40 Under Forty alumni: Jake Sanders, Class of 2014 - leading the restoration of a Worcester gem
Jake Sanders in 2014 and 2024
Photo | Jaime Flores
A handful of married couples – each in their own right – have won the 40 Under Forty award over the years, including (from left) Jake and Sarah Connell Sanders (Classes of 2014 and 2020) and Olivia and Leonard Jusme (Class of 2024), pictured here at Moore State Park in Paxton.
- Class of 2014
- Then Director of external relations at Becker College, in Leicester
- Now Project executive at Architectural Heritage Foundation, in Brighton
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A lot has changed in the decade since Jake Sanders’ class of WBJ 40 under Forty winners.
While his former employer in Becker College has since gone defunct, Sanders’ career has grown. In 2015, he joined the Office of the Worcester City Manager under Ed Augustus as coordinator of intergovernmental affairs, eventually being promoted to chief of staff. In those roles, he helped guide Worcester through the thorny process of regulating newly legalized cannabis businesses and played a role in the negotiations to bring the Pawtucket Red Sox to Worcester. He assisted the City with securing state and federal funds, totaling nearly $50 million. But perhaps his current role is the most daunting: In 2021, he joined the Architectural Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit leading efforts to save the Worcester Memorial Auditorium, a historic venue on Highland Street that has sat mostly vacant for a quarter-century. He is the first to admit the task is difficult, but if AHF can bring the Aud back from the dead, more accolades for Sanders are certainly on the horizon.
What did getting the 40u40 award mean to you at the time? I was born and raised in Worcester, so receiving the 40u40 recognition felt like I was taking a step in the right direction toward supporting the betterment of my hometown.
What does it mean to you now? It is a reminder my leadership journey is evolving. I’ll be aging out of 40u40 soon and although my career growth continues, I want to support the rising generation of professionals any way I can.
What advice do you have for this year's 40u40 winners? Be kind and strong in your convictions.
How has Central Massachusetts changed since you won the 40u40 award? Worcester is the only midsized city in New England with a growing population. It has become a known entity on a national scale, which brings both positive opportunities and new challenges to overcome.
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