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Updated: August 19, 2024

40 Under Forty: Catch up with 25 alumni for the 25th anniversary

Three men and a woman hang from ropes on a climbing wall. Photo | Jaime Flores The 40 Under Forty winner and alumni who visited the Central Rock Gym in Worcester were (from left) Ed Hardy (Class of 2012), Casey Cormier (Class of 2015), Kelsa Zereski (Class of 2004), and Dominic Arsenault (Class of 2024).
By Brad Kane
40 Under Forty, 25th anniversary
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Since the inaugural year in 2000, nearly 1,000 Central Massachusetts professionals have been honored with Worcester Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty award.

All of those young executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders already had accomplished much to even be considered for 40u40, and after their wins, they went onto even greater things. Some grew their businesses, others moved onto higher-profile companies, and countless more became titans of economy and community, leading the region into a better future. A handful of 40u40 alumni from the early years have even sold their businesses and since retired.

A man with a red beard smiles at the camera wearing a pink checkered shirt and navy vest.
Photo | Erika Sidor
Brad Kane, WBJ editor

For this special edition, WBJ caught up with 25 featured alumni from the past 25 years, who have each made their own indelible mark on the region’s economy.

  • Class of 2000: Stacey Luster, Worcester State University - groundbreaking education executive
  • Class of 2001: Kevin Shea, Spectrum News 1 - a hall of fame sports journalism career
  • Class of 2002: Joe Santa Maria, Kill the Ball Media - made it by striking out on his own
  • Class of 2003: Walter Dwyer, Main Street Bank - navigated the ups and downs of the banking industry
  • Class of 2004: Kelsa Zereski, Reliant Foundation - now leads a high-profile foundation
  • Class of 2005: Todd Bailey, Fallon Health - led Fallon Health in the interim
  • Class of 2006: Ron Ernenwein, AA Transportation - he 4X his transportation company
  • Class of 2007: Melissa Fetterhoff, Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce - elevated the Nashoba Valley chamber
  • Class of 2008: Christina Andreoli, Berkshire Bank - from tourism advocate to banking executive
  • Class of 2010: Albert Rose, The Red Apple Farm - diversified the family farm
  • Class of 2010: Nancy Rose, The Red Apple Farm - turned the family farm into a year-round destination
  • Class of 2011: Joshua Lee Smith, Bowditch & Dewey - sought-out real estate attorney
  • Class of 2012: Ed Hardy, Central Rock Gym - grew his climbing gym across six states
  • Class of 2013: Bob Waitt, Elkem ASA - leads marketing for a global life sciences manufacturer
  • Class of 2014: Jake Sanders, Architectural Heritage Foundation - leading the restoration of a Worcester gem
  • Class of 2015: Casey Cormier, Angel-Guard Products - took over leadership of Worcester manufacturer
  • Class of 2016: Nicole Zea, Saint-Gobain/CertainTeed Roofing - moving up the ranks at Saint-Gobain
  • Class of 2017: Lindiana Flores Semidei, Raices Latin Dance - restarted her dancing company
  • Class of 2018: Ché Anderson, UMass Chan Medical School - community advocate advises Gov. Healey
  • Class of 2018: Derek Canton, Paerpay - entrepreneur caught the NBA's attention
  • Class of 2019: Sonia Sharma, marketing consultant - decided to be her own boss
  • Class of 2020: Robyn Kennedy, Massachusetts State Senate - Worcester's newest state senator
  • Class of 2020: Sarah Connell Sanders, Worcester Public Schools - co-authored a book on teacher burnout
  • Class of 2021: Seth Pitts, Bay State Savings Bank - took over Worcester financial institution
  • Class of 2022: Ashley Randle, Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources - leads state department of agriculture

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