Power comes in many forms, but from power derives influence; and how people use that influence is ultimately reflective of the power they hold.
Frederick H. Eppinger has been such a major player in the Worcester business community for so long, that even after he steps down as head of Hanover Insurance next year, he still is expected to wield tremendous influence, as long as he sticks around in some capacity.
At the other end of the spectrum, Amy Lynn Chase does not head a large company nor have access to a large amount of financing, but with a can-do attitude and a shoestring budget, she is reshaping retail and creating a powerful sense of place through her Crompton Collective.
Timothy P. Murray leverages his political contacts and networking ability to supercharge the influence of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. Nick Capasso — director of the Fitchburg Art Museum — leverages his relatively small organization to convince surrounding Central Mass. communities to rethink their economic development cornerstones.
This year’s Central Mass. Power Players all derive their influence from different sources, but it is how they use their stature to reshape the business landscape to their vision that makes them important players in the real economic and political arenas.
Gathered below are Worcester Business Journal’s Central Massachusetts Power Players. Join the conversation online on Twitter at #WBJPowerPlayers and on Facebook.
Change Agents: Executives bringing their organizations to new heights
- Eric Dickson, President & CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care, Worcester
- Barbara Doyle, President & CEO of MetroWest Medical Center, Framingham
- Susan Hertzberg, President & CEO of Boston Heart Diagnostics, Framingham
- Douglas Petersen, President & CEO of Workers’ Credit Union, Fitchburg
Visionaries: Forward thinkers pushing to realize the promises of the future
- Robert E. Johnson, President of Becker College, Worcester
- Charles Faris, President & CEO of Spectrum Health Systems, Worcester
- Barbara Finer, CEO of TechSandBox, Hopkinton & Kevin O’Sullivan, President & CEO of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiative, Worcester
- Edward Moore, President & CEO of Harrington HealthCare, Southbridge
- David Jordan, President & CEO of Seven Hills Foundation, Worcester
- Ralph Crowley Jr., President & CEO of Polar Beverages, Worcester
Politicos: Public officials leveraging their positions to further business development
- Dean J. Mazzarella, Mayor of Leominster
- Economic Development Coordinating Council, Worcester
- Michael F. Collins, Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester
- Arthur Vigeant, Mayor of Marlborough & Susanne Morreale Leeber, President & CEO of the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce
Fresh Faces: Newcomers to Central Massachusetts with refreshing perspectives and ideas
- Amy Lynn Chase, Owner of Crompton Collective, Worcester
- Nick Capasso, Museum Director at the Fitchburg Art Museum
- Laurie Leshin, President of Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Charles “Chip” Norton, President of Franklin Realty Advisors, Worcester
- Venkat Kolluri, CEO of Cidewalk and Chitika, Southborough/Westborough
Inner Circle: Long-time players who continue to have a significant role in new developments
- Christina Andreoli, Vice President of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Kevin Meehan, Owner of Imperial Cars, Mendon
- Michael P. Angelini, Chairman of Bowditch & Dewey, Worcester
- Brian W. Thompson, President & CEO of Commerce Bank, Worcester
- Susan Mailman, President of Coghlin Electrical Contractors & Coghlin Network Services, Worcester
- Dr. Charles and Janet Birbara, Owners of the Beechwood Hotel, Worcester
- Frederick H. Eppinger, President, CEO & Director of Hanover Insurance, Worcester
