September 22, 2003
ROMNEY PRESENTS ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT, INNER CITY INVESTMENT AWARDS
Honors unique Boston restaurant, Springfield IT firm for their contributions
A unique Boston restaurant specializing in dessert fare and an information technology firm creating new jobs in Springfield were honored today by Governor Mitt Romney for their contributions to making Massachusetts a better place to live and work.
Romney presented the Governor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award to Finale’s Paul Conforti and Kim Moore, and the Governor’s Inner City Investment Award to Court Square Data Group’s Keith Parent.
Both awards, which are presented monthly, are part of Romney’s “Jobs First” initiative. The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award recognizes individuals who best demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit that drives the Massachusetts economy and who inspire others to turn their ideas into action. The Inner City Investment Award honors the dedication and hard work of men and women who contribute to the revitalization of the Commonwealth’s cities through business investment and job creation.
“Today, we recognize entrepreneurs from two innovative companies: Paul Conforti and Kim Moore of Finale for their perseverance, creativity and quality of product, and Keith Parent of Court Square Data Group for his business investment in an urban community where employment needs are greatest,” Romney said. “These awards show our appreciation for those who contribute to the Massachusetts economy and generate new wealth, prosperity and jobs.”
Finale is an upscale dessert-focused restaurant that was conceived when a group of friends, including Paul Conforti and Kim Moore, were having dinner to celebrate the end of the first year of business school. With Paul’s interest in entrepreneurial ventures and service management, and Kim’s love of retail concepts and media relations, the duo teamed up to create a venture that was a success by Valentine’s Day of 1999. In June 2002, after four successful years in Park Plaza, Finale expanded to include a second location in Harvard Square.
When industry specialists claimed Finale’s business plan wouldn’t work, it was the advice and reinforcement of many successful Massachusetts restaurateurs and food specialists that kept us focused on success,” said Moore. “This is a great state to start a business in and one we are proud to be associated with.”
Court Square Data Group is a Springfield-based provider of Information Technology consulting services with offices in Boston, Groton Connecticut and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1995, the company offers IT consulting services in the areas of infrastructure, data management, asset protection and regulation support. IT product offerings include an Enterprise Resource Planning package for manufacturing companies and a financial reporting and forecasting application.
The company focuses in the life sciences and manufacturing industries and targets organizations throughout the Northeast. A rapidly growing firm, Court Square Data Group has grown to over 65 employees.
The success of Court Square Data Group is tied to its connection and support for leading Massachusetts industries and its location in an inner city community. Court Square Data Group is an excellent example of a business that is thriving in a Massachusetts city because of the transportation network, skilled workforce and proximity to information technology companies with whom they work to develop services. At the same time, it is contributing to the growth of jobs and wealth in Springfield and the Pioneer Valley.
“Much of our success and ability to grow is attributable to location,” said Parent. “Springfield has been an excellent community in which to find talented employees, access to our customers and links to the life sciences industries that are generating more and more jobs in Massachusetts.”
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