William Peebles
I’ve been a baseball fan since I was a kid. That was my favorite sport growing up, on the field and off. I’d play as much as I could and then I’d read even more. I’ve always had a fascination with history and how things were made. While studying Industrial Design at MassArt I heard about vintage baseball leagues popping up all around the country and how some would make their own equipment. Read more>>
John Maver and Cappy Popp
We met in a post-graduate class at Boston University 20 years ago and both ended up working as software developers at NuMega Technologies, a debugging software company. We became best friends, and when Facebook announced that they were going to release their application platform, we saw this as a great opportunity to use our skills in the new world of social media. Read more>>
Italo De Souza
I have always known that I wanted to start my own business. I really wanted to build a company and an environment where all employees were well-respected and treated as equals, with a family-type atmosphere. I never really had any specific business in mind. Read more>>
Dr. Joe Rubino
Like many, after 15 years in practice, Dr. Joe Rubino found himself trapped in a profession that was no longer fulfilling for him. Although his dental practice was financially rewarding (his practice grossed about $1 million yearly), there was much missing that had him become resigned to a life whereby his profession no longer was a passion but an obligation. Read more>>
Michael Silva
I was born and raised in Southeastern MA…Westport. I went to University of Rhode Island for college and graduate school at UMASS – Lowell, finished up in 1998 and have lived in both MA and RI since then. I have been a physical therapist since 1998, and I started my business in 2003 in Rhode Island and then opened an office in 2012 in Plainville Massachusetts and then a third back in RI. Read more>>
Chef Louis Schorr
I have been asked over and over again as to why a Thai restaurant in Revere and how did this happen. My answer as has always been about “destiny”. Pure and simple “DESTINY”! Back in early September 2013, my better half (as I have always believed) or “PK” was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Read more>>
Ted Acworth
Dr. Ted Acworth is a scientist and engineer by trade, as well as an award-winning entrepreneur. He has been developing and commercializing innovative technology for over twenty years. With a deep appreciation for the art of mosaic he founded Artaic in 2007. Read more>>
Eric Leighton
LoadSpring Solutions was founded in 1999 with the vision of providing easy and secure access for global project teams to the critical project software necessary to complete large scale projects like The Big Dig for example. This type of system is now called the cloud but in 1999 is was a newer concept especially for enterprise customers. Read more>>
Elizabeth Barbosa
I want to say that there’s a me before my business and a me after my business. I used to be as most of us, not that I stand above everyone now, but have the perspective and vision of who I’m now it’s something I love to share with people, so they can thrive in their own way. Read more>>
Andrea D’Amelio
I’ve always showed an interest in plants and flowers growing up but never really thought much about it. Before I knew it, I was deciding on what my major would be at college. I was eventually enrolled at a university in Boston with Art as my major still undecided if this was the right decision. Read more>>
Wendy Stone
I taught aerobics from 16-26. I had a personal training business from 21-28. I was a physical therapist assistant from 26-28. I opened my Pilates studio in January 2000. I’m currently in my 4th studio. Pretty smooth. It’s been hard work and personal sacrifice, but all worth it. Read more>>
Keri Boyle and Ted Pidcock
Teddy the Dog Apparel was founded by owner Ted Pidcock in 2007. After having been in the apparel and apparel decorating business for many years (Chillybears, Inc.,) Pidcock decided to launch a branded line of apparel for dog lovers featuring a witty, irreverent, sunglasses-wearing mutt named Teddy. Read more>>
Edward Speck and Kelly Shea Knowles
Theater in the Open, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1979 and will soon celebrate its 40th season. Headquartered at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, we perform outdoors, blending the tradition of theater with the beauty of nature. Read more>>
Minnie Baylor-Henry
I began my professional career as a pharmacist in Washington, DC. I worked in retail, hospital and nursing home pharmacy, but there was always this urge to go to law school. Finally, after trying my hand in all aspects of pharmacy, which included owning my own pharmacy, I decided to enroll in law school at night. Read more>>
Michael McCarthy
The McCarthy family were lobstermen for five generations in the town of Scituate Mass and in 1969 my father Paul started his first Woodcarving shop. It is from my father that I learned the Art of Woodcarving. For many years we worked together making signs and sculpture. We also taught over 1000 students holding classes in the 70’s & 80’s. Read more>>
Michael Welch
I started working summers and vacations for my father at age 12. He would bring me to our storage yard and I would tag along with our truck driver to deliver or pick up materials at various jobs, and sometimes I got to work at a job site for the day. As time went on, I moved to working on single jobs as a laborer and gradually learned how to lay out buildings and sites. Read more>>
Peggy Anne Klinker
I opened the shop on Main Street in Concord, NH in 2003 with a prayer and 1,000 bolts of fabric just purchased from Quilt Market. We had Bernina sewing machines at the time, with a very modern, fun quilting fabric shop. I just could not do boring. Read more>>
Chip Mitchell
As a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, I was well aware that all success in life stems for a lot of hard work. After a stint in the USMC 1977-1981 I utilized the GI Bill to become educated in Business via a BS/BA in business from Merrimack College in North Andover Massachusetts. Read more>>
Justin Pickering
Back in 2010, I was looking for work. I had been a high school teacher/graduate student most of my career since graduating Tulane University in 2001. I had applied for an in-house translator position with Public Schools of Brookline. I never heard back from them. Read more>>
Lisa Ann Schraffa Santin
After a career in retail sales and service for a major brand, Eileen Fisher, Inc. it was time to move North of Boston closer to the sea and strike out on my own. Taking all the learnings from 15 seasons of retail and culling out the best skills from that I have managed to craft a message and a business to assist all women of any age, shape, size and budget to do more with less, use what they own, use those clothes better and find their authentic self through that style. Read more>>
Molly Grant
I started leather working when I was in my 20’s and became a juried member of the League Of New Hampshire Craftsmen in 1989, juried in with my leather handbags. I began learning about shoemaking (Cordwainer Craft) in 1991 and was juried into the league as a shoemaker in 2006. Read more>>
Stephanie, Scott, and Patrick Dowling
Prior to opening Dowling Landscape Supplies, we each had a background working at our father’s excavation company Dowling Corporation. Performing jobs such as installation of water, sewer, site construction, demolition and environmental remediation. After a long discussion of opportunity in the work force we decided to open Dowling Landscape Supplies. Read more>>
Richard Gemme and Pamela and David Griffin
Chocolate Therapy was created in 2011, after owners David & Pam Griffin decided to leave corporate America and do something for themselves. After looking at several small business franchise options, we decided to put to use our experience in retail and manufacturing which led us to chocolate. Read more>>
David Kimball
My story starts in Haverhill, Ma. In 2005 when YouTube and myspace first started. I recently moved back to the Boston area after working as a merch manager on tour for a few different bands. When I moved home I was bored from not doing anything that I started a YouTube channel called Silly Gillman where I used a puppet to interview bands. Read more>>
Perry DiLibero
Neptune Laundromat began as a coin-operated laundry in 1999 on Saratoga Street, East Boston. Today we have grown to include four locations in the Greater Boston area and have since upgraded to a modern card-based technology while featuring the largest commercial machines available such as our 90-pound washing machines. Read more>>
Sue Bishop
Company started in December of 1988 by Sue Bishop & Dy Brockbank. We provide IT/technical support to a wide range of companies in the greater Boston area. Our services include local and wide area network design, cloud computing solutions, help desk and end user support, technology training, business continuity consulting and Office 365 migration and support. Read more>>
Laura Napoleone
I spent over 20 years as a corporate executive in the healthcare industry…my corporate background includes organizational development, employment, compensation, benefits, marketing, advertising and more…. I “retired” to take care of my daughters and during their younger years I successfully started and ran a few small businesses out of my home. Read more>>
Kip Hollister
My career started directly out of college where I had the opportunity to work for 3 different staffing firms. I absolutely loved what I did, yet I was disgruntled with the transactional feel and the “inside the box” ideation. So, at age 26, with vision to build a company w/ likeminded people who shared a common value system, I set out to do it on my own. Read more>>
John Hopping
The roots of Hoppy’s Barbeque date back to around 2000 when I hosted a pig roast for some family and friends. The pig roast turned into an annual affair and an event that no one wanted to miss. Encouraged by compliments of the quality of the food, I agreed to cater a backyard barbeque for a friend. Read more>>
Holly Gagne
Right out of college I worked for Bain & Company in Boston as an HR Manager; after 7 years, I made the decision to return to school and pursue Interior Design as I had a strong interest in the visual arts. I enrolled in the masters of interior design program, and worked for Tappe Associates, an architectural firm in Boston. Read more>>
Toni and Mohamed Khafif
In 2004, my husband was a franchisee of several White Hen Pantry stores. I would cook weekly for the hot bar at one of the newer stores. I started making banana bread, cakes and cookies. But one cookie stood out to customers in particular. The anisette cookie. Read more>>
Steve Dariotis
Attended The Museum School of Art (1-year) (1987). Attended and graduated from Montserrat College of Art (1991). Started freelancing after graduation. Worked full-time for Hospital Marketing Dept. as Designer (91-94) gained healthcare experience. Read more>>
Lisa Ricciardelli
We started in a small one room office within All Care Medical in Salem NH and grew and moved to a 6 treatment room location in North Andover. We have won 10 awards for the best laser center in the Northshore and Merrimack Valley. We offer everything from hair removal, tattoo removal, to Body contouring, Botox and much more! Read more>>
Nick, Ron, and Pete Cardi
One of the most unique features of Cardi’s Furniture & Mattresses is the rich history. For nearly 100 years Cardi’s has distinguished itself by offering an extensive selection of home furnishings at great prices, backed by unparalleled customer service. Read more>>
Kendra Dott
I love parties! Seriously, I’m a social butterfly according to my husband. Conveniently, I do a lot of weddings and event photography. I grew up in a family photography business in the 80’s and 90’s. If your trying to do the math, I’m in my 40’s. We had one of the first one-hour labs in New England. Read more>>
Carol Lee Kelliher
My first job out of college was at a Madison Avenue advertising agency. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. I loved being part of the creative process and absolutely loved working with film. I went on to hold Executive Producer and Senior Creative Management positions at top national agencies in NY, San Francisco, and Boston. Read more>>
Adriana Butuc
Supreme Home Cleaning is a family owned and operated business and our mission is to ensure high quality cleaning, outstanding customer service and green practices. Our name has come to represent quality, innovation, comfort and consistency and all these are leading us to one goal: 100% customer satisfaction. Read more>>
Gary Davis
Attended Massachusetts College of Art, graduating in 1980. Spent 18 years as a freelance illustrator working for clients such as Harvard University, Ryder Truck, Boston magazine and Reebok. The computer affected the design and illustration business to such an extent, I was forced to find another line of work. Read more>>
Ebony Owens and Deanne Rubinoff
Boston Concierge Storage was founded after recognizing a need for a new and innovative storage model in the city of Boston. Cofounders Deanne Rubinoff and Ebony Owens assisted each other on Deanne’s residential move between the neighborhoods of Beacon Hill and Back Bay in Boston, MA. Deanne purchased her own garment racks only to be turned down on moving day to transport. Read more>>
Aimee Soles
My love for skin care originated while working as a makeup artist. I became a licensed esthetician in 2004 and began my journey of the industry from day spa to medi spa. In 2011, Aimee Nicole Esthetics went from a dream to a reality. I started the business in one cozy room of a massage practice. Being alongside other wellness practitioners and like minded individuals was the perfect fit. Read more>>
Eric Howeler
We started working out of our studio apartment, and eventually the live-work became work-live. Meejin was teaching at MIT and Eric started teaching at the GSD. First projects were competitions, like the Athens 2004 Catch the Light competition which turned into our first project, White Noise White Light. Read more>>
Rocky Gauron
My grandfather started the company in 1932. He had 4 sons. They took over and I was literally raised on the ocean. I could drive boats before I could drive a car. We are a seasonal business and therefore I spend half of the year in Hawaii and run boats there. Read more>>
Rod Gao
Trained as a designer/artist, I always believe that art is a great form to inspire and communicate to people as well as to foster personality. I started teaching art at a local after-school program when I was in college. I gradually found out that I carry the genes that like to be surrounded by kids. Read more>>
Annette Harnett
My first job when I was 16 years old was at Pinches & Pounds in Avon, MA. Back then, Pinches & Pounds had 4 locations with different ownership. I fell in love with the store. I continued to work there part-time for 10 years. During those years, I graduated high school and also got my bachelors degree in Business Management from UMass Dartmouth. Read more>>
Steve Johnson
My grandfather started Teltron fifty years ago. He was the American dream come true, growing up poor in South Boston leaving high school early to join the Navy. After brief stints in a few manufacturing companies, including Gillette, he partnered with a few guys to form their own business. Read more>>
Robyn Iarrobino
I’ve always been an artist but taken many different paths because I often heard I couldn’t make a living as an artist. So I have the great jobs in Boston and was very fortunate to have the experiences I had, but somehow my work always snuck into those environments…from doing mural work to paintings. Read more>>
Scott Cohen
Prior to BigR.io we were commercializing data technology from MIT. During product implementations, we recognized a need for consulting firms with a focus on data movement, manipulation, and management. BigR.io was born to serve as a resource for companies looking to get their data ready for advanced analytics. Read more>>
Patricia Finn
My story continues where it started, in Beverly, MA. I grew up in Beverly Cove, close enough to the beach that I was there every summer day, and apart from a dozen or so years living elsewhere, I have made Beverly my home, and it’s the location of my interior design business—Finn-Martens Design. I get the entrepreneurial spirit and love of real estate from my father. Read more>>
Rusty Dillon
This was a summer job for me during my college years back in the early 90’s in Pittsburgh, PA. Kept with it after graduation for a couple of years. Then I moved back home to Massachusetts and worked as a materials manager for several years. I missed being outside, and meeting new people every day. Read more>>
Mary Hurley
Prior to 2009, friends had reached out to me in search of a local occupational therapy clinic without a substantial commute. After agreeing to privately treat their children, it became apparent that there was a need to further assist children and families within the southeastern Massachusetts area. Read more>>
