After 46 years in the publishing industry in Central MA, I will retire at the end of January. It has been my honor to lead one of the few remaining strong, independent journalism organizations, where the work we do every day not only delivers value, but makes a positive difference in the lives of our readers and the community at large.
I was one of those local college grads (Holy Cross) back in 1979 who didn’t head off to Boston or New York, but returned to Worcester to take a job in sales for the upstart Worcester Magazine. Some of you might remember in 1982 when the company launched our first regional business publication: Business Worcester, which eight years later under new ownership was rebranded as Worcester Business Journal. Over the years, our company expanded to new markets, launching the Hartford Business Journal and acquiring Mainebiz. Today New England Business Media employs 46 people across three offices, with corporate headquarters here in Worcester. Over the years I found the job so interesting and challenging that I never left.
We have been able not just to survive, but thrive, because of the talent and deep commitment of our team, many of whom, like me, have been with WBJ for decades. Longtime associate publisher Mark Murray, who recently stepped down after 41 years, made a significant contribution to our success, as did Art Director Mitchell Hayes (14 years) Editor Brad Kane (15 years) Sr. Account Exec & Custom Director Chris Juetten (18 years) Production Manager Kira Beaudoin (25 years), and General Manager Kris Prosser (30 years). Along with Timothy Doyle, Eric Casey, Mica Kanner-Mascolo, Heide Martin, Stephanie Meagher, Sara Ward, Leah Allen, Rae Rogers, Patty Harris, Nicole Dunn, Tracy Rodwill, and Regina Stillings, they are all part of a deep bench that will continue to make WBJ a widely respected and award-winning publication.
As part of the leadership transition, Tom Curtin, my business partner since 2020, will take over as CEO and sole owner of the company. Come February, he will step in as publisher of WBJ. Tom is a longtime publishing exec in the regional B2B niche and runs our Hartford operation, which has undergone an exciting rebirth under his leadership. He is eager to make connections and learn more about the Central MA market and – working in tandem with Kris, Brad, and the WBJ team – will take the baton for the next leg of the race, assuring WBJ’s sustained success. He can be reached at TCurtin@wbjournal.com.
To survive in the media business you need to be agile and innovative, but have high standards and deliver real value. I’ve put my professional life’s work into helping to build a company to deliver those results, but we don’t survive without our readers, our advertising partners, and our extensive connections in the community. Your support for WBJ is deeply appreciated, and as publisher emeritus, I look forward to seeing us continue to play our unique role in delivering value to you, while making a positive difference in this city and region I care so much about.
While I look forward to the next chapter, I don’t plan to put up the “Gone Fishing” sign.
I’ll continue to stay active with the nonprofit boards I serve on and stay plugged into the community, while remaining WBJ’s biggest fan and cheerleader!
Peter Stanton is the publisher of Worcester Business Journal.
