15 Massachusetts Firms Honored as MassEcon “Impact” Award Winners

BOSTON – MassEcon, the state’s private sector partner in promoting business growth in Massachusetts, honored 15 enterprising companies from across the commonwealth with its Fifteenth Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards, recognizing their outstanding contributions of investment, job growth, facility expansion, and community involvement.

Selected for their achievements since Jan. 1, 2017, the 15 winners, from five distinct regions of the state, were congratulated at the annual MassEcon Impact Awards luncheon in a video presentation by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel.

The Gold Award winners were Wayfair, from Boston; MGM Springfield, from Springfield; Table Talk Pies, from Worcester; MilliporeSigma, from Burlington; and Moderna, from Norwood.

“At a point in time when there in tremendous consternation and a lot of divisiveness in public dialogue across this country, and by the way around the world, we do take a great deal of pride and satisfaction in the fact that here in Massachusetts people have figured out how to agree and disagree agreeably,” said Baker. “And it’s made a big difference in our ability to collaborate and move this great state forward. We look forward to continuing to work with MassEcon and all of your partners even into the future.”

Baker, who for the last three years has attended the awards luncheon, was unable to be present this year but acknowledged both Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash and Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka, both of whom did attend.

Baker also congratulated MassEcon Executive Director Susan Houston on her 25 years of leadership at the organization. Houston is leaving the position at the end of 2018. She will be succeeded by Peter Abair in January.

“This is always a very great event to host, particularly this year,” said Houston. “It’s a  honor and privilege to have originated these awards and to have hosted them for 15 years.  I know that Pete will carry on the great tradition of honoring Massachusetts companies on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.”

About 400 people attended the luncheon, which was MassEcon’s 15^th  annual awards event. The Presenting  Sponsor was Citizens Bank,  and it was emceed by Lisa Hughes, a news anchor at WBZ-TV.

“This is an important event not only for MassEcon but also for the Commonwealth,” said Stephen Flavin, Vice President for Academic and Corporate Achievement at WPI and Chairman of MassEcon. “There are so many success stories in our state, and this luncheon gives us a chance to thank the companies that have grown and invested in Massachusetts.”

Flavin noted that the companies represent life sciences, e-commerce, information technology, robotics, manufacturing, distribution, and food and entertainment.

“Since Jan. 1, 2017, these companies have added nearly 5,400 jobs, invested more than $440 million in capital investment, and expanded in over 3.5 million square feet in their facilities,” Flavin said.

The winning companies (listed below) were selected after site visits and a reception with their competitors and judges at Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP.

The Gold Award Winners were accepted by Alex Dixon, General Manager of MGM Springfield; Harry Kokkinis, President of Table Talk Pies Inc.; Steve Harbin, Chief Sustainability Officer of Moderna Therapeutics; Paul Asmar, Vice President for Real Estate and Properties of MillisporeSigma; and Niraj Shah, Co-Founder and CEO of Wayfair.

A full list of the winners:

FifTEENTH Annual Team Massachusetts Economic ImpactAward Winners