Business

City Manager’s City Update Will Focus on Local Business Community & Economy

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The Watertown Business Coalition will host Watertown City Manager George Proakis at the annual City Update. His talk will focus on news and issues that will impact Watertown’s businesses and the local economy. See more information provided by the WBC, below. The WBC is honored to again partner with Watertown’s City Manager, George Proakis, to provide a City Update. Please join us on March 5th at 8 a.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites at Arsenal Yards in Watertown!

Business

Watertown Life Science Company to be Acquired by Eli Lilly

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Orna Therapeutics Logo

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly will be acquiring a company in the East End of Watertown Arsenal, the two companies announced on Feb. 9. Orna Therapeutics is based at 500 Forge, a building near Home Depot that used to house Miller’s Ale House and offices into lab space. The following announcement was released Monday:

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Orna Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to engineering immune cells in vivo, today announced entry into a definitive agreement for Lilly to acquire Orna. Orna is advancing a new class of therapeutics utilizing engineered circular RNA paired with novel lipid nanoparticles to allow the patient’s own body to generate cell therapies that can treat underlying disease.

Business

Watertown’s Artemis Yoga Celebrates 10 Years of Strength, Community, and Resilience

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For a decade, Artemis Yoga has been teaching classes in Coolidge Square and the community is invited to celebrate the studio’s 10th anniversary with a day of free classes for the community. See more information provided by Artemis Yoga, below. Artemis Yoga, a beloved neighborhood yoga studio in East Watertown, proudly celebrates its 10-year anniversary this December. Since opening its doors in 2015, Artemis Yoga has become a cornerstone of the community having welcomed more than 10,000 unique students for more than 21,000 classes. Currently hosting than 40 classes a week, Artemis Yoga is an inviting, friendly light-filled space where students of all levels can build strength, find calm, and connect through yoga.

Business

Watertown Woman Used Her Experience With Chemo to Create Patient Care Kits

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ChemoCareKits contain items to help people going through chemotherapy. (Photo from ChemoCareKits)

In 2020, Watertown’s Jessica Yamas went through treatment for breast cancer, including chemotherapy, and she used her experiences to create boxes full of items to help others going through cancer treatment. She calls the boxes ChemoCareKits, which include a variety of items to make people more comfortable, as well as a booklet. Yamas now sells the boxes, with some of the proceeds benefiting cancer research and patient care. Yamas went through her cancer treatment during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Business

Watertown Marketing Agency Announces Leadership Appointments

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The following announcement was provided by MORE:

MORE, an integrated marketing communications agency recognized for its behavior change and cause-driven campaigns, announced promotions and leadership appointments under new CEO Megan Palamé and new COO Beth LePage. The moves reflect the agency’s continued investment in talent and strategy as it embarks on its next chapter after the sale to Palamé and LePage by the company’s founders. “The sale of MORE marked an exciting milestone for the agency and a continuation of its legacy of being women-owned,” said Palamé. “These promotions are a natural next step in our evolution. We are continuing to grow by welcoming new team members and lifting the people who have helped shape MORE into what it is today.”

Four senior team members were named. Julia Gould, Vice President, Account Services & Operations – A key member of the MORE team for over 13 years, Gould helps MORE deliver and launch comprehensive multi-touch campaigns with impactful results for the agency’s clients. A trusted partner to clients, she excels in relationship-building, fostering collaboration and trust to ensure long-term success. She has worked closely with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking, Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence, and Massachusetts General Brigham and the Red Sox Foundation’s Home Base Program. She has led the state’s most recent COVID and flu vaccine campaigns. Gould holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing communications from Emerson College.

Business

Watertown-Based MORE Advertising Agency Sold

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The following announcement was provided by MORE Advertising:

MORE Advertising, an integrated marketing communications agency recognized for its behavior change and cause-driven campaigns, announced the sale of the company by Founder and CEO Donna Latson Gittens and Managing Partner and President Judi Haber to two of the firm’s senior leaders: Principal of Account Services Megan Palamé and CFO Beth LePage. Palamé is assuming the role of CEO and LePage will serve as COO & CFO. Palamé and LePage have each been instrumental in shaping MORE’s strategy, growth and campaign successes. Selling the agency internally ensures a seamless transition with intact account, creative and operational teams and continuity of key relationships. “As we reflect on the agency’s history and growth, we take immense pride in how our work has advanced important social causes,” said Gittens. “We have always sought to create campaigns that make a meaningful difference by challenging the status quo, empowering communities and helping to encourage positive behavior change.”

MORE has developed and launched campaigns addressing substance use stigma and vaping harms, as well as promoting the use of HIV/AIDS preventive medications and trusted sexual and reproductive health services. The agency secured its largest accounts to date when it was selected to create and lead campaigns for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to promote adoption of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Business

Chiropractor Returns to Watertown, Bringing His Passion for Wellness

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Jason Mavor brought his chiropractic practice back to Watertown, opening in a space on Mt. Auburn Street. When you ask Dr. Jason Mavor why he’s so passionate about being a chiropractor, his answer is simple. “Helping someone help themselves is the best feeling in the world.” His path to becoming a Chiropractor, however, was a little more unconventional. It all started with an injury of his own.

Business

Preserving Tradition: Watertown Woman Turned Her Family’s Passion for Jams Into a Business

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Hanna Opdahl sells her homemade jams and preserves at the Watertown Farmers Market, at other markets, and online. (Contributed Photo)

Jams and jellies run in the family. Or at least, they do for Hanna Opdahl, Watertown resident and owner of Berry Mari and Belle. 

What began as a hobby shared by Hanna and her mother, Marianne, is now a small business that crafts and sells small batch novelty jams, jellies, and marmalades. 

“I grew up jamming, canning, and gardening with my parents and I loved it,” said Hanna. “My mom is an incredible cook and is always coming up with fun experimental recipes and flavors.”  

Originally from Oregon, Hanna relocated to Watertown a little over three years ago after accepting a job offer in Boston. “It was a little bit of a scary jump, but I was very excited to come out here.