The Insiders: Who do Central Mass. power players say are the most influential people in the region?
Photos | Courtesy of the subjects, their organizations, or WBJ File
The top 15 votegetters in the inaugural ballot for The Insiders: (in order from first to 15th, starting with the top left) Timothy Murray from the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Eric Dickson from UMass Memorial Health, Sue Mailman from Coghlin Electrical Contractors, Clifford Rucker from Rucker Investments, Michael Angelini from Prince Lobel, (middle row, from left), Jon Weaver from Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, Peter Dunn from City of Worcester, Eric Batista from City of Worcester, Craig Blais from Worcester Business Development Corp., Tim Garvin from United Way of Central Massachusetts, (bottom row) Che Anderson from UMass Chan Medical School, Ralph Crowley Jr. from Polar Beverages, Debbie Hall from YWCA Central Massachusetts, Congressman Jim McGovern, and Kim Salmon from Hanover Insurance Group
The WBJ newsroom spends months each year compiling the annual Power 100 list of the most influential professionals in Central Massachusetts. While the result of this effort is a comprehensive edition detailing how power is held, shared, and wielded in the region, it does tend to focus on high-profile individuals like CEOs and those who made significant news in the past year. We were curious: Who do these power players consider the most powerful people in the community to be?
In February, we asked the 400+ people who have ever been on a WBJ power list (Power 100, Power 50, Power Players) to vote for the professionals they believed are the most influential in the region. Nearly 600 votes were cast, and the end result was shockingly similar to the list WBJ develops annually. Of the top 15 votegetters unveiled on the right, all of them have been on a WBJ power list previously. Ten are on the list this year.
Here are the top 15 votegetters:
1. Timothy Murray, president & CEO of Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
2 (tie). Dr. Eric Dickson, president & CEO of UMass Memorial Health
2 (tie). Sue Mailman, owner of Coghlin Electrical Contractors
4. Clifford Rucker, founder of Rucker Investments
5 (tie). Michael Angelini, partner at Prince Lobel
5 (tie). Jon Weaver, president & CEO of Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives
7. Peter Dunn, chief development officer for the City of Worcester
8 (tie). Eric Batista, city manager for the City of Worcester
8 (tie). Craig Blais, president of Worcester Business Development Corp.
8 (tie). Tim Garvin, president & CEO of United Way of Central Massachusetts
11 (tie). Che Anderson, assistant vice chancellor for city & community relations at UMass Chan Medical School
11 (tie). Ralph Crowley Jr., president & CEO of Polar Beverages
11 (tie). Debbie Hall, CEO of YWCA Central Massachusetts
11 (tie). Congressman Jim McGovern (D-Worcester)
11 (tie). Kimberly Salmon, AVP community relations at The Hanover Insurance Group
Yet, this process also resulted in votes for a number of behind-the-scenes people who influence the economy in very interesting ways. While they were not the top votegetters, The Insiders featured below certainly have outsized influence. Their stories are told here by the power players who voted them as among the most influential.
- Christine Cassidy, chief communications officer for Fallon Health - Story told by Richard Burke
- Patty Eppinger, community volunteer - Story told by Tim Garvin
- John Erwin, vice chancellor for government relations at UMass Chan Medial School - Story told by Jon Weaver
- Jennifer Flanagan Long, senior vice president at Liberty Square Group - Story told by Michael Nicholson
- Michaelangelo Mangual, owner of Michaelangelo's Barbershop & Nails - Story told by Joseph Corazzini
- Dan Nigrosh, president of Cam-Am Machinery - Story told by Sam Squailia
- Julie Orozco, executive director of Abby’s House - Story told by Julie Bowditch
- Karen Pelletier, executive vice president for Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce - Story told by Che Anderson
- Hank Stolz, founder of Radio Worcester - Story told by Satya Mitra
Brad Kane is editor of the Worcester Business Journal.
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