.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
I wish I did this when I was younger: Find an entrepreneur who can "show you the ropes."

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
Quite a lot. I now realize how much people value my work.

Nicole Glinski Curtin
Current Job: Assistant vice president and marketing and communications manager, Workers' Credit Union, Fitchburg

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
Not much different. I feel strongly about giving back to the community whether it is through my commitment in the credit union philosophy, co-chairing the United Way Committee for Workers' Pacesetter Campaign, or doing things on a personal level like donating blood to the UMass Blood Donation Center.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Be prepared to take risks in your career. Sometimes they are calculated, and sometimes they are just a gut feeling. Even small failures educate you in the world of life - things you could never learn by playing it safe.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
The day I got the call I didn't believe it. I made the caller repeat it and still was shocked. To be nominated by colleagues was an amazing feeling. I had no idea. It was a highlight of my professional career.

Kimberly M. Harmon
Current Job: Founder/CEO, Harmon Home Health

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
My focus has shifted to growing the business in challenging economic times.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
1). Do you what you are most passionate about. For me, it is making a difference. I enjoy creating new possibilities for myself, my employees, and the company. 2). Be Coachable. Listen to your mentors and give up always being right. 3). Surround yourself with #1 players. Find the best to be on your team and play as hard as you can.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
Winning the WBJ's 40 Under Forty was truly an honor. To be surrounded by groups of individuals who are recognized for their contribution to community inspired me more to be the best I can be for my community.

Rita Kapur
Current Job: Vice president of finance, Aimtek Inc., Auburn

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
It's the same.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Stay focused and positive.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
It was a very exciting award to receive and I feel very proud to be a part of an elite group of entrepreneurs that have received this award.

David Klein
Current Job: President/CEO, Greenwood Industries Inc., Millbury

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
It's not all that different.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
You will make mistakes. It is how you handle those mistakes that will determine if you are successful or not.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
It was nice to get some recognition for all the hard work, but, then, it was right back to work growing the business.

Meghan Maceiko
Current Job: Operations management consultant, Unum, Worcester

What was your job when you won?
Unum, manager of community relations

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
My outlook has not changed significantly but I may be more confident.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Have a moral compass and stick to it. As recent events have shown, some people with money and power abuse it.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
It was an amazing honor. It was a type of recognition I never thought I would receive.

Rud Mason
Current Job: President, Princeton Scapes Inc., Sterling

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
I am more optimistic about the future of our business. We have pulled in our horns and are 218 percent more profitable today than we were last year at this time.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Pay attention to the small details and of course your clients.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
It was a great honor.

Shyla Matthews
Current Job: Vice president community development, MassDevelopment, Worcester

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
Exactly the same - striving for excellence.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Honesty and integity matter most in a turbulent environment.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
It was a wonderful way to raise the profile of what my role is in this community as it is often behind the scenes as a critical piece of financing for projects, yet not often the most high profile piece of the financing puzzle. The award allowed me to showcase how proud I am, also, of the work I do.

Kim McCarthy
Current Job: Owner/president, Generations on the Move Inc., Holden

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
Being recognized by the Worcester Business Journal has brought to light the emerging industry that I am a part of.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
When starting a business, it's important to remember that it is a marathon and not a sprint. Often it takes time to establish your reputation and for people to recognize the benefits that your company offers.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
Winning the 40 Under Forty award showed me the importance of reaching for the stars and also to not forget to always be thinking of how lucky we are and giving back to those in our community that may not be so fortunate.

Michelle Morneau
Current Job: Director, Fidelity Investments

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
My outlook hasn't changed that much since last year, though with the current economy I do realize that my volunteer works become more and more important as people and companies aren't able to commit as much as they had previously.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
This award was a great honor to receive as a recognition of all the work that I had accomplished. To know that others would feel its achievement means a lot.

Jeffrey D. Navin
Current Job: Project executive, Consigli Construction Co. Inc.

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
As a recent winner, my overall outlook remains positive and for the most part unchanged. Although the current market makes things a bit tough some days, we enjoy the challenge.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Work hard, play hard and truly enjoy life.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
The award was a great experience introducing me to others with similar interests, drive and passion while also providing for a bit of networking in the Greater Worcester area.

Maura Peeler
Current Job: Area general manager, True North Hotel Group, Devens

What was your job when you won?
True North Hotel Group, general manager of one property

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
I am looking ahead to a successful future now within reach.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Have patience and demonstrate a strong work ethic.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
I consider this award a career accomplishment that, coupled with other accomplishments, has allowed me to further my position within my company.

Sara Kelleher Sears
Current Job: Vice president/Realtor, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Worcester

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
It's really not any different.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
To always be kind to others (even the competitors) and to volunteer within the community that you work.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
It was an honor to be recognized for my work (both professional and volunteer).

Josie Shagwert
Current Job: Director of development, Regional Environmental Council Inc., Worcester

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
It's only been about half a year, so my outlook is pretty much still the same.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
You can never under estimate the power of creative thinking and a positive attitude!

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
It really meant a lot to me - it felt very special to be acknowledged for the work I do, and to share the experience with other local entrepreneurs.

Jim Sullivan
Current Job: CEO, JCSI, Westborough

What was your job when you won?
Same

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
JCSI is not the same company it was one year ago. For that reason, my outlook has changed significantly for the better. We have been leveraging social media far more aggressively and began implementing those initiatives throughout our company. We now offer a wider array of services which focus on social media in recruiting. This has become instrumental in our current success and growth.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
I would tell young entrepreneurs to not be afraid of taking chances and to go after what they believe in. A large part of my success has derived from my willingness to take risks in the belief that my decision would be successful. Now, my decisions were not always the right ones, but I do believe learning from your mistakes is one of the most valuable learning tools one can have.

What did winning the 40 Under Forty Award mean to you?
The 40 Under Forty award spoke volumes to myself as well as to JCSI. It proved our placement in the industry and it was great to receive recognition from the WBJ. It was an honor to accept this award and to be amongst such reputable professionals.

Kristina R. Vickstrom
Current Job: Estate planning and elder law attorney, Vickstrom Law, Worcester

What was your job when you won?
I was at the same company, but we have changed our name from Kristina R. Vickstrom, Attorney at Law to Vickstrom Law.

How is your outlook today different from your outlook when you won?
My positive outlook remains unchanged. Despite the poor economy, Vickstrom Law is holding its own and has had several exciting changes since being honored as a 40 Under Forty winner last year.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Networking! Networking!! Networking!!!

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