Brad Kane

A thing isn't beautiful because it lasts.

In an ideal world, publications like WBJ’s annual Women in Leadership edition wouldn’t be necessary. In an ideal world, all people everywhere would be recognized for their natural talents and learned skills and given equal opportunities to help create the best possible version of our economy and society, regardless of the circumstances each person was born into.

Higher education has had a bit of a rough time this decade. Largely the result of a demographic dip in the number of high school graduates – but also because of concerns over costs and politics – nationwide undergraduate enrollment is down about 7% from 2019, according to the nonprofit Education Data Initiative.

Every year starting in October, WBJ asks its readers to vote on the best companies in Central Massachusetts in a variety of categories, ranging from law firms and incubators to golf courses and restaurants. This year, WBJ readers cast more than 2,800 votes, resulting in the selection of 55 winners in 53 categories.

WBJ hosts a variety of awards events each year, honoring Central Massachusetts business professionals for exceptional achievements. We invite our readers to nominate individuals for awards like 40 Under Forty, Outstanding Women in Business, Business Leade

The real estate industry, particularly commercial real estate, is at the heart of all business journal coverage, including at Worcester Business Journal. More than just a collection of simple listings of property transactions and proposed developments, the real estate beat is key to understanding the inner workings of the Central Massachusetts economy.

Most general media coverage of nonprofits, particularly human services nonprofits, tends to focus on their missions, the need for their services, and the community good they achieve. This type of coverage is important, as it raises a nonprofit’s profile. However, through the business-focused lens of WBJ’s coverage, we are more concerned with how they accomplish their missions.

After the U.S. and Central Massachusetts got through the initial phases of the COVID pandemic, the economy was largely strong by traditional standards, with low unemployment and GDP growth. Yet, due to rapid inflation and the lingering effects of the COVID pandemic, the economy just wasn’t working for everybody.

The Outstanding Women in Business awards have long been one of WBJ’s hardest honors to win.

Four years ago, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer and the ensuing national reckoning on race, business and political leaders in Central Massachusetts and across the nation were falling over themselves to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in an attempt to mitigate the stain of America’s original sin.