Daniel J. McKee was in his element as he strolled along Main Street in East Greenwich one afternoon in July. It was another stop on his “RI Momentum Tour,” and with new R.I. Commerce Secretary Elizabeth M. Tanner in tow, McKee smiled and shook hands as he doled out certificates of special recog nition to small businesses that line the popular commercial district. The greetings were warm from shop owners who accepted the certificates “in commemoration for thriving as a small business during the COVID-19 pandemic.”Butnearly a month later, the tone in at least one Main Street business has grown a little cooler. At fashion boutique Bags by Iris Inc., owner Iris Gesualdi says she was glad McKee visited and thinks he has done a sufficient job of supporting small businesses in Rhode Island during the pandemic. But, she adds, there is room for improvement. AT CROSSROADS GOV.
BY JACQUELYN VOGHEL Voghel@PBN.com SECTION PBN’s 2022 Leaders & Achievers Awards
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PBN PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS pbn.com ONE LAST THING Michael J. Riley Balance brings perspective | 34 HEALTH MATTERS R.I. escalates efforts to contain monkeypox | 8 partner sponsors Concerns raised over new votingelectronicR.I.law BY NANCY LAVIN | Lavin@PBN.com SEE GOVERNOR PAGE 12 Is R.I. on the right path for economic development? SHOP TALK: Iris Gesualdi, right, owner of SALERNOPBNbusiness.advantagesstateshesuchsmallgoodMcKeesaysGailwithBagsGreenwichEastboutiquebyIris,chatsstoremanagerJames.GesualdiGov.DanielJ.hasdoneajobofassistingbusinessesashers,butstillfeelsthegivesunfairtobigPHOTO/MICHAEL YOUR SOURCE FOR BUSINESS NEWS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND | VOL. 37, NO. 8 | $5 AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 ONCE A COMMON office fix ture, fax machines have been reduced to a rare, if novelty, relic.Unless, of course, you’re a military member or overseas Theelection.IslandavotewantswhoresidenttoinRhodegood, old-fashioned fax machine has long been the only alternative to sluggish snail mail for overseas and military voters to receive and send back ballots.Until now.
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SEE VOTING PAGE 24 TECHNOLOGYFOCUS: SPECIAL
2 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com CONTENTS www.linkedin.com/company/providence-business-news@provbusnewswww.facebook.com/providencebusinessnewsWHAT’S HAPPENING? SUBMIT YOUR NEWS AT PBN.COM/PBNCONNECT/ PBN Providence Business News is published every two weeks by Providence Business News, 400 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903 (USPS 002-254) (ISSN 0887-8226) Periodical postage paid at Providence, R.I. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to 400 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903. 400 Westminster St. Providence, RI 02903 Main Phone: 401-273-2201 Subscription Services: 855-813-5805 ©2022 Providence Business News Inc. 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Riley .......................................34 FOCUS: TECHNOLOGY Concerns raised over new R.I. electronic voting law Computer scientists and voting security advocates are worried over a new law allowing some residents to vote electronically because they say the technology to do it safely doesn’t exist................................................................. 1 Cybersecurity must be part of company culture Experts say prevention is the best way to counter cybercrime and urge companies to integrate cybersecurity in their culture by setting solid polices and educating employees. 26 FOCUS: LAW REVIEW Opinions are split on Title IX proposals Some attorneys are frustrated with the Biden administration’s proposed changes to Title IX guidelines regarding how schools should handle sexual discrimination protections. 16 Statute ensures gratuities get into the right hands In June, the state enacted a law that prohibits employers from retaining workers’ tips, sets deduction requirements for credit card processing charges and creates new guidelines for tip pooling. ...................................................18 Lists Rhode Island Law Firms .....................................................20 Estate Planners 22 Software Development Companies 27 Rhode Island CIOs 28 5Q | 4 FOCUS: LAW REVIEW | 18 FOCUS: TECHNOLOGY | 26 THIS WEEK’S FEATURED COMPANIES Avenue N 5 Bags by Iris Inc. 1 Brown University 14, 24 Common Cause Rhode Island 14, 15, 24 CVS Health Corp. 15 DESIGNxRI 29 Discover Newport 9 Envision Technology Advisors LLC 26 EpiVax Inc. 8 Evergreen Solar Inc. 6 Gracie’s Ventures Inc. 23 Grow Smart Rhode Island 14 Hope & Main 29 Johnson & Wales University 15, 19 Kent County Memorial Hospital 8 Narragansett Bay Commission 26 Newport Hospital 8 Nixon Peabody LLP 16 Open Door Health 8 Rhode Island Black Business Association 12 Rhode Island Hospital 8 Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns 7 Rhode Island Manufacturers Association 29 R.I. Board of Elections 14 R.I. Commerce Corp. 12 R.I. Department of Business Regulation 9, 15 R.I. Department of Education 16 R.I. Department of Environmental Management 26 R.I. Department of Health 8, 29 R.I. Department of Revenue 9 R.I. Public Transit Authority 26 Roger Williams University 15 Stoneacre Brasserie 23 Stoneacre Garden 23 Taylor Box Co. 29 The Miriam Hospital 8 University of Rhode Island 15, 16 VIBCO Inc. 14 Wildly Witty LLC 6 CORRECTION: In the 2022 Healthiest Employers of Rhode Island Awards special section, CVS Health Corp. employee Diana Balavender’s name was misspelled in the photo caption. The company uses digital resources such as the Thrive app to help employees navigate stressful times, and all CVS employees, not just those covered by Aetna Inc., have access to additional counseling services, from face-to-face meetings to video or text sessions.
www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 3 FOR STARTERS COMMUNITYBristolSERVICECounty Savings Bank wraps 175th celebration with volunteer day VALUED ASSETS Taunton-based Bristol County Savings Bank recently wrapped up its 175th anniversary celebrations with an inaugural BCSB CARES: Employee Volunteer Day on July 12. The bank closed all its offices, and more than 260 employees spent the afternoon giving back at 13 different nonprofit organizations across the bank’s service area in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Each year, Bristol County Savings Bank averages more than 5,000 hours of giving back and assisting local relationship managers, trusted business partners, experienced commercial bankers, and committed to serve with integrity and trust.Weare Bank Rhode Island NMLS #410623Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender
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4 What are some steps you plan to take to keep local communities engaged in the arts? RISCA will continue to invest in local community partnerships. We work very closely with school districts across the state. And we are exploring ways to provide more direct support to cities and towns to incorporate arts and culture into their planning and development work.
5Q:
Director, R.I. State Council on the Arts
2 What role will the arts have in the state’s economic development ef forts under your tenure at RISCA? We can partner more intentionally with R.I. Commerce [Corp.], state wide workforce development efforts and place-based economic inclusion. The RISCA staff has been working across departments to build relation ships. And the education staff has opened a pathway from the state’s career and technical high schools directly to workforce development partners.
Lynne McCormack
… I think we can do more in terms of technical assistance support and I think we need to be investing in placebased approaches.
5 What do you see as the biggest challenges to the growth of the arts and culture sector in the state? In working nationally, I saw that the monetary investment in arts and culture [in Rhode Island] is not robust as in other places. We need to leverage other funding sources. … I’m excited to work across government to find new modes of support by working to inte grate arts into all the efforts we have going on in the state, from commerce to climate change. n PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO RISCA will continue to invest in local community partnerships. BY CLAUDIA CHIAPPA | Chiappa@PBN.com
3 How can you apply to Rhode Island what you learned at your previous role as national program director of creative placemaking for Lo cal Initiatives Support Corp.? During my tenure with LISC, I had the privilege of working with artists, cul ture bearers and community leaders across the country. … When arts and culture are employed to create social connection, drive economic opportu nity or create neighborhood visions for the future, we are using an assetbased approach to solving challenging problems. When we are intentional about exploring a place’s history, we can begin to heal and repair injustice.
1 How do you envision expanding Rhode Island’s commitment to the arts? My work has always been centered on making the arts accessible to all and centering racial equity. RISCA’s new strategic plan does just that. … We need to tell more stories and highlight how arts and culture contribute to the state’s well-being; how arts education drives innovation; how arts-based busi nesses create jobs; and how activities focused on arts and culture heal us.
WHERE DO IDEAS for new restau rants come from? There can be a sense of place, as in Rhode Island sea food or Kansas City barbecue. In our dining-destination state over the last several years, we have had a steak house stampede, a “better-burger” boom, martini-bar mania and lately, plantNickcity.Rabar, a Rhode Island chef and longtime restaurateur and media personality, is heading in his own direction. The originator of the popu lar eatery and market Avenue N has turned to chicken. He is putting the finishing touches on his new concept Honeybird and is getting ready to open its doors in East Providence. During a midsummer broadcast of my radio show, Rabar said, “Origi nally, the menu was going to be a bit more diverse.” It started during the COVID-19 pan demic. Avenue N was offering plates of fried chicken and macaroni and cheese to people in the food service industry in need. It turned out guests wanted it as well. The chef decided to keep it on the menu as a fried chicken sandwich to capitalize on the trend at the time, which has continued. Every Monday was Fried Chicken Sandwich night, and it became wildly popular at both Avenue N locations in East Providence and in Providence. Wings were added to the menu, as were tenders, a variety of sauces, pickles and fixings. Authentic South ern sides such as hush puppies, fried okra, and shrimp and grits also began appearing. And so did the customers, in droves.TheRabars freely admit that the Southern-influenced recipes reflect
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Focused on fried chicken the family’s visits to Charleston, S.C. They loved the town and the flavors. “But no one was saying, ‘When are you opening up your Southern restaurant or your burger place?’ ” Rabar said. He was instead constantly asked, “When are you going to open up your chicken restaurant?” He discovered that outside of one or two chains, there were no restau rants specializing in fried chicken. Even Colonel Sanders is on hard times with the once-ubiquitous KFC, formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, locations closing on a wide spreadRabarbasis.and his wife and business partner, Tracy, analyzed their exist ing menus and the marketplace. They realized that with their exist ing restaurants in East Providence and Providence, they had the bases covered – salmon, seafood, steaks, burgers, pizza, calamari. All were available at Avenue N within a mile or two of their new location. In other words, don’t look for those items on the menu at Honeybird. “The basis for our menu is and will be fried chicken,” Rabar said. The variety of Southern-style dish es will be offered as side dishes. There will also be a grilled chicken option and a vegan “chicken” selection. Rabar heaps praise on all who are involved in the evolution of his concept.“This has been a major renovation done by some of the best people in the business,” he said of the physical design of what was previously a gas station on Massasoit Avenue in East Providence.Thetimeline, which has extended beyond his original plan, has worked in the ownership’s favor. Most restau rant openings have a clock running. Once property is closed on, the bills become due, and the business must begin sustaining itself. Rabar said the delays, which he calls “the gift of time,” have allowed the evolution of the Honeybird concept to develop, for which he and his team are grateful. And over the din of those who insist the restaurant business must be turned inside out and become some kind of subsidized workers’ paradise, he has a clear vision of where his suc cess comes from. It is from us on this side of the table. “What are we without the people who come to support us?” Rabar said. The opening of Honeybird is planned for the end of August. n “Dining Out With Bruce Newbury” is broadcast locally on WADK 101.1 FM and 1540 AM and on radio throughout New England. Contact Bruce at bruce@brucenewbury.com.
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NEW DIRECTION: Nick and Tracy Rabar, the restaurateurs behind Avenue N, stand in front of what will become their next venture, a restaurant in East Provi dence called Honeybird that will feature fried chicken sandwiches. The Rabars plan to open the restaurant in late August.
SOLAR BROS: Rather than focus on flashy ads and marketing, Patrick Bartley, left, and Brian Fabiano, half-brothers and coowners of Evergreen Solar Inc. in Pawtucket, feel once they help people understand solar savings, the product sells itself.
6 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com FOR STARTERS SOMETHING NEW SPOTLIGHT
The employees who walk poten tial customers through the ins and outs of sun-powered energy for their homes aren’t referred to as sales people. Instead, they’re called “solar pros.”That’s because Fabiano and coowner Patrick Bartley don’t think they need slick marketing or pushy sales tactics to convince people to put solar panels on their roofs or lawns. The product sells itself, once customers understand how it works. Their job is helping people under stand.“Even today, it’s like explaining a foreign concept,” Fabiano said. “People really don’t understand it. To be fair, it is fairly complex.” Fabiano and Bartley, halfbrothers who share the same father, can relate. They spent the first few months in business grappling with unfamiliar science, engineering and financingFabianoterms.wasa partner in a home security company while Bartley was an analyst for a company that sold vacuums and blenders. Their foray into the solar industry was born out of casual conversations during a weeklong trip to Yosemite National Park.“We were both really passionate about renewable energy,” Bartley said. “Over the course of the trip, solar just kept coming up. By the time we left, we decided to start our own solar business.”
The idea took root quickly. They put together a business plan in a month, launching the two-man operation out of Bartley’s Lincoln apartment soon after. The learning curve was steep, initially. But rising electric bills and cultural shifts in attitudes toward renewable energy fueled the com pany’s“Rhodegrowth.Island’s high electric ity costs make it very easy to show a homeowner that this is saving money,” Fabiano said. “When you put solar next to what you would pay the electric company, it pales in comparison.”Especially now. Hours after Rhode Island Energy announced hikes in winter electric rates, poten tial customers flooded Evergreen Solar’s phone lines in a panic. Of course, not every solar hopeful is a good candidate. After walking potential customers through the basics of what home solar panels entail – the timeline, the cost, how long before they would see savings – Evergreen analyzes the property through software that uses shade mapping to show how much electric ity homeowners could get through solar, and how that compares to their energy needs. A home that doesn’t get much sun, or an apartment or condomin ium in which the owner does not have control of the outside infra structure, is not a good fit. Neither Fabiano nor Bartley have solar panels on their homes. Fabiano owns a condo and Bartley lives in an apartment. “It’s sad because we want every home to be able to do it,” Fabiano said.But he’s not interested in selling something that doesn’t benefit the customer. Really, he’s not inter ested in selling at all. Evergreen eschews door-knocking in favor of online-only marketing, although it also advertises by participating in animal rescue charity and fundrais ing events. n
COURTESY EVERGREEN SOLAR INC. Education is the focus, rather than sales BY NANCY LAVIN | Lavin@PBN.com
CUSTOM DESIGNS: Alyssa Chris tiansen with some of the flan nel shirts that she and co-owner Jordan Bedard sell through their Wildly Witty LLC fashion startup in COURTESYScituate. WILDLY WITTY LLC
Solar startup shines
FOR A COMPANY THAT makes its money from homeown ers buying solar panels, Evergreen Solar Inc. has a seem ingly contradictory philosophy. “We don’t sell solar,” said co-owner Brian Fabiano.
OWNERS: Brain Fabiano and Patrick Bartley TYPE OF BUSINESS: Residential solar project manager LOCATION: 163 Exchange St., Suite 201, Pawtucket EMPLOYEES: 15 YEAR FOUNDED: 2019 ANNUAL SALES: $5 million freshenFriends up flannels THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC of fered Jordan Bedard and Alyssa Christiansen a chance to spend time together in their Scituate hometown after years of longdistance friendship. Now in their early 30s, the childhood friends craved some thing meaningful to do with their newfound free time. And that’s how Wildly Witty LLC was born.The clothing business com bines their love for fashion – especially flannels – with sustainability. The flannel shirts are hand-picked from local thrift stores and reborn with custom bleach and distress designs, cre ated out of Christiansen’s home before being sold online through an e-commerce store. Since launching the business, Bedard has moved to England for her husband’s job, but the duo have kept their side hustle afloat. Christiansen, who still lives in Scituate and works as a nurse at Roger Williams Medi cal Center, handles the clothing creation while Bedard oversees the online orders. In addition to direct-to-con sumer sales, the business also of fers wholesale, and has struck a few deals with local boutiques. n BY NANCY LAVIN | Lavin@PBN.com
The town of nearly 4,500 residents also hopes to host a compassion center, DiFranco says, but that hasn’t
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ALTHOUGH RHODE ISLAND BECAME the 19th state to legal
Smithfield Town Council members had the same thought, says Council President Suzy Alba. “We really feel that the residents of the community should be able to have a say in whether or not retail locations should be allowed in Smith field,” Alba said. Under the new state law, up to 33 retail stores will be licensed in Rhode Island. The state’s Cannabis Control Commission hasn’t deter mined how it will decide who gets licenses and where. Retail sales are scheduled to start on Dec. 1. n of where it’s sold, he adds. “I think it’s obvious that recre ational marijuana is here to stay, whether you buy it in a neighboring community or in Cranston,” Paplaus kas said. “So if Cranston did opt out, it would be a loss for taxpayers to not have an opportunity to opt into that revenue.”Theopportunity was also too valuable to delay in rural Foster, says Town Council President Denise DiFranco. The council members discussed the issue at length before deciding to opt in. “We have no business in town,” DiFranco said. “We’re a very small town, and our residents are our tax base … we’re hoping to get something in town, and this seems like it might be not an answer but at least a start.”
www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 7 FOR STARTERS HOT EarlyTOPIC opt-in on cannabis for some BY JACQUELYN VOGHEL | Voghel@PBN.com
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• Easy access to experienced lenders. • Local decision making. • SBA Certified Lender. been finalized yet. “We felt that since the compassion center seemed to be getting positive feedback from residents of the town, we would move forward,” she said. Where the recreational cannabis question will be on the ballot on Nov. 8, some leaders say that the referen dum isn’t about an effort to oppose its Insale.Narragansett, Town Council President Jesse Pugh said that he doesn’t think of the ballot vote as a means to block the measure in Nar ragansett.“Itwas more about letting the vot ers decide,” Pugh said. “We were just voting on whether it should go on the ballot for the voters to choose.”
ize recreational cannabis as of May, local voters in most mu nicipalities will have the final say in November on whether retail marijuana shops will be allowed in their communities.
But a few cities and towns aren’t bothering to ask voters, instead opting in now because the economic benefits are too good to reject. A local referendum vote is the only way that cities and towns can prohibit recreational sales within their borders – a provision added to the Rhode Island Cannabis Act when the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns advocated for individual municipalities to have more say. Thirty-one Rhode Island munici palities have taken that route, filing to put the question on local Novem ber ballots. Another three commu nities – Providence, Warwick and Portsmouth – already have licensed medical cannabis treatment centers and will automatically allow canna bisButsales.the leaders of five other mu nicipalities – Cranston, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Exeter and Foster –elected not to leave it up to the local voters. Some said they felt that there is adequate public support for recre ational cannabis and they are eager for the tax boost that comes along with the sales. Under state law, sales will be taxed at 20%, which includes the state’s existing 7% sales tax, a 10% cannabis excise tax and a 3% lo cal tax that will go to the municipal ity where the sale takes place. This tax boost, combined with Cranston’s experience with medi cal marijuana cultivators already in the city, made a referendum seem unnecessary, City Council President Christopher G. Paplauskas says. And recreational cannabis will make its way into the city regardless ‘We’re hoping to get something in town.’
8 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com FOR STARTERS | HEALTH MATTERS
R.I. escalates efforts to contain monkeypox through contact with contaminated objects.Fordecades, cases of monkeypox have been primarily found in central and west Africa. But in May, a milder variant started spreading globally. Rhode Island recorded its first case in June. As of Aug. 9, there were 31 confirmed cases in the state. “All patients are being screened, and we have isolation procedures in place for any patients with suspected or confirmed cases,” said Dr. Laura Forman, chief of emergency medicine at Kent Hospital. As of Aug. 9, there had been 30,189 cases of monkeypox reported glob ally, with 8,934 cases in the U.S., the country with the most reported cases. None of the U.S. cases has been fatal. Most cases so far have affected men who have sexual relations with other men, but experts are warning the public not to lower their guard. “It’s important for everybody to be aware of it and not to have a false sense of security that only people who fit into a particular group are at risk,” RaposoWhilesaid.many patients have mild symptoms that fade within a month, some people with more aggressive symptoms can take an antiviral medi cation called tecovirimat. It has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but early data indi cates it is safe and effective against monkeypox.Themedication is offered for inpa tient treatment at Rhode Island Hospi tal, The Miriam Hospital and Newport Hospital, while the Miriam’s Infec tious Diseases & Immunology Center and Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinic offer it for outpatients, too. The only vaccine currently admin istered against monkeypox is Jyn neos, a smallpox vaccine developed by Danish biotechnology company Bavarian Nordic A/S and approved by the FDA in 2019. Jynneos is admin istered in two doses, but the vaccine has been in short supply. Since May, the federal government has shipped more than 600,000 doses of Jynneos nationwide. Because of its low case count, Rhode Island has not been allocated as many doses as neighboring states. As of Aug. 4, Rhode Island had received 1,874 doses, which only vac cinate a small portion of the state’s atrisk population. Department of Health spokesperson Joseph Wendelken said health officials were expecting to order another 650 doses on Aug. 15. Because vaccines have been scarce, Rhode Island had been offering them only to patients believed to have come in close contact with the virus. But a delivery of 900 doses in early August allowed the state to expand its eligi bility to other at-risk groups. More than 390 people were vac cinated at two community clinics in Rhode Island earlier this month. “If the higher-risk individuals can all be protected, that may prevent the virus from spreading more broadly,” said Dr. Joseph M. Garland, the medi cal director of the Infectious Diseases & Immunology Center at The Miriam. “I certainly am hoping that we can get ahead of this outbreak.” n a cough or sore throat used to be a lot sim pler. But since the outbreakCOVID-19more than two years ago, common symptoms have become a potential sign of something moreAndserious.now,with monkeypox making its way through the country for the first time in decades, diagnosing the problem is get ting even more complicated. Headache, exhaustion, fever, cough and congestion – these are some of the initial symptoms of monkeypox, a viral disease related to smallpox but generally milder and rarely fatal. Spotting the virus early can be “Wetricky.seearound 165 people a day and I would venture probably 45 of them have something on that list,” said Andrew Ra poso, nurse director of emergency services at Kent County Memorial Hospital. “We really had to update our front-end process to screen.”SinceJune, Kent and other local hos pitals have instituted a more stringent process to detect patients who may have monkeypox. Some symptoms now trigger questions about rashes or bumps, recent travel and recent intimate contacts. It’s one of the steps that health care providers in the state have taken to slow the spread of monkeypox, which the U.S. declared a public health emergency on Aug. 4. Some Rhode Island hospitals are offering treatment options for patients in more severe condition, and more clinics have started distributing vaccines for atrisk“Wepopulations.wanttoget the information out there, we want people to be aware that this is happening, what the signs and symp toms are, and to get tested,” said Dr. Philip Chan, consultant medical director at the R.I. Department of Health and chief medical officer at Open Door Health clinic in Providence. Chan is also a member of the Monkeypox Task Force established in July by Gov. Daniel J. McKee to monitor the outbreak and guide the state’s response. Meanwhile, Providence-based immunol ogy company EpiVax Inc. is looking for a partner with funding and experience to start clinical trials for a smallpox vaccine EpiVax developed that could also be effec tive against Monkeypox,monkeypox.aviraldisease that pre dominantly lives in animals but can infect humans, can be transmitted through close contact with lesions, body fluids or
THESPREADINGWORD: Dr. Philip MICHAELPBNoutbreak.ordermonkeypoxsymptomsthebeingofthedence,clinicDoorofficerchiefofR.I.calconsultantChan,medidirectoratDepartmentHealthandmedicalatOpenHealthinProvistressesimportancethepublicawareofsignsandofintoslowthePHOTO/SALERNO
TREATING ‘I certainly am hoping that we can get ahead of this outbreak.’
BY CLAUDIA CHIAPPA | Chiappa@PBN.com
DR. JOSEPH M. GARLAND, The Miriam Hospital’s Infectious Diseases and Immunology Center medical director
ALL OVER THE MAP: A screen
“That’s true with all kinds of licenses though,” Dwyer said. Opponents, including Airbnb and McKee, protested the registry because of the cost and paperwork to both rental owners and state administra tors. Airbnb did not respond to inqui ries for Evancomment.Smith,CEO and president of Discover Newport, doubted the list or the $50 fee would dissuade people from renting out their properties.
owner who keeps a quiet house and doesn’t have any run-ins with the po lice could fly under the radar, avoid ing the registry and fees.
of the Airbnb rentals available in
State business regulators are going to start taking names – and charging fees – of Rhode Island property own ers who rent out their homes through websites such as Airbnb Inc. and Vrbo, but the enforcement of the new registry is going to be limited. The short-term rental registry, mandated by the General Assembly af ter overriding Gov. Daniel J. McKee’s veto at the beginning of the year, aims to track who is renting out vacation properties, where they are and how many there are. It is set to launch on Oct. 1, and un der the rules proposed by R.I. Depart ment of Business Regulation in July, owners who advertise properties for rent on third-party hosting platforms would have to register and pay a $50-per-property application fee, plus $50 every two years to stay on the list. But Elizabeth K. Dwyer, DBR interim director, acknowledges that the agency has no power to ensure the people on its registry comply with noise ordinances or safety rules, or pay the appropriate state and local taxes.“It doesn’t really regulate them,” she said. “It’s just providing the infor mation. So if a neighbor doesn’t know what’s going on next door and wants to look the property up, they can.”
charges. COURTESY AIRBNB INC. Will R.I. vacationdiscourageregistryshort-termrentals? BY
of
www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 9 PBN.COM | ANOTHER LOOK
(Editor’s note: A version of this story was first published on PBN.com on Aug. 12.)
“Fifty dollars is not going to stop anybody, that’s pocket change,” he said. “This is a big business. You’re not selling lemonade. You’re going to get that money back in the first night [of a Smithrental].”supports the registry to regu late the burgeoning short-term rental industry, which he said has swelled to 20% of Newport’s housing market in recentKeepingyears.a list can also make sure rental owners pay their share of state and local taxes. Smith suspects a “sig nificant” amount of third-party rental owners were underpaying their taxes, and that the registry could increase state and municipal revenue by bring ing them to light.
The R.I. Department of Revenue has not done a fiscal analysis of the new law but reported that short-term rentals and room resellers brought in just under $1.3 million in hotel tax revenue during the first 11 months of fiscal 2022. By comparison, taxes on traditional hotel rooms yielded $21.2 million in the same period. However, in a written statement explaining the rules, DBR said some third-party rental properties might be withdrawn from the rental market because of the registry. While state estimates indicate there are about 4,000 short-term rental properties in Rhode Island, DBR figures only about 2,600 will be reg istered in fiscal 2023 because of errors in data, duplicate listings and some properties leaving the rental market. Public comment on the proposed rules can be sub mitted to DBR no later than Aug.So27.far, there hasn’t been a groundswell of opposi tion. As of Aug. 16, eight people had commented, most of them asking ques tions about how the registry wouldDwyerwork.notes, however, that public feedback often ramps up in the final days of the comment period. n
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Failing to register could bring a fine of up to $1,000, but DBR also has no way to know if someone who is supposed to be on the list is missing. The fees cover the administrative cost to maintain the registry but do not fund proactive identification or enforcement, Dwyer says. “I think we will find out who needs to be on the list through the people who wanted the legislation – neigh bors, police departments who respond to noise complaints,” she said. She acknowledges that a rental shot some Newport, along with nightly NANCY LAVIN | Lavin@PBN.com
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INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3JqIcJH forEngagingchange
Greater Providence Chamber will hold gubernatorial forum
THURSDAY, AUG. 25, 4:30-7 P.M. Free ServPro of Dartmouth/New Bedford, 1476 Purchase St., New Bedford.
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THE GREATER PROVIDENCE Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2022 Gubernatorial Election Forum. Attendees will hear directly from the candidates: Gov. Daniel J. McKee, Matt Brown, Helena Buonanno Foul kes, Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea, Luis Daniel Munoz and Ashley Kalus. Candidates will answer questions about their vision for the state’s future and plans to grow and sustain the state’s economy and support lo cal businesses. The event is in person only. Registrations are due Aug. 30.
THURSDAY, AUG. 25, 6-9 P.M. $60 Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston. INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3Ok7CcE On the links THE GREATER NEWPORT Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2022 Golf Tournament, hosted by Wanume tonomy Golf & Country Club. The morning tournament will include a grab-and-go breakfast. The tourna ment will be followed by a networking luncheon and awards reception. Spon sorship opportunities are available.
Arrangements by Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory, Vero Beach, FL. A guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com
INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3ofCH6W CALL: Monday - Friday at 6:30 am. day. EDITION: Monday - Friday at 2 pm. The day’s top business HEALTH CARE: Every Monday BANKING & FINANCE: Every Tuesday TECHNOLOGY & MANUFACTURING: Every other Wednesday NONPROFIT & EDUCATION: Every other Wednesday
• DAILY
THURSDAY, SEPT. 8, 8:15-10 A.M. $50/person; $650/table of eight Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick, 801 Greenwich Ave., Warwick.
PBN FILE PHOTO/NICOLE DOTZENROD websitesWorking
10 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com FOR STARTERS | WHAT’S HAPPENING
THE TAUNTON AREA Chamber of Commerce will hold a virtual work shop titled “Make Your Website Work for You” as part of its Grow with Google series. Bryan Caplan, Grow with Google trainer, will lead attend ees through the ins and outs of getting a website on the online search engine. Attendees will discover how to create a search-friendly website that drives user action and supports their goals. A 25-attendee minimum is required to hold the workshop. THURSDAY, AUG. 25, 2-3 P.M. Free Online. INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3zOYnxo End withsummerabash ONE SOUTHCOAST CHAMBER of Commerce will hold an End of Sum mer Business After Hours Bash, hosted by ServPro of Dartmouth/New Bedford. The event will offer compli mentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres and plenty of time for attendees to net work with one another.
MONDAY, AUG. 29, 8:30 A.M. $195/golfer; $750/foursome Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club, 152 Brown Lane, Middletown.
Summarizing major business items of the
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E-NEWSLETTERS THE NEWS YOU NEED delivered to your inbox daily. Content straight from the PBN newsroom, plus industry-specific news and insights. Add Events@PBN.com and Info@PBN.com to your address book to ensure that our newsletters get to your inbox. • MORNING
INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3zpwlXK MEET THE CANDIDATES: The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2022 Gubernatorial Election Forum on Sept. 8 at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick in Warwick.
PROMINENT RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS WOMAN PASSES AWAY GLORIA DUCHIN passed away peacefully, Sunday morning July 31, at her home in Vero Beach, Florida surrounded by her loving family. Born in Yonkers, New York, on August 12, she was the daughter of Dominic and Mary (Severino) DeStefano. A fiercely intelligent, accomplished and beautiful woman, Gloria’s drive and ambition unfolded initially in New York City at Lord & Taylor 5th Avenue where she worked and rose in the ranks from an office clerical to fashion buyer, efficiency expert to merchandising executive. At the same time, she was hand selected by fashion designer Anne Fogarty to be the face and model of her women’s collection at Lord & Taylor. Eventually she became one of the youngest recipients to receive a Gold Medal award, presented to her by Dorothy Schaver, then president of Lord & Taylor, for exemplary achievement: a highlight of Gloria’s seven year tenure at the retailer. Her business success continued at Lillian Vernon mail order company as Vice President, with responsibility for purchasing and running the manufacturing division. It was there where Gloria’s entrepreneurial spirit was nurtured and interest in running her own business took root. In 1979, she founded Gloria Duchin Inc. a design and manufacturing company located in East Providence, Rhode Island. Running her company was a passion, and despite endless hard work she equally acknowledged the importance of timing and luck in terms of success. This was clearly exemplified by one of her very first customers, Walmart Inc. At the time the giant retailer had approximately 240 stores. As the retailer grew, so did her company. Today, Walmart remains a customer and Gloria Duchin has over 100 million copyrighted ornaments in circulation. In later years she would often tell the story of how proud Walmart’s founder, Sam Walton, was that her jewelry and metal, engravable Christmas ornaments were made in the USA. Over the years Gloria and her company received numerous, national awards and nominations from the McDonald’s Corporation, Target, Things Remembered, and Entrepreneur of the Year, New England. A determined and generous spirit she would offer support when needed and in whatever form it might take, personally or financially. She took great pride in working with and developing young people, especially her employees which continued throughout her life time. She was enormously proud that her company contributed over a million dollars throughout the years to the Make a Wish Foundation through a collaboration with the retailer, Things Remembered. In addition her company also generously supported The 911 Fund after September 11, 2001, and also donated Guardian Angel keepsakes that were requested by many of the families from Sandy Hook, in December 2014. Her generosity extended, often but not exclusively to the community in where she resided: The Ronald McDonald House Providence, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, American Heart Association New England, as well as the Cleveland Clinic, Indian River Hospital in Vero Beach. In her recently published memoir, A Story of Perseverance and Success, she notes that despite all of the enjoyment and success she experienced in business, nothing was more important to her than her family. And her family would agree. She was predeceased by her beloved husband David M. Duchin, brothers Albert, Carmine, Daniel, Edward, and Frank DeStefano; sisters Grace Jewels and Jean Merriman. Gloria is survived by her loving daughter, Robyn Smalletz and her son in law Theodore of Providence, Rhode Island, grandson Jonathan, his wife Dania, and great grandchildren Shayna and Alexander of North Bethesda, Maryland. A Celebration of Life will be held privately at a later date.
••• In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Wounded Warrior Project.
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HOPE AND CHANGE FOR HAITI, a local nonprofit organization that advocates for women and immigrant rights and promotes culture aware ness, will hold its third annual En gage for Change Gala. The event will assist to maintain the organization’s operations here in Rhode Island and in Haiti. The organization offers as sistance with immigration, women’s programming and microfinance.
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IMPACT RI, a nonprofit aimed at helping underserved Rhode Islanders achieve financial security and stable housing through education and train ing, will hold a networking fundrais er. All funds raised will support the organization’s community work and operations.
yourManagingfunds
WHAT’S HAPPENING
FRIDAY, SEPT. 2, 8-9 A.M. $5/members; $10/nonmembers South County Habitat for Humanity, 1555 Shannock Road, Charlestown.
INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3SowhA7
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WEDNESDAY, AUG. 31, 8 A.M. Free Online.
ONE SOUTHCOAST CHAMBER of Commerce, in partnership with the Massachusetts Export Center, will hold a virtual discussion titled “Pow ering Your Exports: A Program for Manufacturing and Tech Companies.” The event will discuss steps to take for international expansion, imple mentation of export operations and potential pitfalls. It will also review government resources available to help supercharge your exports. Mas sachusetts Export Center Director Paula Murphy will be guest speaker.
THE SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND Chamber of Commerce will hold a First Friday Coffee networking event, hosted by South County Habitat for Humanity. The event will invite local businesspeople to mingle and create partnerships with one another over cups of coffee. Coffee will be donated by Seaworthy Coffee Roasters. Car tridge World will also be on-site to collect e-waste recycling during the event.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 31, 5-8 P.M. $30 The District, 54 South St., Providence.
yourPoweringexports
THE CENTER FOR WOMEN & En terprise will hold a workshop titled “Personal & Small Business Finance.” The workshop will share information on money management, spending and saving, and investing for the future. The event will also discuss manag ing personal finances, while thinking about the future as an entrepreneur.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 31, 9 A.M. Free Online.
THE NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND Chamber of Commerce will hold a Women’s Business Council network ing pop-up event, hosted by AQUA at Providence Marriott Downtown. The event is in partnership with the Chamber, the Rhode Island Hospi tality Association and Women in Hospitality. The event will also hold a clothing drive, with donations sup porting Foster Forward.
www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 11
THURSDAY, SEPT. 1, 4-6 P.M. $15/members; $25/nonmembers Providence Marriott Downtown, 1 Orms St., Providence.
anMakingimpact
INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3d3ZgcB Morning meet-up
| FOR STARTERS
byNetworkingthepool
INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3zucwhR
UPCOMING PBN EVENT: The 2022 Business of Cannabis Summit will be held on Thursday, Sept. 15, from 9-11 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick in Warwick. For more information, visit PBN.com. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Advertising@PBN.com. Interested in having your businessrelated event included in What’s Happening? Contact PBN Researcher James Bessette at (401) 680-4838 or Research@PBN.com.
READING THE ROOM: Gubernatorial candidate Nellie Gorbea, left, visits with Books on the Square manager Jennifer Kardarian during a recent tour of Way land Square businesses in Providence.
PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
THE NEXUS Other candidates are critical of McKee’s role in leading R.I. Commerce but directed less criticism at the Tidewater project.
With the primary election for the gubernatorial race looming on Sept. 13 and a general election on Nov. 8, voters such as Gesualdi will get a say on Rhode Island’s post-pandemic economic develop ment, or at least who will be setting that course. McKee faces a Democrat primary challenge from R.I. Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea, for mer CVS Health Corp. executive Helena Buonanno Foulkes, community organizer Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz and former Secretary of State Matthew A. Brown. The winner will face Republican frontrun ner Ashley Kalus, a businesswoman, or Jonathan Riccitelli in November. The incumbent has certainly put his imprint on the state’s economic development since he was elevated from lieutenant governor after then-Gov. Gina M. Raimondo left for Washington, D.C., in AprilUnder2021.the McKee administration, R.I. Commerce Corp. has used federal relief money to create mil lions of dollars worth of grant and loan funds for local businesses needing help in the pandemic. But more recently, McKee has aligned himself with much bigger projects, too, throwing his politi cal weight behind the controversial $344 million Tidewater Landing project in Pawtucket and a plan to transform the “Superman” building in Providence that would require millions more in tax“Therecredits.is space, and need, for both local small businesses and larger corporations that bring hun dreds of jobs and tax revenue to the state like we are seeing with our developers in Quonset and the offshore wind industry,” McKee said in an emailed needs.”Hecited “significant taxpayer protections built into the framework,” including no state payments for the stadium prior to a certificate of occupancy, an agreement for profit sharing/repayment for any capital events, and protections for the state against cost escalations.
12 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com response to questions from Providence Busi ness News. “These jobs are Rhode Islandbased jobs and they boost our economy.”
Gorbea says one of these missed opportunities lies in a lack of coordination between existing busi ness resources. Commerce can amend this issue by serving as “a nexus of information and partner ships,” she said. As governor, Gorbea sees herself in a role “to leverage Commerce’s resources with those that are being provided by the federal government and those that already exist in our community,” she said, including professional and business associa tions, chambers of commerce and nonprofit orga nizations such as the Rhode Island Black Business Association “It’s that interconnectedness [that] helps you leverage your resources in a much stronger way,” GorbeaGorbeasaid.says that while the state should welcome out-of-state businesses looking to move or expand to Rhode Island, the governor should dedicate more resources to supporting and scaling up small businesses already here. “We have got to get out of this inferiority complex that somehow, the businesses here in
ELECTION
SENSE OF DIRECTION: Gubernatorial candi date Helena Buonanno Foulkes says she would like to create a navigator concierge program at R.I. Commerce Corp. to help entrepreneurs get started in business.
“I think that currently, there are a lot of missed opportunities in the way that Commerce is being led by the governor,” Gorbea said. “I do look for ward to reorienting its resources to invest in local businesses, to serve as a capacity-building institu tion for Rhode Island businesses.”
The state also needs to prepare for a forecasted recession, he says, and brace for inflation trends that can further complicate the Tidewater renova tion“Iproject.don’tthink Rhode Island’s trajectory for get ting out of the recession is going to be as efficient or as quick as we would like to see it if we continue to look at economic development through the lens of big corporations,” Muñoz said. Kalus also lambastes the project and R.I. Com merce for focusing on “corporate welfare,” calling for a philosophical change involving more work force training opportunities and a focus on entre preneurs.Tidewater Landing and the “Superman” build ing’s redevelopment are “headline-grabbing proj ects” that don’t guarantee a return on investment, sheKalussays. says that R.I. Commerce can foster a busi ness environment supportive of both small busi nesses and out-of-state corporations. But currently, Kalus adds, the state struggles to support either. “The mistake of Commerce right now [is] the idea that you can try to attract, or you can basical ly bribe businesses to come here,” Kalus said. “We need to address the fundamental fact that we’re not competitive.”McKeehas stood behind the stadium project. “The Tidewater Landing project is a great in vestment for Pawtucket and for the state,” McKee said. “We can’t say we want to help Pawtucket but not actually make the investment that the city
PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO ‘I don’t think supporting large projects is inherently a bad thing, and can in fact be a good thing.’
But the tricky balancing act between supporting small businesses and larger corporations has been amplified recently by the developments sur rounding the Tidewa ter Landing project in Pawtucket that will be anchored by a 10,000seat soccer stadium along the Pawtucket River. The project hinges on $27 million in state subsidies and another $19 million in cityMcKeefunds.has advo cated for the Tidewa ter development and last month cast the tiebreaking vote on the R.I. Commerce board that will allow the project to move ahead with a reworked public financing deal. It’s a project that some of McKee’s opponents have been quick to criticize. Muñoz, whose economic development platform emphasizes support for microbusinesses, says that while looking to support its smallest companies, the state must move away from providing finan cial incentives to projects proposed by out-of-state interests that will cost taxpayers.
CONTINUES ON PAGE 14 GOVERNOR
OFF BALANCE?
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Gesualdi, who’s been on Main Street for 35 years and owns her building, has been troubled by increasing taxes. She says Bags by Iris has been able to absorb the costs, but she worries other small businesses can’t. Making matters worse, she believes that small businesses are shouldering the tax burden while the state appears to favor large, out-of-state corporations. “A lot of times [corporations] don’t have to pay the taxes that we do, or any taxes at all,” Gesualdi said. “[The state] lowers their tax rate, and that’s not fair. … There should be some for us too, even though we’re little ones.”
SCOTT WOLF, Grow Smart Rhode Island executive director
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Some candidates see edge in forming teams BY JACQUELYN VOGHEL | Voghel@PBN.com
PBN FILE PHOTO/CASSIUS SHUMAN
The strategy has key attractions, observers say, such as the potential benefit of drawing from a running mate’s popularity in certain communities – for McKee, Matos is a strong presence among the state’s growing Latino community, Schiller says, and among smallbusiness“Sabinaowners.Matos can consolidate her power and popularity, and I think she would encour age people to vote for McKee, as well,” Schiller said.Another attraction: establishing the basis for a productive working relationship. “When the governor and lieutenant gover nor run as a team and are elected as a team, you avoid the possibility of a divided elective government,” Schiller said. Rhode Islanders witnessed this issue in recent years, Schiller says. When McKee served as lieutenant governor, he felt ignored and left out of policy decisions by then-Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, a fellow Demo crat. The rift came to a head during the CO VID-19 pandemic when McKee played no part in daily televised briefings or behind-the-scenes strategy sessions, and then he openly criticized the Raimondo administration on what he per ceived as a lack of support for small businesses. After McKee stepped into the governor role midterm in 2021 following Raimondo’s depar ture to become U.S. commerce secretary, he had the rare opportunity to appoint his own lieutenant governor and picked Matos. John Marion, executive director of Com mon Cause Rhode Island, says he was surprised when McKee informally dubbed Matos his running mate at the start of this campaign, but Marion chalks it up to their unique relation ship.“Perhaps because he was able to choose her when he was elevated to governor, he feels com pelled to run with her,” Marion said. Like Schiller, Marion, who has led Common Cause since 2008, has also never witnessed can didates for governor and lieutenant governor teaming up as running mates. Brown and Mendes have even received verbal approval from the R.I. Board of Elections to share financial resources. Their campaign finance reports are filled with records of reim bursements for various expenditures. McKee and Matos, meanwhile, have so far kept their finances separate. But an official policy allowing candidates to run together on the ballot would benefit both candidates and voters, observers say.
Marion also notes that the strategy of run ning as unofficial running mates could back fire, with an unfavorable relationship between the governor and lieutenant governor if only one of the running mates wins their election.
THE DUO: Gov. Daniel J. McKee, left, and Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos tour bearing company Igus Inc.’s plant in East Providence in February.
as McKee’s decision to tax forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans over $250,000, which Foulkes says dis courages business owners and drives away companies looking to expand in the Ocean State, Foulkes says. Brown and Riccitelli did not re spond to messages seeking comment.
14 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com ELECTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 our state can’t compete or aren’t as good as those outside of our state,” she said. Foulkes also wants to put special emphasis on growth opportunities for small and midsize busi nesses, which she says can be accomplished in part through demystifying the process behind running a business and working with state agencies. Foulkes says she has spoken to business owners who have struggled to navigate state agencies and find answers to simple questions. In response, she proposes a business navigator concierge program that helps entrepreneurs understand what it takes to start a business and the major issues they might face, with emphasis on support for women and minority-owned businesses. The state can also increase support for women and minority-owned businesses through a require ment “that the state have some sort of penalty if we don’t meet our requirement on the books that 10% of our contracts should go to women and minority businesses,” Foulkes said. She also sees fault in current state policies such and their economic policies for more than 40 years, says McKee has es tablished a strong financial commit ment to improve housing, with a $250 million allocation toward housing in the fiscal 2023 budget, including $80 million for affordable housing. But Wolf would like to see more em phasis on multifamily development. “Cash is critical, but there also needs to be land use reform, zoning reform in which communities decide that they’re willing to allow more small units of housing in compact neighborhoods,” Wolf said. Karl Wadensten, CEO and presi dent of VIBCO Inc. and a longtime R.I. Commerce board member, says there’s a need for a simple change: creating a regulatory system that smallbusiness owners can easily navigate. “It feels like we still have a lot of fences con tinuing to be put up, as far as navigating regula
BROWN UNIVERSITY political science professor Wendy Schiller can’t ever remember candi dates for Rhode Island governor and lieuten ant governor teaming up as though they were official running mates. That’s in part because Rhode Island is one of 17 states where the governor and lieutenant governor cannot run on the same ticket. But this election cycle is different. Not just one but two pairs of Democratic candidates have established informal joint campaigns: Gov. Daniel J. McKee and Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, and former R.I. Secretary of State Matthew A. Brown and state Sen. Cynthia Mendes.“This is the most aggressive teaming I’ve seen in 25 years in the governor’s race in Rhode Island,” Schiller said. Matos regularly appears at McKee’s shoul der during news conferences and is frequently quoted in press releases issued from the gov ernor’s office. Mendes joined Brown and other protesters in camping out for 16 days outside the Statehouse last December to call attention to homelessness as part of their progressive platform. And they’ve shared campaign money, too.As to why they’re choosing to run together, Brown, Mendes and Matos did not respond to requests for comment. McKee said he wants to continue working with Matos because “she is an experienced leader, and she has done a great job stepping up for our communities, especially veterans and minority communities.”
GOING BEYOND Observers say the next governor’s plans for R.I. Commerce and economic development must go beyond direct support for large or small companies and address key areas that go hand in hand with supporting business.
Former Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts, a Democrat who served in the role from 2007 to 2015, says voters feel the impact of a poor relationship between a governor and lieuten ant governor. Roberts’ tenure as lieutenant governor overlapped part of the tenures of both Donald L. Carcieri, a Republican, and Lincoln D. Chafee, then an independent. She worked around those governors, in her first year as lieutenant governor releasing a report on the future of stem cell research in the state. Later, she assembled an advisory group on providing affordable health care to all Rhode Islanders. Still, she would prefer teamwork in the executive branch. “I think in the long run, it’s important that Rhode Island comes to have the governor and lieutenant governor serve together, having been elected on a ticket,” Roberts said. “It’s just as important that the governor and lieutenant governor have a way of working together effec tively on behalf of the governed.”
Scott Wolf, executive director of Grow Smart Rhode Island, sees several areas of critical focus for the next governor, including affordable workforce housing, improvements to public transit and alter native transportation, and downtown Providence revitalization.Wolf,whohas been watching administrations Matthew A. Brown
Selecting a running mate also means taking on the risk that if one becomes involved in a scandal, the reputation of both can suffer, Schil lerButsays.Schiller believes that making the gover nor and lieutenant governor part of the same ticket as running mates would improve the state’s governance. “I think voters benefit when there’s a team,” she said. n
“It could create an awkward situation if only one of the members of the ticket advances to the general election,” Marion said, “because likely, they’ll be paired with someone who was attack ing their running mate. “There’s also the possibility that the ticket decides to break up before the election,” he added, which could create further complica tions if the candidates were sharing finances.
Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz
KALUS FOR GOVERNOR
“The continued elevation of cost of cam paigns at the local and national level is a daunt ing problem that needs to be addressed without the government completely controlling elec tions,” DeJesus said. A mix of self-funding and fundraising has left Foulkes with much financial firepower, which she has put to work. Facing a Sept. 13 Demo cratic primary against McKee, Gorbea, former Secretary of State Matthew A. Brown and Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz, Foulkes has spent $3.2 million as of Aug. 16 – the most of all the candi dates – including $1.4 million during the second quarter. As of Aug. 16, $182,781 remained in her warKalus,chest.who faces lightly funded Jonathan Ric citelli in the Republican primary, had spent $2 million as of Aug. 16, with most of that coming in the second quarter. She had a $246,675 bal ance as of Aug. 16. Gorbea has spent $1.4 million on her cam paign as of Aug. 16 and had $362,706 in cash on hand. McKee, meanwhile, spent $1.3 million as of Aug. 16 and had $633,256 on hand. For his part, Brown expended $320,920 on his campaign as of Aug. 16 and had $80,418 remain ing while Muñoz had spent $13,750 and had $789 on hand. Riccitelli, who loaned himself $3,000, spent $2,873 in the second quarter and had $226 left as of June 30. n
R.I. Commerce also needs a better under standing of the state’s various communities and their unique needs, Wadensten says, noting that a recent board visit to the Tidewater Landing site was the first time “80% of the board mem bers” had been there. Wolf doesn’t see McKee’s support for the Tidewater project as a shift away from small businesses, unlike some of the governor’s chal lengers.McKee “needs to, and can, walk and chew gum,” Wolf said. “I don’t think supporting large projects is inherently a bad thing, and can in fact be a good thing, especially if they are proj ects that serve a public purpose.”
But Leonard Lardaro, an economist at the University of Rhode Island, says the next gover nor and economic development officials should move cautiously before negotiating incentives in the near future. While he says he sees indications that the state has moved into the early stages of com plete recovery from the pandemic, there are also signs Rhode Island’s economy is starting to slow as monetary tightening begins to take a toll.
Lardaro said. “When you have a business climate like that, what that really means is that when companies come to Commerce Corp., you have to make some fairly attractive offers, and I think those companies know that Rhode Island is in a weak position.”
LISTENING MODE: Republican gubernatorial candidate Ashley Kalus meets with residents at an event in Canonchet Cliffs retirement community in COURTESYHopkinton.ASHLEY
Rhode beenthebusinesshavinguniversallywith,merceonlydownturns.lastfollowingtheLardaropredateeconomicIsland’sweaknessesthepandemic,says,withstatetraditionallya“firstin,out”patternduringAndthatgivesR.I.Comsomuchtoworkheadds.“RhodeIslandispannedasoneoftheworstclimatesinU.S.,andthat’sgoingonforyears,”
2 newcomers running well-funded campaigns BY CLAUDIA CHIAPPA | Chiappa@PBN.com
TWO BUSINESSWOMEN running for governor who are also mounting their first political cam paigns have so far led the way in digging into their personal wealth to give themselves muchneeded horsepower in the crowded race.
The rest of the world has become accustomed to getting what they need quickly and efficient ly, Wadensten says, and if Rhode Island doesn’t adjust, it will soon fall further behind.
Does it matter where the money is coming from?Some political observers say it’s unrealistic to expect candidates to only look for in-state donors.“[Rhode Island] is a very small state with a very small donor base,” Speakman said. “All these candidates are going after a relatively small number of Rhode Islanders for their money.”Butultimately, Kevin DeJesus, associate professor of political science at Johnson & Wales University, says the issue is the exponential increase of campaign expenditures. For candi dates to be taken seriously, they often need to raise vast sums of money. For some, that means relying on out-of-state donors or on self-funding.
Republican candidate Ashley Kalus, a health care executive who moved to Rhode Island last year, has reported loaning her campaign a total of $2.2 million since she first declared her candidacy in February, including $1.2 million in June alone, according to state campaign finance filings as of Aug. 16. Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Helena Bu onanno Foulkes, former president of CVS Health Corp ’s pharmacy division, has loaned $615,00 to her own campaign – a $100,000 loan late last year after launching her campaign, $400,000 in March and another $115,000 in August, election finance reports from the same period say. By comparison, incumbent Democratic Gov. Daniel J. McKee and fellow Democrat Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea haven’t loaned them selves any money since each officially declared their intention to run for governor. Instead, McKee has raised about $1.4 million in individual contributions from April 1, 2021, to Aug. 16, 2022, and accepted $81,300 in political action committee donations. In the same period, Gorbea raised $1.3 million from individuals and $18,000 from PACs. Both candidates already hold public offices and have had time to build a net work of donors and kicked off their campaigns with a solid set of contributors. Other candi dates do not have the same luxury. “For candidates who are new to the politi cal arena, it’s really hard to raise money,” said June Speakman, political science professor at Roger Williams University and a Warren state representative running for reelection. “So it’s not surprising to me that these two candidates who are wealthy and new to the arena are selffunding.”Indeed, John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, notes that there’s a history of six- and seven-figure personal loans to gubernatorial campaigns in Rhode Island, citing former Democratic candidate Myrth York and Republican Gov. Donald L. Carcieri as examples.Butcampaign finance filings show Foulkes – granddaughter of the late U.S. Sen. Thomas J. Dodd and niece of U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn. – has also tapped into a network of donors that stretches nationwide despite being a political newcomer. While Kalus has reported only $86,647 in individual contributions since her campaign launch earlier this year, including $62,529 in the second quarter, Foulkes had collected $2.7 mil lion in donations from individuals as of Aug. 16, making her the fundraising leader of the seven candidates.“We’reseeing an uptick in candidates who have national networks that they’re able to tap into,” Marion said. Looking for donors outside of the state might be another solution for candidates who are not as established in the state, observers say. Foul kes and Kalus, respectively, have seen only 38% and 44% of their donations come from Rhode Islanders, according to an analysis of campaign finance records as of June 30. That’s in contrast to McKee, whose campaign heavily relies on his local roots – he grew up in the Blackstone Valley – and can flaunt over 76% of his contributions being from Rhode Island. For Gorbea, about 53% of her donations came from people with Rhode Island addresses.
GETTING DOLLARS OUT Tanner, the former director of the R.I. De partment of Business Regulation, was appointed commerce secretary in June after Stefan Pryor stepped down to run for general treasurer. One of her early tasks: stepping into negotiations with Tidewater Landing developer Fortuitous Partners and helping to come up with the re worked public financing deal. But for all the attention on the controversial Tidewater deal in recent weeks, Tanner says she and McKee are interested in putting the spotlight back on those type of programs helping smallMcKeebusinesses.toutsthat his administration has dis tributed $18 million in grant funding for more than 3,700 small businesses during his 1½ years as governor.Regardless of the election results, Tanner says her top priority right now is dispersing federal aid to help more businesses. “The goal is to get those dollars out by the end of the year,” Tanner said. n
www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 15 ELECTION
tory silos,” Wadensten said, “and that’s been a problem in Rhode Island for a long time.”
Compared with the “one-stop shopping” expe rience business owners navigate in many other states, Wadensten says, Rhode Island’s system is “very clunky, very incohesive.”
Opinions are split on Title IX proposals said the ever-changing interpretation of the law makes it hard for schools to keepThereup. are also trainings for staff and students – expanded under the Biden proposal – and a process for investigating and taking action on complaints.Thelatter was what most con cerned John R. Grasso. While the current law set forth by the Trump administration lays out a quasi-judi cial hearing process, including crossexamination, for Title IX complaints, the new Biden proposal would give schools more flexibility in how they settle these complaints. Formal hear ings and cross-examination would no longer be required, and a single investigator can examine the facts and make a decision. Grasso, a criminal defense attorney with his own Providence practice, said this would violate due process. “It’s ridiculous,” said Grasso, who has represented students accused of Title IX complaints – known as re spondents – from many Rhode Island colleges and universities. “Without the opportunity to access evidence and challenge it in a somewhat reallife hearing, any confidence and trust in the process that remains will be lost.”Grasso didn’t think the change to a single-investigator model, if approved, would mean fewer Title IX com plaints. But it would make it harder for him, as the attorney representing respondents, to win those cases. “Eventually, I think the system will preclude people like me from being useful to young men or women accused of Title IX violations,” Grasso said.Anthony F. Cottone, chief legal counsel for the R.I. Department of Education, offered a different take. He welcomed the changes, which would make it less traumatic or intimidat ing for the students – some as young as elementary school-aged – to speak up about gender discrimination or harassment.“It’sespecially important in elementary and secondary school to have flexibility [in adjudication] because of the age and vulnerability of the victims,” he said. The Biden proposal also widens the protections to include gender identity and students and employees who are pregnant.Cottone said the changes could increase the number of complaints made to the district alleging Title IX violations. But that wasn’t a bad thing in his Larsen,view.meanwhile, was unsure the new laws would make much of an im pact at URI, as the university has had relatively few Title IX complaints. Indeed, official violation numbers did not change drastically after the Trump laws took effect, dropping from seven in the 2019-20 academic year to five the next, Larsen said. And while the newest set of laws includes many big changes, she felt the university was well positioned to adapt, in part because it already goes above and beyond the minimum train ing requirements for students and employees. n
STEVEN M. RICHARD, Nixon Peabody LLP partner
16 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com FOCUS | LAW REVIEW
CHALLENGE:COMPLIANCE Steven M. Rich ard, a partner at Nixon Peabody LLC in Provi dence, says MICHAELPBNkeepformakestionadministraoneofinterpretationever-changingtheTitleIXfrompresidentialtothenextithardschoolstoup.PHOTO/SALERNO
then-President Barack Obama rocked the education world with his “Dear Colleague” letter in 2011, Kara Larsen wasn’t paying much attention. The revolutionary guidance on sexual discrimination protections in schools had little to do with her job at the Office of the Attorney General in Washington state. Little did Larsen know that a decade later, the federal civil rights law known as Title IX would consume her summer. It was June 2020 and Larsen had just started a new job at the University of Rhode Island as assistant vice president of enterprise risk management and Title IX Newcoordinator.TitleIX laws issued by the Trump administration had upended the Obamaera standards for how schools dealt with sexualLarsendiscrimination.spentthefirst few months of the job combing through hundreds of pages of federal documents and attending virtual webinars explaining the legal nu ances as she worked to ready URI for the changes.“Itwas, of course, challenging,” said Larsen, an attorney who had previously specialized in employment benefits and health care law. “It was a new subject for me. But that’s what lawyers do; we read the regulations and we learn.” Now, those same lawyers, including Larsen, are trying to learn a new set of rules. The Biden administration in June proposed sweeping changes to the gender equity law, reversing many of the Trumpera changes around who is protected and from what, and how schools should handle the complaint process when prob lemsThougharise. still in the early stages of the process – with ongoing public comment before administrative approval and a congressional review – schools and attor neys are readying for what’s coming. Some predict trouble ahead. “We’re headed for a huge political and judicial log jam,” said Steven M. Richard, a partner at Nixon Peabody LLP in Provi dence who leads Title IX and education practices. “It’s a quagmire.” Richard’s biggest concern was not with what is being changed, but rather the see-saw pattern of requirements changing from one presidential adminis tration to the next. Richard, who repre sents several Rhode Island higher edu cational institutions in Title IX lawsuits,
WHEN BY NANCY LAVIN | Lavin@PBN.com ‘We’re headed for a huge political and judicial log jam.’
www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 17 A partner-led law firm businessesindividualsrepresentingand 301 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 www.cm-law.com401.331.5700 Every client deserves an experienced law firm partner who is invested in their success—and that is what Cameron & Mittleman delivers. Timely • Trusted • Individualized
18 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com FOCUS | LAW REVIEW Statute ensures gratuities get into the right hands SERVICE-MINDED: Paul Bagdan, professor of hospitality at Johnson & Wales University, says Rhode Island’s new tip protection law sets needed guidelines on tip pooling and restriction on when employers can deduct credit card processing charges from gratuities. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO BY AMANDA GRAY | Contributing Writer Recognizing women in the Insurance industry who are navigating company restructuring, serving on boards, innovating, and mentoring the next generation, while making an impact on their communities. Profile women leaders, new or veteran, in this special feature in the PBN Insurance Focus Section on Sept. 2nd. September 2, 2022 DEADLINE: August 24, 2022 Reserve your ad space by contacting Jim Hanrahan at 401-680-4816 or Hanrahan@PBN.com Don’t miss this chance to share your success with your customers and employees. WOMEN IN INSURANCE A special PBN advertising section Information to include in profile: • Name • Job Title • Company Name • Phone number • Email address • Company Website • Number of years working in current industry • Number of years with current company/firm • Degree/university • Official bio, 150 to 300 words • High resolution headshot (minimum 300 dpi) full page 9.75” x 13.73” half page 9.75” x 6.34” quarterpage 4.79”x 6.34” ANYONE WHO HAS WORKED in the service industry knows how rapidly things can change from one shift to the next. One night’s tips might cover the monthly rent; another might be just enough to afford weekly gro ceries. Tipped workers have little choice but to accept the uncertain ty, often depending on customer generosity and employer integrity. Now Rhode Island has added a little more protection for tipped workers to its law books. In June, the state enacted a law that pro hibits employers from retaining workers’ tips and sets deduction requirements for credit card processing charges. The statute also creates new guidelines for tip pooling, which in the past has been used by some establish ments to illegally pay part of the wages of nontipped, “back of the house” workers such
transparency,there‘Wheneverisnotthereare
PAUL BAGDAN, Johnson & Wales University professor of hospitality
The new tip protection statute, which applies to all employers in Rhode Island, makes it clear that tips are the “sole property” of the tipped employee. The need for that clarifica tion has grown over the years as the use of credit cards has become more common in tipping, according to Brian Warrener, associate professor in JWU’s College of Business. What use to be mostly a cash transaction – leaving a few extra dollar bills on the restaurant table for the server – is now mostly done on a credit card receipt, which then involves the business in the collec tion and distribution of tips. “Employers are being thrust into the middle of that transaction,” Warrener said. “And more mistakes have been made [in distributing those tips], on purpose or not.” Sen. Meghan E. Kallman, DPawtucket, says “gray areas” in tip collection and distribution motivated her to sponsor the legislation in the Senate last session to prevent wage theft.“We needed to eliminate … legal gray areas in which employers were getting away with wage theft,” she said in an email response to ques tions. “And in restaurants especially, there were big gray areas.”
A DIFFERENT METHOD: Providence restaurant Gracie’s, operated by Gracie’s Ventures Inc., eliminated tipping in 2020, instead implementing a 20% fee on dining bills that are shared equally among all staff members.
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PRESENTING SPONSOR as cooks and dishwashers. The measure aligns with much of the tip-related provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, and Rhode Island joins several other states in adopting laws governing the payment of tips. Some observers say the Rhode Is land statute is even-handed, protect ing the tips of the workers who earn them but allowing employers to de duct processing fees for tips made on credit cards in many circumstances. “It’s a smart law,” said Paul Bagdan, professor of hospitality at Johnson & Wales University
The areas included forced “tip pools,” in which tipped employees –anyone who regularly received more than $30 a month in tips – contrib uted their gratuities to pay the wages of back-of-the-house workers. Under the new law, such pools can include nontipped employees only if the employer pays full minimum wage – $12.25 an hour – for workers and does not take any “tip credit,” meaning using gratuities in the minimum-wage calculations. (Under Rhode Island law, employers may pay tipped employees a wage of as little as $3.89 per hour, so long as the tips for the week push the hourly rate to at leastThe$12.25.)pooling of gratuities can still be required among tipped employees, but the establishment must notify employees of the amount of the con tribution, and the establishment can’t take the tips for other purposes, the lawInsays.fact, in early August, U.S. De partment of Labor sued the owners of a Newport restaurant chain, accusing them of violating federal wage laws
questionsalways .’
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PBN FILE PHOTO/JAMES BESSETTE
| JamesRuggierihcc-law.com 10 Dorrance St., Suite (401)272-3500Providence,R.I.02903400 14 464 Business law, employment law, insurance law, litigation, workers' compensation defense 16 2021: 14 Robinson & ColeLLP |rc.com Roger A.Peters II, partner-in-charge, Providence office 1 Financial (401)709-3300Providence,R.I.02903Plaza 13 328 Business transactions and finance, data privacy and cybersecurity, environmental, insurance coverage and real estate 17 2021: 16 Chace
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Banking and finance; bankruptcy and reorganization; real estate; communications and technology; corporate and business law; employment and labor law; health care; litigation; securities; trusts and estates; nonprofit organizations
7 2021: NL DarrowEverettLLP |darroweverett.com ZacharyDarrow, chairman;Joshua Berlinsky, managing partner 1 Turks Head Place, Suite 1200 (401)453-1200Providence,R.I.02903 25 21310 Government investigations, intellectual property and technology, regulatory and compliance, tax law, private wealth services, corporate business and transactions
20 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com CLOSER LOOK Total number of local lawyers: 496 FOCUS | RHODE ISLAND LAW FIRMS (ranked by number of local lawyers) 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 Sept. 2: RhodePrivateCasualtyResources,PreparednessDisaster&ResponseProperty&Insurers;Sept.16:SecondarySchools,Island-basedBanks. WANT TO JOIN? For more information about participating in PBN’s Top Lists, or to make additions or corrections, call (401) 680-4838 or write to Research@PBN.com. NL = Not listed last year. FOOTNOTES j Also known as Hinckley Allen. David J. Rubin will step down as managing partner on Sept. 1. Patrick A. Rogers will become the firm’s new managing partner. Nixon Peabody LLP’s Providence office has an additional department attorney, who is neither a partner, associate nor a counsel, on staff. FOCUS | RHODE ISLAND LAW FIRMS (ranked by number of local lawyers) 2022 rank Law firm | Website Managing partner(s) PhoneAddress No. lawyerslocalof No. of counselAreasassociates/partners/local of practice 1 2021: 1 Hinckley, Allen & SnyderLLP 1 | DavidJ.hinckleyallen.comRubin 2 100 Westminster (401)274-2000Providence,R.I.02903St. 56 61337 Construction, corporate, litigation, real estate, trusts and estates 2 2021: 2 Adler Pollock & SheehanPC | RobertP.apslaw.comBrooks 1 Citizens Plaza, 8th (401)274-7200Providence,R.I.02903Floor 54 141525 Commercial litigation, corporate, government, health care, labor and employment 3 2021: 4 Chisholm Chisholm & KilpatrickLtd. | J.ScottKilpatrickandRobertcck-law.com V. Chisholm, founders and managing partners 321 South Main (401)331-6300Providence,R.I.02903St. 32 3236 Insurance litigation, veterans' disability benefits, long-term disability insurance, life insurance and ERISA litigation 3 2021: 3 Locke LordLLP ChristopherGraham,|lockelord.comProvidence office managing partner 2800 Financial (401)274-9200Providence,R.I.02903Plaza 32 5918 Corporate, litigation, private equity, public finance, real estate 3 2021: 4 Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O'GaraLLC GaryPannone,|pldolaw.commanagingprincipal 1301 Atwood Ave., Suite 215N (401)824-5100Johnston,R.I.02919 32 5522 Corporate and business law, administrative law, employment law, criminal defense-white collar, estate and trust planning/administration/litigation 6 2021: 6 Partridge Snow & HahnLLP |psh.com HowardMerten 40 Westminster (401)861-8200Providence,R.I.02903St. 31 10318 Business law, commercial finance, commercial real estate, employment and labor, litigation
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10 2021: 8 Cameron & MittlemanLLP | JohnW.cm-law.comWolfe,SallyP. McDonaldand Karen G.DelPonte, managing partners 301 Promenade (401)331-5700Providence,R.I.02908St. 19 2314
12 2021: NL Pierce AtwoodLLP |pierceatwood.com R. ThomasDunn, Providence office partner-in-charge 1 Financial Plaza, 26th Floor (401)588-5113Providence,R.I.02903 16 0511 Arbitration/mediation, bankruptcy/receivership, construction, ERISA and fiduciary liability, employment law, energy infrastructure, real estate, trusts and estates, tax, insurance, maritime and probate litigation 2021: 12 Duffy & SweeneyLtd. | co-foundersMichaelSweeneyandRobertDuffy,duffysweeney.comandmanagingpartners
8 2021: 7 Barton GilmanLLP Shoulkin,AngelaCarr,MatthewPlainandEdward|bglaw.commanagingpartners 1 Financial Plaza, 18th (401)273-7171Providence,R.I.02903Floor 21 4107 Business and civil litigation, education law, employment law, health care and medicalmalpractice defense
8 2021: 10 Morrison MahoneyLLP | MarkNugent,morrisonmahoney.commanaging partner, Providence office 10 Weybosset St., Suite 900 (401)331-4660Providence,R.I.02903 21 0912 Insurance defense, professional liability, workers' compensation, product liability and medical malpractice.
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23 2021: 19 Olenn & PenzaLLP |olenn-penza.com JosephPenza Jr. 530 Greenwich (401)737-3700Warwick,R.I.02886Ave. 8 116 Admiralty/marine, insurance defense, labor and employment, municipal and business, personal injury, professional liability
1 Citizens (401)454-1000Providence,R.I.02903Plaza 16 3 447 Complex litigation, health care, labor and employment, middle-market mergers and acquisitions, white-collar defense 2021: 11 Higgins, Cavanagh & CooneyLLP Ruttenberg & FreedmanLLP Park Row, Suite (401)453-6400Providence,R.I.02903300 0210 Corporate, affordable housing, bankruptcy/ insolvency, commercial real estate, elder, environmental, estate planning, litigation, health care. NL Brennan, Recupero, Cascione, Scungio & McAllisterLLP BenjaminScungio|brcsm.com (401)453-2300Providence,R.I.02909Broadway 11 335 Bankruptcy and creditors' rights, business law, commercial finance, family law, real estate law, education and municipal law 2021: 18 Burns & LevinsonLLP |burnslev.com SeanCoffey, partner-in-charge, Providence 1 Citizens Plaza, Suite (401)831-8330Providence,R.I.029031100 10 046 Business litigation, real estate, environmental, infrastructure and public-private partnerships, private client 2021: 23 Sayer Regan & ThayerLLP Sayer,MarkThayer,PeterReganandRichard|srt-law.compartners 130 Bellevue (401)849-3040Newport,R.I.02840Ave. 10 343 Administrative, admiralty/maritime, business law, commercial/civil litigation, elder and Medicaid, employment, estate planning, family, real estate 2021: 23 Blish & CavanaghLLP | JosephCavanaghblishcavlaw.com Jr. 30 Exchange (401)831-8900Providence,R.I.02903Terrace 10 136 Civil litigation, corporate and business law, personal injury, real estate and land development, trust and estates
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22 2021: 19 Salter McGowan Sylvia & LeonardInc. |smsllaw.com MarkSylvia, managing principal 56 Exchange Terrace, 5th Floor (401)274-0300Providence,R.I.02903 9 423 Estate planning and administration; tax and business law planning; bankruptcy, receivership and insolvency law
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24 2021: 25 McIntyre TateLLP | mcintyretate.com JerryMcIntyre 50 Park Row West, Suite 109 Providence, (401)351-7700R.I.02903 7 016 Family law, general litigation, personal injury, probate and estate planning
1 Also known as Hinckley Allen. 2 David J. Rubin will step down as managing partner on Sept. 1. Patrick A. Rogers will become the firm's new managing partner. 3 Nixon Peabody LLP's Providence office has an additional department attorney, who is neither a partner, associate nor a counsel, on staff.
25 2021: 26 Barlow Josephs & HolmesLtd. | partnersStephenHolmesandDavidJosephs,barjos.com 40 Westminster St., 3rd Floor (401)273-4446Providence,R.I.02903 3 003 Intellectual property enforcement and related litigation, U.S. and foreign patent/trademark prosecution
321 South Main St., Suite 400 (401)455.0700Providence,R.I.02903 16 169 Business law, litigation, banking and finance, construction, employment, fiduciary and trusts, hospitality, insurance coverage and intellectual property 2021: 12 Nixon PeabodyLLP | StephenZubiago,nixonpeabody.comCEO and officepartner;ArmandoBatastini,managingProvidencemanagingpartner
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11 2021: 9 Roberts, Carroll, Feldstein & PeirceInc. EdwardAvila,|rcfp.commanaging shareholder and president 10 Weybosset St., Suite 800 (401)521-7000Providence,R.I.02903 18 369 Business and corporate, commercial real estate, finance, government relations, labor law, medical malpractice
partnersCarlFreedmanandRichardLand,|crfllp.com 1
partner sponsors presenting sponsor Accounting For sponsorship and advertising opportunities, contact REGISTER NOW TOCONGRATULATIONSTHEWINNERS& AWARDS FASTEST GROWING 2022 2 GREAT PROGRAMS | 1 AMAZING EVENT FASTEST GROWING COMPANIES (listed alphabetically) $250,000 TO $5 MILLION Integrated Media Group IT Support RI Lathrop Insurance Agency Inc. Lezaola Thompson Insurance O’Neill Consulting $5 MILLION TO $25 MILLION Adcare Rhode Island Available Staffing Network LLC Brave River Solutions Inc. Catalano Construction Inc. Pranzi Catering and Events Inc. $25 MILLION TO $75 MILLION Acertitude Inc. Greenwood Credit Union J2 Construct Inc. John Matouk & Co. Purvis Systems Inc. $75 MILLION AND ABOVE BayCoast Bank Blount Fine Foods Corp. Charcuterie Artisans LafranceSEACORPHospitalityLLC INNOVATIVE COMPANIES (listed alphabetically by category) Architecture, Construction & Engineering Gilbane Building Co. Energy & The E2SOLEnvironmentLLC Food, Beverage & Agriculture Blount Fine Foods Corp. Government R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority Health & Wellness First Circle Inc. (Chewsi RI) Innovative Collaboration Rhode Island CEO •USManufacturingCouncilExtrudersInc.NonprofitsDESIGNxRITechnology•FlorLinkInc.FluxMarineLtd. • NVTS Night Vision Technology Solutions Inc. september 29 | 5:30-8pm the graduate hotel
22 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com CLOSER LOOK Ranked by total number of employees: 1 Marcum LLP Total no. of employees: 125 2 Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP Total no. of employees: 105 3 DiSanto, Priest & Co. Total no. of employees: 100 FOCUS | ESTATE PLANNERS (ranked by number of estate planners) 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 Sept. 2: RhodePrivateCasualtyResources,PreparednessDisaster&ResponseProperty&Insurers;Sept.16:SecondarySchools,Island-basedBanks. WANT TO JOIN? For more information about participating in PBN’s Top Lists, or to make additions or corrections, call (401) 680-4838 or write to Research@PBN.com. FOOTNOTES j Also known as Hinckley Allen. Piccerelli, Gilstein & Co. in Providence merged with Marcum LLP on July 5. FOCUS | ESTATE PLANNERS (ranked by number of estate planners) 2022 rank Company | CEO/PresidentWebsite PhoneAddress No. employeesofTotalplannersestateofno. No. fiduciaryServicesActclientsestateofas offered 1 2021: 1 Washington Trust Wealth Management | KathleenA.Ryan,washtrustwealth.comexecutive vice president and chief wealth officer 23 Broad (800)582-1076Westerly,R.I.02891St. 27 95 YesNA Financial, retirement and tax planning; investment management 2 2021: 3 Hinckley, Allen & SnyderLLP 1 | DavidJ.Rubin,hinckleyallen.commanaging partner 100 Westminster (401)274-2000Providence,R.I.02903St. 13 105 Yes6,500 Construction, corporate, health care, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, trusts and estates 3 2021: 6 Cameron & MittlemanLLP DelPonte,JohnW.Wolfe,SallyP.McDonaldandKarenG.|cm-law.commanagingpartners 301 Promenade (401)331-5700Providence,R.I.02908St. 10 43 Yes4,000 Banking and finance, bankruptcy and reorganization, real estate, communications and technology, corporate and business law 4 2021: 4 Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O'GaraLLC | GaryR.Pannone,pldolaw.com managing principal 1301 Atwood Ave., Suite 215N (401)824-5100Johnston,R.I.02919 9 63 YesNA Trust and estate planning, administration and litigation, business succession, elder law, tax minimization strategies, wills and probate 5 2021: 9 Salter McGowan Sylvia & LeonardInc. | MarkG.Sylvia,smsllaw.com managing principal 56 Exchange Terrace, 5th Floor (401)274-0300Providence,R.I.02903 8 15 YesNA Asset protection, elder law, estate administration and planning, state and trust administration 6 2021: NL Professional Planning Group | MalcolmA.Makin,ppgadvisors.com founder, CEO and president 9 Granite (401)596-2800Westerly,R.I.02891St. 7 18 Yes1,526 Wealth management, investment management, charitable giving, estate planning 7 2021: 9 Corrigan FinancialInc. DanielG.Corrigan,corriganfinancialinc.com|president 747 Aquidneck (401)849-9313Middletown,R.I.02871Ave. 6 27 No500 Investment management, personal financial planning, tax preparation 7 2021: 16 MarcumLLP 2 managingThomasE.LisiandMichaelM.Tikoian,|marcumllp.compartners 144 Westminster St. and 155 South Main St., No. 100 (401)600-4600Providence,R.I.02903 6 125 Yes450 Estate planning; estate, gift, generationskipping trust, and trust tax planning and compliance; wealth transfer strategies 9 2021: 7 DiSanto, Priest &Co. |disantopriest.com EmilioN.Colapietro, managing partner 117 Metro Center (401)921-2000Warwick,R.I.02886Blvd. 5 100 Yes50 Estate, gift and trust tax planning and related compliance matters; retirement and succession planning 10 2021: 12 Chace Ruttenberg & FreedmanLLP |
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CarlFreedmanandRichardLand,crfllp.com partners 1 Park Row, Suite (401)453-6400Providence,R.I.02903300 20 YesNA Estate planning (including wills, trusts, health care directives, HIPAA authorizations, powers of attorney); trust and estate administration; Medicaid planning 2021: 16 Roberts, Carroll, Feldstein & PeirceInc. | EdwardG.Avila,rcfp.com managing shareholder and president 10 Weybosset St., Suite 800 (401)521-7000Providence,R.I.02903 4 38 YesNA Business and corporate, commercial lending, government relations, insurance defense, insurance/health care licensing and regulation, intellectual property 2021: 12 Weinberg & Co.LLP |weinbergcpas.com CarlWeinberg, managing partner 300 Centerville Road, Suite 350W (401)737-6300Warwick,R.I.02886 4 34 NoNA Estate planning, gifts and trust administration, succession planning 2021: 16 F.L. Putnam Investment ManagementCo. | ThomasP.Fay,flputnam.com regional president, Providence 10 Weybosset (401)861-0424Providence,R.I.02903St. 3 11 YesNA Investment management, financial and estate planning, and consulting services 2021: 16 McLaughlinQuinnLLC |mclaughlinquinn.com ThomasP.Quinn, managing partner 148 West River 4014215115Providence,R.I.02904St. 3 11 YesNA Bankruptcy, business and corporate, estate planning, IRS/state tax resolution, tax planning, intellectual property 2021: 12 Partridge Snow & HahnLLP |psh.com HowardMerten, managing partner 40 Westminster (401)861-8200Providence,R.I.02903St. 57 NoNA Business, commercial real estate, employment and labor, intellectual property and technology, litigation 2021: 20 Adler Pollock & SheehanPC |apslaw.com RobertP.Brooks, managing partner 1 Citizens Plaza, 8th (401)274-7200Providence,R.I.02903Floor 2 96 Yes800 Estate planning; trusts; wealth preservation/asset protection; financial planning; long-term care planning 2021: 20 Blish & CavanaghLLP |blishcavlaw.com JosephV.Cavanagh Jr., managing partner 30 Exchange (401)831-8900Providence,R.I.02903Terrace 2 15 Yes500 Estate planning, including business succession plans, elder law, estate litigation, probate, trusts and wills 2021: 22 Burns & LevinsonLLP |burnslev.com SeanO.Coffey, partner-in-charge, Providence 1 Citizens Plaza, Suite (401)831-8330Providence,R.I.029031100 2 17 YesNA Estate planning for family-owned businesses, heirloom real estate, and high net worth clients 2021: 12 Moonan | Stratton | WaldmanLLP | partnersKristenPrullMoonanandAmyE.Stratton,mswri.com 4 Richmond (401)272-6300Providence,R.I.02906Square 5 NoNA Asset protection, charitable planning, elder law, estate planning, Medicaid, probate/ trust administration Also known as Hinckley Allen. 2 Piccerelli, Gilstein & Co. in Providence merged with Marcum LLP on July 5.
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“Credit card companies have a service charge on each sale, around 1% to 3% depending on the company, and some businesses will deduct from the employees’ tips to pay that fee,” said Greg Henninger, an attorney at Littler Mendelson P.C.’s Providence office. “The new law doesn’t prohibit employers from taking from em ployees’ tips to pay that fee, but that amount taken out cannot reduce the pay below the minimum wage.”
restaurants nation wide in recent years have switched to flat service charges that are shared among staff members instead of tip ping, in part because of claims that tipping can facilitate racism, sexism and wage theft. In 2020, downtown Providence restaurant Gracie’s, operated by Gracie’s Ventures Inc., implemented a 20% tipping fee, equally shared among all staff members. The teamsharing model raised employee wages
MEGHAN E. KALLMAN, state senator beyond the state minimum wages, the restaurant said. But Bagdan and Warrener say a shift to do away with tipping hasn’t worked for all restaurants. Most no tably, New York restaurateur Danny Meyer eliminated tips in favor of service charges at his Union Square Hospitality Group restaurants in 2015 but reversed course five years later, in part because the COVID-19 crisis had upended the industry but also because many diners and servers remained attached to tipping. Tipping is deeply entrenched in North American service culture, making the possibility for a complete transition away from it complex, Kall man“Movingsaid. away from tipping will require a critical mass of restaurants, bars and other service industry busi nesses to do it together; it has to be a kind of system change within the industry,” she said. “It’s very clear that the tipping system does not treat all workers the same way and can be a way of avoiding responsibility for paying living wages.”
Washington Trust Wealth Management® is a registered trademark of The Washington Trust Company, which has licensed its use to its parent, affiliates, and subsidiaries, including Washington Trust Advisors, Inc. Investment products are offered through Washington Trust Wealth Management. Non-deposit investment products are: not deposits; not FDIC insured; not insured by any federal government agency; not guaranteed by the Bank; may go down in value.
While the new law improves transparency in the service industry, some feel bigger moves are needed to bring change.“Somuch in food service is tem porary that you’re just fighting for scraps,” said server Meg Armstrong, who works at a Federal Hill restau rant that she asked not to be identified. “I really wish it were more in the direction of doing away with tipping altogether.”Indeed,many
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 ‘In thereespecially,restaurantswere big areasgray .’
www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 23 LAW REVIEW | FOCUS between 2016 and 2021, including illegally participating in tip pooling. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island alleges Chris topher Bender and David Crowell, the owners of Stoneacre Brasserie, Stoneacre Garden and the now-closed Stoneacre Tapas in Newport, improp erly included themselves and several managers in tip pooling at some of the restaurants while also taking a trip credit toward the minimum wage ob ligations. The lawsuit seeks compensation for more than 80 employees. Another common practice ad dressed in the new statute is paying credit card service fees with employ ee tips.While the new tip protections don’t entirely prohibit that activity, em ployers are restricted on when they are allowed to deduct processing fees.
As of now, however, Rhode Island’s new protections will provide clarity in situations such as when employers are collecting tips through credit card transactions, observers say. For instance, the tips made through credit cards must now be dis tributed by the next regular payday and cannot be withheld because the employer is waiting for the disburse ment from a credit card company, the law says. Also, employees must be no tified about credit card service-charge deductions. The intent is to increase transparency in the collection and distribution of tips. “Whenever there is not transpar ency, there are always questions,” Bagdan said.
Left to right: PETER R. PHILLIPS, CFA®, CAIA, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer; THOMAS BEIRNE III, CFP®, Vice President, Senior Wealth Officer and Business Development Manager; KATHLEEN A. RYAN, Esq., Executive Vice President and Chief Wealth Management Officer; HOLLY M. KNOTT, CFP® Vice President and Senior Wealth Planning Officer; KIMBERLY I. MCCARTHY, Esq., Senior Vice President and Chief Wealth Client Services Officer; KENT W. GLADDING, CPA, Chief Investment Strategist and Principal Portfolio Manager; BARRY S. PARKS, CTFA, Assistant Vice President and Wealth Planning Officer; PETER J. SECRIST, Senior Vice President, Managing Director and Principal Portfolio Manager
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“It’s a relatively new phenomenon, so we want to just start the process to see who might be able to provide this system in a way that is secure and more accessible,” Rock said. The best-case scenario, in Marion’s eyes, is for the state to not choose any electronic voting system.Andthere are other options. Coles named permanent vote-by-mail policies, bringing acces sible voting equipment to the homes of disabled voters and giving military voters more time to receive and return ballots by mail as ways to make voting easier without risking cyberattacks and privacy invasions.
It’s tricky to argue against something that could make voting easier, acknowledged John Marion, executive director for Common Cause Rhode Island. But Marion believes that access should not come at the expense of security or privacy.Hehad no issue with letting voters receive or even mark their ballots electronically – es pecially for blind or disabled voters, electronic ballot marking is particularly helpful. But when it comes to sending that ballot back through a computer system, rather than a paper copy, the risk of things going awry is simply too great. Bryan Finney, CEO of Democracy Live, offered a different perspective. Those concerned about safety and privacy have not bothered to look into the way his Seattle-based electronic voting equip ment works, he said.
Finney pointed to his company’s success across jurisdictions in 26 states and 20 million votes cast since it began offering the technology in 2008.Asof 2019, four states have adopted policies to allow voters to return ballots using a web-based portal, while a fifth, West Virginia, has a mobile voting app, according to the National Conference of State DemocracyLegislatures.Liveisn’t guaranteed to be the state’s electronic voting vendor of choice, but the company was hired in 2020 to run a pilot program offering electronic voting to blind voters. Only two people participated, and the ballots could be sent and marked through an electronic portal but still had to be printed and returned in hard copy, said Rob Rock, state elections director.
“We’re not saying electronic voting is never going to be possible,” Coles said. “But just that it’s not right now.” n
Finney likened the way the company’s Omni Ballot Portal works more to remote ballot print ing than an online voting system.
Common Cause Rhode Island and Verified Voting, a national advocacy group for secure elections, also urged lawmakers not to rush into electronic voting.
24 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com FOCUS | TECHNOLOGY
The cloud-based portal, hosted on Amazon Web Services Inc.’s cloud, allows voters to re ceive, mark and return their ballot electronical ly. But when it comes to being counted, a paper version of that ballot is still used, Finney said.
Rock emphasized that the law does not guaran tee electronic voting is coming to Rhode Island, or when, but rather gives the state an opportu nity to explore what’s available.
Voters who use the OmniBallot can also use a separate verification code to view a PDF of their returned ballot to confirm its accuracy. “This is not your father’s online voting sys tem,” Finney said. “Nothing is infallible, but the idea is what’s the best option.”
VOTING
NEXT STEP: Rob Rock, state elections director, with a voting machine used throughout Rhode Island. Rock says the state’s recent passage of a law that would allow the disabled, military and overseas veterans to vote electronically doesn’t guarantee that electronic voting is coming to the Ocean State, but rather allows the state to explore what’s available.
“The internet itself was never designed to be a secure space,” said C. Jay Coles, a senior policy analyst for Verified Voting. “The landscape re ally hasn’t changed much since the mid-’90s.” But legislators overwhelmingly approved the companion pieces of legislation, which was then signed into law by Gov. Daniel J. McKee.
PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO ‘It is exactly the kind of law that computer security experts are very worried about.’
ANNA LYSYANSKAYA, Brown University computer science professor
A new law is poised to bring Rhode Island’s voting system into the 21st century by letting the secretary of state choose an electronic voting system. The option would only be offered to dis abled, military and overseas veterans, and must meet federal cybersecurity standards. At face value, it sounds like a reasonable upgrade to antiquated technology, and a way to make voting easier for groups that have struggled in the past. But the law has raised the hackles of computer scientists and voting secu rity advocates, who say the technology to allow safe, secure and private electronic voting simply does not exist. “It is exactly the kind of law that computer security experts are very worried about,” Anna Lysyanskaya, a computer science professor at Brown University, said in an email to Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea that was shared with PBN.Lysyanskaya, who studies how to ensure privacy and security in technology, warned that allowing voters to return their ballots electroni cally could expose the state to foreign hijacking. “Even if you use a system that miraculously makes it difficult – no such system is possible at the moment – it also does not protect the privacy of the ballot since the ballot will be in electronic form, and as such will live forever, linked to the voter’s identity,” Lysyanskaya said. She is not the only one sounding the alarm.
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www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 25 Where IT goes for IT support. As an IT leader, you know your team can solve almost anything. But when it comes to solving everything, even your experts could use more experts in their corner. Cox Business has a complete portfolio of cloud solutions to help you overcome any challenge, all supported by a provider you already trust. Get started www.coxbusiness.com/cloudat
BY CLAUDIA CHIAPPA | Chiappa@PBN.com
ing officer at Envision Technology, agrees.“The threat actors are monetizing their services,” Albuquerque said. “They’re innovating their criminal techniques.”Remotework has thrown another complication into the mix. With many companies shifting to hybrid work and employees storing information in the cloud, the potential of an attack is higher.While it is easy to think that only certain companies could be the victim of a cyberattack, experts say no one is safe from this growing threat. Even small businesses can be targeted. “Companies that previously thought that they were not in the line of fire because maybe they’re small or they’re a mid-market company really are the primary targets today,” Knapp said.A nonprofit that provides wastewa ter collection and treatment services to several cities in Rhode Island, the Narragansett Bay Commission might not seem like the most obvious target for cybercriminals, but Bill Patenaude from the Office of Water Resources at the R.I. Department of Environmental Management says wastewater facili ties can be particularly vulnerable to these“They’reattacks.very complex facilities with a lot of technology involved,” Patenaude said. “The work that they do can be threatened.” Jamie Sammons, a commission spokesperson, said the investigation into the July incident is ongoing. In the meantime, she says the company “is implementing additional measures to enhance the security of its net work” and “will continue to train its employees concerning data security.” Sammons said sewage services were not impacted by the incident, but the attack raises concerns over the preparedness of local agencies. Rhode Island produces 120 million gallons of wastewater every day, Patenaude said. If hackers were to successfully take over the control systems, the risk of a biohazard threat would be extremely high. “It could go from a not-significant event to a huge event in the blink of an eye,” Tetreault said. “You could have deadly Consequencesconsequences.”canbecostly for businesses. On top of the financial strain of paying the ransom, compa nies often deal with loss of credibility, potential lawsuits and fines, and in volvement of auditors and regulators, TetreaultExpertssays.agree that prevention is the best way to counter cybercrime. Companies must integrate cyberse curity in their culture, focusing on establishing solid policies such as adding multifactor authentication and creating an incident response plan. A key part of the solution is educating employees.“Youneed to develop a culture of shared responsibility for cybersecu rity throughout your organization,” Knapp said. “Your employees need to understand how to protect themselves … because if the individual employee is more protected, then the business is inherently more protected.” n your front door on your way out is a mindless act, performed daily to protect your home and prevent breakins. Yet there are other crimes we are less aware of and more careless about. That’s the case with cybercrime, a prevalent threat in a world that relies heavily on technology but continues to underestimate the dangers it brings. Individuals and businesses alike are potential targets of cybercriminals. Earlier this summer, Narragansett Bay Commission was in the news after sus taining a cyberattack that ended with the organization paying $250,000 in ransom. This wasn’t an isolated case. Last year, the R.I. Public Transit Authority suf fered a similar attack and paid $170,000 in ransom. Two years before, it was the Coventry Public School Department. More agencies and businesses are becoming victims of cybercrime every year, with at least one or two cyberat tacks in Rhode Island every month, said R. Michael Tetreault, cybersecu rity adviser for Rhode Island Region 1 New England in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “With what we’re seeing within Rhode Island, NBC [Narragansett Bay Commis sion] is not the first and won’t be last to be victim of ransomware,” he emailed. And while cybersecurity has been an issue for some time now, the danger is escalating.Thisispartly because the cyberse curity landscape has changed in recent years, turning more sophisticated and complex, experts say. Cybercrime often comes with “low risk and high rewards,” Tetreault says, which makes it more ap pealing to potential threat actors. “There was an evolution in ransom ware,” Tetreault said. “It has become an entire industry and it often mirrors the businessThreatworld.”actors used to be exclusively hackers and programming experts, but now the market has expanded. Cyber crime has become a business, with cyber syndicates that are extremely well funded and engage in recruiting and crowdsourcing.“Youcannow rent ransomware, you can rent the tools that are needed from legitimate hackers, and they’ll train you,” said Todd Knapp, founder and CEO of Pawtucket-based Envision Technology Advisors LLC. “In the past, it was one hacker, one attack. Today, it could be one hacker, thousands of attacks.”
LOCKING ‘The threat actors are monetizing their services.’ JASON
Jason Albuquerque, chief operat
Cybersecurity must be part of company culture
26 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com FOCUS | TECHNOLOGY
TECHNIQUES:ADVANCED Jason Albuquer que, chief operat ing officer at En vision techniques.”theirandtheirarecybercriminalsPawtucket,AdvisorsTechnologyLLCinsays“monetizingservices”“innovatingcriminalPBNPHOTO/TRACYJENKINS ALBUQUERQUE, Technology Advisors LLC chief operating officer
Envision
56 Fully
53 Backup/disaster recovery, information technology compliance, Office 365, server/network management, software development 2010 6 2021: 6 Envision Technology AdvisorsLLC | ToddKnapp,envisionsuccess.netfounder and CEO 999 Main St., Suite (401)Pawtucket,R.I.02860715272-6688 43 Data and endpoint security, employee security posture training and measurement, third-party validation 1998 7 2021: 8 Brave River SolutionsInc. | chiefJimMcAssey,braveriver.compresident;VincentDiPippo,technicalofficer 875 Centerville (401)Warwick,R.I.02886Road828-6611 27 Cloud computing, managed services/helpdesk support, information/security assessments 2000 7 2021: 9 ProProducts Web Development | VincentMarcantonio,ppwd.com president 9 Thurber (401)Smithfield,R.I.02917Blvd.231-7793 27 Web application development, custom integrations, custom programming, Headless e-commerce, Adobe/Magento ecommerce 1999 9 2021: NL Pro-Change SystemsInc.Behavior SaraJohnsonandKerryEvers,|prochange.com co-CEOs and presidents 1174 Kingstown Road, Suite 101 South Kingstown,R.I.02879 (401) 360-2980 14 Health behavior change 1997 10 2021: 12 Creative Circle Media Solutions BillOstendorf,|creativecirclemedia.comfounderandpresident 945 Waterman Ave. East (401)Providence,R.I.02914455-1555 8 Custom software development and hosting, print design and production, website content management system products, web redesigns 2004 11 2021: 14 Englund Studio SalSaucoandDavidEnglund,|englundstudio.comowners 70 Romano Vineyard Way North Kingstown,R.I.02852 (401) 345-9036 4 Design and development of interactive mobile websites; strategic planning of QR code marketing 2002 12 2021: 11 The Mullings GroupLLC | KenoMullings,themullingsgroup.comCEO;TanyaLee, vice president of operations 166 Valley (617)Providence,R.I.02909St.299-6871 3 Software development and testing, technology consulting 2014 1 Formerly known as Systems Engineering Associates Corp. 2 Also known as Computer Associates.
BrianRigney, CEO 36 Thurber (401)Smithfield,R.I.02917Blvd.232-2600 managed server and desktop monitoring, backup and disaster recovery, anti-spam services, antivirus, firewall solutions, cloud 7 Vertikal6 RickNorberg,|vertikal6.comCEO 30 Service (401)Warwick,R.I.02886Ave.825-4400
services 1978 5 2021:
www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 27 CLOSER LOOK Ranked by oldest company: 1 Purvis Systems Year founded: 1973 2 CAI Software LLC Year founded: 1978 3 SEACORP LLC Year founded: 1981 FOCUS | SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES (ranked by number of local employees) 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 Sept. 2: RhodePrivateCasualtyResources,PreparednessDisaster&ResponseProperty&Insurers;Sept.16:SecondarySchools,Island-basedBanks. WANT TO JOIN? For more information about participating in PBN’s Top Lists, or to make additions or corrections, call (401) 680-4838 or write to Research@PBN.com. NL = Not listed last year. FOOTNOTES j Formerly known as Systems AssociatesEngineeringCorp. Also known as Computer Associates. FOCUS | SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES (ranked by number of local employees) 2022 rank Company | CEO/PresidentWebsite PhoneAddress No. of employeesSpecialtylocal Year founded 1 2021: 1 SEACORPLLC 1 |seacorp.com DavidCadorette, president 62 Johnnycake (401)Middletown,R.I.02842Hill847-2260 400 Systems and software engineering and development 1981 2 2021: 3 Rite-SolutionsInc. |rite-solutions.com DennisMcLaughlin 1 Corporate Place, 2nd Floor (401)Middletown,R.I.02842847-3399 232 Cybersecurity, engineering/information technology services, software and systems design/analysis, web development 2000 3 2021: 4 Purvis SystemsInc. |purvis.com JosephDrago, CEO 88 Silva (401)Middletown,R.I.02842Lane849-4750 168 Defense expertise, engineering services, field services, hardware development, systems integration 1973 4 2021: 5 CAI SoftwareLLC 2 |caisoft.com
2 2021: NL Verizon CommunicationsInc. | KyleMalady,verizon.com executive vice president and chief technology officer 234 Washington (800)837-4966Providence,R.I.02903St. 800 1,300 Customer management, HR/ accounting, marketing/sales, staff communications Telecommunications
5 2021: NL Cox CommunicationsInc. |cox.com BradShipp, vice president, regional information technology operations 9 James P. Murphy Highway West (401)383-2000Warwick,R.I.02893 350 818 Customer management, HR/ accounting, communicationsmarketing/sales`staff Telecommunications 2021: 5 LifespanCorp. 2 |Lifespan.org Dr. CedricPriebe, senior vice president and chief information officer 167 Point (401)444-4000Providence,R.I.02903St. 322 16,763 Customer management, marketing/ sales, research/development, staff communications Hospital and health care 2021: 8 University of Rhode Island |uri.edu KarlisKaugars 35 Campus Ave. South (401)874-2116Kingstown,R.I.02881 72 2,693
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solutions servicestechnologyInformationand 21
14
4 2021: 4 FM Global SriniKrishnamurthy,|fmglobal.comsenior vice president, chief strategy and information officer 270 Central (401)275-3000Johnston,R.I.02919Ave. 526 1,327 Customer management, HR/ accounting, communicationsresearch/development,marketing/sales,staff Insurance
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servicestechnologyInformationand 22
2 Lifespan Corp. includes Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, Newport Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children's Hospital and The Miriam Hospital.
FOOTNOTES j IT workers are those persons engaged primarily in the componentstechnologymanagementsupport,deployment,adaptation,design,conception,development,implementation,training,documentationandofinformationsystems,orapplications.
12
Customer management, human resources, accounting, marketing, sales, communications Hospital and health care 2021: 14 Rhode Island College |ric.edu PamelaJ.Christman, interim assistant vice president, chief information officer, information services 600 Mount Pleasant (401)456-8000Providence,R.I.02908Ave. 797
18
Customer management, HR/ accounting, marketing, research/ development, sales transactions and reporting, staff communications Retail 2021: 18 Salve Regina University |salve.edu
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14
1 IT workers are those persons engaged primarily in the conception, design, development, adaptation, implementation, deployment, training, support, documentation and management of information technology systems, components or applications.
FOCUS | RHODE ISLAND CIOS (ranked by number of local IT staff) 2022 rank Company | Website Chief information officer PhoneAddress No. of local IT workers 1 No. of employeesPrimarylocal uses of IT Industry
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3 Also known as Computer Associates. 4 Bally’s Corp. on June 28 agreed to sell the properties and buildings of its two Rhode Island casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton to Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. for $1 billion.
9
NL = Not listed last year.
53
Customer management, HR/ accounting, communicationsresearch/development,marketing/sales,staff Higher education 2021: 9 GilbaneInc. JasonL.Pelkey,|gilbaneco.comseniorvicepresident and chief information officer 7 Jackson (401)456-5800Providence,R.I.02903Walkway 66 185 Customer management, HR/ accounting, marketing/sales, staff communications Construction 2021: 11 CAI SoftwareLLC 3 |caisoft.com ChristopherKudla, vice president, engineering 36 Thurber (401)232-2600Smithfield,R.I.02917Blvd. 56 56 Enterprise resource planning, cloud computing solutions, order entry and management, and inventory control Computer software 2021: 10 Community College of Rhode Island | NathanBrownccri.edu 400 East (401)825-1000Warwick,R.I.02886Ave. 56 736 Customer management, HR/ accounting, marketing/sales, staff communications Higher education 2021: 12 Custom SpecialistsInc.Computer SuzanneMcLaughlin,|customonline.comexecutivevice president 6 Blackstone Valley Place (401)775-1163Lincoln,R.I.02865 56 Customer management, HR/ accounting, communicationsresearch/development,marketing/sales,staff servicestechnologyInformationand 2021: NL Vertikal6 RickNorberg,|vertikal6.comCEO 30 Service (401)825-4400Warwick,R.I.02886Ave. 53 Backup and disaster recovery, cloud/Azure, event management, information technology compliance servicestechnologyInformationand 2021: NL Teknor ApexCo. ChristopherAlbernaz,|teknorapex.comvicepresident of information technology 505 Central (401)725-8000Pawtucket,R.I.02861Ave. 525 Customer management, HR/ accounting, research/developmentmarketing/sales, Materials 2021: 17 Providence College |providence.edu PaulV.Fontaine, associate vice president for information technology and chief information officer 1 Cunningham (401)865-2294Providence,R.I.02918Square 45 860 Customer management, HR/ accounting, communicationsresearch/development,marketing/sales,staff Higher education 2021: 16 Bryant University |bryant.edu ChuckLoCurto, vice president for information services and chief information officer 1150 Douglas (401)232-6000Smithfield,R.I.02917Pike 45 787 Academic support, institutional support Higher education 2021: 14 Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island StevenDiBiasio|nhpri.org 910 Douglas (401)459-6000Smithfield,R.I.02917Pike 594
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Lifespan Corp. includes Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital, Newport Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital/ Hasbro Children’s Hospital and The Miriam Hospital. Also known as Computer Associates. Bally’s Corp. on June 28 agreed to sell the properties and buildings of its two Rhode Island casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton to Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. for $1 billion. The sale is subject to state approval.
30
26
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Customer management, HR/ accounting, communicationsresearch/development,marketing/sales,staff Higher education 2021: 7 Ocean State JobLot HishamAharonoceanstatejoblot.com| Commerce Park Road North (401)295-2672Kingstown,R.I.02852 2,580
The sale is subject to state approval.
25 2021: 24 New England Institute of Technology | Jacquesneit.edu Laflamme 1 New England Tech Blvd. East (401)739-5000Greenwich,R.I.02818 10 247 Online courses, classcommunications,communications,faculty/staffstudentregistraractivities,registration Higher education
IrvingBruckstein, associate vice president for information technology, chief information officer and chief information security officer 100 Ochre Point (401)847-6650Newport,R.I.02840Ave. 397 Customer management, HR/ accounting, managementcommunications,research/development,marketing/sales,staffproject Higher education 2021: 19 NetCenergy PeterM.Nelson,|netcenergy.comvicepresident of Engineering 1125 Pontiac (401)921-3100Cranston,R.I.02920Ave. 30 managed information technology systems security 2021: NL Brave River SolutionsInc. | VincentDiPippo,braveriver.com chief technical officer 875 Centerville (401)828-6611Warwick,R.I.02886Road 27 Cloud architecture and management, disaster recovery, email security, firewalls 2021: 21 Bally'sCorp. 4 |ballys.com RobWeir 100 Westminster (401)723-3200Providence,R.I.02903St. 19 2,000 Accounting, customer management, human resources, infrastructure development Hospitality 2021: 23 LogicommInc. |logicomm-inc.com JimVan, managing partner 111 Irving (401)369-8730Providence,R.I.02906Ave. 14 14 Architecture, cloud, endpoint, firewall, network servicestechnologyInformationand 2021: NL Rhode Island Public Transit Authority | GaryJarvisripta.com 705 Elmwood (401)784-9500Providence,R.I.02907Ave. 12 800 Customer management, HR/ accounting, communicationsmarketing/sales`staff Government
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28 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com CLOSER LOOK Total number of local IT workers: 4,914 FOCUS | RHODE ISLAND CIOS (ranked by number of local IT staff) 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 xxxUpcoming lists: Sept. 2: Disaster Preparedness & Response Resources, Property & Casualty Insurers; Sept. 16: Private Secondary Schools, Rhode Island-based Banks. WANT TO JOIN? For more information about participating in PBN’s Top Lists, or to make additions or corrections, call (401) 680-4838 or write to Research@PBN.com.
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1 2021: 1 CVS HealthCorp. president,RoshanNavagamuwa,|cvshealth.comexecutivevicechiefinformationofficer 1 CVS (401)765-1500Woonsocket,R.I.02895Drive 1,400 8,600 Customer management, HR/ accounting, marketing/sales, staff communications Retail
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375
3 2021: 2 Fidelity InvestmentsInc. |fidelity.com RogerStiles, head of technology and global services 900 Salem (401)292-5000Smithfield,R.I.02917St. 750 3,200 Customer management, HR/ accounting, marketing/sales, staff communications Financial services
9
Cybersecurity Policy and Governance Assistant Professor of the Practice,
n plazacrowne datethesave10.06.202210.06.2022crowneplazacrowneplaza10.06.2022presentingsponsors Access the registration by hovering over the QR code with your phone camera or visit PBN.com/eventsTODAYREGISTER partner sponsors Cybersecurity is a Team SportNot Just a Technology Issue Play by Play steps toward building business resilience This year’s summit will feature a keynote speaker, followed by two focused breakout sessions for business executives and IT professionals to choose from, as well as a closing session. Attendees will select breakout session at the event. Registration nowForopen.sponsorship and advertising opportunities, contact 680.4800 or Advertising@PBN.com 3-5summitpm 5-6:30networkingpm| KEYNOTE
DAN SHEDD: Marken and I represent a Rhode Island company founded in 1885 with a rich history of design and manufacturing. We have remained relevant by success fully pivoting with the marketplace, investing in technol ogy across the operation and broadening our capabilities. Today, much of the manufacturing base from the 20th century in Rhode Island has disappeared or evolved, and our small company has as well. Being recognized by RIMA for our four generations of family stewardship, our commitment to promoting manufacturing’s value to our economy and our global reputation for innovation and quality is a distinct honor we share with all our employees and partners. How has the company supported the community this past MARKENyear?
MARKEN SHEDD: An important part of any company’s citizenship is to be supportive of organizations and ad hoc efforts to improve the communities they are involved in. We will continue to support Highlander School’s college scholarship endowment, capital projects and provide stu dents an immersive exploration of business. DESIGNxRI is always part of our effort to support and promote de sign’s importance to both our economy and quality of life. A new organization we are excited to support is Thrive Outside, design builders of outdoor immersive teaching environments. With signs showing that COVID-19 is subsiding, what kind of outlook does the company have moving forward?
DAN SHEDD: We remained open throughout COVID-19. Our well-managed RIMA-R.I. Department of Health COVID-19 protocols led to zero infection transmission for the first 18 months. That record was upended at the end of 2021 when we had a couple Omicron infections but with 96% of our team fully vaccinated, the infections were light. We continue to offer testing and encourage the team to get tested if they feel ill. After a disappointing 2020-21, our business is back to pre-COVID levels and accelerating. We have added new advanced-manufacturing technology and are growing our team. SPEAKER Kevin R. Powers, J.D. Director, M.S. Boston College Law
DAN SHEDD is the president and MARKEN SHEDD is a senior business analyst for Warren-based packaging manufacturer Taylor Box Co., which has earned a 2022 Manufacturer of the Year award from the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association What does receiving this award from the manufacturer’s association mean to both you and Taylor Box?
SHEDD: Locally, we support historic Warren’s preservation and conservation efforts; Warren Little League; Warren Economic Development Committee; and Hope & Main’s production and delivering of meals to those in need. At DESIGNxRI, we actively participate, provide financial support and mentor aspiring design entrepre neurs. We serve on RIMA’s board working to improve career and technical education. We are very active in providing financial support, actively volunteering and collaborating on immersive business and entrepreneurial education at Highlander Charter School’s Warren campus. In what ways will Taylor Box continue to support the community this year and beyond?
Taylor Box receives RIMA award
www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 29 IT’S PERSONAL
School Assistant Professor of the Practice, Carroll School of Management
It’s important to know where you want to go ...in life.
30 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com
Just as you’re about to speak, you may second-guess yourself and, at the last second, want to abandon your prepared opening. Don’t do it. This is your brain trying to protect you by supplying you with what it thinks is a better option. Unfortunately, this lifeline is more like a cinder block that will quickly take you down. I know. I have been there. Many years ago, at a major event, I decided as I walked out on stage to change my opening – an opening I had used once before and had worked to perfection. Instead, I opted for a joke, and it bombed. To this day, it is the worst thing to happen to me dur ing a Unlesspresentation.thereisa valid reason to do otherwise – for instance, a loud noise being made just before you speak –resist the temptation to alter your opening and stick to your original plan. You’ll be glad you did, and so will your audience.
Now, if, after reading this, you still decide to tell a joke, be sure it checks all these boxes: it’s funny, relevant, appropriate and you can tell it well. So, a speaker, an audience and an emcee enter an auditorium … Oh, you’ve already heard this one? Never mind. n Peter George is president of Peter George Public Speaking Inc. in Providence. He is the author of “The Captivating Public Speaker: Engage, Impact, and Influence Your Audience.”
IT’S PERSONAL
MACKAY’S MORAL | HARVEY MACKAY FEELING NERVOUS? Open with a joke. Want to get the audience’s at tention? Open with a joke. Is the audi ence half asleep? Open with a joke. You hear this advice all the time – usually from someone who isn’t trained in public speaking. The idea of opening with a joke has been around for years. The prob lem is that it’s seldom a good idea. Why? First, let me say that I’m all for adding humor to presentations. It can be tremendously engaging. However, for the most part, I’m against telling jokes – in the opening or otherwise – because they often aren’t told well or aren’t relevant. How many times have you heard a speaker tell a joke and bomb? Awkward, wasn’t it? Another problem with telling jokes is that they often lack the es sential ingredient every joke needs – timing. Opening with a joke means you’re telling it when your adrena line is pumping, causing you to rush through it and throw your timing off. An effective alternative to tell ing a joke is to add humor. It can be mighty, and it can help accomplish many things, including: n Having your audience view you as being authentic. n Creating a bond between you and your audience. n Breaking tension. n Assisting in getting a point across. n Transitioning to a more serious or weighty point. n Making your talk more memo rable.Add humor to your talks but only when both the circumstances and nature of the humor are appropriate. Fortunately, the majority of occa sions are suitable, such as business meetings. As for the humor itself, it shouldn’t be controversial or made at anyone’s expense. You may poke fun at yourself, but even then, tread lightly. Self-deprecating humor can be funny, but too much can be misin terpreted as a lack of self-confidence. Including humor in a talk is an art form. For the vast majority of us, it requires forethought and perhaps some testing, and this often includes spontaneous humor. For instance, I know that when in a training session someone asks if public speaking is the number one fear, I will answer with something like, “No, it ranks behind spiders, snakes and stepping on a Lego brick in your bare feet.” Is it hilarious? No. Does it get a few chuckles? Usually, yes. To learn more about adding humor to your talks, check out the many YouTube videos and books on the subject. I highly recommend David Nihill’s “Do You Talk Funny?”
THERE IS A GREAT SCENE in “Alice in Wonderland” where Alice asks the Cheshire Cat, “Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?”The cat replies, “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”It’s important to know where you want to go, to have a purpose in life. Finding that purpose is among life’s biggest challenges. Discovering what is important to you, what you are passionate about and where you can make a difference – those are the fac tors that drive your purpose. My purpose – and my passion – is helping people through business advice. Over the years many people have asked me why I share so many success secrets. My answer is always the same: I’m happy to offer guidance on business principles and achieving success. I am grateful to those who mentored me, and I have made it my purpose to help people reach their potential.People with a strong sense of pur pose know what they want, why they want it and how they plan to achieve it. Businessman and philanthropist W. Clement Stone said: “When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthu siasm and a burning desire to get to work on Winstonit.”Churchill, addressing the House of Commons in his first speech as prime minister in 1940, made his purpose crystal clear: “You ask: ‘What is our aim?’ I can answer in one word: Victory! Victory at all costs, victory in spite of terror, vic tory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no Rosasurvival.”Parks also had a purpose: to take a stand for personal dignity. She believed that having to give up her seat on the bus because of her skin color was not right. She took a stand for human rights and put equality for all people in a new perspective. Vietnam veteran Jan Scruggs had a vision and commitment to recogniz ing soldiers who died in that war. To day the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, engraved with the names of more than 58,000 Americans who lost their lives in that conflict, is the most visited monument in Washington, D.C. Candy Lightner’s life changed on May 3, 1980, when her daughter was killed by a drunk driver. Less than a week later, the grieving mother met with friends to discuss what they could do to make an impact on drunkdriving fatalities, and thus Mothers Against Drunk Driving was born. To day there are more than 360 chapters of MADD throughout the world, and hundreds of new laws have passed ad dressing drunk driving. In February 1980, the U.S. Men’s Olympic hockey team did the seem ingly impossible by upsetting the heavily favored Soviet team and then beating Finland to capture the gold medal in Lake Placid, N.Y., to shouts of “U.S.A.!” Before his team’s victory over the Soviet Union, the coach of the U.S. hockey team, my friend Herb Brooks, told his players, “You are born to be a player. You are meant to be here at this time. This is your moment.”JamesMontgomery Boice, in his book “Learning to Lead,” tells a story about Yogi Berra, the famous catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was playing for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and the famously talkative Berra chat tered nonstop, intending to pep up his teammates and rattle the Milwaukee batters. As Aaron came to the plate, Berra, trying to distract him, said, “Henry, you’re holding the bat wrong. You’re supposed to hold it so you can read the Aarontrademark.”respondedby smacking the next pitch into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and touch ing home plate, Aaron looked at Berra and said, “I didn’t come up here to read.” Mackay’s Moral: A person without a purpose is like a plane without wings. 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.
Humor a powerful tool
Find strength in purpose
GUEST COLUMN | PETER GEORGE
Teachers need protection GUEST COLUMN | CHARLES BELL
DR. JONATHAN MARTIN PureVitaCo-Founder,Labs KRISTYN GLENNON Vice BSA/AMLPresident,OfficerBayCoastBank
www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 31 With the recent passage of the bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Rhode Island and retail sales set to begin December 1st, PBN’s 2022 Business of Cannabis Summit will feature panel discussions with various experts, business executives and community leaders. • What can we expect for impact/ growth in this sector in RI for local businesses and the local economy? • What are some of the legal/human resource implications impacting local businesses? • What are the business development opportunities, challenges and innovations as a licensee, ancillary service provider or consumer? —presenting sponsors— For sponsorship and advertising opportunities, contact 680-4800 or Advertising@pbn.com SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 CROWNE PLAZA | 9-11AM —panelists confirmed to date —REGISTER NOW
Attacks are leaving teachers traumatized.
MICHAEL BUDZISZEK Professor, Johnson & Wales University, CannabisProgramEntrepreneurship
JOSHUA MILLER RI Senator, District 28 Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
MATTHEW SANTACROCE Chief, Office of Cannabis Regulation, Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
IT’S PERSONAL
TEN PERCENT. That’s the portion of K-12 teachers in the United States who say they’ve been physically attacked by a student, a new survey has found Various news outlets have reported what has been described as a “wave of student misbehavior” since students returned from remote learn ing to in-person instruction. The pur ported surge in student misconduct is part of an upward trend in student assaults on teachers. The percentage of teachers who have been attacked by students has increased from 6% to 10% over the past decade, federal data shows.Asschool districts across the country report critical shortages in teaching staff, some people worry that the attacks on teachers might push qualified candidates away from the profession. Such concerns are well founded.Inmy research interviews with high school teachers who were at tacked by students, I learned from teachers firsthand that these as saults have a negative effect on their morale and make them want to leave their jobs As I point out in my book “Sus pended: Punishment, Violence, and the Failure of School Safety,” attacks are leaving teachers traumatized. In some cases, educators told me they started illegally carrying guns to school after they were attacked. Teachers also told me they feel as if principals don’t have their backs. In fact, several teachers who have been attacked by students expressed fear of retribution from administrators Why would a principal not sup port a teacher for reporting being attacked? Teachers informed me the principals were worried about their schools getting a bad reputation, which could make it harder to recruit new teachers and students. At least one school in my study could not re cruit substitute teachers because the school had a reputation for violence between students and staff. When teachers reported to princi pals that they had been victimized by students, the principals would mini mize their concerns, according to the teachers. The principals would also shift the focus to what the teacher did or didn’t do leading up to the attack. Over the past decade, teachers have urged policymakers to create legislation that addresses violent stu dent behavior. Teachers have spoken publicly about how being attacked by students hampered their ability to teachLawmakerseffectively.have tried to come up with tougher laws to deter violence against teachers. However, many bills fail because of concerns that the bills would erode students’ right to due process. In turn, many teachers feel powerless because violent students are being allowed to stay in their classes.Forexample, in Connecticut, legislation in 2018 would have allowed teachers to have students removed from their classroom if those students engage in violent acts. It would have also allowed teachers to set the stan dards for the student’s return to the classroom.Although this proposal received substantial support in the Connecti cut House and Senate, then-Gov. Dan nel Malloy vetoed the bill, arguing that it ran counter to his efforts to reduce exclusion from the classroom and to cut off the school-to-prison pipeline.TheTeacher Protection Act in Minnesota would have compelled public schools to expel students who assaulted teachers. But the legislation failed to gain much traction because of fierce opposition from Education Minnesota – a nonprofit organization that represents educators. This particular organization wanted to prioritize restorative justice initiatives that seek to keep students in school to make amends rather than have students be suspended or expelled.Thus, the challenge for policymak ers and administrators is to find a way to protect teachers without jeopardizing students’ right to due process. The well-being and stability of America’s teaching force depends on finding the right balance. n Charles Bell is an assistant professor of criminal justice sciences at Illinois State University. Distributed by The Associated Press.
BENJAMIN L. RACKLIFFE PannonePartner,LopesDevereaux&O’GaraLLC
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. Deny it and require the utility to find cost savings to help lessen increasethe 67% Approve it, so the utility can properly prepare to meet demand 21% Step in towithratepayersprovideandcreditshelpcoversomeoftherisingcosts 7% I’m not sure 5% It is likely most Rhode Island cities and towns will vote yes on Nov. 8 to allow the sale or cultivation of recreational marijuana in theirThecommunities.localballotquestions are a right afforded under the new law making Rhode Island the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana.Communities that opt out won’t share in the financial benefits, which include a 3% local tax, but will get the spillover effects from neighboring communities that opt in. It’s a powerful argument that also was effectively used on the state level by proponents once Massachusetts and Connecticut moved to legalize recreational sales. But while 31 communities put the question on the ballot, elected officials in five others decided not to let voters have their say. Local boards in Cranston, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Exeter and Foster all chose not to put the question on the ballot. That means retail sales and cultivation will automatically be allowed, as will be the case where medical marijuana treatment centers are already allowed in Providence, Warwick and Portsmouth. Cranston City Council Christopher G. Paplauskas told PBN that if his com munity opted out, it would still have recreational marijuana without sharing in the revenue. Maybe most voters there would agree, but we’ll never know.
How should the state respond to Rhode Island Energy’s electric rates by $50 per month? AUG. 5-11
32 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com Read even MORE business news on PBN.com Your subscription to our print edition includes unlimited access to current articles and archives on our website. PBN publishes an average of a dozen new stories each day See what you’re missing by signing on today, and every day! Go to PBN.com and click on Sign In/ Register on the top of your screen. For assistance, call 401-680-4810 or 855-813-5805. You can also sign up for free daily e-newsletters featuring breaking news, top stories and industry specific reports: PBN.com/email OPINION EDITORIALSVoters deserve their say on local retail marijuana sales Stop cyberawayturningfromthreats
n SLIPPERY SLOPE: Voters in 31 Rhode Island communi ties will decide on Nov. 8 whether to allow SETHAPweighnotcommunitiesinelectedormarijuanarecreationalsalescultivation.Butofficialsfiveotherlocalchosetoletvotersin.FILEPHOTO/WENIG POLL CENTRAL Responding to criticism? How do you usually respond to a customer’s negative feedback? How often do you follow up with critics? Where does your company usually receive criticism? Has your company made any changes to its operations in response to criticism? Remain calm and try to resolve the issue: 100% Always: 100% Through direct emails and/or phone calls: 75% Yes: 50% EXECUTIVE POLL
On Aug. 16 PBN published the first installment of a monthly column by Albuquerque that will appear both online and in print seeking to demystify the challenges. He’ll offer ways to get your business and up to speed on the evolving threats and how to deal with them.Get educated now or risk paying much more later.
• No, voters should always decide such potentially divisive issues when the law allows • I’m not sure To vote, go to PBN.com and follow the link on the home page PBN.COM POLL
It’s the same in Foster. Town Council President Denise DiFranco said the community is eager to expand its tax base. But if voters agree this is a way to do it, why not let them decide? Not trusting voters is a slippery slope for elected officials, no matter how well-meaning the reason. n
• Yes, that’s why they were elected
THIS WEEK’S POLL: Is it OK for local officials to decide for voters whether their communities should allow retail marijuana shops?
Get offended and ridicule customers behind their backs: 0% Sometimes: 0% All of the above: 25% No: 50% Thank them for their input, then ignore it: 0% Never: 0% On social media: 0% During in-person discussions: 0%
employees
Cyber intrusions and outright attacks have become so commonplace that a market has predictably devel oped to arm the perpetrators. “You can rent the tools that are needed from le gitimate hackers, and they’ll train you,” Todd Knapp, founder and CEO of Pawtucket-based Envision Technol ogies Advisors LLC, told PBN in a story on page 26. Yet as the risks grow, too many overworked business owners and employees continue to look away from the threats or rely on outdated protections.
A key reason, according to Envision Chief Operating Officer Jason Albuquerque, is because they often don’t even know where to begin to address the myriad cyber security issues facing businesses of all sizes today.
request to raise winter
Offering personalized, patient-centered care is always the top priority for clinicians.
Permitting for energy projects is notori ously slow at the federal level, and wind en ergy projects in federal waters may require multiyear lead times. But projects in state waters – extending up to 3 nautical miles from shore in most areas, and 9 miles from shore in Texas – could proceed more rapidly.
What’s next for telemedicine?
www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 33 OPINION
Gulf of Mexico is the place for offshore turbines
ANDREWDR. ROSENWEIGS. GUEST COLUMN OPINION
Telemedicine use exploded when the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic made inperson care difficult. Now, two years later, providers and policymakers must decide what role virtual visits still play. The discus sion should center first and foremost on a single question: what’s best for each indi vidualTelemedicinepatient? allows clinicians such as me to evaluate patients and help them manage long-term care needs. In fact, the expansion of telemedicine has – and continues to – help clinicians reach more patients, reducing the impact of growing clinician shortages. This capability has been especially useful in my field, geriatric psychiatry, where ex perts are few. Patients who normally cannot access a geriatric mental health expert now have the opportunity to see a specialist via video chat. Telemedicine also helps patients overcome geographic challenges. Patients who might otherwise have to travel to see a specialist, such as those living in rural areas or those with certain disabilities, can get care more easily via telemedicine. But it all depends upon the patient, the condition and the circumstances. There are other instances in which telemedicine isn’t ideal for a Technologicalpatient.literacy, for example, sometimes poses a hurdle for older patients in my practice. Operating and accessing the technology needed for telemedicine ap pointments can be a challenge for patients with cognitive decline or auditory or visual impairments in particular. Frustrations with technology needed for virtual visits have led some patients to stop receiving care altogether.Another important consideration is a patient’s disease or condition. A major part of my evaluation as a psychiatrist is to monitor the movement, behavior and emotional state of my patients. For psychiatric patients, in-person visits allow a health care provider to give a full assessment. This cannot always be done suc cessfully through a camera lens, however. And not seeing the full scope of a patient’s condition could lead to misdiagnosis. There’s also the relationship with my patients. Some patients experience the same rapport through video visits, while other patients find telemedicine impersonal. Inperson visits can establish greater trust by allowing for a more personal connection. Some patients sense a lack of empathy dur ing telemedicine visits. Offering personalized, patient-centered care is always the top priority for clinicians such as me. For many patients, telemedicine will be an important part of that care. For others, in-person care will be the primary format for visits. Many may prefer a bal anced combination of the two. But as policymakers, insurers and health systems decide what the future looks like for telemedicine, they must allow for clinicians to make determinations on a patient-bypatientWhenbasis.itcomes to telemedicine, the focus should remain where it has always belonged, on each individual patient and what works best for them. n Dr. Andrew S. Rosenweig is a geriatric psychiatrist in Providence.
Much depends on whether energy states such as Texas and Louisiana see opportuni ties to extend their reputations as energy leaders into offshore wind. As we see it, an offshore wind boom in the Gulf would be good for the region, the nation and the world’s climate. n Michael E. Webber is a professor of energy resources and Hugh Daigle is an an associate professor of petroleum and geosystems engineering, both at the University of Texas at Austin. Distributed by The Associated Press.
DAIGLEANDE.MICHAELWEBBERHUGH
GUEST COLUMN With the passage of the Inflation Reduc tion Act, which contains $370 billion for climate and energy programs, policy experts are forecasting a big expansion in clean elec tricity generation. One source that’s poised for growth is offshore wind power. Today, the U.S. has two operating off shore wind farms, off Rhode Island and North Carolina, with a combined generating capacity of 42 megawatts. For comparison, the new Traverse Wind Energy Center in Oklahoma has 356 turbines and a 998-mega watt generating capacity. But many more projects are in development, mostly along the Atlantic coast. The Biden administration has identified two zones for offshore wind power develop ment in the Gulf of Mexico, which up until now has been firmly identified with oil and gas production. As part of his climate strat egy, President Joe Biden has set a goal for the deployment of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind generating capacity by 2030 – enough to power 10 million homes. In our view, offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico presents a unique opportunity for a geographic region with a strong energy workforce and infrastructure to help meet society’s need for reliable low-carbon energy. Wind power on land has seen remark able growth in the U.S. over the last 15 years. Wind power’s comparative ease of permitting and siting, affordable installation costs, abundant resources, free fuel and low marginal operating costs have reduced electricity costs for consumers. And wind power avoids significant amounts of air pol lution, greenhouse gas emissions and water demand for cooling. But onshore wind has downsides. Winds often are weakest in the hottest hours of summer, when air conditioners are working hard. And many of the best wind energy zones are far from electricity demand centers.Solar power and batteries can solve some of these problems. But generating wind off shore also offers many benefits. More than half of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of a coast, so offshore wind sites are close to electricity demand centers. This is especially true in the Gulf of Mexico. Power companies can use subsea cables to bring wind energy to industrial facilities, instead of building hundreds of miles of overhead wires. The offshore wind market is already robust globally, but until now has been practically nonexistent in the U.S. Abundant land here has spurred the growth of onshore wind, but inhibited a rush to the water. That’s changing with tighter setback rules in leading wind states such as Iowa that limit how close to homes turbines can be placed, which are driving up construction costs and limiting the availability of acceptable sites. Transmission capacity limits on the U.S. power grid are also making it harder to move wind-generated electrons to market.Thanks to these development trends, plus measures in the climate bill that increase support for offshore wind, it looks as though the U.S. offshore wind industry is finally ready for prime time. We see the Gulf of Mexico as an especially attractive place to do business. The Gulf’s shallower water depths, warmer temperatures and calmer waves are relatively easy to manage. Water depths up to 160 feet – currently the maximum depth for fixed-bottom wind turbines – extend nearly 90 miles off the coasts of southeast Texas and southern Louisiana, compared with only about 40 miles off Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard in the Northeast. The Gulf’s seafloor topography features a more even and gentle slope than areas already under consideration for development off the coast of Virginia. This means that fixed-bottom wind turbines can be used in moreImportantly,places. the Gulf Coast has a robust offshore industry that was established to serve oil and gas producers, with many spe cialized companies offering services such as underwater welding, platform manufactur ing, and helicopter and boat services to get people and equipment to sea. Wind farms in the Gulf can leverage exist ing infrastructure. There are nearly 1,200 miles of existing subsea power cables that could transfer wind energy to shore. Wind power development in the Gulf also offers an opportunity for a smooth labor transition as the U.S. gradually reduces its reliance on fossil fuels.
Being a sole practitioner in any area of the law, let alone fast-paced transitional work, can be overwhelming. Balance is imperative. I see myself, and others, getting caught up on dayto-day tasks handling files and losing focus on the business we are running. A regimented schedule has been my key to success, allocating limited time and resources appropriately while ensuring all aspects of my practice are covered. Business development may be a sole practitioner’s most overlooked task. It goes without saying that handling current matters is of utmost importance, Nevertheless, a successful practice demands a pipeline with a constant flow. Dedicating three to four hours a week for business development has not only helped grow my practice but also provides the opportunity to build stronger relationships with referral sources and clients. Last, and certainly not least, is the need for a worklife balance so that you don’t burn out. It’s tough, if not impossible, to remove yourself from your work –even for a minute – but, if you maintain a disciplined schedule, you may be able to block out some personal time. Accomplish the unthinkable: Shut your phone off for the afternoon. n
Balance perspectivebrings
Michael J. Riley Law Offices of Michael J. Riley principal Michael J. Riley opened his eponymous law practice in Providence in 2017. He’s also licensed to practice law in Florida and Massachusetts. He focuses on real estate conveyancing, land use, development and real estate tax law.
BALANCE.
34 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO ONE LAST THING
www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | 35 of Rhode Island 2022 AWARDS THANK YOU to all who joined us to celebrate 1 42 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1. Peter Marino, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI with Domenic Delmonico, Point32Health. 2. Ellen Paster and Dianne Morrone, Washington Trust, accept their award. 3. Coastal1 team accepts their award. 4. Kelsey Owen, Blue Cross Blue Shield RI. 5. AAA Northeast team celebrates. 6. Team members from Children’s Friend. 7. Lifespan team. 8. Rhode Island Medical Imaging team. 9. Sheri Pensinger and Susan Patterson, CVS Health. 10. Hollie Moone, Brightview Nursing, accepts award. 11. Jennifer Mangiaratti, Point32Health, accepts award. 12. Nicole Voller, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, accepts award. 13. Gloria Gemma at their exhibitor table.
36 | AUGUST 19-SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com With over a century of academic excellence, Johnson & Wales prepares graduates for sought-after fields, like healthcare, business, and STEM. WE’RE POWERED BY PURPOSE.Learn more at JWU.edu
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CONNECTICUT FLORIDA MASSACHUSETTS NEW JERSEY NEW YORK PROVIDENCE WASHINGTON, DC | www.daypitney.com We congratulate our colleague Renée A.R. Evangelista Day Pitney proudly supports Providence Business News Leaders and Achievers Awards and all the Providence Business News 2022 Leaders & Achievers Honorees We thank them all for their contributions to andProvidenceitsbusiness community
Congratulations
Day Pitney congratulates its partner Renée A.R. Evangelista and all of the 2022 Leaders & Achievers Award recipients. We applaud their commitment to leadership, the Providence business community and community service. With national and international reach, Day Pitney offers clients strong corporate and litigation practices, and has one of the largest private wealth practices in the county. Visit www.daypitney.com.
Many, such as Michelle Wilcox, president of Cross roads Rhode Island, are mission-driven. She’s spent nearly 30 years with the Providence-based nonprofit providing housing and homeless services for a neverending line of people in need. Others might get beaten down by such persistent challenges, but she’s still driven by them.
involvement and passion for the
the
18 Jamie
www.pbn.com | LEADERS & ACHIEVERS n PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 2022 | 3 2022 AWARDS
CONTENTS
6
Karen G. DelPonte
12 Renée
“I have learned [to lead] through my mistakes … and strived for continued self-improvement,” said Jamie Worrell, co-founder and managing director of Strategic Retirement Partners LLC.
We’d like to thank partner sponsors Day Pitney LLP and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island for help ing us recognize this year’s outstanding class.Michael
Stuart Benton
13 Lori Giuttari 14 Mary
15 Peter Marino 15 Bruce Parkes 16 Craig Sculos 16 Kristen Sloan Maccini 17 Wendy Taylor 17 Michelle Wilcox 18 Jodie
11 Elizabeth
9 James
These leaders offer plenty to learn from Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island is proud to be a Partner Sponsor of the 4th Annual PBN Leaders & Achievers Awards Program and honored to help shine the spotlight on some of Rhode Island’s amazing leaders. to the 2022 honorees! community work do make Rhode Island a better place to work and live. for serving as strong role models for next generation of leaders. Ayers
David Currie
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ARE LEADERS BORN TO ACHIEVE, or are they made?
Daniel DiMase Donahue Eagan Eckel Evangelista Jo “MJ” Mainiero Woodruff Worrell
The best leaders also are often mentors, both inside their organizations and in the community. Like Karen G. DelPonte, founding partner of Cameron & Mittleman LLP, they somehow find time to volunteer. In her case, DelPonte devotes more than 10 hours a month helping several nonprofits. One of the most common characteristics shared by this year’s honorees is the drive to always be learning, both personally and professionally.
Kaplan 14 Dr. Martha
Thank you
“I’m so fortunate … doing meaningful work that has a direct benefit to others,” Wilcox said.
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19 Stephen Zubiago 19 PARTNER SPONSOR MESSAGES FROM THE EDITOR
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That attitude is a way of life for Jodie Woodruff, director of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Education School.“Each day … I am motivated by trying to meet or beat my personal best,” she said. Nature vs. nurture? Perhaps it depends on the indi vidual, but read on for more insights from leaders we all can learn from.
Your stellar leadership, deep
It’s a debate with strong evidence on both sides, as demonstrated by this year’s remarkable group of PBN Leaders & Achievers. They have all been shaped by unique backgrounds, education and experiences that led to their career choices, but they also share several characteristics.
THESERVETHEIMAGININGRE-HOWSYSTEMCAN[YOUTHS]ATRISKTODELIVERRIGHTSERVICESATTHEEXACTTIME[YOUTHS]NEEDTHEM.’ TOBY AYERS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Rhode Island for Community and Justice CONGRATULATIONS To Craig Sculos of Bally’s for being chosen as one of our Leaders & Achievers!
SPEARHEADING CHANGE: Toby Ayers, executive director of Rhode Island for Community and Justice, is leading programming to help bring the community together and establish youth empowerment across cultures. PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN
WHILE ATTENDING COLLEGE, Toby Ayers won a fellowship to study in Guam. The experience was transformational, as Ayers remained on the U.S. territory for four years before returning to complete her degree. Those years in Guam, Ayers said, were the catalyst that illu minated a path for her career to find ways to bring people together across differing cultures to solve problems.Today, as Rhode Island for Community and Justice’s execu tive director, Ayers and her team are working to build an inclusive community where each person, no matter their background, is viewed as valuable.“RICJ’smission calls on us to fight racism and all the ‘isms’ by building understanding, respect and common ground,” Ayers said. “Our programs center on BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and people of color] youth empowerment, reflect ing our belief these [youths] are leaders who will shape our state over the long term.”Youth Facilitat ing for Change, inclusionasforProvidencerecruitsmernonprofit’sProvidence-basedthesumjobsprogram,low-incometeenspaidpositionsdiversityandpeer
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facilitators. Teams of youths create social justice workshops and facili tate these for youths in other em ployment programs and with adult groups. As they stay with RICJ, teens further build their skills, eventually co-leading diversity and inclusion training workshops paired with the nonprofits’ staff. Ayers says that system change is always hard and making sys tems equitable is even harder. De spite awareness and the hard work of people to better the community within and outside of the system, she says, making change can be akin to “moving an aircraft carrier – extremely slow.”
“At many points, you simply get stuck,” Ayers said. “Our team is looking at these ‘stuck’ places where we have difficulty trans lating our vision for reform into specific results and outcomes for [youths] of color. “People tell us that RICJ punches above its weight, meaning we accomplish a lot more than you would expect given our tiny staff. We are them.”[youths]attheatcanhowre-imaginingthesystemserve[youths]risktodeliverrightservicestheexacttimeneed ARE
n JOHN ContributingLAHTINENA.writer ‘WE
www.pbn.com | LEADERS & ACHIEVERS n PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | AUGUST 2022 | 5 2022 AWARDS Congratulations from all your colleagues at Washington Trust! washtrust.com Washington Trust congratulates Elizabeth Eckel for being recognized with Providence Business News’ 2022 Leaders & Achievers Award Beth’s longstanding commitment to leading others, community service, and mentoring make her truly deserving of this top honor. Elizabeth B. Eckel Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing & Corporate Communications Officer
ImpactAchiev ement &
6 | AUGUST 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS n LEADERS & ACHIEVERS | www.pbn.com 2022 AWARDS ucts, as well as those of Clinique, Johnson & Johnson, Bath & Body Works and Cremo, many of which the company created and launched. “None of them are our own brands,” Benton said, “but they’re tailor-made formulas we developed and then produced for our clients.” His personal favorite for lathering up? Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree soap. “It’s tingly,” he said. Like other Rhode Island busi nesses facing COVID-19, Bradford had to keep a safe workplace at what is a 24-hour in-person opera tion for many. “We slowed lines and put up partitions. It resulted in a new way of producing products,” he said. “We didn’t have to shut down. We didn’t have major outbreaks; we kept people healthy.” Despite those challenges, Bradford pursued its philanthropy, donating more than 70,000 bars of soap to the state of Rhode Island and to Amenity Aid during the pandemic, Benton said. It also sent tons of soap to international humanitarian organizations, in cluding Eco Soap Bank and World Vision. “We’re a little Rhode world.”reachsaid,company,”IslandBenton“withaacrossthe n SARAH ContributingFRANCISwriter
The world continues to evolve at breakneck speed and those who are able to leverage their diverse and storied accomplishments are forging the way for future generations. Congratulations to all the winners of the PBN Leaders & Achievers award including our own Karen G. DelPonte, Partner.
MISSION-DRIVEN: Under the direction of CEO and President Stuart Benton, Bradford Soap Works Inc. in 2012 was the first to work with the Rainforest Alliance, sourcing 100% traceable, sustainable palm oil from certified plantations. PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS STUART BENTON CEO AND PRESIDENT Bradford Soap Works Inc. ‘OUR PEOPLE,POINTSFOCUSAREPLANETANDPROFIT.’
PROVIDENCE | BOSTON | SOUTHCOAST | psh.com
THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, Stuart Benton has been raising the bar.As Bradford Soap Works Inc.’s CEO and president, Benton says his West Warwick company with 350 employees is on track to make 50 million pounds of bar soap this year, emphasizing environmental sustainability.“Ourfocuspoints are people, planet and profit,” Benton said. “We’re a mission-based company that happens to sell bar soaps.” Founded in 1876 by two men from Bradford, England, the com pany first supplied flake soap for scouring wool to New England’s textile mills. Over time, it segued into helping companies create personal care product brands that contain little to no water. In 2002, Bradford became the first U.S. soap maker to receive organic certification. In 2012, it was the first to work with the Rainforest Alliance, sourcing 100% traceable, sustainable palm oil from certified plantations. In 2018, the company shifted again from making bar soap to the broader market of personal cleansing. Think shampoos, shave sticks and shower products.Youwon’t find Bradford’s label on store shelves, but you will find Aveeno prod
Congratulations Partridge Snow & Hahn congratulates the Providence Business News’ 2022 Leaders & Achievers Honorees. We would like to extend a special congrats to Tom Eagan for being recognized with this award. It’s hard to put into words our appreciation for Tom’s tireless service to PSH over the last 32 years. We are thrilled he has received this acknowledgment from PBN for his leadership and unwavering commitment to not just the firm, but the various civic and nonprofit organizations he has been involved with for more than three decades. Well done Tom! Find the experience you’re looking for at psh.com.
Coggeshall Farm Museum | Bristol, RI | CoggeshallFarm.org
SINCE DAVID CURRIE FOUNDED East Providence-based Province Mortgage Associates Inc. in 2005, his business has survived – and thrived – through ups and downs, including a housing bubble, reces sions, the COVID-19 pandemic, record-low interest rates and the current sharp rise in rates. As president of the residential mortgage lender, which also oper ates in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida, Currie attributes his success to two main ideas. The first is hiring well. “I’m a big believer in finding the right talent and surrounding yourself with like-minded people,” Currie said. “I always joke with my management team that I’m the dumbest one in the room. And I don’t really believe that, but I do believe that it’s about hiring people that you really believe in.”
In partnership with:
Jim Donahue has most recently brought Old Sturbridge Village and Coggeshall Farm Museum together in partnership to ensure living history in New England continues to educate future generations.
Congratulations to Jim Donahue and all the Leaders and Achievers for their meaningful contributions and outstanding accomplishments.
Currie’s other guiding principle is holding employ ees accountable. A good leader not only gives staff direction and goals but also follows up regularly, Currie says.“If you don’t hold people ac countable in our business, or in any business, in my opinion, you’re go ing to fail,” he said. “Nobody loves to
DAVID CURRIE
CONGRATULATIONS,MICHELLEWILCOX!
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n JENNAContributingPELLETIERwriter
GUIDING PRINCIPLES: Province Mortgage Associates Inc. President David Currie attributes his success to hiring well and holding employees PBNaccountable.PHOTO/ELIZABETH GRAHAM have tough conversations, but you have to and I learned that early on in my Currie,career.”who graduated from Bryant University in 1993 with a bachelor’s in business administra tion, holds himself to the highest standards as well, according to Province Marketing Director Don Wilson, who has worked with Currie for more than 25 years. Wilson said Currie is “relentless” in pursuing excellence, as well as exemplifying leadership, inspira tion and true accountability. “Probably nobody would have predicted that we would still be here in 2022 because of what the industry endured over the past couple of decades,” Wilson said. “Overall, in every single year of our existence, Dave [Currie] has made it a point to add something to our repertoire of offerings.” Customer service is paramount in the answeringingaspectwithdon’tCurrieacustomersCurriemortgagecompetitivemarket,added.“Ourhavelotofoptions,”said.“Ifwewowthemtheserviceofit,includeducationandalloftheirquestions,thenwefail.”
‘I’M A
As a leader and achiever at Crossroads and across Rhode Island, we are so proud to have you as President of Crossroads and on our team!
PRESIDENT Province Mortgage Associates Inc.
YOURSELFSURROUNDINGTALENTINBELIEVERBIGFINDINGTHERIGHTANDWITHLIKE-MINDEDPEOPLE.’
KAREN G. DELPONTE, founding partner of Cameron & Mittleman LLP’s estate planning practice group in Providence, said she sometimes felt like the Lucy char acter from the “Peanuts” comic during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a closed office and a crush of sudden client demands to get wills and estate documents finalized, masked team members witnessed and notarized documents in the parking lot. “In bad weather, one of us would hold an umbrella over the other” signing paperwork as cli ents stayed in their cars, DelPonte said.“COVID-19 forced people to real ize that they may be healthy one day and then on a ventilator the next day,” she said. The department’s six attorneys and four paralegals pulled together during unprecedented times. It solidified an appreciation for her team.Agraduate of Wellesley College and Boston College Law School, Del Ponte’s love of the field began when she took a trust and estates class. “People think of estate planning as being some thing boring, but that couldn’t be further from the Karen G. DelPonte, founding partner of Cameron & Mittleman LLP, dedicates more than 10 hours a month volunteering legal services for nonprofits such as the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Providence Public Library.
truth. It’s part tax law – with everchanging complexities – and part soap opera,” DelPonte said. “I’ve been asked before if I need to have a degree in psychology to deal with cases such as four siblings fighting over Christmas ornaments.” Add in third parties trying to interject themselves into proceed ings, and no case is identical. The nature of her work creates ongoing relationships with fami lies, with referrals carrying from generation to generation. Clients for whom she has great respect are those who lost immedi ate family members but use their assets to help others in the form of charitable giving. “I am honored to work with people like that,” DelPonte said. She dedicates more than 10 hours a month volunteering legal services for nonprofits such as the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Providence Public Library, assisting with donors who name the charities in their life insur ance. DelPonte has fond memories of taking a bus to the library after school and spend ing hours among the stacks, and she feels fortunate to give back in this way, in a career she loves. n SUSANContributingSHALHOUBwriter
PARTNER Cameron
KAREN
PHOTO/DAVID
‘I’VE BEEN ASKED BEFORE IF I NEED TO HAVE A DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY TO DEAL WITH CASES SUCH AS FOUR SIBLINGS FIGHTING OVERORNAMENTS.’CHRISTMAS & AWARDS FASTEST GROWING AWARDS ’S UPCOMING AWARD EVENTS APPLY. NOMINATE. SPONSOR. ATTEND. REGISTRATION OPEN SEPTEMBER 29 | GRADUATE HOTEL | 5:30-8PM Two great programs, one great event celebrating both growth and innovation in the region. #PBNFGIC APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED NOVEMBER 10 | OMNI PROVIDENCE HOTEL | 5:30-8PM Recognizes manufacturers in multiple categories including Lean Manufacturing, Workforce Development, Product Innovation and Design. Two individuals will receive the Leadership & Strategy and Manufacturing Champion Award. #PBNMFG SAVE THE DATE DECEMBER 1 | CROWNE PLAZA | 9-11AM Learn about best practices for leveraging DEI in the workplace. Companies and leaders will be recognized for their exceptional efforts in promoting DEI. #PBNDiversitySummit SAVE THE DATE JANUARY 19, 2023 | GRADUATE HOTEL | 5:30-8PM The Best Business Networking Event of the Year! LEARN MORE AT PBN.COM/EVENTS For advertising and sponsorship opportunities contact 401.680.4800 or Advertising@PBN.com Premier Event
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BUILDING THE FUTURE: With CEO and President Daniel DiMase at the helm, Aerocyonics Inc. is working with Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island on proposals for the National Science Founda tion to develop teacher training, mentoring and project-based learning that focuses on the engineering design process for students.
PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS
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CEO AND PRESIDENT Daniel DiMase founded Aerocyonics Inc. four years ago, after seeing “some gaps in the processes and tech nology associated with supply chain risk management, logistics, hardware assurance, counterfeit parts avoidance and detection, cyber physical systems security and STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] learning,” he Withsaid. consulting as its base line, the East Greenwich-based company does extensive research and development, some of which is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. Aerocyonics’ subject matter experts work with govern ment agencies and microelectronic fabricators such as GlobalFound ries Inc. and academia to develop solutions for advancing state-ofthe-artEachtechnology.week,theprivately held company aggregates data sum marizing current events around supply chain risk management and cyber physical systems security that includes hardware and soft ware“Weissues.send these articles for free to thousands of indi viduals [at] … the 25 or so national in formation sharing and analysis cen ters, DiMaseandagencies,governmentacademiacompanies,”said.“We
work only with open-source infor mation so that the material doesn’t becomeAerocyonicsclassified.”isworking with both Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island on proposals for the National Science Foundation to develop teacher training, mentoring and projectbased learning that focuses on the engineering design process for stu dents from kindergarten through college. Advancing this workforce and making STEM education more accessible, especially for under served and trolledareteraboutandultrafastingofDiMaseextremelyproject.”populations,underrepresentedisDiMase’s“passion“Weareworkingonsomecomplexproblems,”said,suchascybersecurityphysicalsystemsandadvancinnovationandtechnologyinlasermachining,imagingartificialintelligence.“Forexample,we’reworriedsomeonehackingacity’swasupplysystem.Thesesystemsoutinthefield,notinconserverroomswithfrequentupdates,”DiMasesaid.“Inourimagingbusiness,ourinstrumentsprovide3Dimagesofelectronicpartsthatcanbethewidthoffourhumanhairstoprovidemeaningfuldata.” ContributingKIRSCHwriter ‘WE AEROCYONICS[AT INC. ARE]EXTREMELYONWORKINGSOMECOMPLEXPROBLEMS.’
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DANIEL DIMASE CEO AND PRESIDENT Aerocyonics Inc.
Donahue’s vision for Cogge shall is big and there has already been a long list of improvements. New visitors come to Coggeshall via their Old Sturbridge Village membership, bringing economic benefits to Bristol. School field trips are also re turning, as are engaging programs and events, such as a lecture se ries. A fundraising gala is planned for the fall, and in 2023 the farm will celebrate its 50th anniversary. “It feels good to see these insti tutions thrive, but I couldn’t do it if I wasn’t surrounded by people who are good leaders them selves,” Donahue said. n HUGH ContributingMINORwriter
JAMES DONAHUE BELIEVES that in order to be a truly effective lead er, one must have a great board and staff. He says he has been very lucky to have both. “Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I needed to get done,” Donahue said. For 15 years, Donahue has guided the team at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Mass. – New England’s largest living history museum – through ever-changing and challenging times. In 2019, he led the effort to create a strategic partnership between Sturbridge and Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol. It was an opportunity to expand the reach of Sturbridge’s mission while providing a strong foundation for the smaller, strug gling nonprofit in Rhode Island. Through the affiliation, Dona hue’s staff absorbed the farm’s back-end functions, such as ac counting, fundraising, marketing and human resources, consolidat ing services and reducing costs. “It’s so important that experi ences [such as] Coggeshall and Sturbridge exist to present history in a way that makes it as relevant as it can demic,thechallengeseredspiteareDonahuetoday,”said.Bothmuseumsthriving,dehavingweatheconomicbeforeCOVID-19panandwhen
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A LIFELINE: James Donahue in 2019 led a partnership between Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Mass., to acquire Bristol-based nonprofit Coggeshall Farm Museum to help revitalize the struggling Rhode Islandbased organization. PBN PHOTO/ELIZABETH GRAHAM the crisis hit. “I was determined to get us through [the pandemic],” he said. “I had three goals: keep everyone safe, preserve everyone’s job and the work of the museum, and keep people whole in terms of their income and health insurance.” Donahue put his plan in place, and his staff, board and members all responded by being nimble, flexible and, most importantly, loyal.“COVID-19 tested our ability to be creative. We were able to keep our people safe and employed, while making sure the museum survived,” Donahue said.
‘I DETERMINEDWAS TO GET US THROUGH [THEPANDEMIC].’COVID-19 JAMES DONAHUE CEO AND PRESIDENT Old Sturbridge Village/Coggeshall Farm Museum 2023 Be Seen by Rhode Island’s Business Leaders ALL YEAR LONG BE IN THE BOOK 73% of our readers* reference PBN’s Book of Lists year-round – guaranteeing wherever business happens, you’ll be right there too. *cvc subscriber survey, 2020 PUT 12 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE TO WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY Premium positions still available Publishes January 20, 2023 | Secure ad space by December 8, 2022 Contact your account manager or Advertising@PBN.com | 401-680-4800 BE WHERE BUSINESS HAPPENS
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n ContributingARELLANO-NOEMISUMMERwriter ‘LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IN INDUSTRY.’THE THOMAS EAGAN DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP Congratulations to our owner and CMO, Lori Giuttari We are so proud of your leadership & achievements focused on the growth and success of small business in RI. Visual Thrive & Shop Local RI are lucky to have you leading the way. for being named a 2022 PBN Leader & Achiever honoree! visualthrive.comshoplocalri.com POSITIVE IMPACT STARTS AT THE TOP. Congratulations to our CEO and Managing Partner, Stephen D. Zubiago, and all of the 2022 Leader & Achiever honorees. Your commitment and leadership set a high standard for the Rhode Island business community. THELEADINGWAY Nixon Peabody LLP One Citizens Plaza | Providence, RI nixonpeabody.com @NixonPeabodyLLP
FULLY INVOLVED: Thomas Eagan, Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP’s director of finance and administration, has helped lead and organize various areas of the firm, including with new hires, renovation and other administrative PBNprocedures.PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN
THOMAS EAGAN DID NOT ORIGINALLY PLAN to major in business at Bryant College (now Bryant University), but he was drawn into changing his major by the promises of finance. In his 32 years at Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP, Eagan has overseen the firm’s financial and administra tion matters, helping to keep the Providence-based law firm grow ing. Eagan has led and organized various areas over the years, including new hires, facilities, renovation and other administra tive“Learnprocedures.asmuch as you can in the industry,” he advised upcom ing leaders in finance. “Build relationships with your col leagues. Communicate, interact, discover their needs and how to helpEverythem.”organization Eagan has worked with has been different. Eagan recommended working to understand the business and the organization first, before bringing in knowledge from previous jobs that might prove useful in a new role. Both pieces of advice have served Eagan well in his various roles, such as the city of organizationscontinuesownfinanceWarwick’sdirector.Evenonhistime,Eagantohelp with their finances. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Eagan was a board member of the Appalachian Mountain Club for five years, during which he worked on the club’s finance and compensation committees and chaired its audit committee.“I’vebeen hiking for 30 years,” Eagan said, so it was easy enough for him to get involved in the local organization, and then to advance. “It’s been a great opportunity. I’ve met interesting people, and hopefully had an impact on its success.”Eagan’s most recent project has been training his successor as he looks ahead to his retirement. As Eagan put it, “the law firm is bigger and more complex” than it used to be. So Eagan is having to cover instructions on how to do just about everything, along with providing historical context on the firm’s past. Eagan appreciated the oppor tunity he received and has been working hard to make sure his successor can help the firm move forward.“I’mleaving[thefirm]ingoodhands,”Eagansaid.
SHINING STAR: Elizabeth Eckel, The Washington Trust Co.’s senior vice president, chief marketing and corporate communications officer, in 1993 created the bank’s Reach for the STARS volunteer community program. PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS
PBN
ELIZABETH ECKEL SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF MARKETING AND CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER The Washington Trust Co. LEADERS LIKE YOU ARE READING PBN SUBSCRIBE TODAY GET 35% OFF PRINT + DIGITAL PBN.COM/LEADERS
12 | AUGUST 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS n LEADERS & ACHIEVERS | www.pbn.com 2022 AWARDS NO MATTER HOW LARGE a bank ing institution grows, it must never forget about the people it serves. Elizabeth Eckel is part of that philosophy at The Washington Trust Co. as its senior vice presi dent, chief marketing and corpo rate communications officer. Responsible for the Westerlybased banking institution’s exter nal and internal communications, investor relations and community outreach, Eckel and her team have helped Washington Trust grow from six branches, when she joined the company in 1991, to 24, with a 25th opening soon. As technology changed and the bank expanded into commercial lending, mortgage lending and wealth management services, Eckel developed online resources and the bank’s first website. With several new acqui sitions, Eckel rebranded them to reflect Washington Trust’s culture. “I’ve helped build our company brand and grow our business lines, but establishing our employee vol unteerism program and receiving the national Points of Light award in 2005 for our volun teerism makes me feel good,” Eckel said. She establishedalsothe an nual Peanut Butter Drive in 2001 that has since collected 156 tons of peanut butter for local food pantries and families in need. Some 85% of the bank’s 640 em ployees participate in the Reach for the STARS program, which Eckel introduced in 1993 as the STAR, or “service, teamwork, assistant, respect” employee volunteerism program. Participation includes volunteering, serving on boards or contributing time and talent or financial support to community activities and events. As a public company, Washing ton Trust now has many institu tional investors and retail share holders.“Washington Trust needs to stay relevant to the local commu nity while making sure we have growth and stability for sharehold ers,” Eckel said. “We have a very diverse income stream for a bank our size, and a great dividend.” Eckel says she’s happy to men tor new employees at Washington Trust and help lead new programs, such as the bank’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiative.“Wehave a strong history and culture and I want to make sure that the nation’s oldest community bank remains so, even after I’ve retired,” Eckel said. n NANCY ContributingKIRSCHwriter ‘WE HAVE A WANTCULTUREHISTORYSTRONGANDANDITOMAKESURETHATTHENATION’SOLDESTCOMMUNITYBANKREMAINSSO.’
TEAM PLAYER: The lessons Renée Evangelista learned when she played on the North Providence West Little League softball team that won the 1979 world championship have applied in her legal career, too.
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2014 to focus on estate planning and settlement, probate and trust law.She felt it made sense to merge the boutique firm with Day Pitney in July 2021, which, Evangelista said, has allowed her to continue practicing in her legal niche. A Brown University graduate, Evangelista clerked in Edwards & Angell LLP’s New York and Provi dence offices while attending New York University School of Law. Thanks to strong mentoring and professional development, Evangelista made partner in 1998, seven years after joining the firm – now known as Locke Lord LLP. She also served eight years as the first woman co-partner in charge of Edwards & Angell’s Providence office.“I’m not afraid to make difficult decisions for the good of the entire organization,” Evangelista said. “In terms of leadership, I want to support people so that they suc ceed. If everyone is doing well and succeeding in their own right, that makes a &credittates.inaaround.organizationbetterallIhavehadwonderfulcareertrustsandesIgiveallthetoEdwardsAngell.”
RENÉE EVANGELISTA HAS BEEN PLAYING on winning teams at least since age 12, when her North Providence West Little League softball team returned from the 1979 Little League Softball World Series in Waco, Texas, as national champions.Lessonsthat she learned on the diamond, combined with the work ethic her teacher parents instilled, are gems that help Evangelista’s career sparkle. “I really enjoy working with people and being a part of the team,” she said. “With a lot of the clients we service, I’m a part of the team. Being in sports really helped me in my career.”
Evangelista is Providence office managing partner for Day Pitney LLP. The law firm not only represents national and interna tional corporations, and emerging and middle-market companies, but it also boasts one of the largest and most sophisticated individualclient practices in the U.S. Day Pitney’s work helping individuals and their families, fiducia ries and tax-exempt entities plan for the future mirrors the type of work that Evangelista did at Howland foundedandKohlenbergEvangelistaLLCsheherpartnersthatfirmin
n ContributingKIMBERLEYEDGARwriter
for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and all the 2022 Leaders
Executive Director, Rhode Island for Community & Justice Leaders & Achievers 2022 Honoree the Met, our internship program provides a real-world to Jodie Woodruff, Director of the Met’s Center & Achiever honorees! Rhode Island’s most innovative high
Belvoir
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learning to the curriculum. We utilize the internship and mentor relationship to create a full circle of learning through project-based work. Congratulations
PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS ‘I’M NOT AFRAID TO MAKE ORGANIZATION.’DECISIONSDIFFICULTFORTHEGOODOFTHEENTIRE RENÉE EVANGELISTA MANAGING PARTNER Day Pitney LLP
PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN GIUTTARI MARKETING OFFICER Visual Thrive LLC AFTER 30-PLUS YEARS as a mar keting professional, Lori Giuttari says running a successful business boils down to two simple rules. The first is to be flexible and start with your strengths. “Everything’s OK. You have good days and bad days. The kids are sick? We’re not going to run our business strictly 9 to 5,” sheAndsaid.Giuttari’s other simple rule for running a successful business? “Once you’ve worked your rear end off, you’ve got to start having fun,” she Giuttarisaid.recognized her strengths as a strategic planner right from the jump. She landed an R.I. Supreme Court intern ship while in her early 20s. From there, she managed the campaign headquarters for James O’Neil in his successful run for state attor ney general when he was elected in 1986. She then created Rhode Island Legal Services’ first endow ment with the Rhode Island Foun dation, and later spent 10 years as global marketing director and then head of communications for North America at Schnei der sheScottwithownitchGiuttariEventually,Electric.gotthetolaunchhershop.In2018,co-ownerIndermaur,debuted Vi sual Thrive LLC, a Cranston-based boutique agency that helps small and midsize busi nesses market their message using web design, professional photogra phy and video, and social media. Clients include Adler’s Design and Hardware, MG Commercial Real Estate Services Inc. and Rustigian Rugs.Recently, Giuttari’s labor of love has been Shop Local Rhode Island, a side project Visual Thrive launched early in the COVID-19 pandemic that now numbers some 2,000 businesses in its online direc tory and roughly 50 marketplace vendors offering 400 products. Thanks to a $107,000 R.I. Com merce Corp. Innovation Grant, Shop Local will unveil a fresh, new look in September. “We were one of the only for-profits that [R.I.] Commerce funded,” she said. “The new site is gorgeous.” Shop Local also offers ongoing sessions for the site’s businesses, helping them to use marketing tactics and to consider e-commerce as a revenue stream. As a template, it has the potential to be replicated around the coun try, Giuttari said. “If the state of Vermont says they want to do some thing similar, we can do that pack age for them,” she said. n
ANDY ContributingSMITHwriter ‘WE’RE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO TREAT PEOPLE IN A HUMAN-CENTERED,MOREHOLISTICWAY.’
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HELPING WITH CHANGES: Mary Jo “MJ” Kaplan and her firm, Kaplan Consulting LLC, specialize in executive leadership, strategy and the future of work, which is a significant focus brought to light by the COVID-19 PBNpandemic.PHOTO/TRACY
MARY JO “MJ” KAPLAN, founder and CEO of Narragansett-based Kaplan Consulting LLC, feels her firm is at the beginning of a new age but she is unsure how things will change in the long run. “We’re trying to find ways to treat people in a more human-cen tered, holistic way,” Kaplan said. Kaplan’s firm specializes in executive leadership, strategy and the future of work. The dramatic changes brought on by the CO VID-19 pandemic have brought the latter into sharp focus. Certainly, business thinkers had been considering how the nature of work and organizations are changing for some time now, Kaplan said. That was particularly true for startups that didn’t have to concern themselves with decades of tradition or a preexisting hier archy.Organizations often come to Kaplan when they have specific is sues, she said. When the pandemic struck, the immediate goal, Kaplan said, was how to shift to remote working.“Somany things were changing so fast,” she said. “Companies had to learn how to work differently forward.makeshavenizationaltheimmediately.’’almostNow,shesaid,questionorgaleaderstoaskiswhatsensegoingFormany companies, Kaplan said, the old industrial model no longer works.
SARAH ContributingFRANCISwriter
CHIEF
MARY JO “MJ” KAPLAN
LORI
Kaplan was born in Ohio and initially came to Rhode Island to attend Brown University, where she graduated in 1982. In 2013 she took a public policy Fulbright Fel lowship in New Zealand, which led to co-founding a software service company.Kaplan has consulted for orga nizations across a wide variety of sectors, including community non profits, educational institutions, foundations and corporations such as Gilbane Building Co. and the Hudson Bay Co. She also serves on a number of boards, including for R.I. Commerce Corp. and Social Enterprise Greenhouse. “I prefer to work with compa nies and organizations that are thinking about how to have a posi tive impact on theirwork.purposefindingconcernedKaplancommunities,”said.Manyyoungerworkers,shesaid,arefeelingthesamewayandareacutelywithasenseofintheir
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MESSAGE MAKER: Lori Giuttari and co-owner Scott Indermaur in 2018 established Visual Thrive LLC in Cranston, an agency that helps small and midsize businesses market their message using web design, social media, professional photography and video.
JENKINS
FOUNDER AND CEO Kaplan Consulting LLC ‘ONCE YOU’VE WORKED YOUR REAR END OFF, YOU’VE GOT TO HAVINGSTARTFUN.’
“There’s no one-size-fits-all,” she said. “A lot depends on the kind of work that’s being done, the locations, who is in the workforce, what they’re doing day to day … so how do you set up a new frame work that’s fair to everyone?”
PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN
FRONT-LINE HEALTH PROFES SIONALS, as well as the Rhode Islanders they care for, have been challenged throughout the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020. Peter Marino has seen that firsthand.Withan extensive background in the public and private sectors, Marino became CEO and president of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island in 2014. The majority of the Smithfield-based nonprofit health insurer’s HMO members are eligible for Medicaid. Neigh borhood’s provider network also spans more than 1,800 primary care practitioners, more than 5,000 specialists and more than 5,000 behavioral health providers. At least half receive their primary care at one of more than 30 com munity health centers around the state, and many live in vulnerable communities.“Atthebeginning of the pandemic, we had three goals,” Marino said. “Keep employees safe, provide support to our health care providers and take care of our members. Fortunately, I was a Boy Scout when I was growing up; I learned to be prepared.” Specifics on that checklist: making it easier for staff to work remotely, strength ening the strategy for membersvaccinatingand smoothing out the paperwork re quired from health care providers.
The stress, particularly on health professionals, has been enormous, MarinoMarinosaid.leads the organization’s strategic direction and day-to-day operations. Since he’s helmed the organization, Neighborhood has grown from a 250-employee, $450 million company serving 100,000 members to a $1.5 billion enterprise with more than 600 employees and caring for more than 220,000 Rhode Islanders. Neighborhood is the state’s secondlargest health insurer, with only Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island having more subscribers. Marino grew up in a military family – his dad spent time in Vietnam – and they moved around. He attributes his successful career to mentors he met along the way. Marino has also learned the value of being surrounded by people who really believe in what they’re doing. Marino’s most important lesson was reinforced by his grandmother.“Shetoldme kindness costs you nothing, except maybe a smile,” he said. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re having a hard discussion or shopping in the grocery store. Kindness and a smile go far.” n SARAH ContributingFRANCISwriter
Rhode Island Medical Imaging Inc.
DR. MARTHA MAINIERO has always been interested in the in tersection between science and the human body. In her work as both an educator and a breast radiolo gist at Rhode Island Medical Imag ing Inc. – she has worked for the Warwick-based medical provider for 27 years – Mainiero has both educated the next generation and worked with people in a field that she cares about. “It’s a disease we can treat,” she said, and considers radiology a hopeful field, as it is one where breast cancers can be detected early.Mainiero recommends entering radiology for aspiring leaders and doctors, having enjoyed the oppor tunity to help young people with their“Wecareers.havegreat doctors who like to work with patients and harness technology. We really listen and learn from everyone,” she said. Doctors, she cautioned, do have to be willing to keep an open mind and change their opinions if neces sary. Mainiero has found it useful to work closely with the teams she has had at the time, doing her best to work toward the same outcomes as everyone else. In addition to being a professor at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown MainieroUniversity,hasalso held several hospital leadership po sitions. For 18 years through 2019, Mainiero served as the residency program director at Rhode Island Hospital. She now serves as the hospital’s medical director for the Anne C. Pappas Center, a position Mainiero has held since 2007. Additionally, Mainiero was president of the Medical Staff As sociation at Rhode Island Hospital from 2014 through 2016, and was awarded the Rhode Island Hospi tal Milton Hamolsky Outstanding Physician of the Year award in 2019.Mainiero has published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers and currently serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Breast Imaging. “Never stop learning,” Mainiero said, further advising others to stay engaged and commu nicative.Mainiero is also helping to advo cate for newer technology for her hospital, understanding that physi cians and hospitals must change with technology, particularly in a field such as hers. “We need people who recognize that we’re the ones who need to manage it as a tool for patient care, and humanize it so that it’s for the patient,” she said. n
PETER MARINO CEO AND PRESIDENT Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island
PHOTO/ELIZABETH GRAHAM
SHARING KNOWLEDGE: Along with her work at Rhode Island Medical Imaging Inc., Dr. Martha Mainiero mentors future health professionals as a professor at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University.
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AND‘KINDNESSASMILEGOFAR.’
‘WE LEARNLISTENREALLYANDFROMEVERYONE.’
DR. MARTHA MAINIERO RADIOLOGIST
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RAPID GROWTH: After Peter Marino became CEO and president of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island in 2014, the nonprofit health insurer’s revenue grew from $450 million to $1.5 billion and its membership has more than doubled.
ARELLANO-SUMMERNOEMIContributingwriter
CRAIG SCULOS
SENIOR VP OF RHODE ISLAND REGULATORY Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort and Bally’s Tiverton Casino Hotel VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER Bally’s Tiverton Casino Hotel Technology
PLC
BRUCE PARKES SYSTEMS ENGINEER International Game
‘THE OTHER THING THAT ENVIRONMENTISMAKESREALLYMETICKTOCREATETHEFORTHEPEOPLETO...DOTHINGSTHEYMIGHTNOTTHINKTHEYCOULDDO.’
“[We] are more than slot ma chines and blackjack tables. Much more,” Sculos said. “We are a robust economic engine, a leading employer, venerable landmarks and are deeply woven into the fabric of the Ocean State.”
16 | AUGUST 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS n LEADERS & ACHIEVERS | www.pbn.com 2022 AWARDS ALL IN: After the COVID-19 pandemic impacted operations, Craig Sculos, Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort and Bally’s Tiverton Casino Hotel senior vice president of Rhode Island regulatory, is spearheading growth and expansion at the two gaming facilities. PBN PHOTO/KATE WHITNEY LUCEY WITH JUST SIX HOURS of notice, Bally’s Corp.’s Twin River Lin coln and Tiverton casinos were required to close in the middle of a high-volume Friday evening in March 2020 as COVID-19 took hold of Rhode Island. Initially, the casinos’ expectations were to reopen within a couple of weeks, said Craig Sculos, Bally’s Tiverton Casino and Hotel’s vice president and general manager and senior vice president of Rhode Island regulatory for both Ocean Statebased gaming facilities. “Those couple of weeks stretched into months, followed by a reopening with an exacting series of safety-driven restric tions that spanned nearly a year,” SculosSculossaid.and his team had to develop and implement an op erational plan, including a stateregulated sanitizing regimen for the 160,000-square-foot Tiverton facility. Additionally, sheets of plexiglass fastened to patio umbrel la bases were positioned as safety barriers between slot machines and a ceiling-mounted unit served as a safety separator at the craps tables, he said. With a workforce of nearly 2,000, the two Bally’s casinos contribute more than $300 million to the state, one-third of Rhode Island’s revenue.
Now emerging from the pan demic, Sculos is hard at work pressing forward with plans for Bally’s to innovate and grow. Twin River Lincoln recently began expanding to include a 40,000-square-foot gaming area. Further renovations include en hancing the gaming floor aesthet ic, revisiting the casino’s second floor and reimagining the overall playerSculosexperience.sayscompetition for the leisure dollar has intensified, especially as the economy goes back and forth between inflation and possible recession. “Staffing needs loom large, which is common across the in dustry. As conditions stabilize and hopefully improve, Bally’s will reposition the casinos accordingly as social outlets featuring gaming, dining, entertainment and lodging all under one roof,” Sculos said. “We’re maintaining our standards and delivering a satisfy ing guest experience. ‘Bettor’ days are ahead.”
JOHN A. ContributingLAHTINENwriter ‘
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GROWING UP EATING Vegemite sandwiches in Australia, Bruce Parkes never envisioned landing in the U.S., or a career with global gaming company International Game Technology PLC. Working in different cultures –Australia, America and rotations in Asia for one project – has been one key to Parkes’ success. Parkes, the company’s systems engineer, also credits longevity with IGT and experience riding the telecommu nications boom after he left thenGTECH Corp. to make fiberoptic amplifiers at a former University of Rhode Island professor’s startup company, Optigain. Unfortunately, Parkes fell victim to the technol ogy bust when he was laid off from Optigain after two years. “It’s one of those things where, if it wasn’t for the financial stress of being unemployed and caring for your family, I recommend un employment for every profession al,” Parkes said. “It’s really a time to do some inward thinking about what you want to do and where you want to Teachingbe.” at Johnson & ucthimskillsParkes’2002ogySchoolUniversity’sWalesofTechnolinthefallofonlygrewleadershipandhelpedrealizeproddevelopmentis his real love, he said. “That’s why I came back to IGT, to lead the product development teams,” Parkes said. Having a father and older brother working as electricians also helped spark Parkes’ interest in the field. After graduating high school in his native Australia, he worked for an electric utility while earning his associate degree in electrical and electronics engineer ing from the College of Technical and Further Education in Towns ville, Queensland, Australia. Two years after marrying and settling in Australia, Parkes and his wife were bound for the U.S. Parkes completed his bachelor’s degree at URI in December 1995. During Parkes’ senior year, he interviewed with GTECH – long before its 2015 merger with IGT. Even then, the company offered an end-to-end approach to product development that attracted him. Inclusivity in myriad forms de scribes and drives Parkes’ leadership. “The other thing that really makes me tick is to create the en vironment for the people to not only succeed but to do things they might not think they could do,” Parkes said. n KIMBERLEYContributingEDGARwriter FINDING HIS PASSION: While teaching at Johnson & Wales University’s School of Technology, Bruce Parkes, International Game Technology PLC’s systems engineer, says the experience helped him realize that product development is his real love.
ARE“BETTOR”DAYSAHEAD.’
PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS
Exposure to nontraditional learning needs within Maccini’s family solidified mediation as the work she wanted to do. Concerned that mediation was not respected by the traditional legal community, Maccini didn’t just jump in. In 2013, Maccini completed a 40hour training with the Center for Mediation & Collaboration Rhode Island. In 2014, she did a three-day program on negotiation at Harvard LawTheSchool.more Maccini learned, the more she liked. “I started to believe it was a big something,” she said of mediation, saving time, money and worry for both the parties involved and the attorneys themselves. Maccini and co-founder Christine Marinello started Key Mediation at the gen esis of the COVID-19 pandemic in MarchMarinello2020. says Maccini betters the community, sharing mediation skills pro bono, in addition to her training work. “She is a treasure to the bar and Key Mediation,” Mari nello said. n SUSANContributingSHALHOUBwriter
‘MEDIATION PUTS ACTUAL NEEDS THEMOTIVATIONSANDATFOREFRONT.’ EXPERIENCE: Before co-founding Key Mediation LLC in North Kingstown, Kristen Sloan Maccini says she was given many opportunities and received jury trial experience while working real estate cases at her father’s Providence law firm.
TO THE RESCUE: Wendy Taylor, founder and executive director of Tiverton-based nonprofit West Place Animal Sanctuary, oversees a home to approximately 100 rescued farm animals, wild waterfowl and game birds that her staff helps rehabilitate before releasing back into the wild. Place Animal
VALUABLE
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PBN PHOTO/KATE WHITNEY LUCEY WENDY TAYLOR FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR West
“Instead, my personality is the type that says, ‘Why would I donate to an organization – why wouldn’t I start my own?’ ” she said. Almost 20 years after that cata lyst – and putting her law career in the rearview mirror – Taylor finds herself the founder and execu tive director of West Place Animal Sanctuary. The nonprofit is home to approximately 100 rescued farm animals, wild waterfowl and game birds that she and other wildlife rehab-trained volunteers nurture to health on her Tiverton property before releasing them back into the wild.Akin to a farmanimal spa, West Place provides skin, forercisemedicalnutritional,andextreatmentsabusedandne glected farm animals that, in many cases, were on death’s door. The 1995 Widener University Delaware Law School graduate supervises a staff of three and 75 volunteers and interns. She serves on Tiverton’s Zoning Board of Ap peals and Rhode Island’s animal welfare board. In 2018, Taylor gave a TEDx talk on leaving a sustain ableThelegacy.animal refugees seemingly have multiplied like rabbits since the sanctuary’s first residents ar rived in 2007, which were sibling domesticated rescue ducks Erna and Burton. Erna now mothers other rescued and rehabbing baby fowl. The sanctuary burgeoned in 2016 with 67 animals rescued through one of the worst animal cruelty cases in the Northeast, in Westport.Looking to improve the farm animals’ lot and increase the amount of land they call home, Taylor is talking with owners of nearby open farmland about hav ing it used for the sanctuary and its “We’reoperations.hoping to get the land to not only help out the organization but to preserve that land in per petuity,” Taylor said. n ContributingKIMBERLEYEDGARwriter ‘MY PERSONALITY IS THE TYPE THAT SAYS, “WHY WOULD I DONATE TO STARTWHYORGANIZATIONAN–WOULDN’TIMYOWN?”’
PBN PHOTO/ELIZABETH GRAHAM KRISTEN SLOAN MACCINI CO-FOUNDER Key Mediation LLC
Sanctuary
WENDY TAYLOR WAS 14 when she knew law school was for her. But in 2003 – eight years into Taylor’s medical malpractice law career in Providence – the unex pected happened: a fire gutted her house, killing her beloved pets – two dogs, six cats and a goat recu perating from surgery. The tragedy changed the course of her life. A well-meaning friend who knew that Taylor likes animals suggested she donate money to an animal rescue charity. But that wouldn’t be enough for Taylor.
puts actual needs and motivations at the forefront. It took me being away from formal practice to re flect on this – to think more about alternate dispute resolution.”
TRADITIONAL LEGAL EXPERI ENCE helped shape the career of Kristen Sloan Maccini, co-founder of Key Mediation LLC in North Kingstown.Agraduate of The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., she joined her father’s law firm after graduating from New England Law in 1991. She worked alongside three other attorneys at Gardner, Sawyer Gates & Sloan in Providence.“Iwasable to work in real estate, doing contracts and probate work, and given many opportuni ties – jury trials, for example,” Maccini said. “It was good experi ence in a traditional, old, respected firm and I enjoyed it very much.”
During a period when she stepped back from standard prac tice to build her family, Maccini coached Rhode Island Interscho lastic Mock Trial League at Moses Brown School in Providence for eight years. Mediation’s soft skills were part of this coaching. The team even made it to the finals one year.Itwas during this time that Maccini became interested in me diation, sparking a new area of profes sional focus. “I had always believed said.construct,”tiontraditionalthatlitigahadalimitedshe“Mediation
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That attitude carries through to Wilcox’s leadership style, which she strives to continuously im prove and develop. In her current role at Crossroads, Wilcox directs the organization’s internal op erations, programs and physical assets, such as adult and family shelters, housing, case manage ment programs, facilities manage ment, and asset development and construction. She effectively man aged the growth of the program and housing assets budgets from $5 million to $13.4 million and a staff of more than 175 full-time employees.Wilcoxrecognizes that she doesn’t do it alone. None of it is possible without the support of a well-prepared and motivated team. She is particularly appre ciative of her front-line crew who continued to propel their mission forward, even during the past two years when faced with the challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Every person at Crossroads is critical to our success, no matter what their role is,” Wilcox said. “We wouldn’t be able to do the work that we do without them.”
THEMBE‘IAUTHENTICMYSELF.’LOVEHOUSINGANDILOVEDEVELOPMENT,ANDI’MSOFORTUNATETOABLETOBRINGTOGETHER.’
MICHELLE WILCOX PRESIDENT Crossroads Rhode Island
PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN
NEARLY 30 YEARS into her career at Crossroads Rhode Island, Mi chelle Wilcox still feels working at the organization is the best of both worlds.Wilcox, president of the Providence-based nonprofit that provides housing and homeless services to those in need, has helped guide and direct Cross roads as it evolved from Travelers Aid in downtown Providence to its present location in the Crossroads tower high above Interstate 95 at 160 Broad St. “I love housing and I love devel opment, and I’m so fortunate to be able to bring them together; doing meaningful work that has a direct benefit to others,” Wilcox said. Wilcox is driven by Crossroads’ mission, which has evolved over the years. “Every person deserves a safe place to live,” she said, “and there’s no reason why we can’t make that available to everyone.”
BUILDING UP: Michelle Wilcox, president of Crossroads Rhode Island, managed the growth of the program and housing assets budgets from $5 million to $13.4 million.
n HUGH ContributingMINORwriter MENTOR: Jodie Woodruff, director of the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Education School’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, says she is regularly motivated by her students’ curiosity and watching them grow in the classroom.
BEING AUTHENTIC is a critical quality Jodie Woodruff possesses to inspire future leaders. Woodruff is the director of the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Education School’s Center for Innovation and Entre preneurship, which prepares high school students for real-life careers through a rigorous entrepreneur ship program. Participants learn the skills and concepts necessary to run a business with hands-on practical experience, including meeting and networking with busi nessInprofessionals.herrole,Woodruff encour ages and engages students as they strive to successfully complete the program, and finds that she gets her inspiration from them. “Working with students moti vates me, there are no two days alike,” she said. “I’m motivated by their curiosity, working with them and building on their strengths to watch them grow and find their own ‘aha’ moments.” For more than 20 years, Wood ruff has been an essential member of the Met school’s team, starting as a learning specialist working directly with students. She has been in the innovation directorentrepreneurshipandrolefor14 years.Over the years, she has devel oped her own philosophy, which has benefited countless students. “My approach to leading and moving others is to be my au thentic self,” Woodruff said. “Be honest, open and willing to work with people. Ask questions. Tell the ‘why’ of any decisions made. And encourage and coach others to be their Earlybest.”inher career, Woodruff learned the importance of listening and responding when she was told by a supervisor, “I do understand. I just don’t agree.” From that point on, Woodruff said she understood that listening is important. “I don’t have to agree with what I hear, however, it is really impor tant to me that I understand where people are coming from,” she said. That’s especially true when coaching young people who may not be used to being heard or haven’t yet learned how to use their voices. Woodruff always seeks to improve herself and be come better at everything she does. “Each day, in both my personal and professional life, I am moti vated by trying to meet or beat my personal best,” she said. n HUGH ContributingMINORwriter ‘MY APPROACH TO LEADING AND MOVING OTHERS IS TO BE
PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS
The focus at Crossroads has recently changed from provid ing temporary shelter to creating long-term hous ing solutions for Rhode Islanders. “It may be dif ferent for each of us,” she said, “but the idea is to create spaces that people – individuals, fami lies – are happy to call home.”
MOTIVATED
JODIE WOODRUFF DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Education School
The policies – featuring models for hybrid, fully remote and modi fied or reduced work schedules – were established to build on the firm’s commit ment to provide strong service to attract and retain the best talent and to support the well-being of the team. To facili tate greater connectivity, Zubiago began “Six Minutes with Steve,” a well-received video series designed to keep employees apprised of firm wide initiatives and news. As the pandemic wanes and opportunities for in-person interac tion have returned, Zubiago says Nixon Peabody is establishing how the firm will service its clients moving forward. In making this determination, Zubiago said, Nixon Peabody is considering the following factors: the needs and desires of our cli ents, what the firm learned and ac complished while working remote ly during the pandemic, what will maximize its ability to retain and attract talent, and what will make the firm “the best place to provide high-quality legal services.” “Our decision-making on this issue will impact which clients our firm decides to represent, the composition of our firm and how successful our people will be in their careers,” Zubiago said. “We embrace the opportunity to make these tionaltransformachanges.”
CRISIS MANAGER: At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nixon Peabody LLP CEO and Managing Partner Stephen Zubiago led a rollout of policies, including hybrid work and reduced work schedules, to help the firm’s employees still provide its clients the best services possible. JENKINS
AND MANAGING DIRECTOR Strategic Retirement Partners LLC
WORRELL
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JOHN ContributingLAHTINENA.writer‘WE OPPORTUNITY.’EMBRACETHE
THOUGH ORIGINALLY FROM A FAMILY of lawyers, Jamie Wor rell, the co-founder and manag ing director of Providence-based Strategic Retirement Partners LLC, was ultimately drawn to the invest ment side of finance and the law. A leader in the financial advisory world, Worrell has worked for several consulting, investment and advisory firms. “I’ve always tried to bring energy, enthusiasm, curiosity and continuous improvement to the organizations where I’ve worked or volunteered,” he said. “I’m an out-of-the-box thinker and like to ask questions, understand many points of view and look for ways to do things differently – or better – to improve or enhance a given situation.”Worrell advises young leaders entering law to find their “unique ability.” Then, he said, figure out how you can apply your superpow er in your chosen field. “You’ll be your best self and it will not feel like work; in fact, it will likely feel totally rewarding and energizing,” Worrell said. Worrell has found his yearsaheblingencesleadershipownexperitobehumandfeelsthathasgrownasleaderovertheoutofneces sity. “Basically, I have learned through my mistakes and adver sity, and strived for continued self-improvement,” he said. In addition to his financial advisory work, Worrell serves on the board of directors of the San Miguel School in Providence. Wor rell said he observed at the school the “incredible talent that people bring to the table that benefits these organizations – and our broader community – immensely.” Worrell also found it useful to build relationships with co-work ers and others who have helped him during his career. The broad perspective this provides, he says, will help people grow and learn. “It’s valuable when you have to make choices about where you want to be or where you want to focus and where you want to apply your skills and efforts,” Worrell said.Currently, Worrell is working with the rest of his Strategic Re tirement Partners team to update their values and general culture. Such work, he says, is a “stimulat ing and fulfilling process” while the team discusses and refines the firm’s direction.
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JAMIE CO-FOUNDER
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FINDING YOURSELF: Jamie Worrell, co-founder and managing director of Strategic Retirement Services LLC, says young leaders entering law must find their “unique ability.”
STEPHEN ZUBIAGO TRULY ENJOYS being a lawyer. Zubiago, CEO and managing partner at Providence-based international legal firm Nixon Peabody LLP, says he likes the challenge of figuring out what a client needs, applying the law to that situation, and then strategizing and executing a plan to achieve a client’s goals. That joy has been put to the test during the past two years as he and the firm have dealt with challenges thrust upon them by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the uncertain ties, Zubiago and his colleagues pressed forward with the goal of keeping client services front and center.“The remote-work experience taught us we can be productive from outside our physical offices, and it was clear to me that flexibil ity would be a core component of our firm’s future success,” Zubiago said. “I led the rollout of a flexible and progressive range of work poli cies to fit the various needs of our firm’s people, while still delivering excellent client service.”
ContributingARELLANO-NOEMISUMMERwriter ‘I’M AN OUT-OFTHE-BOX THINKER AND LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS.’
STEPHEN ZUBIAGO CEO AND MANAGING PARTNER Nixon Peabody LLP
We were founded to address people’s needs. Today, we remain true to our roots. Committed to community. Driven by purpose. Opening doors and breaking down barriers. To better health. To stronger neighborhoods. For many more tomorrows, we’ll do what’s needed. THAT’S NEIGHBORHOOD. www.nhpri.org Congratulations to the 2022 Leaders & Achievers Honorees, including our CEO & President Peter Marino
