Best of Business 2023: Best Professional Services

Photo | Courtesy of Fletcher Tilton Law firm Fletcher Tilton employees (from left) Shareholder Anthony Salvidio, Shareholder Karen LaFond, Executive Director Michael Sweeney, Associate Rosemary Tootell

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Best Law Firm: Fletcher Tilton PC

Fletcher Tilton PC is broad in terms of its geographic reach, providing legal services all over New England, and has a solid history, with its roots taking hold in Oxford in 1845. The law firm eventually moved to Worcester, and over the years would expand into Framingham, Providence, and Cape Cod.

But the organization isn’t so big that it’s too big.

“Within those areas, we are deep and strong in front of communities,” said Anthony Salvidio, shareholder at the firm, which has 120 employees, just over half of those attorneys. “We are not too big that we can’t serve smaller clients, but not too small that we can’t serve larger ones, too.”

There are three key areas on which the firm places its focus: Civil litigation, or legal actions involving businesses; real estate, including development, acquisition and sales, and financing; and estate planning, with a specialty area of families in special situations, such as children with special needs.

“One of the biggest problems from a financial standpoint is longevity of children,” Salvidio said. “They outlast us, and we need to plan for their future care.”

Regarding its work in commercial real estate transactions, Worcester residents not familiar with the firm Fletcher Tilton will have heard of its work, having been a key player in bringing projects like the Polar Park baseball stadium to fruition.

“The help we offer in representing developers and our work with the city and state and coordinating local lending is an integral part of these places the people of the city of Worcester enjoy on a daily basis,” said Salvidio.

The commercial real estate field is like no other. From development to permitting to financing to building, new challenges lurk at every turn, he said.

“Things never go smoothly. There can be conflicts,” he said. “But we never seem to run out of talent at Fletcher Tilton to handle each obstacle.”

Some projects with massive timelines, like 100 Front St., the mixed-use Mercantile Center in downtown Worcester, saw lawyers reaching retirement age in the middle of it, said Salvidio, after working on the over 640,000-square-foot project for years.

But no matter what, with expertise that continues through generations, Fletcher Tilton continues to build the fabric of its firm and communities where we live.

-- Story written by Susan Shalhoub

*denotes repeat winner

Best Accounting Firm: Bollus Lynch, LLP Certified Public Accountants & Consultants

Location: Worcester, Bolluslynch.com
Top executive: Managing Partner Michael Bollus
Founded: 1989
Employees: 31

Bollus Lynch offers full and professional accounting, audit, and tax services to clients from a number of industries, including construction, manufacturing, nonprofits, higher education, life sciences, technology, and retail.

Notable runners-up: Stowe & Degon, S&G LLP n

Best Forensic Accountant: McLaren & Associates CPAs, PC*

Location: Shrewsbury, dmclarenCPA.com
Top executive: David McLaren, founder and managing partner
Founded: 2015
Employees: 17

McLaren & Associates seeks to gain and maintain trust by saving clients money and providing them justice. As a certified B Corp., the firm stayed up to date on the CARES Act throughout the COVID pandemic to help businesses survive the economic challenges.

Notable runner-up: Aaron T. White, CPA

Best Financial Planning/Investment Services Firm: Provo Wealth Management Group*

Location: Shrewsbury, ProvoWealth.com
Top executive: President & CEO Christopher Provo
Founded: 1992
Employees: 7

Provo Wealth Management Group expanded the ways it communicates with clients in 2022. Maintaining an intimate connection with clients as a small firm remains a priority, which goes hand-in-hand with furthering the goals of transparency and accountability.

Best Bank: UniBank*

Location: Whitinsville, UniBank.com
Top executives: CEO Michael Welch, President Christopher Foley, Executive Vice President Justine DeNorscia
Founded: 1870
Employees: 265

UniBank is a local mutual savings bank, meaning it does not distribute dividends to stakeholders nationwide. In 2022, the bank made a $5-million commitment to its charitable foundation, as part of its efforts to keep the money it makes local.

Notable runners-up: Cornerstone Bank, Bay State Savings Bank, Webster Five

Best Credit Union: DCU - Digital Federal Credit Union*

Location: Marlborough, DCU.org
Top executive: President & CEO Shruti Miyashiro
Founded: 1979
Employees: 1,767

DCU achieved its 2022 goal of reaching 1 million members, and to mark the occasion, donated $1 million to community organizations. Its new leader, Shruti Miyashiro, took over in August from long-time CEO Jim Regan.

Notable runners-up: Webster First Federal Credit Union, Central One Federal Credit Union.

Best Business Insurance Agency: Sullivan Insurance Group*

Location: Worcester, sullivangroup.com
Other locations: Needham, Orleans
Top executive: President & CEO John Andreoli
Founded: 1957
Employees: 55

Sullivan Insurance Group utilizes a values-based management model, emphasizing respect, honesty, and integrity in business relationships. In 2022, the group expanded its cross-training and mentorship programs and added new staff to its offices.

Notable runners-up: Knight-Dik Insurance, TJ Woods Insurance Agency, Inc. n

Best Advertising Agency: PENTA Communications, Inc.*

Location: Westborough, pentamarketing.com
Top executive: Founder & CEO Deborah Penta
Founded: 1989
Employees: 16

PENTA offers full-service integrated marketing, including high-end design and creative services, brand creation and development, website design and development, marketing consulting, public relations consulting, event planning, social media strategies and execution, eMarketing, adverting, media and media buying services, and corporate consulting.

Notable runners-up: Davis Advertising, Kill the Ball Media, Studio Jade n

Best Chamber of Commerce: Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce*

Location: Worcester, WorcesterChamber.org
Top executive: President & CEO Timothy Murray
Founded: 1875
Employees: 14

Serving more than 2,300 members in 35 communities in Central Massachusetts, the Worcester chamber offers events and programming to help businesses increase their networks and advocate for business-friendly policies. The chamber added to its staff in 2022 while making new partnerships, among them the Latin American Business Organization and the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Notable runners-up: Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of Commerce, Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce. n

Best Health Insurance Provider: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts*

Location: Boston, bluecrossma.com
Other offices: Worcester, Hingham, Quincy
Top executive: CEO Sarah Iselin
Founded: 1937
Employees: 3,900

Blue Cross Blue Shield is committed to incorporating health equity measures in its contracts with the state’s largest provider organizations: Steward Healthcare Network, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Mass General Brigham, and Boston Accountable Care Organization, Inc, who collectively care for 500,000 of its members.

Notable runners-up: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Fallon Health. n

Best Logistics Company: Euro-American Worldwide Logistics*

Location: Worcester, eawlogistics.com
Top executive: President Eric Busenburg
Founded: 1965
Employees: 27

Euro-American Worldwide Logistics marked 2022 with new partnerships in the life science and biotech space. The company is physically expanding with 20,000 square feet in new construction while aiming to maintain its personal touch in all customer service.