Unum, the Tennessee-based provider of employeebenefits and disability insurance, had a long history in Worcester as the Paul Revere Life Insurance Co. before Unum acquired it. Those deep community roots earned Unum a Corporate Citizen of the Year Award in 2009 from the Worcester Business Journal.
Even though Unum is based out of state, the Worcester operation reflects a charitable largesse and level of civic participation that respects that’s rare even for native companies. The company also has a noble reputation for treating its employees — 700 of them in Worcester — well and offers generously flexible schedules.
Other Fortune 500 companies may treat locations other than their corporate headquarters as distant outposts. But Collins and Unum’s other local employees have a strong and shared sense that their company has a great stake in, and responsibility for, Worcester, and much of the credit for that stance goes to the quiet but effective Collins.
In a bold move, in 2009, Unum decided to remain in downtown Worcester at a time when many other firms were bailing out. The company signed a 17-year lease in a newly constructed building in CitySquare, the 12-acre mixed-use development.
IN THE COMMUNITY Collins has been at the leadership table for some time at several area non-profits. He and his brother Michael co-chaired the 2010 annual campaign for the United Way of Central Massachusetts.
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Clifford J. Schorer III: Board of Directors, Worcester Art Museum
Joseph Salois: CEO, Atlas Distributing Inc., Auburn
John Prosser: Chairman, Seven Hills Foundation, Worcester
James Paulhus: President and CEO, UniBank for Savings, Whitinsville
Michael O’Brien: City Manager, City of Worcester (Until Jan. 5, 2014)
Tim Murray: President and CEO, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
Jim McGovern: U.S. Rep., Worcester
Charles Monahan: President, MCPHS University, Worcester
David ‘Duddie’ Massad: Chairman, Commerce Bank & Trust, Worcester
William Manley: Founder and CEO, Calare Properties, Hudson
Gordon Lankton: Founder, Museum of Russian Icons and Gallery of African Art, Clinton
Warner Fletcher: Partner, Fletcher Tilton, Worcester
Gerald Fels: Trustee Emeritus, Nichols College, Dudley
Fred Eppinger: President and CEO, The Hanover Insurance Group
Christopher Egan: President, Carruth Capital, Westborough
Mary DeFeudis: Philanthropist and Volunteer, Northborough
Dr. Eric Dickson: CEO, UMass Memorial Health Care Inc., Worcester
Anthony Consigli: President, Consigli Construction Inc., Milford
P. Kevin Condron: Chairman and CEO, The Granite Group LLC, Concord, N.H.
Ralph Crowley Jr.: CEO, Polar Beverages, Worcester
Dr. Michael Collins: Chancellor, UMass Medical School, Worcester
Gail Carberry: President, Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester
Robert Antonucci: President, Fitchburg State University
Michael Angelini: Chairman, Bowditch & Dewey, Worcester
Clifford J. Schorer III: Board of Directors, Worcester Art Museum
John Prosser: Chairman, Seven Hills Foundation, Worcester
James Paulhus: President and CEO, UniBank for Savings, Whitinsville
Charles Monahan: President, MCPHS University, Worcester
David ‘Duddie’ Massad: Chairman, Commerce Bank & Trust, Worcester
Gordon Lankton: Founder, Museum of Russian Icons and Gallery of African Art, Clinton
Gerald Fels: Trustee Emeritus, Nichols College, Dudley
Fred Eppinger: President and CEO, The Hanover Insurance Group
Christopher Egan: President, Carruth Capital, Westborough
Dr. Eric Dickson: CEO, UMass Memorial Health Care Inc., Worcester
Anthony Consigli: President, Consigli Construction Inc., Milford
Dr. Michael Collins: Chancellor, UMass Medical School, Worcester
Gail Carberry: President, Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester
