PBN March 17, 2023

PBN

Where rugs are rolling out the door by thousands

BY CHRISTOPHER ALLEN | Allen@PBN.com

BEFORE SCOTT WELDON became CEO and president of Rhody Rug Inc., he wasn’t particularly interested in the rug business. He was simply searching for his next commercial venture.

(Editor’s note: This is the seventh installment in a monthly series highlighting some of the region’s unsung manufacturers that make products essential to the economy and, in many cases, our way of life.)

But when the Lincolnbased rug manufacturer founded in 1987 went on the market in 2020, Weldon took a shot. Although the Massachusetts native had years of manufacturing

ATTRACTION STRATEGY

R.I.’s chief tourism marketer setting plan to entice visitors for summer and beyond

BY CHRISTOPHER ALLEN | Allen@PBN.com

the start of the peak tourism season approaching, Anika Kimble-Huntley is eyeing the billions of dollars that potential visitors to Rhode Island could pump into the local economy in the coming months.

Kimble-Huntley has been R.I. Commerce Corp.’s chief marketing officer since September 2021, the person in charge of overseeing the strategies and campaigns to attract more visitors to

BUSY SCHEDULE: Anika Kimble-Huntley, chief marketing officer at R.I. Commerce Corp., says a full events calendar – including a weeklong stopover of the Ocean Race in Newport in May – bodes well for the Rhode Island tourism industry this year.

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

FINAL EXAM: Tony Loura, right, plant manager at braided rug manufacturer Rhody Rug Inc. in Lincoln, examines pieces of a rug while Scott Weldon, president, looks on.

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

CORRECTION: In the March 3 cover story, “Just Chilling: White-hot R.I. luxury market shows early sign of cooling off,” the fifth-highest house sale of 2022 was listed with some incorrect information. The house at 673 Bellevue Ave., Newport, was sold by Oliviajuliet LLC to 673 Bellevue LLC. The brokers were RE/MAX Professionals (seller) and HomeSmart Professionals Real Estate (buyer).

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FOR STARTERS

Franchisee: Jim and Marilyn Way

Island Fin Poké Co. | 445 Putnam Pike, Smithfield

The pitch: Island Fin Poké Co. is a fast-casual concept known for its Hawaiian-style build-your-own poké bowls – basically sushi in a bowl. From farm to fork, the brand uses the freshest ingredients to bring traditional flavors from the islands to local communities nationwide.

Years in business: 3½

Employees: Nine

Cost to obtain

franchise: $49,000 initial franchising fee; $194,950 to $355,600 total investment

Before opening franchise: Jim Way worked for 26 years for a corporate retailer in Massachusetts, handling accounting, finance and field operations, among other roles. Marilyn Way was a school bus driver for 26 years for Cranston Public Schools.

Reason for opening: Jim Way said he was “downsized” from his job at the corporate retailer and “did not want to play the game anymore,” opting to become his own boss. And Marilyn Way wanted to get away from driving a school bus every day. The couple opened their first Island Fin Poké Co. location in Worcester, Mass., and then opened their second location in Smithfield – Marilyn Way is a Rhode Island native – on Nov. 30.

Franchise owners interested in being included in an upcoming Franchisee feature can contact PBN Researcher James Bessette at (401) 680-4838 or Research@PBN.com.

“My wife was born in Rhode Island. It’s just a great location down here with lots of people. And, having the schools Bryant University and Rhode Island College nearby helps.” – Jim Way

“I have a wheat intolerance, and all of our food in the restaurant is gluten-free. It was very helpful to have something that I can get behind. I enjoy the food and I can eat it without worrying about having to get sick.”

– Marilyn Way

“If you want to open a franchise, do your research. Make sure it is a reputable company. You want to make sure that who you’re going with has a good foot in there and understands what is going on. Do not go in blindly; do a lot of research. It really does make a difference.”

– Marilyn Way

TROPICAL FLAVORS: Team members Julie Cox, left, and Blanca Goetz prepare poké bowls while co-owner Jim Way observes at Island Fin Poké Co. in Smithfield.

PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS

FOR STARTERS

5Q:

Rachel Miller

President, Providence City Council

BY NANCY LAVIN | Contributing Writer

1You identify as a queer woman and are the first LGBTQ council president in city history. What significance does this hold?

Attacks on LGBTQ community members are on the rise around the country. There are too many young people and adults who do not feel safe sharing their whole selves in our community. The challenge for me … is how to model what’s possible for young people and ensure that I am not the last, and that we open the door for underrepresented people at every level of city government.

2You are leading one of the youngest and most diverse city councils. Why is having a diverse group of elected officials important?

People bring their lived experience into the decisions they make on the council, and so it is a tremendous opportunity for communities that have long felt that their voices are not at the table to be included. This term, the … majority of the council is focused on equity, and that is a net positive for city residents.

registered apprenticeship programs and setting wages for permanent, and construction, jobs on large projects. Now, we can focus on enforcement strategies and increasing access for city residents and businesses.

4What more do you think the city can do to promote economic development and support small business?

Improving women- and minority-owned business strategies is top of mind for this council. We need to make sure that the city follows its own rules in procurement, revisiting strategies in tax agreements, and ensuring that support is evenly accessible through the city, as well as working with small-business owners to find out their key needs.

5What are your top three priorities in your first year as council president?

3

How does your background in labor and community organizing affect your opinion of the tax deals the city signs with developers? What, if anything, do you want to see changed about these deals?

When private development is supported through public dollars, we can have concrete community benefits that can transform residents’ lives while increasing revenue and the tax base. Last term, the council passed reforms focused on

I am focusing on housing, schools and public/community safety as top priorities in the next city budget. We need to prioritize funding for school buildings and education. … The council is working together to vet policies that will expand [housing] affordability. And conversations about public safety should also incorporate addressing environmental and behavioral health issues. n

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

DINING OUT | BRUCE NEWBURY

Surf ’n’ turf at Preserve

IT HAD BEEN quite some time since I had attended a restaurant opening, so it was a pleasure to attend the grand opening of Double Barrel Steak by David Burke at the exclusive Preserve Sporting Club & Residences in Richmond on March 1.

The fine dining restaurant is at a level of luxury and hospitality many thought didn’t exist anymore. Beginning four or five years ago, and accelerated by the ordeal of the pandemic, there seemed to be a turning away from service.

One veteran Providence restaurateur said recently that while there are many new restaurants opening, very few, if any, were above the level of “grab and go.” There appeared to be an intent to avoid hospitality on any level for reasons that upon further review have little, if anything, to do with cost or other tangible factors. It was as if hospitality had been forgotten.

Steakhouse restaurants have always been known for their style of service. If you recall, there was what we referred to as a “steakhouse stampede” in these parts about 10 years ago. Steakhouses were popping up everywhere between the casinos in Connecticut and downtown Providence, and in many other cities and suburbs. The craze only lasted a few years, but there are some that have withstood the test of time and continue to thrive. Those that have remained open such as Capital Grille still offer a high level of hospitality and an equally high level of expectations.

David Burke Prime continues to successfully serve up a luxury steakhouse experience at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in

the Mashantucket section of Ledyard, Conn.

There are many reasons that the steakhouse craze is no longer, one of which may be due to our environment and surroundings. After all, we are the Ocean State. There is still the dramatic “thrill of the hunt” about bringing in a choice centerpiece upon which to dine as opposed to the cultivation of the main event on the sprawling cattle ranch.

One thing we are not in Rhode Island is sprawling. It was evident that this was on the mind of chef Burke as he addressed it in his opening remarks just after the ribbon-cutting in early March at the Preserve.

Considered a leading pioneer in American cooking, Burke has a menu for Double Barrel Steak by David Burke that showcases modern American steakhouse-inspired cuisine. The menu will feature beef dry aged via Burke’s patented Himalayan salt process. Prime cuts of beef are aged in rooms lined with the famed pink salt that keeps the protein viable while it is bringing about new depth and dimension of flavors.

Steakhouse restaurants have always been known for their style of service

In a nod to Rhode Island’s “Ocean State” moniker, the restaurant will offer what Burke calls “ocean steaks,” including swordfish, halibut and tuna, which will be served steakhouse style –that is without sauces or other cooking processes that overshadow the bold yet simple taste of wild-caught seafood.

The variety of entrees will include the resurrection of some of Burke’s signature dishes such as swordfish chops – a global sensation when introduced at New York City’s Park Avenue Cafe in the early 1990s. As Burke related during our chat at the restaurant’s

opening, he will also serve up lobster dumplings –an elevated Rangoon-style appetizer.

The chef and Paul Mihailides, chairman of the Preserve, are confident that Double Barrel Steak by David Burke will be looked upon as a seafood restaurant, as well as a steakhouse. In homage to the Preserve’s outdoor experiences, game will also play a seasonal role on the menu. n

“Dining Out With Bruce Newbury,” syndicated weekly on radio, can be heard in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont and Indiana. Contact Bruce at bruce@brucenewbury.com.

GRAND OPENING: Paul Mihailides, left, chairman of the Preserve Sporting Club & Residences in Richmond, and David Burke, executive chef of Double Barrel Steak by David Burke, cut the ribbon on the new restaurant, which opened at the Preserve on March 1.

COURTESY PRESERVE SPORTING CLUB & RESIDENCES

FOR STARTERS

COMPANY COACH: Davis

McClarren launched Inspire Coaching and Consulting in Cranston in November to aid small and midsized businesses.

Committed to helping businesses

BY NANCY LAVIN | Contributing Writer

GROWING UP in a military family constantly on the move, Davis McClarren struggled to establish roots and grow meaningful relationships.

That yearning for connections continued through her adulthood as she moved across New England and New York, working her way up the management chain for a series of major retailers.

Now those connections, both personally and professionally, will be made through her new coaching and consulting business.

McClarren launched Inspire Coaching and Consulting out of her Cranston home in November in the hopes of using her 25 years of retail management expertise to help small and medium-sized businesses grow and thrive. Her offerings are vast, from financial and operations assessments to succession planning, but her true passion lies in business interpersonal relationships and skills.

“Rather than trying to run the business myself, I want to focus on the coaching and consulting side, helping others,” she said.

Services start at $150 per hour after a complimentary 30-minute consultation call, with pro-rated packages for more-extensive jobs. n

See city in a classic car

Company also offers boat tours

BY CHRISTOPHER ALLEN | Allen@PBN.com

KEN HUDSON SPENT 11 years as a merchant mariner before changing careers in 2018, the year he founded Newport Classic Car Co., which offers tours of the city in Roaring Twenties-era vehicles.

It was auspicious timing. Newport was a few years into a revival of antique car culture, which has continued to grow, spurred in part by the opening of the Audrain Auto Museum in 2014.

“This was never planned. That was the interesting part,” Hudson said. “I never expected Newport to become such an auto-centric place. But it does have this heritage.”

Hudson’s friends and family were initially skeptical he could make it work. Cars are expensive to buy and maintain, particularly luxury vehicles. But five years out, Hudson appears to have been vindicated.

“I didn’t look at it the way they looked at it,” he said. “These are cars. They were designed from the ground up to be driven every day.”

Hudson has built the company slowly, acquiring new cars and adding a rental service with a fleet of vintage vehicles ranging from a 1962 Ford Thunderbird to a 2007 Aston Martin. Last year he pur-

OWNER: Ken Hudson

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Car touring and rental company

chased Temma, a 42-foot antique motor yacht, and added chartered and personalized boat tours of Narragansett Bay.

Hudson is now working to shore up the business’s yachting arm. The company was recently named the official charter company of The Vanderbilt hotel.

“I’m really focusing on that,” he said. “Now that I have everything locked down on the cars side.”

The tours, many of which Hudson chauffeurs personally, are done with antique throwbacks such as the 1924 Studebaker convertible or Ford Model-A sedan.

There are a range of tour options available, such as the Ocean Drive excursion or Haunted Newport, among others. The company offers driving services to special

LOCATION: 23 America’s Cup Ave., Newport

EMPLOYEES: Five

events and will customize a tour by request.

“Weddings are big,” Hudson said. “But the tours are probably the most popular thing that we do.”

Hudson constantly scours for new acquisitions and keeps up with the latest trends. A recent example is the nostalgia that baby boomers have for cars that were popular when they were teenagers, such as the 1966 Mustang convertible.

“Many of my customers want cars that were cool when they were kids,” he said. “I’m on the internet constantly, looking at what would be awesome to see. [Or asking] what would I want to drive in.”

Hudson said he is never nervous to see these prized possessions driven away by strangers.

“That is what insurance is for,” he said, “which is my biggest expense.”

As for the tours, Hudson plans to continue to drive whenever possible. Cruising through Newport in the summer, you never know who you might come across. Car aficionados come from all walks of life, and all income brackets.

“I’ve gotten to know Jay Leno,” he said. “He is very nice. He stops in whenever he can and even flags me down to say ‘hi’ to the guests.” n

YEAR FOUNDED: 2018

ANNUAL REVENUE: WND

CLASSIC CONNOISSEUR: Ken Hudson, owner of Newport Classic Car Co., offers tours of Newport in vintage vehicles, as well as boat tours of Narragansett Bay via an antique motor yacht.

PBN PHOTO/KATE WHITNEY LUCEY

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

HOT TOPIC

Is R.I. behind on business starts?

BY JACQUELYN VOGHEL | Voghel@PBN.com

AT FIRST GLANCE, the Rhode Island business community’s growth during the COVID-19 pandemic looks impressive: since 2019, new business applications have shot up by around 30%.

But compared with other states, that growth is a little lackluster. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Rhode Island’s new business growth per capita ranked near the bottom in the U.S., at 47th.

Is that cause for concern for Rhode Island’s small-business ecosystem?

Observers say that the state’s overall ranking doesn’t subtract from an encouraging growth rate, although there’s room for improvement.

Rhode Island recorded a 29.6% increase in new business filings in 2022 compared with 2019, according to federal data, and saw 10,943 applications filed in 2022 alone. The report drew from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Business Formation Statistics.

Rhode Island “should be heartened that we’re seeing increases,” said Amy Erickson, director of Rhode Island programs for Innovation Studio Inc., a nonprofit offering free support services for entrepreneurs. But, she noted, “I think the state should be looking at other states that

are growing faster” and possibly adopt some of their business-friendly policies.

Oregon, for instance, gives people six months of unemployment benefits if they are laid off, which Erickson said provides “a catalyst for new growth because people aren’t afraid of falling off a cliff after their severance” while planning a new business.

Some states also have tax laws more favorable to small businesses, Erickson notes. Delaware, which ranked second in the report, is known for a range of asset protections to the point that many businesses will establish a virtual address there even if they’re based in another state.

Diane C. Fournaris, state director of the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center, says that while Rhode Island ranked low nationally, the state shows encouraging internal growth.

Fournaris didn’t have data on past growth immediately available but said that 30% growth stands out as a higher-than-usual figure for Rhode Island. During the organization’s 20 years in Rhode Island, there have been recorded decreases in new business formations, she added, such as during the 2008 recession.

Some barriers to filing for an Employer Identification Number, which the U.S. Chamber used to calculate new business growth, also exist at a nationwide level, Erickson says. For instance, federal poverty laws require new business owners to declare their income and possibly lose benefits if they’re above a threshold.

But on the flip side, entrepreneurs who don’t file for an EIN lose out on access to business resources such as COVID-19 relief grants and must draw more from their personal finances to fund their ideas.

A spokesperson for R.I. Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore declined to make him available for comment, stating that the office does not track the EIN metric used in the study.

In a statement, R.I. Secretary of Commerce Elizabeth M. Tanner pointed to the 30% growth in new business formation as evidence Rhode Island “is coming back stronger than ever.”

However, Tanner said, “we know that we have work left to do,” citing proposals such as lower taxes and fee eliminations in Gov. Daniel J. McKee’s proposed budget.

Fournaris expects Rhode Island’s upward trajectory to continue as the state evolves beyond a business formation process long known as overly complicated. In recent years, she says, the state has dedicated more attention to streamlining the process.

“I think we’ll catch up [with other states’ new business growth] as long as the perception keeps up that this isn’t as daunting of a process as it was in the past,” Fournaris said. n

‘I think we’ll catch up.’

DIANE C. FOURNARIS, Rhode Island Small Business Development Center state director

“You have a beacon, like a lighthouse in the dark, that shows where that nodule is,” Abbas said.

Rhode Island Hospital is the first and, so far, only hospital to acquire the Ion machine. Foderaro, Abbas and pulmonologist Douglas Martin worked together to bring Ion to the hospital. Since purchasing it for about $600,000 last September, the hospital has performed 29 surgeries with the machine.

The Ion equipment is manufactured by Intuitive Surgical Inc., which also makes the da Vinci system that has been used at several hospitals in the region to perform minimally invasive surgeries that require precise, fine movements made possible by robots.

While pulmonologists can use Ion’s robotic assistance to biopsy earlystage cancer, surgeons are able to use it with the da Vinci robot to perform what the hospital calls a “singular anesthetic event”: a surgery in which a tumor is diagnosed, biopsied and removed within one procedure.

Faster tumor diagnosis with robotic assistance

BY CLAUDIA CHIAPPA | Chiappa@PBN.com

DR.

Andrew Foderaro has performed countless bronchoscopies over his career, but even he can find it tricky.

The procedure requires a doctor to maneuver a thin tube with a camera through a patient’s airway and into the lungs. It’s relatively simple, but sometimes reaching small passages is difficult. This makes it hard to detect and treat early-stage lung cancer, with growths sometimes as small as a quarter of an inch.

At Rhode Island Hospital, new revolutionary technology is helping solve this problem.

Foderaro, director of bronchoscopy for Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, was one of the first doctors in the hospital to use the newly acquired Ion machine, a robotic-assisted navigational bronchoscopy system that allows doctors to perform biopsies on small lung nodules.

“It was eye-opening,” Foderaro said. “For many years we used cameras and bronchoscopes, but we were limited. We couldn’t go very far out in the lung. This technology has allowed us to navigate the camera as far as you can go in the lung.”

It is a noninvasive procedure in which doctors can get to nodules in patients’ lungs they would otherwise be unable to reach. Because it provides an immedi-

ate diagnosis, the procedure can help detect cancer at its earliest stages. This is extremely important for patients, as survival rates usually drop significantly after stage one.

“We have learned over the last 15 years that the best way to combat cancer is to catch it early,” said Dr. Abbas ElSayed Abbas, chief of thoracic surgery at Lifespan Corp., which operates Rhode Island Hospital. “When we catch it early, we can offer most of the time a cure for the cancer.”

Abbas specializes in minimally invasive surgeries and showed an early interest in the potential of robot-assisted machines. The machine is over 90% effective, Abbas says, proving to be more accurate compared with a standard bronchoscopy.

“Without this, I wouldn’t be as confident of where that nodule really is in the lung,” Abbas said. “So I may miss it or may have to remove a big part of the lung to find it. This really hones us in and targets the nodule.”

Once the surgeon reaches the growth, he can biopsy it for diagnosis. The machine also allows the doctor to “mark” the nodule, using a combination of three dyes. Once the tumor is marked, it’s easier to locate again.

HONING IN: Dr. Abbas ElSayed Abbas, chief of thoracic surgery at Lifespan Corp., uses the Ion machine, a robotic-assisted navigational bronchoscopy system at Rhode Island Hospital that allows doctors to perform biopsies on small lung nodules.

COURTESY BROWN SURGICAL ASSOCIATES

After the biopsy is performed with the Ion machine, if the tumor is found to be malignant, doctors can bring in the da Vinci machine to remove the nodule. Combining the two separate procedures prevents patients from having to make multiple trips to the hospital for surgeries, each of which can take days to recover from. Instead, the robotic-assisted procedure can take just a few hours with a few nights of post-operation recovery.

The procedure is also safer: combining two separate procedures reduces the possibility of complications. And above all, this procedure saves vital time.

“When you deal with cancer, time is of the essence,” Abbas said.

Lung cancer is the deadliest out of all types of cancers for both men and women, making up 23% of all cancer deaths in the U.S. in 2019, according to the American Lung Association. Streamlining lung cancer diagnosis and treatment is particularly useful in Rhode Island, which has high rates of new cases of lung cancer compared with most other U.S. states.

A 2022 report by the American Lung Association, the “State of Lung Cancer,” ranked Rhode Island No. 43 in the U.S. for the rate of new lung cancer cases, which was 68.5 per 100,000 persons, compared with the national rate of 56.7 per 100,000 persons. But the state also ranks high in the nation for early diagnosis and survival rate.

The same study ranked Rhode Island No. 1 in the country for survival rate at 30.8%, compared with the 25% national rate, No. 2 for high-risk lung cancer screening at 13.4%, compared with the national rate of 5.8%, and No. 3 for early diagnosis at 30.4%, compared with 25.8% nationally.

Because of Rhode Island’s high number of cases, using this technology that allows treating early-stage cancer is particularly impactful, the doctors say.

“I’m pleased and amazed at how effective technology has been,” Foderaro said. “It’s been great for a number of patients.” n

‘You have a beacon ... that shows where that nodule is.’

DR. ABBAS EL-SAYED ABBAS, Lifespan Corp. chief of thoracic surgery

Lardaro: Signs of recession are growing in R.I.

BY PBN STAFF

(Editor’s note: A version of this story was first published on PBN.com on March 14.)

PROVIDENCE – The recent behavior of Rhode Island’s economy in light of new data suggests the “possibility” the state is either moving toward or already in the early stages of a recession, University of Rhode Island economist and professor Leonard Lardaro says.

Lardaro says data revisions “totally obliterated my previous assessments of where Rhode Island’s economy is at present.” As a result, the Current Conditions Index that he publishes each month was revised to a neutral value of 50 in December and set to a value of 33 in January. A CCI value above 50 indicates expansion, while a value below 50 indicates contraction.

“January’s economic performance ended a long string of improvements in the CCI, where it had remained in the expansion or neutral ranges since June of 2021,” Lardaro said on March 14. “The revised labor market data for Rhode Island were both very disappointing and concerning.”

Lardaro says the labor force, resident employment and the unemployment rate registered large negative changes for the second half of 2022.

“Along with a mind-boggling [secular] downtrend in the labor force participation that extends all the way back to late 2006, the official unemployment rate fell all the way to 3.1% in January, even as resident employment … was revised lower and was in a downtrend throughout the second half of last year,” Lardaro said.

Although payroll employment did not see dramatically lower values, it still remains below its pre-pandemic high and has fallen back to an earlier peak in December 2006, and has trended downward since August,

Lardaro says.

“Current Conditions Index values for much of last year were revised: There were three upward revisions and six downward revisions, almost all of which occurred since August,” Lardaro said.

Lardaro says new claims started to rise over the past two months and new home construction has been declining for some time. Total manufacturing hours declined in January along with U.S. consumer sentiment. Employment service jobs declined on a monthly basis for seven consecutive months and twice based on year-earlier values.

Retail sales, the statistic Lardaro says he feared would eventually go negative, fell relative to a year ago in dollar terms for the first time since June 2020.

“As has now become all too apparent, the monthly CCI’s behavior along with weakness in the leading indicators contained in the CCI correctly signaled that problems were in our future,” Lardaro said. “As it turns out, unbeknown to us, we were already experiencing these issues throughout most of the second half of 2022.”

Lardaro says it is still too early to determine if Rhode Island will see a recession.

“Clearly, data will be revised, hopefully higher, and new data might be stronger. But that is not at all certain given the combination of a slowing national economy and monetary tightening, many of whose effects we have yet to feel,” Lardaro said. “Working against us is the fact that Rhode Island has historically suffered from FILO [first in, last out]. So, we could be witnessing [the beginning of that], which is not entirely unrealistic to assume. Let’s hope not. Unfortunately, we won’t know this for a while.” n

GLOOMY AHEAD? University of Rhode Island economist Leonard Lardaro says the state may be moving toward or already in the early stages of a recession.

PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

‘The revised labor market data … were both very disappointing and concerning.’

LEONARD LARDARO, University of Rhode Island professor and economist

FOR STARTERS | WHAT’S HAPPENING

R.I. energy programs

STATE PRIORITIES:

Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, D-North Providence, will be the guest speaker for the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Eggs & Issues breakfast event on March 30 at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

R.I. Senate President Ruggerio to speak at NRI Chamber event

THE NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly Eggs & Issues breakfast event, hosted by Kirkbrae Country Club. Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, D-North Providence, will be the guest speaker. Attendees will have the chance to connect with Ruggerio and learn more about the R.I. Senate’s focus this year. There will also be a Q&A after Ruggerio’s presentation.

THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 8:15-9:30 A.M. $30/members; $50/nonmembers Kirkbrae Country Club, 197 Old River Road, Lincoln.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3XOglJt

THE RHODE ISLAND Manufacturers Association, in partnership with Rhode Island Energy, will hold a workshop containing an overview of programs offered by Rhode Island Energy. The discussion will feature the differences the company offers compared with third-party energy options. Additionally, the presentation will cover various incentive levels, the industrial energy efficiency program and scoping studies available to manufacturers.

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 7:30-10 A.M. Free/members; $30/nonmembers

Providence Marriott Downtown, 1 Orms St., Providence. INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3YwmsmD

Stepping forward

THE RHODE ISLAND Small Business Development Center will hold a “Right Foot” workshop, hosted by Innovate Newport. The center will discuss important items to consider when starting your business. Examples include why the business name is important, knowing your customer, and what’s the right business structure. Paul Harden, a counselor for the center, will be the guest speaker.

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 8:30-11 A.M. Free

Innovate Newport, 513 Broadway, Newport.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3XzRqsv

Raising a glass

THE NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND Chamber of Commerce will hold a celebration of the Women’s Business Council’s three-year anniversary, hosted by The Guild. The event will recognize women in the local business community. There will also be expo tables showcasing local businesses.

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 5-7 P.M. $35/members; $55/nonmembers

The Guild, 461 Main St., Pawtucket. INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3I1ijA4

Discussing leadership

THE RHODE ISLAND CEO COUNCIL will hold its annual CEO Summit featuring Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America Corp., and Tom

Interested in having your businessrelated event included in What’s Happening? Contact PBN Researcher James Bessette at (401) 680-4838 or Research@PBN.com.

PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Burnham, America’s Cup 2024 head coach. Topics for discussion include leadership in challenging times, making high-impact decisions, the importance of focusing your team, recessionary concerns and preparation, and growth strategies for Rhode Island business organizations. There will also be a peer discussion breakout session and a Q&A advisory session with Brian Moynihan. Buffet breakfast will be served.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 7-9:50 A.M. Free/members; $150/nonmembers Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick, 801 Greenwich Ave., Warwick.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: CEOCouncilRI.org/summit

Social media fundamentals

THE SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Namra Consulting, will hold a workshop titled “Fundamentals of Social Media Marketing.” The 45-minute seminar will give attendees the fundamental marketing knowledge and technical social media know-how to elevate their business’s social media presence to the next level. There will also be a Q&A session.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 10-11 A.M.

Free Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, 230 Old Tower Hill Road, South Kingstown.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3YQd90o

Building new relationships

THE CENTRAL RHODE ISLAND Chamber of Commerce will hold a Winter Networking Series event, hosted by Westerly Community Credit Union. The event will help local business professionals, clients and entrepreneurs build business connections in a relaxed setting. Beverages and appetizers will be served.

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 5-7 P.M. $15/members; $25/nonmembers Westerly Community Credit Union, 2405 Nooseneck Hill Road, Coventry.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/41a5Ano

Establishing connections

ONE SOUTHCOAST CHAMBER of Commerce will hold a Business After Hours networking event, hosted by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center. The event will provide an opportunity for members and nonmembers to build relationships in an informal setting. These monthly mixers are held in partnership with member businesses and attract professionals from many industries. Appetizers and a cash bar will be offered.

WHAT’S HAPPENING | FOR STARTERS

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 5-7 P.M. Free/members; $25/nonmembers

New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, 38 Bethel St., New Bedford.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3YN8AUy

Learning Instagram

THE TRI-TOWN CHAMBER of Commerce will hold a workshop titled “Instagram for Business – Beginner Session.” The event will cover the basics of the social media platform and how it can be effective for a business. Business owners, marketing professionals, social media managers, executive directors, recruiters and entrepreneurs should attend.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 11:30 A.M. TO 12:30 P.M. Free/members; $10/nonmembers

Online.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3I2B31R

Better mindset

THE GREATER PROVIDENCE

Chamber of Commerce will hold a workshop titled “The Networking Mindset: Enhance Your Marketing Skill Set.” Chamber President Laurie White will lead the discussion on what type of marketing works for a business and what marketing pain

points are. The event will also cover how organizations can enhance brand awareness to drive engagement among customers.

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 8:30-9:30 A.M. Free Online.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3KaENkF

Lunch with the mayor

ONE SOUTHCOAST CHAMBER of Commerce will hold a luncheon featuring Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan. The mayor will deliver the annual State of Business address detailing past accomplishments, goals, planned policies and objectives for the community. There will be a plated luncheon.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 11:30 A.M. TO 1:30 P.M. $50

McGovern’s, 310 Shove St., Fall River.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3jYNGmC

UPCOMING PBN EVENT: The 2023 Health Care Summit and Health Care Heroes Awards hybrid event will be held on Thursday, April 6, from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Providence Marriott. For more information, visit PBN.com. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Advertising@PBN.com.

TOURISM

PLAN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the Ocean State and open their wallets while they’re here.

Those dollars are vital. The tourism industry comprises 14% of the state’s total private sector employment. The year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2019, traveler spending reached $4.7 billion, generating $843 million in state and local taxes.

Tourists searching for the New England summer experience have plenty to choose from. How can Rhode Island stand apart, market itself successfully and ensure long-term growth?

Kimble-Huntley’s department, which now has a staff of five and is seeking to add three more, works with two private companies to get the message out. The Florida-based Zimmerman Agency secured a $2.2 million contract for fiscal 2023 to assist with public relations, advertising, event execution and creative work. The Providence-based RDW Group has a $4 million deal to execute media buys.

Online engagement through multiple media channels has become paramount in destination marketing, leading to a “multiplier effect,” KimbleHuntley said. “People don’t want to just see images or hear somebody talking. They want to hear a story.”

People might question why the state needs to spend millions to hire outside agencies rather than do the marketing work inhouse. Is this the most efficient way for R.I.

Commerce to achieve its mission?

We have a very small but mighty staff. But it is faster to have an agency partner to assist with the execution and the pushing out of messages because they have staffing that we don’t. But they have been worth every penny.

What about oversight? Do you vet these marketing campaigns before they’re released?

There are specific marketing objectives that we share with [the private agencies]. We are very heavily involved in every marketing piece before it goes out. And we will also reach out to the tourism regions [there are six local tourism bureaus] to ask for their thoughts and if there is anything specific they want us to focus on. So, it’s a collaborative effort. A very methodical and thought-out process. What are some new tourism opportunities that are being pursued heading into the 2023 tourism season?

Where we have a big opportunity is heritage tourism. We haven’t gotten into that much, but that will be [a] focus moving forward. Rhode Island has had so many firsts in history. We have to talk about those firsts. A lot of people think that Boston started the Revolutionary War. They didn’t. They’ll say they did. So we have an opportunity there. You’ve said you’d like to find more ways to involve the public in testing and formulating a new marketing campaign for the state. Where does that process stand?

THE PANDEMIC EFFECT

Spending by tourists in Rhode Island dropped by $1.5 billion in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic but rebounded to 2016-2017 levels the following year. 2022 figures were not immediately available.

*Amounts in billions of nominal dollars

LONGWOODS INTERNATIONAL; TOURISM ECONOMICS

The idea is in progress [and will be] tested [through] an online survey. Our campaigns have had to be pretty fluid and change based on travel trends and what is happening [in the industry] in general. But I think that we are now at a point where we can go out with a tagline that everybody can rally behind. [Kimble-Huntley declined to share details of the campaign because a final decision has not been made on it.]

You’ve also spoken about wanting to create more user-generated content. How is this being carried out?

One of the ways we’ve done that is through our social media marketing campaigns to get potential visitors who are on social media to engage with Rhode Island in a way that’s unique and different.

One campaign is our social media giveaways. We began by looking at how to get people excited to learn more about the state and participate. People always love a chance to win something. So we partnered with Discover Newport, the R.I. Film & Television Office, and the Preservation Society of Newport County to create a campaign based around the “Gilded Age” HBO [series].

We tried to figure out a way to continue that amplification in the marketplace and put together “Get Gilded.” Participants had a chance to win swag from the Newport mansions. As you entered the contest, we gave you different ways to multiply those entries [such as] sharing the giveaway with friends and family. And once that was done, we immediately went viral and eventually had representation from all 50 states, Canada and the U.K. There were over 40,000 unique entries.

You’ve highlighted a desire to create ethnic-specific marketing campaigns. Can you explain why you see opportunity there and which groups you are focused on?

I don’t want to get too specific about which groups we are targeting because I don’t want to share too much of our proprietary marketing plans. But I will tell you we have already started targeting specific ethnicities through special publications, as well as ensuring our ads are diverse and inclusive. We are collaborating with [state tourism] bureaus and our agencies on a massive photo and video shoot of all of our assets in the state. We are really starving for new content. There is going to be a ton of lifestyle photoshoots where you see people with diverse backgrounds engaging on the beach, riding on horseback or walking through the Newport mansions, eating at restaurants or

We’ve made a concerted effort to work with businesses on how they can create more events during our shoulder and off-seasons.

TABLE TALK: Anika Kimble-Huntley, second from left, chief marketing officer at R.I. Commerce Corp., confers with her staff at the R.I. Commerce headquarters in Providence. The staff includes, from left, Mark Brodeur, director of international and domestic group sales; Lindsay Russell, deputy director of communications and stakeholder engagement; and Robin Erickson, domestic tourism and marketing operations director.

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

SPRING HEALTH CARE SUMMIT & HEALTH CARE HEROES AWARDS

April 6, 2023 ❤ Providence Marriott ❤ 9-11:30am

This hybrid event will begin with a panel discussion about the latest trends in health care. It will be followed by an awards ceremony recognizing people in the health care field who are making a difference. A buffet breakfast will be served. Registration begins at 8:30am.

PANEL DISCUSSION: 9 to 11am

Health Care Summit

The Spring Health Care summit will feature a panel of health care experts and business leaders as they explore the multiple facets of this key industry from current challenges to workforce shortages, access, affordability and health care inequities to collaboration and innovation within the state.

PANELISTS

The winners have been announced. AWARDS CEREMONY: 11 to 11:30am

To view the winners and register for the event, go to PBN.com or hover over the QR code with your phone camera.

PRESENTING SPONSOR PARTNER SPONSORS

#PBNHCSummit ❤ #PBNHCHeroes

VISIT PBN.COM FOR DETAILS

For sponsorship, advertising and exhibitor opportunities, contact 680.4800 or Advertising@PBN.com

COREY McCARTY Senior VP/General Manager, CCA Health Rhode Island

DR. CLAIRE LEVESQUE MD, Chief Medical Officer, Commercial Products, Point32 Health

PETER MARINO President & CEO, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island

DR. G. DEAN ROYE Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, Rhode Island Hospital, Lifespan

MARTHA WOFFORD President & CEO, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI

TIM ARCHER CEO, New England, UnitedHealthCare

DR. KIRSTEN HOKENESS Director, School of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Bryant University

DR. METHODIUS TUULI Chief of OB/GYN, Women & Infants Hospital, Care New England

TOURISM

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 partaking in art at [the Rhode Island School of Design].

There are some groups out there where if you just show a little bit of love and show that you understand their culture and understand what they are about, they will be loyal. So, we are heading down that road in a very strategic way to introduce different people to the state.

Our goal is to drive incremental visitation. Any way we can identify additional revenue opportunities for the state, that is our job.

Sustainability has become an important buzzword in the tourism business. Is this a priority for you?

We have dedicated $800,000 to a statewide strategic marketing program and included in that will be a sustainability plan and transportation study. We will be putting out requests for proposals this summer.

We are looking to bring together a statewide sustainability plan utilizing some of the best practices that some of our regional tourism bureaus have put in place. A great example is Block Island. Their maps are biodegradable. You can plant them, and they will become part of the soil.

Before taking the role at R.I. Commerce, you were a marketing executive at a hotel and casino in California. What is the biggest shift in strategy you’ve brought here from your experience in the private sector?

Times have changed. Today it’s about [highlighting] what kind of experience you can provide for the person you are targeting. I’ve asked our agencies not to approach it strictly as tourism marketing, but as entertainment. Because that’s really what it is. One person’s entertainment experience could be art. Another could be history. For another person, that could be a relaxing day on the beach. That’s how you begin to build excitement. When you approach it as entertainment, it’s a completely different message. That’s one of the biggest strategic changes I’ve shared with the agencies. Showing the state in a different way.

How do you measure success against Rhode Island’s tourism competitors?

On a quarterly basis, we have our agencies compile a competitive media report. This tells us

who is spending what and where. It’s interesting because our New England counterparts are our partners and competitors at the same time. The states and cities spending the most in our regional drive market are actually New York and Orlando, Fla. They are spending millions on advertising. So those are our primary competitors.

We measure what our competitors are doing. And we are definitely looking at how they are spending their media [budgets] and who they are targeting.

The state seemingly has been flush with cash lately because of more than $1 billion in federal aid that was allocated at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. How much of that money has been set aside for tourism marketing and how is it being used?

We were allocated $2 million as a part of [American Rescue Plan Act] funding for tourism and hospitality. With those funds, we were able to take $1 million and support air service to [Rhode Island

T.F. Green International Airport] in [targeted] markets to get people to fly to Providence. We also used a portion of that money to provide $750,000 in grants to regional tourism leaders for advertising campaigns to help stimulate their regions locally.

The remaining funds went to a marketing campaign that encouraged Massachusetts and Rhode Island residents to “stay and play” in Rhode Island. Another portion was utilized in our regional drive market from Connecticut to Baltimore.

In addition, the General Assembly gave us $1.5 million as a destination tourism marketing match. These funds are allocated for FY23 and FY24, and the sole purpose is to continue to support air service marketing for [R.I. Airport Corp.].

And $10.6 million we received at the end of FY21 [from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration] doesn’t have to be expended until 2027. Three million of that will be dedicated to paid advertising. There will be grants to tourism regions. And another piece that we will utilize to keep our marketing message going.

We have a plan in place that will carry us through 2026 to use it strategically so that we don’t run out of money too quickly. I think it’s important for us to be able to sustain the marketing messages and this will help us do that.

What is your forecast for the coming tourism season?

The past two years we were just trying to get back to 2019 levels. So, it has been a progression of growth. I do believe that people’s expectations that this would happen quickly were not backed [by the data], because it is such a big unknown.

But we’ve made a concerted effort to work with businesses on how they can create more events during our shoulder and off-seasons. We went to municipalities, nonprofits and the tourism regions and said if you come up with events, you can get a grant of up to $100,000.

Hotel occupancy is a big indicator of what visitation looks like in the state. In 2019, it was at 65% and then it just dropped 40% [during the pandemic] because no one was staying in hotels. In 2022, occupancy was 62%. So, we are getting there. And we have a strong events calendar statewide that will bring more people here.

All the WaterFire events, PVD Fest and the Gaspee Days celebrations. The Ocean Race is back [in May]. There is a ton of excitement around the Army-Navy game [in December]. We think it’s going to sell out Providence.

Our event calendar changes daily. So we find ourselves changing our marketing message based on some of these events. And that helps us stay fresh and new to the folks we are marketing to. n

THEY’LL BE BACK: Crowds gather to support the teams competing in the Newport leg of the Ocean Race in May 2015. Organizers say more than 137,000 people visited the race village at Fort Adams that year and more than 100,000 visited when the race returned in 2018. The Ocean Race is coming back for a week in May, and tourism officials are expecting big crowds again. COURTESY OCEAN RACE/MARC BOW

I will tell you we have already started targeting specific ethnicities through special publications.

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

RHODY RUG

experience – he was co-founder and CEO of the Boston-based hat company Nogginwear – he still had something to learn.

“There is a lot to making a rug,” he said.

Rhody Rug has about a half-dozen national competitors, and only one in Rhode Island, Colonial Mills Inc. in East Providence. Realizing he could use some help navigating the industry, Weldon hired Tony Loura, who had previously spent 25 years with Colonial, as his plant manager.

“It was an easy fit,” Loura said. “I didn’t have to learn anything new.”

Rhody Rug manufactures traditional woolbased rugs along with its signature products made with nylon and polypropylene thread that arrives pre-dyed and ready for the winding machines that don’t stop spinning until closing time. The company has a yearslong relationship with a thread supplier in Dalton, Ga., that Weldon won’t identify because he said it’s a trade secret.

Inside the Lincoln facility, large buckets overflow with every color of thread waiting to be wound into braids and stitched into one of hundreds of different designs with names such as Bar Harbor, Astoria, and Twin River.

The material feels more like fluffy yarn than traditional wool thanks to the proprietary fiberbased filler made in-house.

“They are specially made for me,” said Weldon, demonstrating the feel of the thread made softer through a high-pressure “naturalization” process that allows rugs to last longer and be placed in any outdoor weather condition without fraying or lying uneven.

The filler also makes the rug easier to clean. “You can just spray them down with a garden hose,” he said.

In the center of the 50,000-square-foot factory, workers are positioned at large tables pocketed with holes that shoot air to the surface, like an air hockey table, allowing sections of rug to be spun around as they are stitched together.

Rhody Rug pumps out 1,500 rugs per week, Weldon says, many destined for big-box and online retailers such as The Home Depot Inc., Wayfair Inc., Overstock.com Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., as well as hundreds of rug dealers nationwide.

The company also makes braided baskets, stair treads and chair pads.

Rhody Rug has not been spared the supply chain problems that have challenged commerce across the world. Weldon says that before the pandemic the company used to receive and ship new orders in two days. But now it takes five. Trucking prices have also shot up, adding to the

financial pain points for the independent manufacturer.

At the same time, expenses have been reduced in other areas. “We’ve been able to add some new people,” Loura said, “which has cut down on overtime [costs].”

Ironically, the worldwide transportation snags have worked somewhat in the favor of some American manufacturers that don’t rely on overseas materials, Weldon says.

“That gave us a competitive advantage,” he said.

With annual revenues now topping $4 million, Weldon is looking to diversify beyond selling products wholesale to retailers.

Rhody Rug is getting ready to launch a directto-consumer online platform and has recently constructed a showroom for retail customers to see and purchase products. The room is hung with dozens of models that reach from floor to ceiling and has a large window that looks onto the factory floor.

“We are really trying to build a brand here,” he said. “There are only a few of us [braided rug makers] left.”

Part of the key to survival is paying close attention to what’s selling well and meeting that demand.

Being in the business for over two decades has given Loura an insight into the rise and fall of design trends. He has noticed a shift in customer demographics in recent years – an uptick in younger buyers, many of whom are city transplants or young families who have either relocated or are looking to spruce up their properties.

Declining in popularity has been the dark greens and neutral colors of decades past, Loura says, replaced by bolder and brighter tones. “Many customers are trying to work in something

that will match a modern kitchen,” he said. “They are looking for a little bit of color.”

These vibrant pigments show up prominently in the “Kids Isle” line, a collection of smaller rugs and matching braided baskets meant for playrooms or nurseries. The Walt Disney Co. has placed the baskets in some of its retail stores to hold toys.

“Disney ordered a tractor trailer’s worth of those,” Weldon said.

Cultural shifts have helped. Weldon notes the growing popularity of reality TV programs that focus on home remodeling, which has brought interior design to the mainstream.

There is data supporting his claim. The most recent market analysis by Technavio found that consumers have become more conscious about interior design and are willing to invest both time and money to decorate their homes.

Customers have already started visiting the showroom to purchase items as is or request a custom design. Some will ask Weldon if Rhody Rug can match a color scheme they saw on a TV show. Others have requested peculiar color configurations that would never make it off the company’s drawing board.

But in the end, the customer knows best, Weldon says.

“Everybody is a designer now,” he said. “On the other hand, some of our most popular lines we have had since the ’90s.”

Despite modern-day globalization and the cost pressures, U.S. manufacturers are inching back to normal now that the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed. Weldon says quality is the secret to maintaining market share.

“If you want people to buy American,” he said, “then you need to be making a quality product.” n

‘We are really trying to build a brand here.’

SCOTT WELDON, Rhody Rug Inc. CEO and president

TIGHTKNIT OPERATION: Employee Maria Monteiro works on a rug at Rhody Rug Inc.’s manufacturing facility in Lincoln. The company produces 1,500 braided rugs per week and supplies hundreds of rug dealers nationwide, says President Scott Weldon.

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

SPOOL SKILLS: Sandra Lucario, braider, selects some thread to make the next braided rug at Rhody Rug Inc. in Lincoln.

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

FOCUS | CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

“It seems to be this mentality of not backing down, not retreating, sort of standing strong in the face of nature,” he continued, “which is ultimately a losing proposition.”

That doesn’t mean the Cliff Walk can’t exist in some form in the face of climate change, Nelson says. But he can’t envision its long-term life looking much like its current form as sea levels rise.

The city of Newport could hypothetically pursue possibilities such as buying a setback of the private property abutting the Cliff Walk to use as a green buffer space between the walkway itself and the ocean. But Nelson doubts the city has the funding for such a purchase, or that property owners would be willing to part with the land.

For decades, the Cliff Walk has been a major attraction for visitors to Newport, providing a free scenic view of both the ocean and some of the Newport mansions. One Salve study concluded more than 1 million people walk on the Cliff Walk each year.

City officials recognize the damage of the Cliff Walk is a complicated situation and a burden that Newport isn’t financially capable of bearing alone.

Is fixing the Cliff Walk a wise investment?

BY JACQUELYN VOGHEL | Voghel@PBN.com

over a year ago, the collapse of an approximately 20-foot portion of the Newport Cliff Walk raised alarm throughout the state.

Damage to Newport’s famed tourist attraction isn’t anything new – in 2012, for example, a washout from Hurricane Sandy forced the city to close more than half of the 3½-mile oceanside walkway for more than a year. And before the March 2022 collapse, a class led by Salve Regina University business and economics lecturer Samuel Sacco was already in the process of applying for a grant to fund an assessment and repairs to the Cliff Walk.

And now, grants that the class was seeking from sources such as the van Beuren Charitable Foundation Inc. were even more urgently required. While a 2012 federal disaster declaration made the city eligible for relief funding to use toward the repairs after Hurricane Sandy, no emergency resources were on the way after the damage last year. And over the winter, strong storms caused even more damage to the walkway.

For more than a year, a section of the historic Cliff Walk between Narragansett Avenue – where the

well-known 40 steps to the waterline are located – and Webster Street has been closed. Visitors instead detour through the nearby neighborhood before reconnecting with the walk farther south.

The city is pushing ahead for its restoration: Within a month of the partial collapse, Newport officials hired Providence-based GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc. construction management group to carry out a study to assess the Cliff Walk’s latest damage and propose potential repairs.

That study, which concluded over the winter, is set to finalize in the coming weeks.

Not everyone thinks spending money to restore the damaged section of the Cliff Walk is the wisest idea, including Jon Nelson, a professor of environmental studies and sociology at the Rhode Island School of Design.

“There’s a symbolic aspect,” said Nelson, whose research focuses on adaptation to climate change and sustainable development. “It’s not really the dollars and cents. The decision that Newport really wants to repair it doesn’t seem to be an economic argument.

DIVERSION: Walkers heading south on the Newport Cliff Walk are stopped at Narragansett Avenue by fencing because part of the historic walk collapsed about a year ago. Visitors are required to detour through a nearby neighborhood to reconnect with the path farther south.

PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN

“It’s a really interesting piece of property in that it is a right of way across public, private and nonprofit properties that exist,” said Newport spokesperson Thomas Shevlin. “It kind of predates any land records we have in the city.”

These qualities make the Cliff Walk “well beyond any one organization’s ability to maintain it,” Shevlin said, adding that “from a holistic standpoint, it’s impossible for us to be able to look to state and federal resources to make sure the walk in its entirety remains opened and passable.”

Property owners along the Cliff Walk are responsible for some repairs to the structure, Shevlin says, and resources from Salve, such as the grant application, which was submitted over the winter and now awaits approval, also provide additional relief.

As to whether these combined efforts will amount to anything, for Nelson, the significant damage reoccurring just over a decade after Hurricane Sandy’s blow is also an omen for the famed walkway’s future.

“The part that fell was one of the last pieces to be repaired after Sandy, so it survived not even 10 years,” Nelson said.

“This isn’t abstract, 30 or 50 years into the future,” he said. “This is something that’s accelerating rapidly. And as storms get stronger and seas get higher, there’s going to be a rapid increase in the amount of deterioration these exposed areas like the Cliff Walk are facing.”

Sacco has heard the opinion that the Cliff Walk may be a lost cause. And while he doesn’t dismiss the severity of the threat it faces, he’s not convinced that the city, or the state, should give up on the local landmark.

“I think it would be a terrible shame and an incredible loss if the Cliff Walk were to go away or have its use limited,” Sacco said. “It’s very unique, and it’s one of the top natural resources we have in the state.” n

‘The part that fell was one of the last pieces to be repaired after Sandy.’

JON NELSON, Rhode Island School of Design professor of environmental studies and sociology

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INSURANCE I BENEFITS I RETIREMENT I HR

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Managing Director

Calise, Managing Director

New transit center seeing heavy traffic

BY CLAUDIA CHIAPPA | Chiappa@PBN.com

THE LONG-AWAITED Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center is finally here, and many agree it’s been a success so far.

The new transit center – comprised of a brand-new train station and bus hub – debuted on Jan. 23, after almost five years of construction. Born out of a collaboration between the R.I. Department of Transportation, the R.I. Public Transit Authority and the cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls, the $63 million project connects commuters to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s commuter rail line and to RIPTA’s bus network.

Since opening over a month ago, commuters have made good use of it.

“We’re very happy with what we’ve seen from demand, it’s very encouraging and welcome news,” said Charles St. Martin, spokesperson for RIDOT. “We had plans for a multi-mobile center and the public is embracing it in the way we had envisioned.”

The train station, located at 300 Pine St. in Pawtucket, sees about 400 boardings daily, St. Martin said, while the bus hub, serving 10 bus routes, has seen 7,899 total board-

Leading Change Bettering Outcomes Ensuring Opportunity

ings during the month of February, RIPTA said.

Construction for the project broke ground in the winter of 2018, led by Massachusetts-based Barletta Heavy Division Inc., which was awarded the design and construction project through a request for proposals. It includes platforms for northbound and southbound service, connected by a glass-enclosed pedestrian bridge, elevators, ramps and stairs.

“It’s modern, it’s classy, it sug-

gests security and safety,” said Jan A. Brodie, executive director of the Pawtucket Foundation. “It makes the city shine.”

Riding the wave of this success, both RIDOT and RIPTA are making plans to further enhance the center.

The station’s current parking lot, featuring 200 spots, is at full capacity almost every morning, St. Martin said. To meet this demand, the department is expanding the parking lot and doubling the number of parking spaces by the end of the year.

RIPTA, on the other hand, is expanding its hub with a new amenity building, which will feature public

restrooms, driver restrooms, a break room, a Pawtucket Police substation and security office, an interior waiting area with seating, device charging stations, and real-time passenger information screens. The facility is expected to be designed before the end of 2023, said Cristy Raposo Perry, spokesperson for RIPTA, and it will be funded using $5 million allotted in Gov. Daniel J. McKee’s fiscal 2023 budget.

“The more convenient public transit is, the more people are likely to leave their cars behind – especially here in Pawtucket and Central Falls,” Raposo Perry said. “This new transit center, featuring both bus and rail, enables people from all over the state to easily make the connection to rail travel.”

The new station marks the first time in more than 50 years that Pawtucket and Central Falls residents have access to a train station close to their homes. Until January, commuters had to travel to either Providence or Attleboro to board the commuter rail, especially since the 2021 closure of the South Attleboro station.

“Transportation and access are essential to businesses, residents, commuters,” Brodie said. “It’s a state, regional and city asset.”

But the station is much more than a point of access for public transit: it has the potential to work as a conduit for real estate and economic development in the surrounding area. Placed between the cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls, in what is known as the Conant Thread District, the

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

It’s modern, it’s classy, it suggests security and safety.’

JAN A. BRODIE, Pawtucket Foundation executive director

station is already attracting developers and investors.

“Part of our strategy was to support our area and create a transit connect for everyone, as well as support economic development,” St. Martin said. “We’re seeing that happening.”

Conant Thread, a 150-acre area surrounding the station in Pawtucket, along the border of Central Falls, has long been looked at with hopeful optimism from the two cities as a potential hub for development.

With more than 4 million square feet of pre-permitted development opportunities, including 2 million square feet of vacant or underutilized historic mill space and another 2 million square feet of vacant land for new construction, the district offers the perfect investment opportunity. This is in addition to another 4 million square feet of development opportunity in downtown Pawtucket, said Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien.

A fire in 2020 set back redevelopment plans, severely damaging several old mills in the area. While some of them are irredeemable, Brodie said, the rest can be reinvented to house more apartment units or commercial spaces.

“Those historic, beautiful old mills are gone,” Brodie said. “Fortunately, all the others are still standing, and I don’t think there are any that haven’t gotten the attention of investors with different ideas for revitalization.”

This optimism is not misplaced. In recent years, the area attracted a lot of renewed attention, especially ahead of the transit center’s opening.

“We have 800-1,000 units of apartment housing that have either been built, are in the process of final financing or are under consideration for permitting,” Brodie said. “It’s exciting.”

Now that the train station is here, more opportunities for both commercial and residential developments are likely to follow. Brodie said the hope is that there will be a continued focus on mixed-income housing and more commercial developments.

In the meantime, congressional funds have been coming in. Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., last year invested over $3 million in funding for access to the new transit center and neighboring areas.

“Transportation never goes away and COVID proved how important it is to give access to people,” Brodie said. “We’re hoping it becomes a real transit center for both folks going north and those going south.” n

NOTABLE WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

OFFICE DIRECT | offdir.com

MEGHAN E. ROBINSON

Senior Designer 401.732.3040

meghan@offdir.com

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 20

YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 18

EDUCATION

Endicott College, Beverly, MA

Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, Graduated 2003

MEGHAN BEGAN her career in the design industry over 20 years ago. She realized quickly after graduating college and following a short period in the residential design field that her real passion for design was rooted in Commercial Interior Design. Meghan joined Office Direct in 2005, working alongside owner Phyllis Cannava, as Senior Designer. Since her start she has designed interiors in the many market sectors that embody the commercial industry including workplace, healthcare, education, and senior living. Meghan’s passion is creating interior spaces that “work” for her clients while always maintaining respect for their budget, function, and vision. Meghan enjoys the challenge of space planning and has a deep understanding of contract furniture and interior finishes which is the leading factor in her ability to transform client programs into functional space.

Office Direct will remain a leading company in the industry as Meghan is presently slated to take on ownership upon Phyllis’ future retirement.

ROWSE ARCHITECTS

| Rowsearchitects.com

BRITTANY GRANT, AIA

Vice President 401.331.9200

bgrant@rowsearchitects.com

YEARS IN CURRENT INDUSTRY 10

YEARS WITH CURRENT ORGANIZATION 10

EDUCATION

Roger Williams University, Bachelor of Architecture & Master of Architecture

BRITTANY GRANT, AIA is the Vice President of Rowse Architects, with offices in East Providence, RI and Foxboro, MA. In her role as Vice President, she is heavily involved with management, operations, and all areas of the design process. Her most notable project to date is the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP)’s Training and Educational Center in Warwick, where she led the design from conceptualization, through construction. She strongly believes in the idea of Collaborative Design, where every project can be informed by the input from others – whether that is someone else at the firm, consultants, or the tradespeople who physically build the designs she creates. Brittany is currently managing the Restoration of the Cpt Richard Rhodes House for the Rhode Island State Police. Over the past 10 years, she has developed her passion for design that speaks to its users and respects the construction process. She is eager to be a leader at Rowse Architects and continue their past successes.

RENEWED INTEREST: Pawtucket Foundation Executive Director Jan A. Brodie stands in front of the Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center, which has been attracting residential and commercial development interest to the area since opening on Jan. 23.

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

SPONSORED CONTENT

FOCUS | GENERAL CONTRACTORS (ranked by number of regional employees)

FOCUS | GENERAL CONTRACTORS (ranked by number of regional employees)

CLOSER LOOK

Total regional employees:

2,438

LIST RESEARCHED BY James Bessette

NEED A COPY?

To purchase a copy of this list, call (401) 273-2201 or visit PBN.com/lists for more information.

UPCOMING LISTS March 31: Advertising & Public Relations Agencies, Rhode Island Independent Insurance Agencies; April 14: Adult Education Programs, Online Degrees and Programs.

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For more information about participating in PBN’s Top Lists, or to make additions or corrections, call (401) 6804838 or write to Research@ PBN.com.

NL = Not listed last year.

75 1946

Construction services for academic, health care, life science, multiunit, restaurant, luxury residential, and nonprofit/community clients

FOOTNOTE j Gilbane Building Co. is a division of Gilbane Inc.

7

2022: NL Parker Construction | parkercci.com GlennParker, president

320 Narragansett Park Drive East Providence, R.I.02916 (401)427-8500

75 2001 Construction-management services for custom residential and commercial, general contracting 10

2022: 8 D.F. PrayInc. | dfpray.com ScottPray, president

2022: 12 Site Specific | sitespecificllc.com

25 Anthony St. Seekonk, Mass.02771 (508)336-3366

65 1959

Multifamily housing, senior living, financial, health care, LEED, life sciences, manufacturing, retail 11

PeterCrumpandMattDempsey, partners;Bo Koloski, vice president, client services

2022: 9 J2 ConstructInc. | j2construct.com

JeffLipshires, CEO

13

2022: 16

13

2022: 10

Ahlborg ConstructionCorp. | ahlborg.com

EricAhlborg, president;GlennAhlborg, vice president and director of construction operations

Agostini Bacon ConstructionCos. | baconconstruction.com

George L.Agostini, chairman and CEO;Steven J. Agostini, president and chief operating officer

BuildersInc. | tracbuilders.com

| ewburman.com

141 Gano St. Providence, R.I.02906 (401)632-4400

52 2004 Academic, commercial, health care, historical, hospitality, museum and gallery, residential, retail 12

499 East Main Road Middletown, R.I.02842 (888)301-0076

355 Centerville Road Warwick, R.I.02886 (401)681-4949

50 2018

Commercial/industrial/luxury residential construction company, construction management services, estate management, institutional and health care projects

45 2009 Design and build, construction management, general contracting

Narragansett Park Drive East Providence, R.I.02916 (401)431-1200 45 1967

FOCUS | GENERAL CONTRACTORS (ranked by number of regional employees)

FOCUS | GENERAL CONTRACTORS (ranked

by number of regional employees)

19

2022: 21 Behan Bros.Inc. | behanbros.com

Michael J.Behan Jr., owner and president;Garrett BehanandMichaelBehan, vice presidents

|

975 Aquidneck Ave. Middletown, R.I.02842 (401)846-1516

29 1973

Affordable and luxury residential, design and build, historical preservation, commercial, industrial, institutional, LEED 20

2022:

23

2022: 24

A.Autiello ConstructionCo. | autielloconstruction.com AnthonyAutiello, vice president

125 Carlsbad St. Cranston, R.I.02920 (401)942-6822

16 1994

management, construction management services, general contracting services

Academic, commercial, cultural/assembly, financial, health care/life sciences, hospitality, industrial, interiors, retail, special projects

Ranked by oldest contractors: 1 Gilbane

3

Year founded: 1914

LIST RESEARCHED BY James Bessette

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To purchase a copy of this list, call (401) 273-2201 or visit PBN.com/lists for more information.

UPCOMING LISTS

25

2022: 23 Bowerman ConstructionInc. | bowermanconstruction.com GregPostandLeoHudon, principals

26

2022: 27

E.Turgeon ConstructionCorp. | eturgeon.com

DavidDucharme, president;Christopher Ducharme, treasurer

1 Richmond Square, Suite 220E Providence, R.I.02906 (401)454-4300

8 Webb St., Unit B Cranston, R.I.02920 (401)943-0190

15 1914

6 1896

LEADERS IN EDUCATION

A SPECIAL PBN ADVERTISING SECTION

April 14, 2023

Recognizing leaders in Education who are making a difference to their students, in their community and mentoring the next generation of exceptional educators.

Automotive, dental, health care, industrial warehouse, manufacturing/office, retail, residential apartments and veterinary hospitals

Construction management/general contracting firm specializing in commercial projects such as retail, office/ warehousing, athletic facilities, religious institutions, retail, schools and historical renovation

Profile the educators in your school, new or veteran, in this special feature in the PBN Education Focus Editorial which will also be published within the Sponsored Content section on PBN.com for the entire year. Place one or more profiles within the section at 30% off general advertising rates.

March 31: Advertising & Public Relations Agencies, Rhode Island Independent Insurance Agencies; April 14: Adult Education Programs, Online Degrees and Programs.

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DEADLINE: April 5, 2023

Don’t miss this opportunity to distinguish your faculty and staff to PBN’s audience.

FOCUS |

CLOSER LOOK

Ranked by number of buildings: 1

Peregrine Property Management LLC Buildings: 365 2

Nexus Property Management Buildings: 340 3

Churchill & Banks Cos. Buildings: 170

LIST RESEARCHED BY James Bessette

NEED A COPY?

To purchase a copy of this list, call (401) 273-2201 or visit PBN.com/lists for more information.

UPCOMING LISTS

March 31: Advertising & Public Relations Agencies, Rhode Island Independent Insurance Agencies; April 14: Adult Education Programs, Online Degrees and Programs.

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For more information about participating in PBN’s Top Lists, or to make additions or corrections, call (401) 6804838 or write to Research@ PBN.com.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FIRMS (ranked by total square footage)

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IT’S PERSONAL

KIDS COUNT names new director

PAIGE CLAUSIUS-PARKS, who had been Rhode Island KIDS COUNT’s senior policy analyst, was recently appointed as the Providence-based child advocacy nonprofit’s new executive director. Clausius-Parks succeeds longtime Executive Director Elizabeth Burke Bryant. She was also a Providence Business News 40 Under Forty honoree in 2021.

What led you to wanting to be involved with KIDS COUNT?

My involvement with Rhode Island KIDS COUNT began many years ago when I was a young staff member at Youth Pride Inc. working to create safe schools for LGBTQ+ youths. I had recently discovered my passion for social justice, advocacy and grassroots organizing, and data from Rhode Island KIDS COUNT helped me to better understand the challenges of the communities I served. … Rhode Island KIDS COUNT’s commitment to equity, unrelenting persistence, professionalism, teamwork and collaboration drew me to apply to the senior policy analyst position four years ago. I am fortunate that this journey has led me to becoming the executive director, where I am honored to continue to serve Rhode Island’s children and families.

What are your goals for the organization as its new executive director?

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT will continue to be the state’s leading children’s policy and advocacy organization that provides independent, credible, comprehensive information on Rhode Island children and youths. … We will continue to expand our collaborative partnerships and make data available to communities that the data is about so they can use the information with their voices to create policies that will impact them.

Rhode Island is still struggling with child poverty and racial inequity, according to recent studies by KIDS COUNT. What more needs to be done to improve that?

Rhode Island has taken a number of steps to address inequities in early childhood development, education, health, safety and economic well-being, but we are yet to see a fully equitable system that provides truly equal opportunities for all. To address racial inequities, we must be honest about the root causes of these inequities and commit to bold solutions. We must identify policy levers that can create positive and equitable change with our most marginalized children, youths and families at the center. Once passed, we must then fully implement these changes with fidelity and stay the course.

What, if any, legislative initiatives is KIDS COUNT planning to support this year?

This year we will support many important legislative initiatives. Among them are the RIght from the Start Campaign to advance policies for young children and families in Rhode Island, including important investments in early childhood educators, Rhode Island Pre-K and Head Start, the first connections voluntary family home visiting and paid family leave. Also, we’re supporting education policies identified by youths and parents as priority, including increasing the number of school-based mental health professionals and the number of educators of color. n

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A YOUNG, FOOLISH PILOT wanted to sound cool and show who was boss on the aviation frequencies. So, the first time he approached an airfield at night, instead of making his official request to the tower, he said, “Guess who?”

The controller, unimpressed by the arrogant newbie, switched the field light off and replied, “Guess where!”

Of all the human failings that can destroy a business, arrogance is the deadliest. It is the most readily acquired, the easiest to justify and the hardest to recognize in ourselves. We know arrogance when we see it, and we know it is wrong.

No one is “entitled” to be dishonest or greedy, but a bit of smugness, well, that’s just natural in a leader. We accept it. We even nurture it as a sign of success.

There is nothing at all wrong with being proud of your company and the work you do. In fact, if you don’t take pride in your work, you are probably not doing the best job you can do. But pride and arrogance aren’t the same thing.

Arrogance is defined as engaging in behaviors intended to exaggerate a person’s sense of superiority by disparaging others. It’s not the same as

MACKAY’S MORAL | HARVEY MACKAY

The problem of arrogance

narcissism, which is self-admiration. Nor is arrogance the same as being confident.

Unfortunately, many leaders today confuse confidence with arrogance. Confidence in one’s ability is a critical element in the willingness to take risks while still steering the ship. Arrogance takes risks by assuming everyone will get on board even when the boat has a hole in it.

Arrogance is a trait that society often tolerates and rewards, especially in professions such as politics and business.

A study conducted at Yale University found that arrogant attitudes begin to develop early in life. These researchers confirmed that children between the ages of 5 and 7 years old begin to show signs of arrogant thinking because they believe they know more than adults such as their parents.

Arrogant people are easily identified by the behaviors they exhibit.

For example, they always want to

be in the spotlight. They need to be the center of attention. They don’t give others a chance to speak and often interrupt people.

They are more concerned with looking good than with doing a good job. They don’t like doing dirty or tedious jobs. They also take credit for other people’s work.

Arrogant people rarely admit they are wrong, and they don’t like to be challenged. They blame others when things go awry and seldom apologize. Their facade is easily shattered, however, when their staff bolts and they are left to fend for themselves.

They don’t like feedback and get very defensive. They have a hard time reflecting on failures and weaknesses. I like to say they get chapped lips from kissing the mirror too much.

Arrogant people turn everything into a competition and will step on anyone who gets in their way. They hate to lose. They have certain expectations and want everything to go according to their plan, disregarding

the merits of others’ ideas.

Anyone who doesn’t agree with them is deemed an enemy or threat. Arrogant people typically don’t have a lot of friends because they have trouble building sincere relationships. They care more about winning than about friendship.

Here’s another story to illustrate my point. A man who thought highly of himself stepped on a coin-operated scale that voiced his weight. The hightech machine then dispensed a card with comments about his personality. He read the card and with a broad smile covering his face, he handed it to his friend to read. She took it and read aloud, “You are a well-built, enthusiastic, dynamic leader, admired by your peers.”

In disbelief, she read it again and said, “Just remember, the machine had your weight wrong too.”

Mackay’s Moral: Knowledge makes people humble. Arrogance makes people ignorant. n

Harvey Mackay is the author of the New York Times bestseller “Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive.” He can be reached through his website, www.harveymackay.com.

Many leaders today confuse confidence with arrogance.

MY WORK IN THE wine industry during the last 17 years has given me the ability to travel to Italy. Long, winding roads flanked by an endless sea of vineyards and farms are common in Italy’s countryside. I have reveled in this bucolic scenery many times, including last month when I visited Piedmont, Italy, a lesserknown wine region. I like to venture off the beaten track, and Piedmont is still tucked away from the crowds.

Piedmont is home to the ancient Italian grape nebbiolo that is grown in Piedmont’s Langhe region, and the top-notch wine areas of Barbaresco and Barolo.

The name nebbiolo comes from the word “nebbia,” which means fog in Italian. Nebbiolo produces a full-bodied and slightly tannic wine, particularly when it is young. Do not let its lighter color fool you. It also has great aging potential – particularly the Barbaresco and Barolo wines that garner the highest price tags. So if you prefer a powerful red, then nebbiolo can be one of your go-tos.

Nebbiolo shows a varied flavor profile of anise, plum, coffee, black cherry and often leather that coats the mouth and teeth. Because of the wine’s tannic nature, you should pair them with

TO SAVOR | JESSICA NORRIS GRANATIERO

Land of an ancient grape

foods that have a high fat and protein content – I recommend Italian cuisine featuring Bolognese sauce, wild boar, rabbit and filets of beef.

Here are some picks for great nebbiolo from the areas of Langhe, Barbaresco and Barolo that are all boutique family-owned properties.

Viberti Langhe Nebbiolo –

The Viberti estate was born in the 1920s and produces many different red selections, including the prized Langhe nebbiolo. The primary fruit of strawberry and cherry come together beautifully with additional floral notes. They are well integrated with vanilla and coconut notes from one year’s aging in large wooden vats. The wine is then aged an additional year in stainless steel tanks. It is an easy-sipping wine with soft tannins and great drinkability. It should be consumed young, within five years.

(Under $30)

Borgogno Langhe Nebbiolo –Borgogno is one of the oldest wine estates in the Barolo village, dating back to the 1760s. It is now owned by the Farinetti family that got its fame from Eataly, a food and wine market that started in Turin, Italy, and migrated to the U.S. Borgogno’s nebbiolo is from the Langhe area and

uses the same grapes that are used in Barolo. So this rendition is quite a value. It has aromas that you might expect from Barolo – classic rose petal and tar – while the taste profile is of black cherry, raspberry and herbal notes. Fresh and vibrant, this is a great selection to enjoy while the wine is young. (Under $40)

Baluchin – Made from 100% nebbiolo, this selection comes from a tiny plot of land. Baluchin is the word for “star” in Piedmont dialect and refers to the vineyard’s ideal position for star gazing. The wine has bright aromas and flavors of blueberries, plums and graphite. It is always aged longer and released later so the mouthfeel gives us a silky, soft feeling. Aged for about two years in small French oak barrels, it displays a great focused wine that can last for 10 or more years. ($70-$80)

Cordero Montezemolo Barolo – In the family’s 19th generation, Cordero di Montezemolo is located in the small village of La Morra. Its Barolo is a blend of different nebbiolo grapes that are then aged in a mix of Slovenian and French oak barrels for 18 to 24 months. The result is an intense garnet color with a round, full mouthfeel of dark cherry, blackberry, cocoa and plum notes, intertwined with a hint of vanilla and hazelnut. A top selection that is approachable at a young age. (Between $55-$60) n

Jessica Granatiero is the founder of The Savory Grape, a wine, beer and spirits shop in East Greenwich. She can be reached through her website, www.jessicagranatiero.com.

Cocito Barbaresco Riserva

REPRESENTING: Wines from the Piedmont region of Italy, home to the nebbiolo grape. COURTESY JESSICA NORRIS GRANATIERO

AFTER OUR FIRST public speaking training session ends, Maria, the chief financial officer of a multinational company, and I chat over a cup of coffee. “Peter,” she says, “how did you get started as a speaker?” I answer this as I have many times before. Then she follows with, “If you could go back and give advice to Peter, the fledgling speaker, what would it be?”

The following is some of the advice I would have given my much younger self.

n Before beginning to develop a presentation, thoroughly understand your audience. This includes who you will speak to, what they need and want to know, how you want them to feel, how they will be transformed, and what they should do or think after your talk.

n Determine the goal of your presentation. If it’s merely to inform your audience, think again. Instead, decide how you are going to transform them.

n Know your point and stick to it. Your point must be based on your

Early speaking tips

So get out of your head and your way.

n Use stories. They are engaging and memorable. But do not merely tell stories; relive them. This includes speaking in the present tense, using dialog, and using your voice and body language to support and foster your words.

n Ask questions. Actual or rhetorical questions are a powerful tool for engaging your audience.

n Embrace the pause. Pausing is an incredibly versatile tool. It is engaging and helps people understand and process your points.

n Keep a journal. Meticulously record the things that went well, those that did not go so well, and ideas that pop into your head. Refer to your journal often.

n Learn from others. Every speaker, presenter and salesperson is an expert at some part of presenting. This could be creating presentations, delivering them, storytelling, followup or other parts of the process. Learn from them and make it your

own.

n Practice. Practice. Practice. And then practice again. Then record your presentation. Review it. Revise it. Repeat the process.

n Learn to use slides effectively, if at all. Do not use them as a makeshift teleprompter. Instead, learn (not memorize) your presentation from beginning to end. Do not stuff your slides with words. These unintended read-alongs result in audiences being bored, if not frustrated. Use slides only when they support your point. Remember, there is no such thing as a slide presentation. You are delivering the presentation.

n Consider using props. Props are often unexpected and can be extremely useful in supporting your point. Furthermore, props are memorable.

n Remember what your mother told you. Stand up straight. Look people in the eye. Keep your hands out of your pockets. Speak with conviction. Her words will serve you well.

n Put a great deal of thought into

your openings and closings. Know exactly how you will grab your audience’s attention. And end in a compelling manner, much like the conclusion of a book or movie.

n Be polite to everyone. When you’re nervous, losing your composure and being ill-mannered is easy. So strive to be courteous and cooperative with everyone, even when they are anxious, tense or impolite.

n Manage your nerves. The adrenaline rush you experience is actually a good thing. Embrace it. Realize that it is your body preparing you for something special and exciting.

n Never stop learning.

n Enjoy every minute of your journey. You never know which presentation might be your last.

These are just some of the ideas I wish I had focused on early in my career. Incorporate them and you will be well on your way to engaging, impacting and inspiring your audiences. n

Peter George is the author of the award-winning book “The Captivating Public Speaker.” He can be reached at PeterGeorgePublicSpeaking.com

EDITORIALS

With recession looming, think big on tourism

This is a big year for Rhode Island tourism, starting with the impending release of the first major statewide campaign since 2017.

Rhode Island tourism leaders appear to have learned from the notorious 2016 “Cooler & Warmer” debacle, including the need to widely vet the concept before rollout.

The 2017 campaign was not even announced publicly by R.I. Commerce Corp. until the following January due to the widespread panning of its predecessor.

No winners in lengthy Fane saga

The Fane Tower saga is mercifully over in Providence, leaving both the city and developer bruised in the seven-year process.

BIG DRAW: The Ocean Race is coming back to Newport for a week in May. More than 100,000 people visited the race village in Newport in 2015, pictured above, and again in 2018.

COURTESY OCEAN RACE/MARC BOW

The “Fun-Sized” promotion was successful enough for Commerce to keep it going for several years.

Commerce Chief Marketing Officer Anika Kimble-Huntley says the agency is close to deciding on a new campaign, having already collected feedback from surveys and the regional tourism leaders.

Tourism naturally suffered during the height of the pandemic but began bouncing back in 2021. But the goal for a multibillion-dollar industry that accounts for 14% of the state’s private sector workforce is not just to get back to pre-pandemic levels or eek out annual growth.

Ms. Kimble-Huntley told PBN in 2021 it was time for the state to start “thinking big” when it comes to tourism. We agree.

In this week’s cover story, she says there will be more focus on cultural heritage tourism. That includes the state’s rich Colonial history and varied ethnic groups. And more emphasis on selling entertainment experiences to targeted audiences.

With a recession looming and so many jobs at stake, what better time to start thinking big and differently about Ocean State tourism? n

POLL CENTRAL

EXECUTIVE POLL

Boosting productivity

Has your company recently developed new strategies to improve employee productivity?

Yes: 100%

No: 0%

No, but our company is currently working on developing them: 0%

What initiatives has your company introduced to boost productivity?

(Select multiple)

Work-from-home initiatives: 50%

Offering pay bonuses for achieving company goals: 25%

Other: 25%

Shorter workdays: 0%

Our company has not developed productivity initiatives: 0%

Do you encourage employees to take paid time off?

Yes: 100%

No: 0%

Has your company invested in new equipment/technology to boost productivity?

Yes: 100%

No: 0%

No, but our company is discussing upgrades: 0%

PBN.COM POLL

In the end, it wasn’t vocal critics who killed the $300 million project. It was a multiyear pandemic, rising interest rates and an uncertain market for the luxury housing that would have filled much of the tower.

So, the New York-based Fane Organization moves on, leaving the city with a marketable property but also the challenge of luring would-be investors leery of wasting time and money where they too might not be wanted.

There was plenty to complain about with the Fane Tower, starting with a shifting design that never tried to fit or enhance the surroundings. And the developer shoulders most of the blame for not identifying financing that might have helped build more support for his vision.

But there’s no cause for celebration either in the lost revenue and activity it would have brought downtown that will not be easily or quickly replaced. n

Should Rhode Island boost to 15% its minimum share of government contracts going to minority- and women-owned businesses? MARCH 3-9

No, there are not enough qualified businesses in some industries 33%

No, the state must show it can better manage the program first 30%

I’m not sure 2%

Yes, they are not getting their fair share 22%

Yes, it will encourage more minorities to start businesses 13%

THIS WEEK’S POLL: Are you confident in the solvency of local banks following the recent failure of two others in California and New York?

• Yes, those were isolated cases of poor management and oversight

• No, federal regulation is too lax

• I’m not sure

To vote, go to PBN.com and follow the link on the home page

The Providence Business News Executive Poll is a weekly survey of 70 business leaders throughout the state, representing small and large companies in a variety of industries.

The good ol’ bus is what we need most

Public transit in the U.S. is in a sorry state – aging, underfunded and losing riders Many proposed solutions focus on new technologies, such as self-driving cars and flying taxis. But as a researcher in urban policy and planning, I see more near-term promise in a mode that’s been around for a century: the city bus.

Today, buses in many parts of the U.S. are old and don’t run often enough or serve all the places where people need to go. But this doesn’t reflect the bus’s true capability. Instead, as I see it, it’s the result of cities, states and federal leaders failing to subsidize a quality public service.

Few U.S. politicians have focused on bus riders’ experiences over the past halfcentury. And many executives have lavished precious federal capital dollars on building new light, rapid and commuter rail lines, in hope of attracting suburban riders back to city centers and mass transit.

This was never a great strategy to begin with, and the pandemic-era flight of knowledge workers to home offices and hybrid schedules has left little to show for decades of rail-centric efforts. Meanwhile, countries in Europe and Latin America have out-innovated the U.S. in providing quality bus service.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Many U.S. cities are coming around to the idea that buses are the future of public transit. And the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law enacted in 2021 is providing billions of dollars for new buses and related facilities.

A century ago, motorized buses were the technological wonder of their day. Rolling fast on tires over newly paved streets, buses upended urban rail transit by freeing riders from aging, crowded, screeching streetcars.

At that time, transit lines were mostly privately owned. But this model was failing as riders became car drivers and new zoning laws prioritized car-friendly single-family housing.

Transit executives trying to eke out a profit saw buses as a way to reduce spending on track maintenance and labor costs for “twoman” operated streetcars. City leaders and planners also embraced buses, which helped them justify removing streetcar tracks to make streets more navigable for cars.

Across Europe, cities relied on buses to support and complement their modernizing tram or subway networks. Political leaders provided deep subsidies to deliver better bus and rail

In the U.S., however, federal investments in the same time frame focused on building a national highway system to serve private automobiles. Lacking tax subsidies, bus networks could not compete with cheap cars and government-funded highways. Aging buses and infrequent service became the default postwar reality – and buses had to travel on local streets crowded with cars.

Between 1945 and 1960, U.S. transit companies typically lost half or more of their riders as white Americans moved to urban fringes or suburbs and became car commuters.

Buses are the most likely option for … expanding public transit ridership.

Only a few cities that were willing to provide significant operating subsidies, including San Francisco and Boston, were able to maintain better bus networks and some trolleybuses.

Today, there’s renewed interest in improving bus service in the U.S., inspired by innovations around the globe, such as bus rapid transit – buses that run in dedicated lanes, with streamlined boarding systems and priority at traffic signals.

Advanced bus systems and new technologies flourish in regions where politicians strongly support transit as a public service.

In my view, buses are the most likely option for substantially expanding public transit ridership in the U.S. Millions of Americans need affordable public mobility for work, study, recreation and shopping. Car ownership is a financial burden that can be as serious for low-income families as the shortage of affordable housing.

Rapidly extending bus networks would be the speediest and most economical way to serve these families and grow transit ridership. U.S. roads and highways are already maintained by the government, eliminating the need to build expensive rail lines.

Innovations will only succeed long term with sufficient subsidies to maintain innovative services at reliable levels. The history of bus transit is littered with pilot programs that were abandoned on cost grounds just as they were gaining popularity. As I see it, buses don’t need to be faster or more convenient than cars to attract and retain riders –but they need to be, and can be, much better transit options than they are today. n

Nicholas Dagen Bloom is a professor of urban policy and planning at Hunter College. Distributed by The Associated Press.

The cautionary tale of ‘Dilbert’ and his creator

Dilbert, the put-upon chronicler of office life, has been given the pink slip.

On Feb. 26, Andrews McMeel Universal announced that it would no longer distribute the popular comic strip after its creator, Scott Adams, engaged in what many people viewed as a racist rant on his YouTube channel. Hundreds of newspapers had by then decided to quit publishing the strip

CHRIS

It followed an incident in which Adams, on his program “Real Coffee with Scott Adams,” reacted to a survey by Rasmussen Reports that concluded only 53% of Black Americans agreed with the statement “It’s OK to be white.” If only about half thought it was OK to be white, Adams said, this qualified Black Americans as a “hate group.”

“I don’t want to have anything to do with them,” Adams added. “And I would say, based on the current way things are going, the best advice I would give to white people is to get the hell away from Black people, just get the f— away … because there is no fixing this.”

Adams later doubled down on his statements, writing on Twitter that “Dilbert has been cancelled from all newspapers, websites, calendars, and books because I gave some advice everyone agreed with.”

Adams is wrong. If everyone had agreed with him, “Dilbert” would still be appearing

in newspapers.

The first “Dilbert” strip – a comic centered on mocking American office culture – appeared in 1989. It became a hit, and until recently, “Dilbert” ran in more than 2,000 daily newspapers across 65 countries.

Adams failed to grasp that being a social critic means your freedom of expression only goes as far as your audience is willing to accept it. Adams could say whatever he wanted to his YouTube audience because his listeners may have agreed with what he said.

Unfortunately for him, what he said on his program did not stay on his program.

But Adams’ comfortable salary depended on his satisfying a wider audience – many of whom found his opinions intolerable.

In a country that prides itself on its tradition of free expression, it’s important to explore the limits of free expression in the U.S. This can be done in part by looking at social criticism, as I did in my book “Drawn to Extremes: The Use and Abuse of Editorial Cartoons.”

Cartoonists are limited by their imagination, talent, taste and their sense of humor, morality and outrage. If they want an audience, they must also consider the tastes and sensibilities of their editors and readers.

Perhaps no cartoonist – before the ax fell on “Dilbert” – has seen his strip canceled

by more newspapers than Garry Trudeau, creator of “Doonesbury.” In 1984, dozens of newspapers canceled a series of strips wherein Doonesbury’s dim-witted newsman Roland Burton Hedley took readers on a trip through then-President Ronald Reagan’s brain, finding “80 billion neurons, or ‘marbles,’ as they are known to the layman.” And Trudeau’s syndicate, Universal Press, refused to distribute a strip that satirized an anti-abortion documentary Adams was punished not for what he included in his comic strip but rather for what he said on his YouTube program.

The context here is important. This was not the first time Adams has been censured after saying something deemed to be offensive. In May 2022, around 80 newspapers canceled “Dilbert” after Adams introduced his first Black character in the 30-plus year run of the strip. The character identified as white to prank his boss’s diversity goals. Adams lost some newspapers when he decided to mock diversity in the business world. He lost his strip when he used racist language to attack Black people on his YouTube program. n

Chris Lamb is a professor of journalism at Indiana University. Distributed by The Associated Press.

LAMB GUEST COLUMN

ONE LAST THING

Gregg M. Amore

R.I. Secretary of State

Gregg M. Amore began serving as Rhode Island’s 30th secretary of state on Jan. 3. He previously represented East Providence in the R.I. House from 2013 to 2023, and taught history and civics for more than 25 years.

ASa member of the General Assembly, I saw firsthand how the policies made at the state and municipal levels can impact the business owners, employees and customers that drive our state’s economy. Undoubtedly, local elections matter.

Now, as secretary of state, I see so many opportunities for collaboration with our business sectors, beyond the work of our business services division. In recent years, we have seen increasing threats to our democracy. It will take all of us, including government, private sector businesses and community organizations, to combat these threats. Local businesses can play a critical role in expanding civic participation.

Over the last few years, recruiting and maintaining poll workers has been a challenge. Poll workers are on the front lines of our democracy, and their work is needed to ensure the security and efficiency of our elections. I strongly encourage our state’s businesses to explore creating paid time-off opportunities for Rhode Islanders to serve as poll workers. It is important work and essential for our democracy. Our Rhode Island business sector is an important network, and I know there will be many opportunities for information-sharing and collaboration. I look forward to working with you to recruit poll workers, encourage civic participation and strengthen our democracy. n

Incentivize poll workers

CAREER ACHIEVER

Ann Kashmanian Brown Medicine, Chief Executive Officer

RISING STAR

Geralyn Hashway McGuinness Media and Marketing, Director of Accounts and Operations

PUBLIC COMPANY

Deborah Thomas Hasbro Inc., Chief Financial Officer

SMALL PRIVATE COMPANY

Christopher LaVine Marstone, Inc., CFO & Chief Strategy Officer

Brian Morley ResusciTech, Chief Marketing Officer

Michael Friedman Paolino Properties, Director of Sales & Leasing

MIDSIZE PRIVATE COMPANY

Bruce Berard Stanley Tree Service, Vice President & COO

Roxanne Nelson Falvey Insurance Group, Chief People Officer

LARGE PRIVATE COMPANY

Jon Giampietro Taco Comfort Solutions, SVP Operations

EDUCATION

E. Paul Larrat PhD University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, Dean

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Jason Gomez Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Chief Technology Officer

Anika Kimble-Huntley Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, Chief Marketing Officer

NONPROFIT/SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES

Meghan Grady Meals On Wheels Of RI Inc., Executive Director

An avid gymgoer, Jean-Jacques—“JJ” for short—Bouvard was used to waking early. But on a cold December morning a handful of years back, it wasn’t the alarm clock that got him up, it was the uncontrollable shaking of his left arm and leg.

Thinking it was nothing, JJ brushed it off when it lasted only moments and went about his routine. Days later he could no longer ignore the tremors, which had become more frequent.

“It was getting scarier by the minute,” he recalls.

JJ’s primary care physician ordered a CT scan and MRI, and the results shocked JJ and his wife…the images showed a tumor the size of a grapefruit on the right side of JJ’s brain.

Immediately, JJ was referred to renowned neurosurgeon and director of Rhode Island Hospital’s Brain Tumor and Stereotactic Radiosurgery Program, Dr. Steven Toms. A biopsy confi rmed grim news; stage 3 anaplastic astrocytoma, a highly aggressive cancer.

JJ’s best chance for survival was a complex surgery that was not without serious risk. The tumor, while accessible, was located beneath the motor and sensory part of the brain that controls JJ’s left side.

“My only goal was to wake up afterwards,” says JJ, “there was no alternative to not having the surgery.”

After a 6-hour procedure, Dr. Toms had successfully removed 98 percent of JJ’s tumor. But JJ still had a long road ahead.

Needing to relearn how to swallow, walk, and use his left arm and leg, JJ had intense speech, physical, and occupational therapy. Follow-up pathology of his tumor came back favorable, requiring JJ needed only a six month course of oral chemotherapy.

Four months to the day of his surgery, JJ returned to work. And shortly after, he was back to his normal, active lifestyle… working out and playing tennis three times a week, “like I used to.”

Meet JJ and hear more about his journey with brain cancer during Day of Giving on March 23.

Thank you to our media sponsor

“When you’re faced with possibly having just months to live, you view things differently. Every day is a gift and I remind myself of that often.”

— Jean-Jacques “JJ” Bouvard

Wafik El-Deiry, MD