March 2010 40 Under 40 nominees

Published on Thursday, April 08, 2010

Adam Cupples
Age: 35
Title: Executive Vice President
Company: Strategis
Company location: Stoughton
Residence: Marshfield

Education: Bridgewater State College

Community involvement: Youth soccer, baseball, basketball coach; board of directors, SSWBN; South Shore Young Professionals Marketing Team

Dream job: Game show host

Businessperson you admire most: My father. The older I get, the more I appreciate and admire his ambition and work ethic while maintaining a balance of family and his budding business. I admire his foresight and risk-taking abilities that have led him to where he is today: still running the same successful business for more than two decades.

Hobbies: I’ve got three kids, so there are a lot of activities going on. But in between all that, I understand the importance of finding some time for yourself. My mediation is either running or making it to the gym, before work, every day.

Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere that has a beach! But it has to be warm.

Favorite book/movie: Shawshank Redemption

Cupples knew he wanted to work in advertising, so he got a degree in public relations and started out in the research department at an advertising agency in Needham. He worked his way up and continually got assigned more tasks within the agency, until finally reaching his goal of account coordination, production work, media buying and sales. By the time he became executive vice president, he had worked in almost every position at the firm. He has seen Strategis grow from a three-employee startup to an award-winning communications agency, which has been named to the Inc 5000 list as well as Boston Business Journal’s list of Fastest Growing Ad Agencies.


Jennifer Reale
Age: 34
Title: Owner/Designer
Company: Jennifer Reale Design Inc.
Company locations: Plymouth, Hanover, Delray Beach, FL
Residence: Whitman

Education: BA Fashion Design from Massachusetts College of Art

Community involvement: We donate to a number of charities in and around the South Shore - too many to mention!

Biggest professional success: Starting my own label ... and sustaining this economy!

Dream job: I’m living it!

Hobbies: Travel, Tennis, Shopping (of course!), Home Decorating

Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii, anywhere tropical where I can relax!

Reale started her career as Head Designer for Sara Campbell Ltd., and in 2004 she launched her own company. Reale manufactures and designs Jennifer Reale Design, a women's clothing collection that is entirely produced in the United States. The collection is sold in more than 300 upscale boutiques nationwide. In addition Reale has three namesake boutiques: Her first flagship location opened in Plymouth in 2006; in 2007 she opened her second namesake boutique in Delray Beach, Florida; and in 2008 she opened her third namesake boutique in Hanover. Jennifer Reale Design can be found in many magazines and on television.


Marilyn Marie “Mimi” Spahr
Age: 31
Title: Assistant Town Accountant
Company: Town of Yarmouth
Company location: South Yarmouth
Residence: South Yarmouth

Education: Suffolk University, BA and MBA

Community involvement: Yarmouth Seaside Festival committee and coordinator for the annual road race

Biggest professional success: My biggest accomplishment is earning my MBA. My boss (Susan Milne, Finance Director) encouraged me to apply for grad school. And I appreciated her encouragement. Her support means so much because it was a big challenge: I work full time, and raise two kids on my own. I still remember the conversation – she told me to go for it and that if I didn’t, I would always regret it. Also she told me that once I finished, I would look back and say “How in the world did I ever make the time for that?” She was right. I have no idea how I did it.

Businessperson you admire most and why: My father. He taught me the value of hard work and commitment. He understands the importance of relationships – both professional and personal. He makes time for family despite a rock-solid work ethic. He emphasized to me the importance of education and choosing a career that is challenging. Lastly, my father has worked for everything he has. He didn’t start out with any advantages. And his hard work has definitely paid off.

Hobbies: Running, beach, shopping, hockey, cooking

Favorite vacation spot: Anywhere warm and sunny

Spahr started working as an insurance billing specialist while still earning her degree in accounting, which sparked her initial interest in accounting. She was drawn to reconciliations and motivated by the hunt for variances – even if the account was only off by a small amount. Shortly after she graduated, she started working in the accounting department at the Town of Yarmouth. From the start it was a good fit. Spahr notes that the professional atmosphere in her office encourages the team to take initiative to streamline and find creative ways to reduce costs. Being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers is her and her team’s ultimate goal.


Christopher J. Ward
Age: 37
Title: Attorney/Member
Company: LaTanzi, Spaulding & Landreth P. C.
Company location: Orleans
Residence: Centerville

Education: Deerfield Academy, University of Vermont, Western New England College School of Law, JD, Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M. Taxation

Community involvement: Cape Cod Young Professionals, Trust Fund Advisory Committee for the Town of Barnstable, Estate Planning Council of Cape Cod, Centerville Civic Association

Biggest professional success: Being elected as a partner of LaTanzi, Spaulding & Landreth P.C.

Dream job: Ski guide, which would include summers in Chile.

Hobbies: Skiing, anything outdoors, food, my kids

Favorite vacation spot: Akumal, Mexico

Favorite book/movie: The Sun Also Rises. Hemingway got it right when he wrote “Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bullfighters.”

Ward worked with his father, a solo general practitioner in Western Massachusetts, at his firm for several years prior to and during law school. When he came to the Cape, Ward joined the law firm of Haddleton & Associates P.C. in Hyannis, a boutique estate planning firm. In June 2007, he joined LaTanzi, Spaulding & Landreth P. C. in its trusts and estates department, where his practice consists of estate planning, trusts and estates and probate law. In addition to being licensed in Massachusetts, Ward is licensed in Florida and does a significant amount of estate planning, probate administration and taxation work in Florida. In January 2009, Ward was elected a partner (member) of the firm.


Published in Cape & Plymouth Business March 2010