2014 Best of Business award winners

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES

Bank For Business

* UniBank for Savings

The Whitinsville-based bank is the

largest bank based in Worcester County, with about $1.3 billion in assets, 10 branches and close to 200 employees.

It opened branches in Grafton and Worcester over the last two years, expanding beyond the Blackstone Valley.

49 Church St., Whitinsville, MA 01588

www.unibank.com

(Noteworthy Runner Up: TDBank)

Business Insurance Agency

* Protector Group

Protector Group, based in Worcester, has been in business since 1928 and generates close to $14 million in annual revenue through insurance products, employee benefits services, and financial services to mid-sized companies. In late 2012, the 75-employee firm was acquired by insurance broker Marsh & McLennan.

100 Front St., Worcester, MA 01608

975 Merriam Ave. (Twin City Mall), Leominster

www.protectorgroup.com

Financial Planning/Investment Services

*Provo Financial Services

The firm was founded in 1992 by Christopher Provo of Shrewsbury, who had previously worked on Wall Street. It provides advice in investments, financial planning and group benefits.

385 South St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545

www.provofinancial.com

(Noteworthy Runners-Up: FMG Financial, Rollstone Bank & Trust)

Credit Union for Business

*Digital Federal Credit Union

What began as a credit union for employees of the former Digital Equipment Corp. is now the largest credit union in New England, with about $5 billion in assets and 21 branches, including four in New Hampshire.

220 Donald Lynch Blvd. Marlborough, MA 01752

www.dcu.org

Employee Benefits Consultant

*FMG Financial Services

FMG, which marked its 25th anniversary last year, assists businesses with benefits design, administration and analysis, and provides coaching for human resources professionals.

228 Park Ave., Worcester MA 01609

www.fmgfinancialservices.com

(Noteworthy Runner-Up: Protector Group)

NONPROFITS AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS

College For Business

* Nichols College

Several schools in Central Massachusetts have business programs and business courses, but Nichols' chief focus is business education and helping develop the business leaders of tomorrow. Last year, it was ranked sixth nationally by Payscale.com for best return on education investment among business schools.

124 Center Rd., Dudley, MA

www.nichols.edu

Health Insurance Provider (HMO/PPO)

*Fallon Community Health Plan

Founded in 1977, Fallon's mission focuses chiefly around providing health insurance, but it also provides targeted health care services for seniors through its Summit ElderCare division and the Fallon Senior Plan, which provides extra benefits to Medicare patients.

10 Chestnut St., Worcester, MA 01608

www.fchp.org

(Noteworthy Runner-Up: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts)

Non-Profit Fundraising Event

*Andrew's Helpful Hands

Andrew's Helpful Hands helps families that go through bone marrow transplants. It was launched by John Sousa, the uncle of Andrew Swenson, a bone marrow transplant patient whose dream in life was always to make others happy.

P.O. Box 751, Hudson

www.andrewshelpfulhands.com

Elected Public Official

*Joseph Petty, mayor of Worcester

Appointed Public Official

* Michael O'Brien,

former Worcester city manager

RETAILERS

Luxury Automobile Dealership

*Wagner Motors

Launched in 1964 as a seller of used cars, Wagner marks its 50th anniversary this year, and last year marked its 10th year on Route 9 in Shrewsbury. Today the family of dealerships includes three lines of luxury cars: BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, as well as Kia.

760 Boston Tpk., Shrewsbury

www.wagnermotors.com

Business Clothier for Men

*Shack's

446 Main St., Fitchburg

403 Main St., Worcester

www.shacksclothes.com

Business Clothier for Women

*Macy's – with stores in Auburn, Marlborough, Leominster, Natick.

*Talbot's – with stores in Holden, Marlborough, Natick, Acton.

HOSPITALITY/FOOD/RECREATION

*Beechwood Hotel

The Beechwood opened 25 years ago and sits in an enviable business location, with Biotech Park on one side and the University of Massachusetts Medical School/UMass Memorial Medical Center's University campus on the other. The passion of owners Charles and Janet Birbara shines through in the hotel's creative design, artwork and personal touch.

363 Plantation St., Worcester

www.beechwoodhotel.com

Venue for a Business Meeting

*Beechwood Hotel

363 Plantation St., Worcester

www.beechwoodhotel.com

(Noteworthy Runner-Up: Mechanics Hall)

Restaurant for a Business Breakfast

*Ceres Bistro at Beechwood Hotel

363 Plantation St., Worcester

www.beechwoodhotel.com

Restaurant for a Business Lunch

*The Sole Proprietor

It was a clean sweep for lunch and dinner by the three restaurants that make up the Worcester Restaurant Group (WRG). Robb and Madeleine Ahlquist, who founded and run WRG, opened The Sole in 1979. Twenty years later, they opened the 111 Chop House, which exceeded third-year projections in only 11 months. They opened the third leg of their triple crown, VIA Italian Table, in 2007.

118 Highland St., Worcester

www.thesole.com

(Noteworthy Runner-Up:

VIA Italian Table, Worcester)

Restaurant for a Business Dinner

* 111 Chop House

111 Shrewsbury St., Worcester

www.111chophouse.com

Golf Course and Golf Club for Corporate Outing

*Cyprian Keyes Golf Club

This public golf course has a private-club feel with four function rooms and an onsite event planner to help you sweat the details for an outing or meeting. The club can accommodate golfers of all ability — or lack of it — with an 18-hole championship course, a 9-hole Par-3 course and a golf school.

284 East Temple St., Boylston

www.cypriankeyes.com

(Noteworthy Runner-Up for Best Golf Course: Worcester Country Club)

(Noteworthy Runners-Up for Best Golf Club For Corporate Outing: Worcester Country Club and Pleasant Valley Country Club, Sutton)

Venue for an Employee Outing

*SAC Park

Bring it indoors, or take it outside at SAC (short for Scandinavian Athletic Club), which can accommodate as many as 1,500 people.

438 Lake St., Shrewsbury

www.sacpark-shrewsbury.com

(Noteworthy Runners-Up: Kimball Farm, Lancaster; Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston; Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, Princeton

Venue for a Corporate Event

*Mechanics Hall

Built in the 19th century, Mechanics is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has served as the site for presidential speeches, boxing matches, classical concerts, weddings, annual meetings, political campaign kickoffs and a wide variety of business events.

321 Main St., Worcester

www.mechanicshall.org

(Noteworthy Runner-Up: DCU Center)

Exercise Facility/Fitness Center

*Worcester Fitness

It's your conventional health club, but also has personal trainers who can assist with workouts, along with nutrition, stress reduction and lifestyle changes.

440 Grove St. and 120 Summer St. (Worcester Medical Center/Saint Vincent Hospital), Worcester

www.worcesterfitness.com

Caterer for a Corporate Event

* Pepper's Fine Foods Catering

The husband-and-wife team of John and Susan Lawrence has been delivering its luscious fair to discerning taste buds since the late 1980s. And apparently, they don't disappoint. A recent visit to the online review site Yelp.com found 17 comments, 14 of them giving Pepper's the highest rating: five stars.

Northborough

www.pepperscatering.com

(Noteworthy Runner-Up: Struck Catering, Worcester

BUSINESS PRODUCTS

* Engraveables

Established in 1984, Engraveables has grown from a one-machine shop that made trophies for youth organizations into a company with 3,500 square feet of space and a large showroom. Its clientele has broadened to businesses, schools and other organizations.

190 Main St., Marlborough

www.engraveablesma.com

Office Supply Company

* Staples Inc.

Launched in Massachusetts and now international in scope, Framingham-based Staples is the top office supply company in the United States. It entered the Fortune 500 in 1996 and today sits at No. 122 on that list, with revenue around $25 billion.

Headquarters: 500 Staples Dr., Framingham

www.staples.com

(Noteworthy Runner-Up: W.B. Mason)

BUSINESS SERVICES

*Knight's Airport Limousine Service

Knight's provides shuttle and private vehicle service to all airports within 75 miles of Central Massachusetts, as well as those in the New York City area.

390 Hartford Tpk., Shrewsbury

www.knightslimo.com

(Noteworthy Runner-Up: Worcester Airport Limousine)

Law Firm for: Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Employment Law, Tax, Trust & Estate Planning

*Bowditch & Dewey

It was a clean sweep in the legal categories for Worcester's largest law firm. Last year, 15 of its attorneys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for 2014. Three were named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for their work in labor law, employment law, and trusts and estates.

311 Main St., Worcester

175 Crossing Blvd., Ste. 500, Framingham

www.bowditch.com

(Noteworthy Runners-Up: Fletcher Tilton, Mirick O'Connell and, in employment law, Jackson Lewis, Boston)

Accounting Firm

*Shepherd & Goldstein

The 34-year-old firm began with a staff of six accountants. Today, it numbers more than 40, and has additional offices in Framingham, Milford and Yarmouth after a couple of mergers and acquisitions. In 2005, it became a member of ROCG, an international consulting group.

316 Main St., Ste. 200, Worcester

1671 Worcester Rd., Ste. 303, Framingham

409 Fortune Blvd., Ste. 204, Milford

www.sgllp.com

(Noteworthy Runner-Up: Bollus Lynch, Worcester

Commercial Landscaping Company

*Lawn and Order Landscape

The company was established in 2008 by Nick Diliddo and Ryan Wambach, who have a passion for creating innovative designs for landscapes, which they also install.

185 Chester St., Worcester

www.lawnorderlandscape.com

Commercial Printer

*Curry Printing

Peter and Joe Gardner run this family-owned firm that can take a document from end to end: design to delivery. It also assists clients with mailing services through its two locations.

190 Turnpike Rd., Westborough

165 Southbridge St., Worcester

www.curryprinting.com

IT Services Company

*Akuity Technologies

Founded 25 years ago, Akuity, formerly PC Plus, today has 48 employees, which includes over 25 technical staffers. Among them, they hold over 75 industry certifications. (Disclosure: The Worcester Business Journal is an Akuity client.)

One Westec Dr., Auburn

www.akuity.com

Internet Service Provider

*Charter Communications

Charter is not only the provider of cable services to Worcester and many surrounding communities, but it also offers fast internet connections to commercial customers throughout the region.

95 Higgins St., Worcester

www.charter.com

Document Destruction Company

*ProShred

ProShred is a national firm that, in addition to shredding documents, destroys hard drives on computers that are being replaced.

75 Post Office Pk., Wilbraham

www.proshred.com

Advertising Agency

*Davis Advertising

It's the largest ad firm in Central Massachusetts, with 50 employees, and provides a full range of advertising and public relations services. Long a downtown fixture, the company recently purchased and renovated its own headquarters building.

1331 Grafton St., Worcester

www.davisad.com

(Noteworthy Runner-Up: Penta Communications, Westborough)

Web Design Firm

*Penta Communications

Now in its 27th year, Penta has served an array of clients, one of them the United Nations. It will soon move its headquarters to the former Bergson's 1790 House restaurant, having purchased the building just a few hundred yards from its long-time Route 9 offices.

182 Turnpike Rd., No. 200, Westborough

www.pentamarketing.com

(Noteworthy Runner-Up: Pagano

Media, Worcester)

Video Production Company

*Skyscope Creative

The firm is run by three Clark University graduates, each with a different skillset, who saw a growing need for business video.

40 Jackson St., Ste. 1120, Worcester

skyscopecreative.com

Staffing Agency

*The Davis Cos.

Davis is a 29-year-old family-owned firm that helps with staffing needs in a variety of disciplines.

325 Donald Lynch Blvd., Marlborough

www.daviscos.com

Architectural Firm

*Lamoreaux, Pagano & Associates

Launched in 1969, the firm's portfolio includes the restoration of what is now The Hanover Theatre in downtown Worcester, the design of Worcester Technical High School and the award-winning design of the new Sherwood Middle School in Shrewsbury.

108 Grove St., Worcester

www.lamoureuxpagano.com

Storage Facility

*Euro-American

375 Airport Dr., Worcester

www.eaafinc.net

General Contractor

*J.M. Coull Inc.

The company's work traverses several industries, and it has won several national and regional awards.

20 Powder Mill Rd., Maynard

www.jmcoull.com

Electrical Contractor

*Coghlin Electrical Contractors Inc.

Founded in 1885, Coghlin is one of Central Massachusetts' oldest companies. Run by family member Sue Mailman, Coghlin is a widely recognized name and has served a wide range of industries.

100 Prescott St., Worcester

www.coghlin.com

Plumber/HVAC Contractor

*Garabedian Plumbing & Heating Inc.

208 Austin St., Worcester

www.garabedianplumbing.com

Commercial Roofer

*Capitol Siding Co. Inc.

A 63-year-old family business with an array of residential and commercial/municipal customers.

30 Auburn St., Auburn

www.capitolsiding.com

Waste Removal Company

*E.L. Harvey & Sons Inc.

The 103-year-old family firm also focuses on recycling and document destruction.

68 Hopkinton Rd., Westborough

www.elharvey.com

(Noteworthy Runner-Up: P. Pellegrino Trucking Co.)

Commercial Real Estate Company

*Kelleher & Sadowsky Associates Inc.

This long established commercial property brokerage, established in 1981 by founders Bill Kelleher and Harold Sadowsky, has grown to become the largest in the region.

446 Main St., No. 2200, Worcester

www.kelleher-sadowsky.com

(Noteworthy Runners-Up: Glickman

Kovago & Co., Worcester)

Residential Real Estate Company

*RE/MAX

A national firm with offices in several Central Massachusetts locations.

www.remax.com

(Noteworthy Runners-Up: Coldwell

Banker; Emerson Realtors, Auburn)

Office Cleaning Company

*Enterprise Cleaning Corp.

Company CEO Steve Buchalter has grown the company significantly since its founding more than a decade ago.

340 Main St., Worcester

www.enterprisecleaningcorp.com