WBJ Staff

Caroline Frankel wants to make cannabis friendlier. She’s one of local cannabis businesses continuing to grow as multi-state companies like Trulieve Cannabis Corp. and Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. try to wrangle the marijuana market in Massachusetts away from more local and homegrown entrepreneurs.

Under Grace Elton, the gains of the botanic garden have been significant, and they’re starting to pay off with more visitors and more attractions.

While a precarious retail market sent many across the city and region running, Amy Chase celebrated 10 years in business in September and remains a bright spot for the creative community.

It’s been a busy year for Sam Hendler and the team at Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers.

After the Main South TDI district graduated from the program, Ivette Olmeda was appointed to help another Worcester neighborhood along Pleasant Street in the vicinity of Piedmont Street.

In the second largest city in New England, the city manager is the municipality’s CEO, more powerful than the mayor. He oversees a $778-million budget and almost 8,000 employees.

During the tenure of the state’s youngest mayor and Gardner’s first Latino elected official, Michael Nicholson is seeing signs of recovery as new businesses open and the neglected downtown is revived.

Michael Angelini has dedicated his considerable leadership skills to advancing many of the largest institutions in the Worcester area.

Led by Meredith Harris, the quasi-public nonprofit MEDC helped to fill 350,000 square feet of space and bring approximately 500 jobs in 2022 through business relocation and expansion.

Valerie Zolezzi-Wynham has her sights set on extending the impact of Promoting Good when she opens the PG Collaborative, a collaborative coworking space to allow for the fostering of relationships for creatives and entrepreneurs.