Best New Business
Winner: HaBBQ Food Truck, in Rutland
Top executive: Jordan El-Qasem, owner
Founded: 2025
Employees: 0
Notable runners-up: Gyro & Soulvaki in Worcester, Fresh Monkee in Westborough and Worcester
Jordan El-Qasem never thought he would find a career path he loved and would be truly passionate about.
But then came the COVID pandemic in 2020. Lockdown had quieted the streets, and El-Qasem was at home scrolling YouTube when he came upon videos about cooking barbecue.
“I’m watching YouTube videos 10 hours a day like a lunatic, just really studying barbecue, and I fell in love with traditional barbcue,” said El-Qasem. “I’m like, ‘Man, I love this. I need to try this for myself.’”
After cooking barbecue himself for the first time, he knew he had found what he was searching for.
“I was like, ‘Okay, this is it. I found my thing,’” he said.
Though he grew up in the South, barbecue was never really a part of El-Qasem’s childhood. Coming from a Palestinian home, he loves the taste of foods like kofta and maqluba, so when he decided to open his own barbeque establishment, he knew he wanted to bring those flavors into the food he would serve.
Thus, HaBBQ was born: a food truck selling a combination of both traditional barbecue and dishes with Middle Eastern spices.
El-Qasem opted for a food truck because it was cheaper than a brick-and-mortar restaurant, and he didn’t have business credit or restaurant experience.
“There’s going to be no lenders out there who’s going to invest in somebody like me, because it’s too big of a risk,” he said.
So he established HaBBQ with his own capital and a small business loan from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. Operating a food truck comes with its own challenges: The truck has already gone through four generators. Yet, the business model allows him to build a region-wide fan base by travelling to events throughout Central Massachusetts.
Most HaBBQ first-time clients aren’t familiar with Middle Eastern flavor profiles and can often express apprehension. El-Qasem finds once they give his food a chance, they’re hooked.
“Typically, people are just so thrown off by the idea, and I’m like ‘Hey, just give it a shot’ you know?” he said. “Every time they do, they’re like ‘That’s the best food I’ve ever had.’”
HaBBQ just finished its first season, and El-Qasem and his business partner and fiancé Mercedes Thomas are parking the truck until the spring. The two have big plans for the future. El-Qasem wants to transition to working the truck full-time, and he’s looking to launch a sister coffee company.
“I need to do this for me and my family,” said El-Qasem. “Because this is the only way. This is the only way that I want to live.”
– Story by Mica Kanner-Mascolo
*denotes repeat winner
Best Minority-owned Business
Winner: Bri’s Sweet Treats*, in Worcester
Bri’s Sweet Treats creates handcrafted, award-winning confections and customized candy experiences. The company has two retail locations and specializes in branded and personalized treats for businesses and personal events, on-site truffle-making classes for team-building and fundraising, and wholesale candy production. Signature products include the famous giant peanut butter cup, branded Bri-wiches made with Oreos, chocolate barks, and freeze-dried candy.
Website: www.shopbrissweettreats.com
Top executive: Briana Azier, owner and head treat maker
Founded: 2021
Employees: 2 full-time and 19 part-time and seasonal employees
Notable runners-up: Fisher Contracting in Worcester, Fuel America in Worcester
Best Woman-owned Business
Winner: CenterMass Training Compound, in Worcester
CenterMass Training Compound offers group classes, personal training, nutrition counseling, and specialty classes including Strongman, Olympic lifting, and Hyrox. The facility focuses on individualized programming within group settings to help members achieve health and fitness goals.
Website: centermasstc.com
Top executive: Owner & Head Coach Elyce Roy
Founded: 2009
Employees: 13
Notable runners-up: empHowered PR in Leominster, Bri’s Sweet Treats in Worcester, Pagano Media in Worcester
Best Employee-owned Company
Winner: Paragus Strategic IT, in Hadley and Worcester
Paragus Strategic IT provides managed and co-managed IT services including cybersecurity and risk management, cloud and Microsoft 365 optimization, strategic IT consulting, compliance support, and end-user support. The 100% employee-owned company serves organizations in Massachusetts with proactive IT solutions. Paragus offers executive AI coaching to help business leaders adopt and govern AI technologies.
Website: paragusit.com
Top executive: CEO Delcie Bean
Founded: 2002
Employees: 54
Notable runner-up: Consigli Construction in Milford
Best Family-owned Business
Winner: R.H. White Construction*, in Auburn
R.H. White Construction provides design/build, general contracting, and construction management services for commercial and industrial projects. The company works across energy, utility, water/wastewater, industrial, commercial, and institutional markets. Services include utility and mechanical construction, infrastructure installation, renovations, facilities maintenance, emergency response, and 24/7 service.
Website: www.rhwhite.com
Top executive: Thomas White, president & CEO
Founded: 1923
Employees: 500
Notable runners-up: Coghlin Cos. in Westborough, Pagano Media in Worcester
