Webster Five News Today

Is it better to bank with an online bank or a brick and mortar? If you want that personal touch, sticking with a local, community bank will probably suit you

Katherine Aguilar is not alone on the confusing road to financing a small business, made more winding for business owners of color who remain disadvantaged in the world of large loans and venture capital, despite increased awareness of inequities.

Monica Thomas-Bonnick is a pro at packing boxes and coming into new communities. And, of course, she wouldn’t dream of not getting involved in community causes once there.

They are decorative art and colorful billboards beautifying the area landscape with a bit of history, a touch of whimsy and a lot of hometown pride.

Will a big bank like Chase put Central Massachusetts-headquartered banks at a disadvantage? Industry leaders here don’t think so.

The community service event on Friday saw over 900 volunteers join in across the city

Caffee holds many roles at Webster Five, but, in all his work, community investment is a priority and success is a constant.

Overall, more than 20,000 PPP loans for a total of $1.8 billion were given out to businesses across Worcester County, with more than 4,800 and $450 million of those loans going to businesses within the city of Worcester, according to data from the SBA.

Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham is a key leader – perhaps the leader in Central Massachusetts – in guiding businesses to better diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.

What advice would you give to aspiring IT leaders? “Remain technical… I always ask questions of the most technical team members because I always learn something. You can be an IT leader without being a techie, but having a certain level of IT aptitude and understanding is critical to governing it.”