Best Exercise Facility/Fitness Center
Winner: Worcester Fitness*, in Worcester
Website: worcesterfitness.com
Top executive: Kat Pittinger, general manager
Founded: 1978
Employees: 60
Notable runners-up: Center Mass Training Compound in Worcester, Worcester JCC
As general manager of Worcester Fitness, Kat Pittinger spends most of her week keeping the gym running and supervising the rest of the staff. But, the highlight of her week comes on Thursday mornings, when she teaches swim lessons for kids from 6 months to five years old.
Wearing many hats is the norm at the 47-year-old family-owned Worcester institution. Full-time staff may be personal trainers who also conduct advanced stretching classes, helping members improve their range of motion and stay physically healthy. The part-timers who make up most of the gym’s staff are students or employees elsewhere, helping to knit the organization into the fabric of local life.
“I really pride my staff on going above and beyond,” Pittinger said. “They know their members.”
Worcester Fitness started out in 1978 as Worcester Racquetball Club. Lincoln MacDonald and Dennis Doyle bought it in 1983, and today it’s owned by MacDonald and his kids, Andrea Shliapa and Timothy MacDonald.
Over time, as fitness trends changed, the club shed its racquetball courts, replacing them with other facilities.
“We took down one court at a time,” Pittinger said. “People wanted cardio, and then they wanted strength training. Then they wanted classes.”
Today, Worcester Fitness offers all those options, plus massage therapy, personal training, and a robust swimming program with classes for all ages and a swim team. The club benefits from staff who are eager to learn new skills to offer members the programs they want, said Pittinger. Her door is always open to staff who are interested in trying something new.
The club’s owners operate the gym at the City of Worcester’s senior center in partnership with the city government. They support local organizations such as the Worcester Animal Rescue League, and each year they sponsor the city public schools’ Mini Olympics event, providing color-coded shirts for each school.
They now own a sister club, Plymouth Fitness.
One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is after wrapping up an exercise session, members can enjoy a drink at the bar. Bars were once a common feature of racquetball clubs, and while most shed them over the years, Worcester Fitness’s in-house bar, MacDonald’s Tavern, is still going strong. The club uses the space for functions such as a holiday toy drive for Worcester’s Planting the Seed Foundation.
The bar contributes to the community feeling of the club, where staff know their members, celebrating their life milestones and victories and supporting them in difficult times.
“It’s kind of a Cheers bar, but it’s also a Cheers gym,” Pittinger said.
- Story by Livia Gershon
*denotes repeat winner
Best Hotel for Business Clients
Winner: Beechwood Hotel*, in Worcester
Beechwood Hotel is the only AAA Four-Diamond hotel in Central Massachusetts. Just minutes from downtown Worcester and adjacent to the Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park, the hotel places guests at the heart of it all, combining luxury, convenience, and a great experience. The hotel prides itself on being everything guests deserve, with accommodations where comfort is always the top priority.
Website: www.beechwoodhotel.com
Top executive: Sayed Saleh, asset manager & managing director
Founded: 1989
Employees: 80
Notable runner-up: AC Hotel Worcester
Best Health Insurance Provider
Winner: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts*, in Boston
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. The company’s mission is to show up for everyone, guiding them to health care they deserve affordably, equitably, and seamlessly. In keeping with that commitment, the company is consistently rated among the nation’s best health plans for member satisfaction and quality.
Website: www.bluecrossma.org
Top executive: Sarah Iselin, president & CEO
Founded: 1937
Employees: 4,300
Notable runners-up: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Tufts Health Plan
Best Limousine Service
Winner: Knight’s Airport Limousine Service*, in Shrewsbury
Knight’s Airport Limousine Service provides transportation services including airport transfers and shuttle services for weddings, events, and other occasions. The company employs vetted, drug-tested, state-trained drivers and maintains late-model vehicles with on-staff mechanics and detailers.
Website: www.knightslimo.com
Top executives: President Michael Hogan and Treasurer Thomas Hogan
Founded: 1985
Employees: 100+
Notable runners-up: Joey’s Limousine Service in Worcester, Le Limo in Shrewsbury
Best Luxury Automobile Dealership
Winner: Mercedes-Benz of Shrewsbury*
The family-owned, veteran-owned dealership Mercedes-Benz of Shrewsbury offers new Mercedes-Benz vehicles including sedans, SUVs, AMG performance models, electric vehicles, and commercial vans. The dealership provides certified pre-owned vehicles, service and parts departments with factory-trained technicians, a certified collision center, and financing and leasing solutions.
Website: www.mercedesbenzofshrewsbury.com
Top executive: Mark Wagner, president
Founded: 1980
Employees: 100
Notable runners-up: Lexus of Northborough, Foley Motorsports in Shrewsbury
Best College for Business Education
Winner: Nichols College*, in Dudley
Nichols College provides business education grounded in experiential learning with a liberal arts foundation. The college is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, placing it among 6% of institutions worldwide with this accreditation. All students complete an internship, consulting project, or research project, and all business majors achieve a professional certification before graduation. Students manage the Thunder Fund investment portfolio and work with Bison Consulting.
Website: www.nichols.edu
Top executive: President William Pieczynski
Founded: 1815
Employees: 331
Notable runners-up: Clark University in Worcester, Assumption University in Worcester, Worcester State University
Best Employee Benefits Consultant
Winner: Sullivan Benefits, a Borislow Insurance company*, in Marlborough
As a boutique consulting firm backed by the resources of a national organization, Sullivan Benefits delivers customized strategies tailored to each client’s unique needs. The firm’s hands-on approach, transparency, and advocacy ensure clients’ best interests come first. It excels at simplifying employee benefits complexities, from compliance to plan design, with a focus on innovation, cost optimization, and employee engagement. Supported by a team of seasoned experts, Sullivan Benefits provides proactive, tailored solutions that build lasting partnerships and empower organizations to offer meaningful, effective benefits programs.
Website: www.sullivan-benefits.com
Top executive: Chrystine Heier, vice president and strategic benefits leader
Founded: 1999
Employees: 10
Notable runner-up: Edge Benefit Partners, in Holden
Best Staffing Agency
Winner: The DAVIS Cos.*, in Marlborough
The DAVIS Cos. provides staffing services and talent advisory services. The company employs subject matter expert recruiters and operates with a consultative business approach. DAVIS prides itself on the longevity of its staff and a true team and family environment.
Website: www.daviscos.com
Top executive: Mark Agostinelli, president
Founded: 1985
Employees: 56 total, 31 in Central Massachusetts
Notable runners-up: Masis Staffing in Worcester, Partnership Employment in Worcester
Best Young Professionals Network
Winner: Young Professional Women’s Association*, in Worcester
The Young Professional Women’s Association of Worcester provides professional development, networking, and leadership opportunities for women at all career stages. Services include skill-building workshops, career panels, financial empowerment sessions, and social networking events. YPWA offers leadership development through committee involvement and board service, serving professionals in Greater Worcester.
Website: www.ypwaworcester.com
Top executive: Katherine Aguilar, president
Founded: 2011
Employees: 6
Notable runners-up: Worcester Young Businessmen’s Association, Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of MetroWest HYPE9
