The Power 50: Jeannie Hebert

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JEANNIE HEBERT

President & CEO

Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, Whitinsville

Residence: Shrewsbury

Colleges: Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, Tufts University, Bryant University

Little goes on in the Blackstone Valley business community without Hebert's knowledge and – usually – involvement. Lately, her efforts have centered around helping the region's manufacturers narrow their skills gap and hire the workers needed to maintain their productivity. Hebert leads the new collaboration project Blackstone Valley Education Hub to build out a workforce training center at the chamber and help the 650+ students each year who are waitlisted for vocational schools get the training they desire. Last year, after persistent advocacy from Hebert, Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester agreed to open an internet learning cafe in Whitinsville, with an eye toward eventually putting a satellite campus in the Blackstone Valley.

What advice would you give up-and-comers? Find your niche, follow your desire and your work will be rewarding, even if it is hard, and it probably will be.

Animal planet: I helped care and find homes for four abused elephants. I still keep track of them and visit my favorite – Willie, the largest working African elephant in North America – at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida. He has a son, Jabali.

Read about the WBJ’s 2018 Power Players:

Retail

Harry Kokkinis, Table Talk Pies

Steve Rotman, Rotman’s Furniture & Vystar

Ernie Herrman, TJX Cos.

Michael Dundas, Sira Naturals

Ralph Crowley Jr., Polar Corp.

Christopher Baldwin, BJ’s Wholesale Club

Amy Lynn Chase, Crompton Collective & Haberdash

Food & Culture

Robb & Madeline Ahlquist, Worcester Restaurant Group

Troy Siebels, The Hanover Theatre