Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Duffy.
Kevin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My position as Strategy and Business Development Officer for the City of Malden combines two of my passions; business and helping people. My own experiences in small start-up companies gave me a strong appreciation for what owners go through so when the Mayor offered me the chance to be a resource for them, I jumped at it. My goal is for each business to feel as if they have a member of their team ‘on the inside’ guiding them through the process of getting open. And, once open, someone they can always call for any reason.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been challenges, but the best part is that everyone understands the value my role can bring to businesses in Malden. I am here to assist businesses in all aspects of getting established in Malden so they can get off to the best possible start.
We try to make everything predictable and efficient so that they can get their cash registers ringing sooner rather than later. In many ways, I act first as a mapmaker in detailing out the steps we will follow to get a business open, and then as the tour guide when we travel that path to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
Every step of the way I am there to provide assistance, direction, or just general advice so that businesses know they are in partnership with the City of Malden and not just filling out forms and paying fees. As the Mayor always says, we want Red Carpet service, not Red Tape obstacles!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The City of Malden was originally part of Charlestown, Massachusetts, and was incorporated as a town in 1649 and as a city in 1882. Our proximity to the city of Boston and Logan Airport has made it an attractive place for many young professionals and graduate students.
One of the best things we are known for is our amazing diversity of residents, which is reflected in our dining scene. We like to say, “Dine in Malden and Taste the World” because we have authentic flavors from all over the globe. We are also home to some great entertainment options so you really can plan a full day and night in Malden
We have two stations on the Orange Line and Malden Center is the only transportation hub north of Boston with nearly 15,000 passengers traveling through daily. This is key because it gives our businesses access to both customers and their workforce. Because of that, the 5-square-mile city has a wide range of businesses, from Fortune 500 companies, national retailers, biotech manufacturers, medical organizations, financial institutions, non-profits, mom & pop shops, and other service-oriented companies.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in Malden and started in the restaurant business while in high school. At 17, a bit of ‘wanderlust’ set in and I spent ten years traveling up and down the East Coast on my motorcycle. During that time I lived in places such as Montreal Quebec, Daytona Beach Florida, and Storrs Connecticut while also occasionally returning to Amherst MA to keep working towards my undergraduate degree. Eventually, I graduated and went on to receive my MBA from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cityofmalden.org
- Phone: 781-397-7000 ext 2009
- Email: kduffy@cityofmalden.org
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/CityOfMalden/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/cityofmalden
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheCityofMalden
- Yelp: www.youtube.com/user/CityOfMalden
- Other: www.flickr.com/photos/cityofmalden
Image Credit:
Paul Hammersley
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