Best Financial Planning/Investment Services Firm
Winner: Bartholomew & Co., in Worcester
Website: www.bartandco.com
Top executive: Thomas Bartholomew, president & CEO
Founded: 1994
Employees: 33
Notable runners-up: Fidelity Investments in Shrewsbury; Provo Wealth Management Group in Shrewsbury
Financial planning firm Bartholomew & Co. has been operating in Worcester since 1994, competing with much larger firms to provide financial advice and planning to a wide variety of clients.
The firm manages nearly $6 billion in private wealth and institutional business assets, said Alex Bartholomew, chief investment officer at the firm, guiding its clients through an increasingly complex financial landscape and weathering everything from the 2008 recession to the 2025 government shutdown.
Services provided by Bartholomew & Co. run the gauntlet, from investment management to retirement and tax planning. The firm has received recognition from Barron’s and Forbes magazines, with firm founder and President Thomas Bartholomew being named among the Top 100 Financial Advisors in 2025 by Barron’s.
The company continues to innovate, said Alex Bartholomew, closely watching the latest technological developments. He believes emerging technology will make the firm more productive and efficient.
“From a technology perspective, you can’t turn a corner without someone talking about artificial intelligence and how AI is going to impact every industry,” Bartholomew said. “In financial services, it is absolutely going to help improve the advice that we give to clients and the speed at which we provide it. We’re seeing it make folks in our industry more productive, more efficient, and not bogged down in the mundane part of analyzing a vast array of more complexities and financial situations for clients.”
In addition to private and business clients, Bartholomew & Co. provides investment services to municipalities, with more than 250 government institutional entities in New England turning to the firm for advice, in a time when city and town officials are nervously eyeing tax revenue and attempting to navigate a turbulent economy. The firm works with nonprofits navigating an equally-difficult tightrope.
“It is very challenging for organizations, whether they’re public or private, or in the nonprofit space, to balance their budgets and to understand how they’re going to run their organization,” Bartholomew said.
Building their clients’ portfolios over the years has allowed Bartholomew & Co to grow, expanding into MetroWest with an office in Framingham.
Still, the company remains rooted in Worcester, supporting area nonprofits like the Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, the EcoTarium, and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.
“We’ve been in business for a long time,” Bartholomew said. “Our growth has continued to accelerate, and the reason for that is because of the great work that we’re doing for clients, both here in Central Massachusetts, in New England, and across the country. Know that they’re going to have expert advice and recommendations from us with a full-service coverage model and the highest quality customer service.”
– Story by Eric Casey
*denotes repeat winner
Best Accounting Firm
Winner: Bollus Lynch*, in Worcester
Bollus Lynch is a full-service tax, assurance, and consulting firm with expertise in a variety of industries including health care, manufacturing, higher education, distribution, construction, and social service agencies. The team possesses extensive knowledge in matters such as business combinations and transitions. The firm’s commitment to clients is accomplished through an experienced team approach to servicing professional needs, with talented individuals who value relationships and are eager to share their expertise.
Website: bolluslynch.com
Top executive: Michael Bollus, managing partner
Founded: 1989
Employees: 35
Notable runners-up: Stolberg & Blanchette in Worcester, Stowe & Degon in Westborough, McLaren & Associates CPAs in Shrewsbury
Best Credit Union
Winner: Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU)*, in Marlborough
On Jan. 1, DCU officially combined with First Tech Federal Credit Union to form a single $28-billion credit union serving nearly 2 million members with more than 50 branches across eight states. DCU expects the merger to result in lower fees on current services, a broader range of products, and improved digital technology to support better banking experiences.
Website: dcu.org
Top executive: Shruti Miyashiro, president and CEO
Founded: 1979
Employees: 1,781 companywide; 400 in Central Mass.
Notable runners-up: Webster First Federal Credit Union in Worcester, Central One Federal Credit Union in Shrewsbury
Best Public Relations Company
Winner: empHowered PR*, in Leominster
empHowered PR provides brand strategy, executive communications, thought leadership, corporate social responsibility, community engagement, media relations, media training, and public affairs services. The firm works with businesses and nonprofit organizations to develop communication strategies based on organizational mission, stakeholders, and community impact. empHowered operates under the firm belief that everyone has a story to tell.
Website: www.empHoweredPR.com
Top executive: Lauren Howe, principal and owner
Founded: 2020
Employees: 1
Best Business Valuator
Winner: McLaren & Associates, CPAs, in Shrewsbury
McLaren & Associates conducts business valuations for buying, selling, or transitioning businesses, estate tax purposes, and settlements. The company uses forensic approaches in valuation work and ensures an estate does not overpay its estate taxes.
Website: www.dmclarencpa.com
Top executive: David McLaren, founder & managing partner
Founded: 2005
Employees: 20
Best Forensic Accountant
Winner: McLaren & Associates, CPAs*, in Shrewsbury
McLaren & Associates provides forensic accounting, tax strategy, and business valuation services. The firm’s forensic accounting services support litigation cases including corporate fraud, estate disputes, bankruptcy filings, and divorce proceedings. McLaren & Associates works with business attorneys and law enforcement agencies on fraud detection, money laundering investigations, and asset tracking. The firm operates from offices in Shrewsbury and Boston.
Website: www.dmclarencpa.com
Top executive: David McLaren, founder & managing partner
Founded: 2005
Employees: 20
Best Law Firm
Winner: Mirick*, in Worcester
Mirick is a full-service law firm with practice areas including business law, creditors’ rights, bankruptcy and reorganization, family law and divorce, labor, employment and employee benefits, litigation, public and municipal law, real estate and environmental law, and trusts and estates.
Website: miricklaw.com
Top executives: Paul Carey and Robert “Bob” Kilroy, co-managing partners
Founded: 1916
Employees: 142 total; 135 in Central Massachusetts
Notable runners-up: Fletcher Tilton in Worcester, Bowditch & Dewey in Worcester
Best Business Insurance Agency
Winner: Sullivan Group Insurance & Risk Management Services*, in Worcester
Sullivan Group provides business insurance including workers’ compensation, property, liability, auto, umbrella, cyber, directors and officers, and surety coverage. The independent agency offers personal insurance for auto, home, condo, renters, motorcycle, boats, fine arts and jewelry, and umbrella insurance.
Website: www.sullivangroup.com
Top executive: John Andreoli, president & CEO
Founded: 1957
Employees: 55 total, 46 in Central Massachusetts
Notable runners-up: Knight-Dik Insurance in Worcester, Gaudette Insurance Agency in Whitinsville
Best Bank
Winner: UniBank*, in Whitinsville
UniBank provides deposit accounts, mortgage solutions, and business banking services across Central Massachusetts and MetroWest through 14 branch locations. The bank operates the Invest Worcester Program, which directs customer deposits toward affordable mortgages and small business loans in Worcester. UniBank contributes over $2.1 million annually to community initiatives through charitable gifts, sponsorships, and the UniBank Charitable Foundation.
Website: www.unibank.com
Top executives: Michael Welch, CEO; Christopher Foley, president; Justine DeNorscia, executive vice president
Founded: 1870
Employees: 269
Notable runners-up: Cornerstone Bank in Worcester, Webster Five in Auburn, Bay State Bank in Worcester
Best Chamber of Commerce
Winner: Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce*, in Worcester
With more than 2,200 members across 35 communities, the Worcester Regional is the largest chamber of commerce in Massachusetts. Offering a variety of networking and educational events, the chamber facilitates growth for existing businesses and actively works to recruit new businesses into the region. Its leader, former Worcester mayor and lieutenant governor Timothy Murray, is one of the top business advocates in Central Massachusetts.
Website: www.worcesterchamber.org
Top executive: Timothy Murray, president and CEO
Founded: 1875
Employees: 13
Notable runners-up: Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce in Whitinsville, Wachusett Area Chamber of Commerce in Holden
