40 Under Forty 2019: Jon Weaver

Photo | Erika Sidor From the 20th anniversary of WBJ's 40 under Forty are (from left) 2019 winner Jon Weaver, 2019 winner Anna K. Zheng, MD, 2006 alumni Troy Siebels, and 2019 winner Julia Becker Collins at The Hanover Theatre & Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Worcester.

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Click here to read about the other 40 Under Forty winners from 2019 and featured alumni in our 20th anniversary edition
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Jon Weaver, 35

President & CEO

Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, Worcester

Residence: Sturbridge

Birthplace: Northeast Connecticut

College: Assumption College

MBI has already begun to grow under Weaver, who was named CEO effective the start of 2019, taking over for longtime CEO Kevin O’Sullivan. The life science incubator announced this spring it would open up more than 20,000 square feet of space for startups in the former Cogmedix building on Briden Street. That project will double the size of MBI’s operations in Worcester, which currently supports 43 life science companies, trying to achieve goals like curing cancer. Weaver came to MBI as chief operating officer in 2015 after spending most of his adult life with the Worcester Business Development Corp. and MassDevelopment as senior project manager and vice president of real estate, respectively. At WBDC, he was part of the team overseeing the renovation of the former Worcester Technical High School into luxury apartments. At MassDevelopment, he oversaw the sale of a $300-million building in downtown Boston. He’s volunteered on the powerful Worcester Economic Development Coordinating Council and on the board of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau. He serves as alumni advisor to the Worcester Student Government Association and the board of The Venture Forum at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He served on the Auburn Planning Board and Assumption College Alumni Council. – Profile written by Zachary Comeau

If could live anywhere for one month, where would it be? Montecatini is a little city outside of Florence, Italy, known as the Christmas City. I’d go in November and tour Europe.

Favorite Central Mass. tourist attraction? When people visit, I take them to Greater Good Imperial Brewing for great beer, food and company.