The Two Sides Of Power

Ask someone to define the word “power” and you’re bound to get a mix of descriptions. Power can clearly be used for good or for ill; it just depends on the intentions of the person wielding it.

Indeed, as Leo Tolstoy wrote in War and Peace, “Power is a word the meaning of which we do not understand.”

Our business community has many power players — people who have the leadership position, the money or the artful ability to persuade others. Some have a combination of all three attributes, which can make their influence quite potent. As we approach our 25th year of publishing the Worcester Business Journal in 2014, we are pleased to present our first-ever list of 25 top “power players” from Central Massachusetts.

Have we included everyone? Hardly – there are clearly more than 25 power players in our region, and our cutting-room floor has plenty of qualified bigwigs who don’t appear on the pages of this issue. Give the list a read and let us know what you think. In fact, we welcome your feedback on who we might have missed. After all, there’s always next year’s list.

~ Rick Saia, Editor

Here’s our list, with links to their profiles:

Michael Angelini: Chairman, Bowditch & Dewey, Worcester

Robert Antonucci, President, Fitchburg State University

Gail Carberry: President, Quinsigamond Community College, Worcester

J. Christopher Collins: Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Unum Group, Worcester

Dr. Michael Collins: Chancellor, UMass Medical School, Worcester

P. Kevin Condron: Chairman and CEO, The Granite Group LLC, Concord, N.H.

Anthony Consigli: President, Consigli Construction Inc., Milford

Ralph Crowley Jr.: CEO, Polar Beverages, Worcester

Mary DeFeudis: Philanthropist and Volunteer, Northborough

Dr. Eric Dickson: CEO, UMass Memorial Health Care Inc., Worcester