As we look forward to the best for 2025, I’d like to take this moment to reflect back on 2024 and highlight some of what WBJ offered last year.
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The Jan. 13 edition of WBJ includes our annual Best of Business awards, where readers vote on the best companies and organizations in categories like Best Restaurant for a Business Lunch, Best Law Firm, Best Private Golf Course, and Best Nonprofit Fundraiser. You can read all about the 55 winners and the notable runners-up in the bios.
As we look forward to the best for 2025, I’d like to take this moment to reflect back on 2024 and highlight some of what WBJ offered last year.
Best Story: At the end of October, WBJ Manager Editor Eric Casey and his reporting partner Dan Adams published a months-long investigation into malfeasance at the state agency Cannabis Control Commission. While the CCC has suffered from numerous problems since its founding in 2017, Casey detailed how widespread its dysfunction had become, including how it is actively harming businesses. No wonder the commissioners’ first choice for the vacant executive director position turned down the job, as the state Legislature talks reform.
Best Print Edition: Last year, WBJ expanded its annual Power 50 list of the most influential professionals in Central Massachusetts to a Power 100. While the individual features on the people were interesting on their own, the edition became much greater than the sum of its parts. By reading the 30,000+ words in the edition spread out over 100 features, you received a detailed understanding of how power is shared and used throughout the Central Mass. economy, both for good and ill.
Best Event: WBJ’s events are always outstanding and well-managed endeavors, and each has a much different vibe, ranging from educational to celebrations. Our oldest award, Business Leader of the Year, is full of pomp and circumstance, while our newest award, Champions of Health Care, carries so much meaning to professionals in an industry constantly under pressure. My favorite event from 2024 was our 40 Under Forty awards, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. The event kept the Class of 2024 as the stars of the show, but alumni were heavily represented throughout the ceremony. It turned into a celebration of everything WBJ and the 40 Under Forty award has meant to the business community over the years.
As WBJ moves into 2025, we are always looking to make ourselves better, improving on the best of the best. While these were just a handful of the highlights from last year, we’re working to make 2025 better than ever.
Brad Kane is the editor of the Worcester Business Journal.
