Best Architectural Firm
Lamoureux Pagano & Associates
Worcester, lamoureuxpagano.com
Top executive: President Katie Crockett
Founded: 1970
Employees: 18
Read more: Lamoureux Pagano tackles complex projects close to homeÂ
Notable runner-up: Cutler Associates, Inc.
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Best Bank
UniBank*
Whitinsville, www.unibank.com
Top executive: Sam S. Pepper, Jr., president & CEO
Founded: 1870
Employees: 280
UniBank – which focuses on fast and local decision making, convenient locations and a personalized approach – is on the cutting edge of new technology, with its interactive teller machine now available at its Shrewsbury branch. The bank offers its Invest Worcester program, which keeps deposited money in the city to advance small business development and home ownership.
Notable runners-up: Commerce Bank, Cornerstone Bank
Best Credit Union
DCU – Digital Federal Credit Union*
Marlborough, www.dcu.org
Top executive: Jim Regan, president & CEO
Founded: 1979
Employees: 1,245
DCU is researches and implements the latest banking technology to better serve its members to help them manage their finances DCU’s financial products, services, and resources are designed to help them achieve their financial goals.
Notable runners-up: Leominster Credit Union, Central One Federal Credit Union
Best Business Insurance Agency
Sullivan Insurance Group*
Worcester, www.sullivangroup.com
Top executive: John T. Andreoli, president & CEO
Founded: 1957
Employees: 50
Sullivan strives to set itself apart from the competition with its technical capabilities, attention to detail, business model, and commitment to independence and by providing its services with honesty and respect.
Best Law Firm
Mirick O’Connell*
Worcester, www.mirickoconnell.com
Top executive: David E. Surprenant, managing partner
Founded: 1916
Employees: 136 employees and partners
Mirick O’Connell has never wavered from the core principle of professional excellence established by its founders, combining uncompromising standards of service with practical and cost-effective approaches to problem solving. The firm has the expertise to handle the most sophisticated and complex matters.
Notable runner-up: Bowditch & Dewey
Best Accounting Firm
Bollus Lynch, LLP Certified Public Accountants & Consultants*
Worcester, bolluslynch.com
Top executives: Partners Michael J. Bollus, Stephen A. Lynch, Jeffrey C. Swanberg & David G. Eaton
Founded: 1989
Employees: 37 (2017 figure)
While one of the largest accounting firms in Central Massachusetts, Bollus Lynch is only a medium-sized CPA firm by national standards. The company blends its years of national firm experience into that local firm setting, enabling it to serve a wide variety of specialized industry practices – including manufacturing, restaurants, and insurance.
Notable runners-up: McLaren & Associates, Shepherd & Goldstein
Best Advertising Agency
Davis Advertising
Worcester, davisad.com
Top executive: President Andrew Davis
Founded: 1948
Employees: 40
Davis is an all-under-one-roof advertising solutions provider, with in-house video and audio production facilities, web developers, digital and social-media capabilities, photography studios, graphic designers, copywriters, media buying services, public relations specialists, and branding and strategy experts.
Notable runners-up: PENTA Communications, Applied Interactive
Click below to see the other 2018 Best of Business winners:
- Best College for Business Education – Nichols College*
- Best Financial Planning/Investment Services –Â Provo Wealth Management Group*
- Best Employee Benefits Consultant – Sullivan Benefits*
- Best Luxury Automobile Dealership – Wagner Auto Group*
- Best Limousine Services – Knight’s Airport Limousine Service*
- Best Health Insurance Provider – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts*
- Best Young Professionals Network – YPWA (Young Professional Women’s Association) of Worcester
- Best Restaurant for Business Lunch –Â The Sole Proprietor*
- Best Restaurant for Business Dinner –Â 111 Chop House*
- Best Caterer for a Corporate Event –Â Pepper’s Artful Events*
- Best Coffee Service –Â Good as Gold*
- Best Exercise Facility/Fitness Center –Â Worcester Fitness
- Best Public Golf Course –Â Green Hill Golf Course*
- Best Private Golf Course –Â Worcester Country Club*
- Best Commercial Real Estate Brokerage –Â NAI Glickman, Kovago & Jacobs
- Best Commercial Landscaper –Â Cheaper than the Kid Next Door Landscaping
- Best Electrical Contractor –Â Coghlin Electrical Contractors Inc.*
- Best Plumber/HVAC Contractor –Â JJ Bafaro Inc.*
- Best Waste Removal –Â E.L. Harvey & Sons, Inc.*
- Best Office Cleaning –Â Eagle Cleaning Corp.*
- Best Staffing Agency –Â The Davis Companies*
- Best Locally Owned Place to Meet for Coffee –Â BirchTree Bread Co.*
- Best Local Brewery –Â Wormtown Brewery
- Best Worcester After-Work Bar –Â Armsby Abbey*
- Best Metrowest After-Work Bar –Â Tavern in the Square*
- Best North County After-Work Bar –Â Rye & Thyme American Tavern*
- Best Blackstone Valley After-Work Bar –Â Hunter’s Grill & Tap
- Best Central Mass. South After-Work Bar –Â The Cedar Street Grille*
- Best Golf Club for Corporate Outing –Â Cyprian Keyes Golf Club*
- Best Venue for a Business Meeting –Â Beechwood Hotel*
- Best Venue for a Corporate Event –Â Mechanics Hall*
- Best Event Production Company –Â Revelation Productions
- Best Nonprofit Fundraiser Event –Â March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction
- Best Hotel for Business Clients –Â Beechwood Hotel*
- Best Venue for an Employee Outing –Â EcoTarium*
- Best Awards & Promotional Products –Â Engraveables*
- Best Sign Company –Â Sunshine Sign Company
- Best Commercial Printer –Â Curry Printing*
- Best IT Services –Â Cinch IT
- Best Internet Service Provider –Â Charter Spectrum*
- Best Web Design Firm –Â Applied Interactive
- Best Video Production –Â Pagano Media*
*Â Denotes repeat winner
