40 Under Forty 2022: Ashling Rowen

Photo | Erika Sidor Ashling Rowen

Photo | Erika Sidor 40 Under Forty, Class of 2022 winners (from left) Dave Ortendahl, Michel Moravia, Ashling Rowen, Nicholas Lazzaro at Union Station in Worcester

Write a Comment

By Laura Finaldi

Ashling Rowen, 39

Title Owner
Company Infinity Events, in Sutton
Residence Sutton
Birthplace Barnstable
College Endicott College

Click here to read about the other 40 Under Forty, Class of 2022
More Information

Four days after she opened Infinity Events, her full-service event planning company, Rowen was faced with the overwhelming challenge of COVID-19.

The pandemic threw the event planning industry into a flux: Major affairs that had been planned for months or even years were suddenly canceled at a moment’s notice. It was a challenging time, but Rowen was able to persevere. She used her contacts and resources in order to grow Infinity into the company it is today.

For several years, Rowen has been involved with the planning of UMass Memorial Health’s Hope and Healing Celebration, Worcester’s highest-grossing fundraising event at more than $2 million. She offers her consulting and planning services for free to different Worcester nonprofits. Over the years, she has worked with the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, the CASA Project, the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Worcester Tercentennial. She has served on many committees to help plan logistical details and auctions to help raise funds. She lives in Sutton and has two children.

Would you prefer to live on the equator or in Antarctica? Antarctica. I love to figure skate, so I would be in my element there. Also, I could plan some really fun winter-style events.

What will Central Mass. be like in 10 years? Booming. I have seen so much change over the past few years and feel things are getting better and better.

What key to business success do most people not know? Being kind. It is so easy to be kind and treat people like you want to be treated.

Outside of your career and family, what has been your marquee life experience? Moving to Ireland for five years. I was able to gain experience overseas and expand my knowledge.