MassEcon in the News

For Immediate Release:
Contact:

Susan Houston
Executive Director
617-924-4600 x 11

MassEcon Holds Luncheon for Winners of its Eighth Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards

BOSTON, Massachusetts – November 22, 2011 – MassEcon (the Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development) its Eighth Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Award luncheon on November 22nd at 12 noon at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. Companies from across the Commonwealth were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Massachusetts economy. Over 400 people attended the event, including featured speaker Governor Deval Patrick, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki, and award presenter WCVB-TV, Channel 5’s longtime news anchor, Anthony Everett.

“The Massachusetts economy continues to grow faster than most states thanks to successful companies like those featured at MassEcon,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “I congratulate the awardees for their innovative spirit and look forward to making even more progress with our partners in the business community.”

The winning companies (listed below) were selected after a reception with their competitors and judges at an afternoon event at the UMass Club in Boston with featured guest, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Greg Bialecki. The reception enabled senior executives from the companies to present their attributes in the categories of job growth, facility expansion, investment and community involvement since January 1, 2010.

The growth stories of the winning companies are all unique and represent a broad range of industries – including defense, software, energy, marketing, telecommunications, life sciences, robotics, and consumer products.

“The Commonwealth’s world-renowned innovation economy is driven by the Team Massachusetts award winners and companies like them across the state,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. “The Patrick-Murray Administration is grateful for the investment these firms are making in our workers and our state’s long-term prosperity.”

Winners, representing companies from Boston to the Berkshires, include:

Gold Winners:
A123 Systems ( Central MA)
Communispace ( Greater Boston)
Airxchange (Southeastern MA)
Kiva Systems (Northeastern MA)
Smith & Wesson (Western MA)

Silver Winners:
Acacia Communications (Central MA)
Coca-Cola (Western MA)
Dassault Systèmes (Greater Boston)
Horizon Beverage (Southeastern MA)
Jessica’s Brick Oven (Northeastern MA)

Bronze Winners:
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (Western MA)
GT Advanced Technologies (Northeastern MA)
HubSpot (Greater Boston)
Reinhart Food Service (Southeastern MA)
Simonds International (Central MA)

In addition to the Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners from each region, MassEcon will also present two unique awards: Chairman’s Award: Jerry Sargent, President, Citizens Bank, and Gateway City Champions: Solectria Renewables of Lawrence and Biomedical Research Models in Worcester.