Two prominent Central Massachusetts executives are embarking on big career changes, as outgoing Wormtown Brewery President Kim Golinski is set to take over for Stephanie Ramey as Worcester Railers hockey team president, while Ramey is set to become vice president of special projects for Beverly-based Rucker Investments.
Golinski will take over as the minor league hockey team’s president on Aug. 1, according to a press release issued by the Railers on Thursday. Golinski had been the president of Wormtown Brewery since 2021, but she left the role as Jack’s Abby Brewing in Framingham reached an agreement in April to buy Wormtown.
Prior to joining Wormtown, Golinski served as a manager at Charlton-based Tree House Brewing from 2016 until 2021, according to her LinkedIn page.
“The opportunity to lead the Railers feels like a dream,” Golinski said in the press release. “My experience in the craft beer industry has been a wild ride and has equipped me with skills and relationships that will be transferrable to the team. I am ready and eager to navigate this next business adventure.”
Ramey, who became Railers team president in May 2020, will join Beverly-based Rucker Investments on Aug 1. Rucker Investments is the owner of the Railers and a number of prominent properties in Worcester, including the Worcester Ice Center, the Central Exchange Building, and the Off The Rails restaurant and bar.
“Kim is a familiar face to our team. She is a Railers fan and has volunteered consistently at Skate to Success and other community initiatives,” said Ramey of Golinski. “She brings a wealth of business experience, having successfully navigated major projects and challenges during her time at Tree House Brewing Company and Wormtown Brewery.”
Before joining the Railers, Ramey was the executive director of Discover Central Massachusetts, the region’s tourism bureau. Her new role at Rucker Investments will see her focus on Central Massachusetts projects, with a particular focus on downtown Worcester.
One of Golinski’s projects when she takes over as president of the Railers may involve finding a new head coach and general manager for the team; the former holder of these positions, Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman, mutually parted ways with club in April to become the head coach of HC TWK Innsbruck of the ICE Hockey League in Austria, according to a Railers press release issued on April 30.
Lavallee-Smotherman finished his time with the team with a 66-66-9-3 record. The Railers have not made the playoffs since their inaugural 2017-18 season in Worcester, when they were eliminated in the first round.
