Better Business Bureau CEO departs after one year, succeeded by Hanover Theatre VP

Photo | Edd Cote Alex Guardiola has stepped down from his position as president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central New England.

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By Mica Kanner-Mascolo

The president and CEO of the Worcester-based Better Business Bureau of Central New England has stepped down from his position after just one year on the job.

After joining the BBB in April 2024, Alex Guardiola served his last day as leader of the BBB on April 26, he told WBJ.

“We decided we were parting ways," Guardiola said, adding he had no further comment on the reason for his departure.

Guardiola has now turned his attention to building his own independent consulting company.

Guardiola succeeded the organization’s veteran leader Nancy Cahalen, coming to the organization having most recently served as vice president of government affairs and public policy at the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“Alex‘s departure was a mutual decision based on different views of the future of the organization,” Casey Cormier, chair of the BBB board of directors, said to WBJ. “As a board, we’re grateful for the contributions he brought … I’m confident Alex will continue to have an impact on the city and am looking forward to what he does in his next chapter.”

The BBB has named Lisa Swanson as its incoming president and CEO, starting June 2. Swanson comes to the BBB from her position as vice president of sales and strategic partnerships at The Hanover Theatre & Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Worcester.

“I’m honored to join the BBB team at such a pivotal time,” Swanson said in a Tuesday press release. “The organization plays a vital role in supporting ethical business practices, and I look forward to building on its strong foundation while fostering innovation, transparency, and community trust.”

Cormier said he’s excited for the goals Swanson will fulfill in her upcoming role, including those he wished the organization could have completed this past year.

“Lisa brings a fresh vision, a deep commitment to integrity, and a passion for strengthening trust in the marketplace,” Cormier said in the release. “We are confident that under her leadership, BBB will continue to grow its impact while staying true to its mission of advancing marketplace trust.”

Established in 1940, the Better Business Bureau of Central New England is a nonprofit organization with more than 2,700 accredited businesses across 225 communities, according to the organization’s website. Its coverage areas include Central Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts, and Northeastern Connecticut.

Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.