Processing Your Payment
Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.
40 Under Forty, Class of 2025
Down below, you’ll read about the best of what humanity can be, personified through WBJ’s 40 Under Forty, Class of 2025. This year’s awards, designed to highlight the best up-and-coming professionals in the Central Massachusetts business community, showcase two scores of people who are leveraging their talents and expertise to make their businesses better and give back to their communities. The winners are executives, entrepreneurs, and advocates who are making their marks on our lives and doing so in kind, generous ways.
- Shop Talk
Shop TalkQ&A: Fidelity Bank executive focused on building client-focused relationships
Sloane M. Perron
Chip Norton, owner of Mercantile Center, files for bankruptcy amid lawsuits, $70M in debt
Norton’s use of personal guaranties for business dealings potentially throws the future of key Downtown Worcester properties into question.
- Advice
AdviceHow exit-ready are you? A framework for building value before you sell
Krishna Abburi"In my work advising small and midsized business owners on business selling and due diligence, one truth stands out: Most owners wait too long to prepare for the sale of their business, and it costs them," writes Krishna Abburi at Citrin Cooperman Advisor.
- Advice
Advice10 Things I know about … Business impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Scott CashmanScott Cashman of Bowditch & Dewey tells business owners what they need to know about President Trump's megabill.
- Advice
AdviceSmall business websites and data protection: What you need to know
Julia Becker CollinsWhether you’ve had a website for years or just started, many business owners have the same blind spot when it comes to their website: not keeping up with regulations, protections, and trends.
- AdviceAdvice
101: Cutting costs when times are tight
Sloane M. PerronAmid inflation, supply chain disruptions, and rising operating expenses, targeted cost-cutting measures can help companies weather the storm.
- Opinion
OpinionViewpoint: Federal agriculture subsidies not enriching Central Mass. farmers
Ashley RandleThe high cost of land, energy, and other inputs make farming in Massachusetts much more expensive than in other states. So much so, in fact, that it costs more for farmers to produce crops in Massachusetts than they earn selling them.
-
- EditorialEditorial
Editorial: Cooperation is key to ballpark district's success
After the fire and brimstone vitriol coming out of the Worcester City Council and Worcester Redevelopment Authority late last year, it’s encouraging to hear the City of Worcester is engaging in more constructive conversation with developer Madison Properties and its president, Denis Dowdle.
- Opinion
OpinionA Thousand Words: Chip Norton's bankruptcy
Ramón L. SandovalWith five lawsuits against him, Charles “Chip” Norton has filed for bankruptcy. The owner of prominent Worcester properties including the Mercantile Center disclosed $1.69 million in debt in filings with U.S. Bankruptcy Court, but creditors say he has nearly $70 million in debt stemming from personal guarantees he made.
- Editorial
EditorialFrom the Editor: Picking the cover for the 40 Under Forty
Every year for the 40 Under Forty awards, I issue the same challenge to the winners: Take the best photo.
- Movers & Shakers
Movers & ShakersMovers & Shakers for Aug. 25, 2025
Employees at financial institutions including Clinton Savings Bank, Charles River Bank, Main Street Bank, and bankHometown are taking steps forward in their careers.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Monica Adwani
Monica Adwani has revolutionized insurance delivery to Latino entrepreneurs as CEO of Breezy Seguros.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Andrew Bartholomew
Andrew Bartholomew has established himself as a rising star in Central Massachusetts' legal community.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Delcie Bean IV
Over two decades, he has built his startup into a $10-million company that earned a spot on Inc. Magazine's list of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies for four consecutive years.
-
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Jeff Bercume
After playing professional baseball for the Oakland Athletics minor league organization, Jeff Bercume rapidly ascended at Laddawn, a packaging manufacturer in Devens, rising to lead sales, marketing, and product management.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Julio Biage
Julio Biage's decade-long journey with Enterprise Cleaning and Restoration exemplifies the power of dedication and vision.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Margie Breault
Margie Breault embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and community dedication that define Worcester's next generation of leaders.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Lexi Brissette
Lexi Brissette has rapidly established herself as a standout force in Worcester's commercial real estate market as the only female commercial broker at NAI Glickman and one of very few in Greater Worcester.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Molly Brown
Molly Brown exemplifies the drive and integrity that define Worcester's next generation of business leaders.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Christal Brown
Christal Brown has grown GFA's marketing approach and community presence for the $720-million financial institution serving more than 33,000 members across 10 locations.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Ashley Coffey
Ashley Coffey has established herself as a rising force in commercial real estate law, achieving partnership at Mirick.
-
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Andrew DeChristopher
Andrew DeChristopher is providing digital equity in Fitchburg through his vision of affordable, community-focused internet access.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Paul DiLeo
Paul DiLeo has grown his family's propane business into a regional powerhouse while expanding into multiple industries across Central Massachusetts.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Michelle Doherty
Michelle Doherty has been instrumental in Worcester Polytechnic Institute becoming a national research powerhouse.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Miguel Fernandez-Nazario
Miguel Fernandez-Nazario is helping to turn Downtown Worcester into a destination, through his leadership as operations supervisor for StreetPlus, managing the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District's clean & safe team across a 78-acre radius.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Allison Gomez
Allison Gomez has dedicated her career to bettering outcomes for vulnerable populations, particularly through her leadership as program manager for the unaccompanied refugee minors program at Ascentria.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Sarah Harrington
She has turned ATG’s signature community initiative, its Haulin' 4 Hunger program, into a philanthropic force donating 98,000 meals to food pantries across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Joseph Heelan
Joseph Heelan has scaled Powders on Demand from zero revenue to $5+ million annually in under five years while establishing the company as a key supplier for additive manufacturing and cold spray technologies.
-
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Nicholas Keyes
Since joining Southwick's Zoo in 2021, Nicholas Keyes rebuilt the in-house marketing team and implemented comprehensive strategies aligning branding, advertising, and revenue goals for New England's largest zoo and one of Central Massachusetts' leading family attractions.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Kaleigh Maio
The COVID pandemic and Heywood Healthcare’s financial restructuring in Chapter 11 bankruptcy created quite the challenge for its 1,700+ employees, but Kaleigh Maio has guided the North Central Massachusetts’ health system through the turbulent waters.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Sheri-ann McLean-Williams
Sheri-ann McLean-Williams has built a leadership development practice spanning 13 years, empowering individuals and organizations.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Brit Minichiello
Brit Minichiello transformed a COVID-era leap of faith into a thriving woman-owned healthcare consulting firm that achieved seven-figure revenue by year two.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Amanda Newmiller
Amanda Newmiller exemplifies homegrown leadership, rising from Worcester's triple-deckers to become a driving force in statewide economic development.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Jennifer Ngo
After launching her career in the competitive biotech industry, she pivoted to cannabis when her longtime friend Alex Mazin needed strong leadership to build his business.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Edlin Ortiz
Edlin Ortiz has risen through the WHA ranks to become an indispensable leader whose impact changes lives across communities.
-
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Yolanda Ramos
Yolanda Ramos has emerged as a powerful advocate for early childhood development and mental health equity.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Amanda Risch
Amanda Risch is one of the youngest attorneys to ever attain shareholder status at Fletcher Tilton, a 200-year-old firm, becoming the fourth woman in the firm's history to achieve equity status in March.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Nicholas Rocheleau
Nicholas Rocheleau combines technical expertise with visionary leadership as director of engineering at the fourth-generation family business that bears his name.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Jon Salois
Jon Salois has elevated Atlas Distributing into an award-winning force in the competitive beverage distribution industry.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Andrew Sherman
Andrew Sherman has established himself as one of Central Massachusetts' top commercial real estate brokers since joining Kelleher & Sadowsky six years ago from Boston-based JLL.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Stefanie Silva
Stefanie Silva has overhauled the Worcester chamber's event programming through her leadership of 200+ annual events to deliver value to members while enhancing the region's economic vitality
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Hamilton Soriano
Hamilton Soriano has built a thriving financial advisory practice focused on economic empowerment, particularly for underrepresented communities in an industry where people of color remain rare.
-
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Bill Spencer
Bill Spencer's banking career began with a student-run branch at Clinton High School, sparking a passion driving his rise from teller to commercial lending leadership.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Danielle Teixeira
Danielle Teixeira is a trailblazer in PFAS treatment and strong advocate for clean water in underserved Central Mass. communities.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Ellin Terrill-Kocibelli
draising at the Boys & Girls Club hasn’t been the same since Ellin Terrill-Kocibelli began her 14-year tenure at the nonprofit, increasing annual revenue from $2 million to $5 million.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: John Thomasian
John Thomasian leads Webster First Federal Credit Union as one of Massachusetts' most fiscally stable credit unions while maintaining its community-focused mission.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Erin Thomason
Erin Thomason has built an exceptional career spanning more than 20 years in philanthropy, business development, and nonprofit leadership, culminating in her role as director of philanthropy at the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Nicole Torres
As partner and managing attorney at The Law Offices of David A. Camiel, Nicole Torres helped open two additional offices, bringing the firm's total to four locations while doubling the staff of attorneys, paralegals, and administrators.
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Juli True Dooley
Juli True Dooley has driven growth at Kennedy Community Health Center, helping double the organization from $32 million to $66 million in annual revenue since joining in 2018.
-
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Kait Urlaub
During a turbulent labor market, Kait Urlaub's leadership proved essential to workforce stabilization and growth at UMass Memorial Health, the largest Central Mass. healthcare system with 20,000+ employees
- 40 Under Forty
40 Under Forty40 Under Forty 2025: Thomas White
Thomas White represents the evolution of family business leadership, as the fourth-generation leader of R.H. White Construction.
