Brad Kane is the Editor for Worcester Business Journal. Kane came to Worcester from its sister publication Hartford Business Journal, where he most recently served as managing editor. Kane talked his way onto HBJ’s staff in May 2010, previously working as a Boston Globe correspondent and a staff writer for the Patriot Ledger in Quincy. In another journalism life, he covered local politics in northern Ohio and southwest Florida. Kane has been honored for his work by the Alliance of Area Business Publications, the Florida Press Club, Ohio Associated Press and the National Society of Professional Journalists. He graduated from The Ohio State University, with an honor’s degree in journalism. He lives a calm, sleep-filled life in Wilbraham, Mass. with his wife, five young children and Texas heeler. In his 42 minutes of weekly free time, Kane runs the sidewalks, streets and trails of Western Massachusetts.
Banking tends not to be the most exciting industry in the world, but its influence is everywhere. From small startups to trillion-dollar public companies, access to capital and the banking system can literally make or break hopes and dreams.
Even though it’s always been centered around the idea of economic and community excellence, Worcester Business Journal’s Business Leader of the Year award has evolved over the years.
In an ideal world, publications like WBJ’s annual Women in Leadership edition wouldn’t be necessary. In an ideal world, all people everywhere would be recognized for their natural talents and learned skills and given equal opportunities to help create the best possible version of our economy and society, regardless of the circumstances each person was born into.
Higher education has had a bit of a rough time this decade. Largely the result of a demographic dip in the number of high school graduates – but also because of concerns over costs and politics – nationwide undergraduate enrollment is down about 7% from 2019, according to the nonprofit Education Data Initiative.
Every year starting in October, WBJ asks its readers to vote on the best companies in Central Massachusetts in a variety of categories, ranging from law firms and incubators to golf courses and restaurants.
The real estate industry, particularly commercial real estate, is at the heart of all business journal coverage, including at Worcester Business Journal. More than just a collection of simple listings of property transactions and proposed developments, the real estate beat is key to understanding the inner workings of the Central Massachusetts economy.
Most general media coverage of nonprofits, particularly human services nonprofits, tends to focus on their missions, the need for their services, and the community good they achieve. This type of coverage is important, as it raises a nonprofit’s profile. However, through the business-focused lens of WBJ’s coverage, we are more concerned with how they accomplish their missions.