🔒WBJ names the 2023 Best of Business winners

WBJ’s Best of Business awards are centered around one idea: referrals.

With the other awards Worcester Business Journal gives out annually, such as 40 Under Forty, Business Leaders of the Year, or Outstanding Women in Business, the winners go through a nomination process and are selected by a vetted panel of judges. With Best of Business, though, it’s a straight-up vote by the WBJ readers.

The reasoning for the Best of Business’ selection process goes back to the idea of referrals. Rather than relying on the expertise of a small group of judges, these awards use the collective wisdom of WBJ’s readership of Central Massachusetts business decision makers to recommend the organizations best able to help your business succeed: the best law firm, best venue for meetings, best plumber, best after-work bar, etc.

Who better than to refer you to the best companies in Central Massachusetts than the shared expertise of the region’s business community? For this year, the 10th year WBJ has been handing out the Best of Business awards, more than 2,000 WBJ votes were cast in the following 51 categories. As you’ll note in looking through the list below and in the profiles on the linked pages, many of this year's winners are repeating from last year, and those profiles are marked with an asterisk (*).

WBJ will honor these winners at a special event at 5 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester. If you’re free and comfortable attending large-scale events, I encourage you to come out and meet some of the best of the best in Central Massachusetts.

Click here to read about all the 2023 Best of Business winners.

Best of Business 2023: Best Ownership

• Best Employee-owned Business
• Massachusetts Commercial Cleaning
• Best Family-owned Business
• Koopman Lumber & Hardware
• Best Woman-owned Business
• PENTA Communications, Inc.
• Best Minority-owned Business
• Studio Jade*
• Best Business Incubator
• Venture X Marlborough - Apex Center*

Best of Business 2023: Best Professional Services

• Best Law Firm
• Fletcher Tilton 
• Best Accounting Firm
• Bollus Lynch, LLP Certified Public Accountants & Consultants
• Best Forensic Accountant
• McLaren & Associates CPAs, PC*
• Best Financial Planning/Investment Services Firm
• Provo Wealth Management Group*
• Best Bank
• UniBank*
• Best Credit Union
• DCU - Digital Federal Credit Union*
• Best Business Insurance Agency
• Sullivan Insurance Group*
• Best Advertising Agency
• PENTA Communications, Inc.*
• Best Chamber of Commerce
• Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce*
• Best Health Insurance Provider
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts*
• Best Logistics Company
• Euro-American Worldwide Logistics*

Best of Business 2023: Best Office Services

• Best Commercial Real Estate Brokerage
• Kelleher & Sadowsky Associates Inc.
• Best IT Services Provider
• Cinch I.T.*
• Best Office Cleaner
• Mass Commercial Cleaning
• Best Plumber/HVAC Contractor
• J.J. Bafaro, Inc.*
• Best Waste Removal
• EL Harvey*
• Best Commercial Landscaper
• Perrone Landscaping, Inc.
• Best Sign Company
• Sunshine Sign Co.*

Best of Business 2023: Best Food, Drink & Marijuana

• Best New Business
• Bri's Sweet Treats
• Best Locally Owned Place to Meet for Coffee
• Bean Counter Bakery Cafe
• Best Restaurant for Business Dinner
• One Eleven Chop House*
• Best Restaurant for Business Lunch
• The Sole Proprietor*
• Best Caterer for a Corporate Event
• Peppers Artful Events, LLC.
• Best Local Brewery
• Wormtown Brewery*
• Best Marijuana Company
• Bud’s Goods & Provisions*

Best of Business 2023: Best Employee Services

• Best Golf Club for Corporate Outing
• Cyprian Keyes Golf Club*
• Best Venue for an Employee Outing
• Apex Entertainment*
• Best Staffing Agency
• The DAVIS Cos.*
• Best Employee Benefits Consultant
• Sullivan Benefits*
• Best Professional Training Company
• MindsetGo*
• Best College for Business Education
• Nichols College*
• Best Young Professionals Network
  Young Professional Women’s Association*

Best of Business 2023: Best Ways to Relax

• Best After-Work Bar
• The Mercantile
• Best Hotel for Business Clients
• Beechwood Hotel*
• Best Public Golf Course
• Green Hill Municipal G.C.*
• Best Private Golf Course
• Worcester Country Club*
• Best Exercise Facility/Fitness Center
• Worcester Fitness*
• Best Limousine Service
• Knights Airport Limousine Service*
• Best Luxury Automobile Dealership
• Wagner Mercedes-Benz of Shrewsbury*

Best of Business 2023: Best Events & Multimedia

• Best Nonprofit Fundraiser Event
• 100 Mile Ruck March Challenge
• Best Venue for a Business Meeting
• Beechwood Hotel*
• Best Venue for a Corporate Event
• Beechwood Hotel*
• Best Web Design Firm
• PENTA Communications, Inc.*
• Best Video Production Company
• Pagano Media*
• Best Awards & Promotional Products
• Crown Trophy
• Best Commercial Printer
• Curry Printing*