Published work - Worcester Business Journal

Dorian A. Des Lauriers

MEGHAN GUARNIERI
SPECIAL TO METROWEST495 BIZ

 

Entrepreneur Dorian A. Des Lauriers, ProVerde Laboratories' CEO, teamed up with Christopher Hudalla, the company's chief scientific officer, about two years ago to create a green and environmentally friendlier technology to test medicinal marijuana. Des Lauriers — who had started several companies already — was responsible for building the business, as well as finance, marketing and sales. It was incorporated at the end of 2012.

Both men spent most of last year developing their technology and took delivery of equipment in the fall. The company is building a 16,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art lab facility in Milford, at space formerly occupied by Thermo Fisher Scientific.

"We are in the brand-new, bustling medical marijuana industry and we are in the unique position of having some of the coolest science in the world in this space," said Des Lauriers. "We are in the position to be doing testing, which has been mandated by law in Massachusetts, and most states are now even requiring testing for both efficacy and safety."

Des Lauriers saw opportunity. And Hudalla, who has a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry, got the new technology up and running for ProVerde.

"We are the first laboratory in the world to be applying this [method] to this applications base," said Hudalla.

The technology, ultra performance convergence chromatography, was originally developed by Waters Corp. in Milford, explained Des Lauriers.

"We use super critical carbon dioxide in our process," said Des Lauriers, "(which uses) 100 to 500 times less toxic solvents compared to the prior generations of analytical testing equipment."

Although there are some challenges that come with being first out of the gate with technology like this, rewards are rich.

"This is changing people's lives dramatically: their family, their friends, their school, their whole life is forever changed by a few drops of this stuff," Des Lauriers said. "It's really exciting to … prove to people scientifically what the compounds are in this product and the benefit that people get from using it properly."

Published work - Worcester Business Journal

Holli Andrews

MEGHAN GUARNIERI
SPECIAL TO METROWEST495 BIZ

 

Holli Andrews holds the important role of connecting people to where they live: supporting capital improvement in Framingham's infrastructure; supporting existing businesses through this period of construction; recruiting businesses to diversify the economic base; getting out into the public and presenting the Framingham Downtown Renaissance's efforts.

And of that radiates from a central point: Framingham's rich past.

"Our goals are centered on preservation-based revitalization of our historic New England downtown," said Andrews.

Framingham Downtown Renaissance, or FDR, is built upon promotion, design, organization and economic restructuring. Promotion is getting the word out about the businesses in Framingham, as well as the different amenities they have or are working to create. Design is bringing the downtown to its best physical condition. Organization is trying to get as many different people involved as possible. Economic restructuring is working with existing businesses to help them become sustainable.

Andrews has the challenging, yet exciting, task of making this four-point approach happen.
"It's kind of a holistic way to work on the revitalization and recognize that there are many important facets to that," she said.

Andrews grew up near a little airport in Maine, in a town of about 4,000 people. Taking airplane rides with her dad and being able to see all the pollution that was in the air helped drive her to pursue a bachelor's degree in ecology.

"This job came up. It was exactly like a job I had in Maine while I was in graduate school," said Andrews. "I thought, 'You know what? I'm ready; I've been working on this for a long time.'"
Even though being a 501(c)3 organization has its funding challenges, Andrews makes the best of the situation. And she hopes this optimism is contagious.

"You have to love it," said Andrews. "You need that enthusiasm and passion in order to try and get people on board."

Published work - Worcester Business Journal

Colleges launch final push to meet fall admissions goals

As the academic year ends, applications for the Class of 2018 are in. Admissions officials at Central Massachusetts colleges and universities are confident they'll meet their headcount goals for their incoming groups of freshmen, with some hoping for slight increases over last year.

Jim Fowler, dean of admissions at Dean College in Franklin, said in an email that his applicant pool is 3 percent deeper over 2013 and has grown 68 percent in the last five years.

Many of the schools recently held open house events to invite accepted students to visit one last time before they make their final decisions. Typically, these types of events are successful in boosting admissions deposits the schools receive. Worcester State University, in particular, received such a financial boost from a recent “Congratulations Day” event, Ryan Forsythe, the school's vice president for enrollment management, said.

“We have had quite a surge,” he said last month. “After the event, we received almost 50 percent more deposits than we did last year on that day. So, we are optimistic for a better year.”

Reaching out

As application deadlines draw closer, schools try to make their presence more prevalent on social media. They're slowly adapting to certain handles in hopes of getting more information out to students who are going through the college application process.

“We have been treading lightly in social media, because we are aware of where the students go for information,” Ann McDermott, director of admission at the College of the Holy Cross, said last month.

Then, there's the issue of cost, which can greatly influence a student's decision on where to go. That's very much on the minds of officials at schools like Assumption College, which recently froze tuition for current freshmen and sophomores, as well as for the Class of 2018. Becker College and Worcester State have done something similar.

“I think certainly that in this economy, cost is something that many families are considering,” Edward Connor, chief admissions officer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, said.

“Hopefully financial aid programs help balance the out-of-pocket costs a little bit and take cost out of the equation for some families and minimize that part of the decision-making process.”

Becker, meanwhile, has implemented its Be Affordable program, in which undergraduate day students will have tuition and financial aid awards remain the same through their four years.

“It is very attractive and reassuring to families to understand up front how to plan financially,” Kevin Mayne, vice president of enrollment management at Becker, said in an email.

“We created this program as a response to the growing need to make the dream of college education an affordable reality.”

But affordable tuition isn't the only factor students consider when picking a school. Paul Brower, admissions director at Nichols College in Dudley, shed some light on why kids may choose one school over others.

“Nichols is the only area school that offers a formal professional development program to our students,” Brower said in an email. “It really gives our students an edge as they compete for internships and professional positions.”

Maintaining a high level of enrollment from year to year can sometimes become difficult. But the schools learn over the years what techniques tend to work and which ones don't.

Some schools have decided to take a different approach and have begun sending people across the country to recruit more students.

“Becker has been engaging in more national travel and expanded outreach,” Mayne said.
“We are also providing strong leadership development programs and expanded service learning trip options, allowing for a more enriching and transformational collegiate experience.”

It's always tough to decipher why more or fewer students are committing to schools each year, but keeping a high level of communication between the school and potential student is key, officials say.

“As we approach the critical decision time for them, we have essentially ramped up our level of engagement,” said Peter Miller, dean of admissions and financial aid at Anna Maria College in Paxton. “We are with them every step of the way, monitoring how it is and where they are as they go through the process.”

Published Work - Worcester Business Journal

After fiscal improvements, tough winter, golf facilities stay the course

After the Great Recession struck in 2007, fewer golfers took their clubs out for a day on the links. After all, being the luxury it is, if you're out of work and you have to pay the mortgage and put food on the table, golf drifts downward on the list of priorities.

"Golf is a major contributor to the economy — many people don't realize how big a business it is," said David Frem, general manager of Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Boylston. "In the United States, golf contributes $68.8 billion and 2 million jobs to the economy. In Massachusetts, the golf economy has (a) direct impact of $1.6 billion," he said.

Golf course owners and operators would probably agree that to get a boost in business requires them to provide and promote good products and services, Frem said.

"The economic downturn forced many courses to become more efficient, spend money more wisely, and pay more attention to their business," said Frem.

But last year, things appeared to turn around for golf in Central Massachusetts. Course managers in the region believe business will be even better this year.

"We are hoping that last year was the bottom in the golf economy cycle," said Mike Hightower, course superintendent at Westborough Country Club.

Jeffrey Lawson, general manager at Marlborough Country Club, has the same outlook. "We anticipate a terrific year ahead," he said. "With the improving economy and our (location), we expect 2014 to be a year of growth."

Club managers wary of being too optimistic

"I generally enter each season anticipating a repeat of the season prior, and mange expenses in such a way so we aren't surprised by another drop," said Kevin Sullivan, who owns Southborough's Stonybrook Golf Course. "If consumers feel pinched or less wealthy, it's the discretionary spending that tightens first."

Golfers in Central Massachusetts may still be able to afford their leisure activity, but they may not be able to go out and play as often as they would like. So the state of the economy can also affect the number of rounds they play from season to season.

"That is where we and other golf courses see it: the reduction in rounds played," Sullivan said. "People are still playing golf, eating at restaurants, etc., but doing less of it … They may still have cable (TV) but may have reduced their (service, or they may be) holding onto that four-year-old car for another year."

Hightower hopes to see more — or at least not less — business this year when spring brings out the golfers.

Then ... there's the snow

But as the economy improves, weather — especially conditions the region has experience for most of the last three months — plays a factor in when golfers decide to start teeing off.

"We do feel the improving economy will have a positive impact, but there are other factors to consider," said Stephanie Tor, manager at Berlin Country Club. "The biggest factor that will affect us this spring will really be inclement weather."

Frem agrees. "I am optimistic for this year, despite the likely late start due to all the snow still on the ground," he said. "(Last year) was not a good weather year for golfers, so combining that with a long winter, I think golfers are very excited to get the season started."

Value adds

Tor said value is essential for her nine-hole executive course. "Our lower overhead allows us to maintain a lower price point," she said. "A good value is always appealing."

Marlborough, being a private course, hopes to see more golfers from among the general public. "MCC ... accommodates public play on Mondays and Tuesday. Public play continues to grow," Lawson said.

Lawson said MCC has also extended its reach to junior golfers, women and couples. "Building programs that fit the interest and skill level of the golfer…will build interest," he said.

Even with the economy in recovery mode, course owners and managers are nonetheless approaching the spring on a hopeful note.

"It's difficult to read the tea leaves as no one can predict the future, even the economist and politicians," Sullivan said. "But I … do not anticipate much of a change this year."