BOSTON BUSINESS RISK AWARD
Calling all risk takers! Apply now for the 2020 Cleary Insurance Boston Business Risk Award.
Let’s celebrate the risk takers.
At Cleary Insurance, we believe that life is worth the risk.
To succeed in business, it’s not enough to just see an opportunity. You need to be willing to step outside your comfort zone to earn it.
Chase that dream career. Invest in a new direction. Do whatever it takes to make something great happen.
The Cleary Insurance Boston Business Risk Award honors the bold leaders who have taken a risk and reaped the rewards. It’s time we tell their stories and show the Boston business community that success in business – and in life – is worth the risk.
Read the Official Terms & Conditions.
Learn more about the Risk Award.
Have you taken a business risk and reaped the rewards? We want to hear your story.
Sign up to get more information about the Cleary Insurance Boston Business Risk Award. If you’re ready to apply now, go straight to the application form.
Call for Entries
You are eligible to apply if you:
1
Are an owner, operator, or employee of a small business in the Greater Boston area with revenues under $25 million
2
Share a story of a successful business risk taken within the past three (3) years
3
Are willing to be featured by Cleary Insurance in a short video and via various digital promotions
What You’ll Win
The winner and top finalists will receive…
- Exclusive invitations to a celebratory award event, hosted by Cleary Insurance and the Boston Business Journal in May 2020.
- Networking opportunities with prominent members of the Boston business community, including our panel of business experts.
In addition, the winner will receive a grand prize that includes:
- A digital media package that promotes their story and their business. We will turn the winner’s story into a short video, which will also be shared digitally by Cleary Insurance.
- One-on-one business mentoring with a selection of judges from our panel.
Learn more about our 2019 winner and finalists.
Judges
The award will be judged by a panel of innovative experts from the Boston business community. The winner and finalists will have the opportunity to meet our judges at the celebratory award event in May 2020. The winner will also receive a business mentoring session with select judges.
Learn more about our judges below. The rest of our panel will be announced soon.
WILLIAM J. CLEARY, III
President, Cleary Insurance
President of Boston-based Cleary Insurance, William J. Cleary III began his insurance career as a commercial underwriter for Novato, CA based Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. Upon completion of this multi-discipline training program, Bill entered the brokerage side of the insurance industry and worked as an account executive until 1991, when he and his father created Cleary Insurance, Inc. Bill has served as President of Cleary Insurance since its inception, and has overseen its growth into a full service brokerage firm.
ED KANE
Partner, Big Night Entertainment
A charismatic Boston native and Harvard graduate, Ed Kane is the visionary leader behind New England’s preeminent hospitality company, Big Night Entertainment Group. For over 30 years Kane has been pushing the envelope in Boston’s restaurant and nightlife scene, introducing award-winning venues and one-of-a-kind concepts. Kane’s eye for design has garnered countless industry awards and has made Big Night Entertainment Group synonymous with style. An influential Boston businessman in his own right, his leadership and expertise has earned him a spot in the Massachusetts Hospitality Hall of Fame.
DAVID PARKER
CEO, Entrepreneurship for All
David is the CEO of Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll), a Massachusetts based nonprofit that partners with communities nationwide to help under-represented individuals successfully start and grow their own business. Under David’s leadership, EforAll has grown from serving one community to ten communities by the end of 2019, it offers its programs in both English and Spanish and it has just opened its first site outside of Massachusetts in Longmont, CO.
Prior to EforAll, David spent 15 years working on six entrepreneurial ventures, as part of the initial team or as the founder/co-founder. Four of these companies achieved significant success: Viaweb was sold to Yahoo, Direct Hit was acquired by Ask Jeeves, TripAdvisor continues today as a standalone public company (NASDAQ: TRIP), and SoundBite Communications went public and then was acquired by Genesys.
David graduated with honors from Harvard College and Harvard Business School.
Life is worth the risk. Get recognized for taking one.
Ready to share the story of your successful business risk? Sign up now to begin the application process for the 2020 Cleary Insurance Boston Business Risk Award.