North Worcester Business Association

monthly luncheon

We would like to invite everyone to our monthly luncheon on November 18th, 2026! Luncheon is at The Mill 185, 185 West Boylston St, West Boylston from 11:45am to 1:15pm - Members $25.00 - Non-Members $35.00

Guest Speaker

Our guest speaker for November will be Kate McEvoy, President of Merit House Media

For Kate McEvoy, leading Merit House Media brings together several threads that have defined her career: communications, community involvement, relationship-building and a deep connection to Worcester.

As president of Merit House Media, McEvoy leads the organization behind Pulse Magazine and CM Pride Magazine, two publications serving Central Massachusetts.

A fifth-generation Worcester resident, McEvoy grew up on Beaver Street in the Main South neighborhood near Clark University. Her career has included positions with Worcester Magazine, Fallon Health, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, UMass Memorial Health and Old Sturbridge Village.

Those experiences helped McEvoy build relationships across the region's business, healthcare, nonprofit and cultural communities.

Her commitment to Worcester has also extended beyond her professional roles. In 2022, McEvoy served as co-chair of Worcester's Tercentennial Celebration Committee, helping commemorate the city's 300th anniversary. Worcester Business Journal subsequently named her one of its 2022 Outstanding Women in Business.

Her leadership of Merit House Media represents something of a return to her roots in publishing. But this time, she is helping guide the direction of local media at a moment when strong community storytelling is increasingly important.

McEvoy sees an opportunity to strengthen the way Central Massachusetts tells its story. Through its publications, digital platforms and community presence, Merit House Media can spotlight the people, businesses, restaurants, organizations, events and cultural institutions that give the region its identity.

That mission fits naturally with a career built around connecting organizations with communities.

For McEvoy, the opportunity is about more than publishing magazines. It is about creating a stronger platform for Central Massachusetts, celebrating the people shaping the region and ensuring their stories have a distinctly local voice.

For a leader whose personal and professional story is deeply connected to Worcester, it is a fitting next chapter.

Meeting Sponsor

TBD

"The Living Sign"

We will be discussing plans for 2026/2027 to revitalize our Living Sign with your help.

Long before 'going green' became a catchword, the North Worcester Business Association took a significant step toward environmental awareness by constructing a 'living sign' along the northbound side of I-190. This living sign, crafted primarily from burning bushes that turn a fiery red in the fall, features a supersized version of the NWBA logo, incorporating the words 'Worcester' and 'NWBA'.

Emblazoned on a steeply sloped hillside, the sign officially welcomes motorists to the city as they approach Worcester from West Boylston and other communities to the north.

The support from the community has been remarkable, with many individuals and businesses contributing labor and materials to this signature project, which has now become a landmark for business in Worcester. Generous sponsors, including both individuals and local companies, have made yearly contributions to support the care and upkeep of this unique living sign, reflecting the spirit of Worcester MA business.

About Us

City hall with a clock tower and outdoor seating area under blue sky.

Who is NWBA?

Founded in the early 1980s, the North Worcester Business Association has proudly served its members and the greater Worcester community for over four decades. Our primary goal is to promote business in Worcester and Worcester County as a thriving area for growth and opportunity. The Officers, Directors, and Members of the NWBA are actively engaged on multiple fronts to assist one another in achieving success in the marketplace while giving back to the Worcester community. WE ARE STRONG, GROWING, AND INVOLVED!

The Living Sign of the North Worcester Business Association is a landmark alongside the northbound side of I-190 in Worcester. It is located between exits 3 and 4, welcoming motorists as they approach the city.

NWBA "Living Sign"

Emblazoned on a steeply sloped hillside, the sign officially welcomes motorists to the city as they approach Worcester from West Boylston and other communities to the north.