empHowered PR bio box
Updated: January 13, 2025
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2025 Best of Business Awards
Best of Business 2025: Best Professional Services
Photo I Courtesy of EmpHowered PR
Lauren Howe, principal and owner of empHowered PR
By Mica Kanner-Mascolo and Eric Casey
Best Public Relations Company
Winner: EmpHowered PR
Empowerment is literally the name of the game for Lauren Howe. It’s an integral pillar to the work she does as the principal and owner of her public relations business empHowered PR in Leominster.
“By giving my clients the tools of their brand, their messaging, and coming up with those unique creatives that go with it, I'm giving them the empowerment too to say, ‘This is your time; share your story,’” she said.
Howe’s principle of taking control of our own narratives translates directly to her personal life and the inception of her business.
She started her PR career in 2002, working throughout the healthcare, manufacturing, and nonprofit sectors for 15 years. And then came 2017. Howe was diagnosed with melanoma and felt the urge to slow down her traveling schedule and be home with her daughter.
That didn’t mean Howe wanted to give up her career.
So on Valentine’s Day 2020, just before the onslaught of the COVID pandemic, Howe quit her corporate job, launching empHowered PR that summer.
Four and a half years later, Howe has 11 clients and employs five contract workers on an as-needed basis.
Working with clients from the U.S. Olympic Luge team to local food pantries means Howe needs to customize her PR strategy to the business at hand.
“PR is a practice, and when you’re doing your practice, you have to pivot it not only to the industry but also to that specific client,” said Howe.
With this mindset at the forefront, Howe dives into a needs assessment with all of her clients in order to identify what a business does, how it does it, and who it’s doing it for. Probing for these answers allows Howe to identify the overarching message of a business, which not only speaks to the audience it serves but improves its industry as a whole.
“I always like to work with clients that are doing things that are making the world a better place than when we left it when we woke up,” she said.
Howe is a big proponent of corporate responsibility, which for her is integral to a company’s branding.
“If you are a company in a community … you should have not only an investment in the economic development of that community and in the people that live there, but also in the community as a whole,” said Howe.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
Best Forensic Accountant
Winner: McLaren & Associates CPAs*
David McLaren goes above and beyond for his clients. Whether it be related to divorce, estates, or situations of employee or partner theft, McLaren & Associates CPAs in Shrewsbury has become a go-to resource for Central Massachusetts business and individuals looking to track down missing money.
David McLaren
McLaren founded the firm in 2005 after overcoming an impoverished upbringing in Worcester's Piedmont neighborhood and the tragic death of his 11-year-old sister to leukemia when he was nine. Since then he’s worn a variety of hats — quite literally — as his role as a forensic accountant sometimes requires donning a disguise to get his hands on the necessary data needed to win a case.
“We do undercover work,” McLaren said. “We have an undercover car. We have dressed in costumes to get data and information. Other firms don’t do that. We do whatever we need to do to get to the truth. It’s a little bit unique compared to most forensic accountants out there.”
McLaren’s willingness to go incognito for his firm’s clients has paid dividends, as the firm has yet to lose a case in its two decades of existence. He credits the challenges of his upbringing, which saw him briefly living out of his car in his teenage years, as the reason for his ability to understand what desperation could drive people to.
McLaren & Associates CPAs bio box
“I saw just about every way everybody could possibly steal,” McLaren said. “I stayed on the good side and now use everything I've ever seen and learned to make sure that other people are protected.”
Thinking like the bad guys allows McLaren to be strategic, avoiding getting bogged down in wild goose chases or dead-ends. The firm goes to great lengths to ensure fraud is indeed happening before taking on a case, providing free upfront assessments to avoid wasting clients’ time and money.
McLaren credits the firm's success to its attention to detail.
“We have an uncanny talent of noticing things that others don't notice when it comes to numbers, as well as reading people,” he said. “We always believe in doing the right thing and just want to make sure that people get to the truth and justice.”
Perhaps a reflection of his own dealings with poverty, McLaren made sure the firm has a positive impact on society by converting into a certified B Corp, meaning the company has committed to meet high standards to ensure a positive environmental and social impact.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.
Best Bank
Winner: UniBank*, in Whitinsville
Notable runners-up: Cornerstone Bank, in Worcester; Webster Five Cents Savings Bank, in Auburn; Rockland Trust, in Rockland
UniBank provides community-focused initiatives and personalized banking solutions in Central Massachusetts. After opening its newest branch in December in Worcester’s Canal District across from Polar Park, UniBank’s expansion and 154 years of banking experience provides customers the services and financial tools aimed to achieve their professional and personal goals.
Website: www.unibank.com
Top executives: CEO Michael Welch, President Christopher Foley, Executive Vice President Justine DeNorscia
Founded: 1870
Employees: 265
Best Credit Union
Winner: Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)*, in Marlborough
Notable runners-up: Shrewsbury Federal Credit Union, in Shrewsbury; Webster First Federal Credit Union, in Worcester; Central One Federal Credit Union, in Shrewsbury
With more than $12 billion in assets and new partnerships, Digital Federal Credit Union is committed to supporting the financial goals of 1.2 million members across the U.S., whether assisting with a student loan, a new credit card, the purchase of a new home, or building a business. DCU works to ensure members come first and assists them through all stages of life.
Website: www.dcu.org
Top executive: Shruti Miyashiro, president and CEO
Founded: 1979
Employees: 1,775 total; 717 in Central Massachusetts
Best Law Firm
Winner: Mirick*, in Worcester
Notable runners-up: Fletcher Tilton, in Worcester; Bowditch & Dewey, in Worcester
Mirick takes pride in being a first-class, regional law firm, representing large employers across different industries in the state. Looking to the future, Mirick focuses on continuing to deliver personalized and innovative solutions efficiently, while meeting clients’ objectives and creating a workplace environment where attorneys and staff are valued.
Website: www.mirickoconnell.com
Top executive: Co-Managing Partners Paul Carey and Robert Kilroy
Founded: 1916
Employees: 140 total; 132 in Central Massachusetts
Best Accounting Firm
Winner: Bollus Lynch*, in Worcester
Bollus Lynch
Notable runners-up: Stowe and Degon, in Westborough; Stolberg, Ebbeling & Blanchette, in Worcester; Citrin Cooperman, in Worcester
Bollus Lynch is comprised of individuals who are experienced in servicing clients professional and personal needs. While the firm serves clients globally, Bollus Lynch is locally owned and committed to the Worcester community, fostering relationships with the area’s business leaders.
Website: www.bolluslynch.com
Top executive: Michael Bollus, managing partner
Founded: 1989
Employees: 39
Best Business Insurance Agency
Winner: Sullivan Group Insurance & Risk Management Services*, in Worcester
Notable runners-up: Gaudette Insurance Agency, in Whitinsville; Knight-Dik Insurance, in Worcester
With a combination of independence and technical expertise, Sullivan works to provide services and commitment to its clients and the community. The agency is continuing its Recruit, Coach and Grow initiative to develop the next generation of insurance professionals and community leaders with a desire to create a successful future.
Website: www.sullivangroup.com
Top executive: John Andreoli, president and CEO
Founded: 1957
Employees: 55 total; 45 based in Central Massachusetts
Best Financial Planning/Investment Services Firm
Winner: Provo Wealth Management Group*, in Shrewsbury
Notable runners-up: Fidelity Investments, with multiple Central Mass. locations; Carr Financial, in Worcester; Bartholomew & Co., in Worcester
For more than 30 years, Provo Wealth Management has worked with clients to help them achieve their goals, with a focus on listening, understanding, and partnering to create the best possible outcomes. Provo’s services include business owner wealth management, family wealth management, and certified divorce financial management.
Website: provowealth.com
Top executive: President & CEO Christopher Provo
Founded: 1992
Best Chamber of Commerce
Winner: Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce*, in Worcester
Notable runners-up: Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of MetroWest, in Westborough; Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, in Whitinsville
Celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce has contributed to Worcester’s growth, fostering economic development, advocating for businesses, and creating a connected network of entrepreneurs and professionals. From special events, community initiatives, and strategic partnerships, the chamber aims to foster economic vitality and inclusivity in businesses across the region.
Website: worcesterchamber.org
Top executive: Timothy Murray, president and CEO
Founded: 1875
Employees: 13
Best Business Incubator
Winner: MBI, in Worcester
Notable runner-up: Entrepreneurship for All, in Worcester
Jon Weaver, president and CEO of MBI
Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives is a nonprofit startup incubator aimed at driving economic growth and innovation in Central Massachusetts’ life sciences industry. By focusing on biomanufacturing and workforce pathways, MBI provides opportunities, builds partnerships, and fosters a collaborative life science community.
Website: MBI.bio
Top executive: Jon Weaver, president & CEO
Founded: 1984
Employees: 6
Click here to read all of the 2025 Best of Business winner profiles.
*denotes repeat winner
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