Dr. Charles and Janet Birbara never intended to run the Beechwood Hotel, but when their business partner went bankrupt, the responsibility fell to them. They have taken that misfortune and turned it into an opportunity.
The hotel has become a mainstay for meetings and weary business travelers alike. As Worcester’s only AAA Four Diamond hotel, the Beechwood fills a much-needed niche in the Worcester market, which severely lacks hotel rooms and meeting accommodations. Despite this demand, the couple is constantly updating the hotel, having added the Ceres Bistro five years ago to round out the offerings to guests and open up the hotel to the community.
Dr. Charles Birbara is also a practicing rheumatologist in the city, as well as being an associate professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He has been involved in clinical trials since 1975, being the principal investigator for more than 500 clinical research protocols and the co-author of numerous articles that have appeared in peer-reviewed publications.
This couple’s influence stems from a deep understanding of the city and their long-time connections, combined with their on-the-ground involvement in Worcester that is driven by their involvement in the Beechwood.
Read about other Central Massachusetts Power Players
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
- Frederick H. Eppinger, President, CEO & Director of Hanover Insurance, Worcester
