A tireless matchmaker in the temp job market

BY SARAH FRANCIS | Contributing Writer

IF

life imitates art, Dawn Apajee can offer proof in something she read: think like an immigrant. “It resonates with me and sums up who I am and how I run my business,” she said.

“When you’re an immigrant, you have to think and behave differently. Be brave, bet on yourself, learn new skills, embrace new ideas, be humble and always work harder,” she added. “It applies to practically any profession.”

That wisdom is in her DNA. Apajee immigrated to Chicago from London in 1995, when her husband, Deven, got a job as a manager at a youth soccer academy. “[Soccer] has been responsible for a lot of our relationships,” she said. They moved to Rhode Island when his job relocated here. That gave Dawn Apajee the impetus to launch City Personnel Inc., a staff recruiting agency in Providence, with one other employee in 2006.

“I wanted to make my own hours because I had little kids. The reality is I’ve worked 24/7 since day one,” she said.

Apajee hadn’t envisioned a career in recruiting early on. Her parents migrated from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean to England and worked in a factory. They instilled in their four children the importance of education and working hard. “We were poor,” Apajee said, “but every one of us has done well because of that emphasis.”

She graduated from the London School of Economics, an elite institution whose alumni include George Soros and David Rockefeller. “I wanted to be a social worker,” she said in her South London accent. “But after the first semester, I realized no way. I liked being in front of people in more of a sales environment.”

She stumbled on an ad for a London staffing agency. “I fell in love with this industry,” Apajee said. “It’s a people business. Hearing their stories, finding them jobs. Building relationships is what kept me in this career.”

Today, City Personnel has a staff of nine with a client list of more than 500 companies in small and midsize industries, ranging from finance and marketing to legal and medical. Apajee sometimes starts her day as early as 5:30 a.m. doing bookkeeping and administrative work, or Zoom interviews with temporary and permanent job candidates. She says working in a small state where there are roughly three degrees of separation is a huge advantage. “You get to know everyone,” she said. “You have a relationship with staff who’ve moved

RECRUITING ASSISTANCE: Dawn Apajee, right, owner of staff recruiting agency City Personnel Inc., works with senior recruiter Megan Atkins at her office in Providence.

PBN PHOTO/ELIZABETH GRAHAM

‘Building relationships is what kept me in this career.’

on. The disadvantage is you can’t fail to deliver. It could come back to haunt you.”

Like so many businesses, City Personnel was hit hard by the pandemic in March 2020, when companies laid off staff during the near economic shutdown and temps were let go. About half the business of City Personnel disappeared nearly overnight, but the rebound came quickly. Within six months, the orders for temporary workers were exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

If the economy is good and companies want to hire, they turn to staffing services. In a recession, it may be for temporary positions. “Having a good foundation and establishing yourself with companies is key,” she noted.

As the job market has become unpredictable, it’s affected how the company does business. Apajee says demand has been especially high in the medical field, the result of burnout and an unwillingness by some to comply with vaccine mandates.

And in a tight labor market with unemployment hovering just above 3%, finding the right person for the job takes creativity. Baby boomers are retiring, but younger workers don’t have the same skill sets, Apajee acknowledges. It’s a trend that COVID-19 accelerated.

There’s also fallout from the Big Quit, with reasons ranging from, “I want to go out on my own,” to “Do I want to work 50 hours a week for not much money?”

Focusing on the talent it’s recruiting sets City Personnel apart from other staffing agencies, Apajee says.

Cue Zach Gagnon, the marketing manager who was hired in 2020 to overhaul the website. Once updated every two to three weeks, the site is now updated daily.

Aiming squarely at digital natives, Gagnon blogs about subjects that range from serious (“The ultimate guide to sourcing candidates online”) to playful (“Can the color of your tie help you get a job?”). The company also prospects using LinkedIn, social networks and previous clients to get the word out.

“We’ve gone from 100 monthly views to 100 a day,” he said. “We’re probably ahead of the pack in our candidate-driven approach. Sourcing is a big thing, and staying in contact once we start a relationship.”

Apajee says she’s had a couple of clients who’ve recently left jobs because the office culture made them uncomfortable. As a woman of color, she emphasizes the importance of an inclusive and diverse workplace, a goal she sets for her own company.

Has she experienced pushback herself as a woman of color in business? The answer’s nuanced. “I’m in a privileged situation,” she said. “There haven’t been times where I’m told you’re Black or female, so I’m not going to give you a job,” she said.

“I’m from London. There may be instances, but I think people look past that because of my accent, and they should. I’m providing a good service, I’m good at what I do.

There are others who don’t have that advantage.” n

Brisson appointed PBN associate publisher

BY PBN STAFF

PROVIDENCE BUSINESS

NEWS President and Publisher Roger Bergenheim has promoted Director of Sales and Marketing Annemarie Brisson to the position of associate publisher overseeing the advertising, circulation and production departments.

Brisson started at PBN as the director of sales and marketing in 2015.

“In addition to leading marketing and sales, Annemarie has been instrumental in growing our print and online audience,” Bergenheim said. “This promotion is a recognition of Annemarie’s success over the years in helping PBN to thrive.”

Before joining PBN, Brisson previously worked in sales for several regional news media companies. She served as sales manager for The Pawtucket Times, sales manager for The

Independent Newspaper Group in South Kingstown and director of sales and marketing for Sherman Publishing in Newport. “I have seen PBN grow, pivot and innovate through the years, and I’m proud to be part of a dedicated and hardworking team,” Brisson said. “As associBrisson ate publisher, my door will always be open to hear feedback, new ideas and how best we can continue to serve the community that we cover.” Brisson has served on the boards of the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce. For the last six years, she has been a member of the American Heart Association of Southern New England Go Red for Women Executive Leadership Team. She lives in North Kingstown with her husband, Tom Geiger. n

ANOTHER LOOK New year brings new business laws

BY CHRISTOPHER ALLEN | Allen@PBN.com

(Editor’s note: A version of this story was first published on PBN.com on Dec. 29)

PROVIDENCE – Several businessrelated laws previously passed by state legislators took effect on Jan. 1.

Among them is a 75-cent raise in the state’s minimum hourly wage, which moved from $12.25 to $13.

Employers will be legally required to pay employees $13 an hour throughout 2023, with the minimum wage increasing $1 in 2024 to $14 an hour. The following year, the minimum wage will jump another dollar to $15 an hour, according to legislation approved by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Daniel J. McKee in 2021.

Massachusetts also increased its minimum wage in the new year, which moved from $14.25 to $15 on Jan. 1.

However, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are not among the 19 states whose minimum wage is indexed to inflation, meaning the bottom wage is automatically adjusted to reflect an increase in prices.

The latest consumer price index shows prices have risen by 7.1% in the previous 12 months, according to the most recent data published in November by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Other laws that took effect Jan. 1: n The Equal Pay Law, expanded in 2021, requires equal compensation for “comparable work” regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, age or disability. According to the legislation, comparable work is defined as that which requires “substantially similar skill, effort, and responsibility, and is performed under similar working conditions.” Other requirements include employers providing wage information to certain job applicants and employees seeking a job transfer and prohibiting employers from asking applicants about their salary history and/or relying on that wage history in the hiring decision. n An increase to the state’s temporary caregiver insurance benefits provided to employees from a maximum of five weeks to six weeks. According to the legislation, “an employee shall be eligible for temporary caregiver benefits for any week in which he or she is unable to perform his or her regular and customary work because he or she is bonding with a newborn child or a child newly placed for adoption or foster care with the employee or domestic partner” or “caring for a child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, spouse, or domestic partner, who has a serious health condition.” n Health insurers are prohibited from so-called “gender rating,” the discriminatory practice of charging women higher rates than men for individual insurance. Studies have shown that women are often charged between 10% to 50% more than men for insurance providing identical coverage. n

Long-term planning for you. For them. For everyone to come.

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CELEBRATING MANUFACTURING: The Rhode Island Manufacturers Association will hold its annual awards dinner on Feb. 7 at the Graduate Providence.

PBN FILE PHOTO/MARY MACDONALD

EDITOR’S CHOICE R.I. Manufacturers Association to hold annual awards dinner

THE RHODE ISLAND Manufacturers Association will hold its annual awards dinner. The annual program recognizes local companies and leaders for their contributions to the growth and success of manufacturing in Rhode Island. TUESDAY, FEB. 7, 5:30-9 P.M. $165 Graduate Providence, 11 Dorrance St., Providence. INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3FYFYkV

Bonding together

THE EAST BAY Chamber of Commerce will hold a meeting titled “What to Expect when you hire an Artist” as part of the Chamber’s WEBOND Women’s meeting series. Attendees will learn when to call for an artist’s services, what an artist can do to enhance their business and how to source the right artist for a project. There will be a discussion with Lynn M. Sevigny of Moontide Designs LLC. TUESDAY, JAN. 10, 9 A.M. $5 East Bay Chamber of Commerce, 16 Cutler St., Warren.

INFO AND REGISTRATION:

bit.ly/3Bwqyl0

Tips after certification

THE CENTER FOR WOMEN & Enterprise will hold a webinar titled “I’m Certified. Now What?” The webinar will offer a review of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council network, share certification reminders, opportunities open to certified businesses, and ways to engage in the WBENC community.

TUESDAY, JAN. 10, NOON TO 1 P.M.

Free Online.

INFO AND REGISTRATION:

bit.ly/3Wch86f

Speaker talks next session

THE NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND

Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly Eggs & Issues Breakfast event, hosted by Kirkbrae Country Club. The event will feature House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, DWarwick, who will share his thoughts on the upcoming General Assembly session. There will also be a Q&A opportunity at the end of the discussion.

THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 8:15-9:15 A.M.

$30/members; $50/nonmembers Kirkbrae Country Club, 197 Old River Road, Lincoln.

INFO AND REGISTRATION:

bit.ly/3gDVHvJ

Meeting challenges

POLARIS MEP will hold a virtual workshop titled “Digital Innovation and R&D Tax Credits for Today’s Manufacturing Challenges.” Experts from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP will share client success stories that

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

SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 7, 2023

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demonstrate the value of driving operational efficiency through software integration, data modernization and automation. CLA representatives will also share their proven collaborative methodology, which ensures that manufacturing businesses realize high return on their digital transformation investments. CEOs, presidents, chief financial officers, product managers and chief technology officers are encouraged to attend. TUESDAY, JAN. 17, 10-11 A.M. Free Online.

INFO AND REGISTRATION:

bit.ly/3Potm9y

Building new relationships

THE TRI-TOWN CHAMBER of Commerce will hold its monthly young professional forum. The forum provides an environment for building quality business relationships with like-minded professionals. It also enables young professionals to leverage their expertise, as well as the expertise of other members of the group, to solve common business problems and build new partnerships.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18, 9-10:30 A.M.

Free Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce, 280 School St., Suite L100, Mansfield.

INFO AND REGISTRATION:

bit.ly/3WgUXM4

Establishing connections

THE SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND

Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business After Hours networking event, hosted by Mews Tavern. Network with the best of southern Rhode Island’s local business community. A cash bar and light appetizers will be offered. Walk-ins will be accepted but registration is encouraged.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18, 5-7 P.M.

$5/members; $10/nonmembers Mews Tavern, 456 Main St., South Kingstown.

INFO AND REGISTRATION:

bit.ly/3FOeCOd

Getting started

PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY will offer a workshop to English-language learners who are interested in starting a business. This program will introduce the language and computer skills for developing your plans to establish a small business in Rhode Island. Topics to be discussed include customer communication, marketing, finances and business planning. MONDAY, JAN. 23, 5-7 P.M. Free Providence Public Library, 150 Empire St., Providence.

INFO AND REGISTRATION:

bit.ly/3BSSjog

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Popping up

THE NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND

Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Business Council & Emerging Leaders will hold a pop-up networking event, hosted by Narragansett Brewing Co. The event will help connect local business professionals and entrepreneurs in a casual setting. Attendees will have the opportunity to build relationships and generate new customers and clients.

THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 5-7 P.M.

$20/members; $30/nonmembers Narragansett Brewing Co., 271 Tockwotton St., Providence.

INFO AND REGISTRATION:

bit.ly/3BwCrrl

Legislative discussion

THE GREATER PROVIDENCE Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2023 Rhode Island Legislative Luncheon. The Chamber will hold a conversation with leaders of the R.I. House of Representatives and R.I. Senate. Members expected to attend are House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, D-Warwick; Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, D-North Providence; Reps. Christopher R. Blazejewski, D-Providence, and Michael W. Chippendale, R-Foster; and Sens. Ryan W. Pearson, D-Cumberland, and Jessica de la Cruz, R-North Smithfield. Reservations are due Feb. 10.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 15, NOON TO 1:30

P.M. $85/person; $950/corporate table of eight R.I. Convention Center, 1 Sabin St., Providence.

INFO AND REGISTRATION:

bit.ly/3VWvaZO

Grow your business

GOLDMAN SACHS 10,000 Small Businesses at the Community College of Rhode Island invites local small-business owners to apply for its Summer 2023 cohort. With a curriculum designed by Babson College, small-business owners can gain skills and develop a growth plan for their business. Applications are due Feb. 1.

TUESDAY, MAY 2, THROUGH

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 2. Free Community College of Rhode Island, 400 East Ave., Warwick.

INFO AND REGISTRATION:

ccri.edu/10ksb

UPCOMING PBN EVENT: The 2023 Book of Lists Premier Event will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, at The Graduate hotel in Providence. For more information, visit PBN.com. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Advertising@PBN.com.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SESSION

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Already, the top legislators in both chambers have staked out priorities for the coming months, and it’s clear that divisions are forming.

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, beginning his third year in the legislature’s most powerful position, is backing the idea of creating a new quasipublic agency to cultivate a thriving life science and biotechnology hub similar to what already exists in Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, the focus of Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio is squarely on changing the formula that the state uses to provide education aid to cities and towns, in hopes that modifications can help prop up struggling schools.

And while everyone agrees the scarcity of affordable housing in Rhode Island is a problem, not everyone agrees on how to solve it.

Shekarchi says to expect a host of new housing bills this session, ranging from easing local zoning restrictions so more homes can be built to purchasing defunct school buildings to be developed into places for people to live.

The Senate leadership, however, says lawmakers first should be scrutinizing how the state is using $250 million in American Rescue Plan Act money that already has been allotted for affordable housing. Ruggerio says he’s been displeased with the slow disbursement so far.

As usual, high on the General Assembly’s to-do list is approving a state budget for the 2024 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Gov. Daniel J. McKee is scheduled to submit his budget proposal later in January, a massive document that sets the administration’s priorities for the next 12 months.

Now that McKee has a fresh four-year term after an election victory in November, it’s unclear how the multibillion-dollar plan will be received by legislators.

Relations among McKee, Skekarchi and Ruggerio – all Democrats – have remained amicable. But how long will the good feelings last?

“There does seem to be a cooperative vibe in the air between the two branches of the [state] government,” said Wendy Schiller, Brown University political science professor and director of the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy. “But state legislators and their leaders have to seek reelection sooner than McKee, so one should expect a few differences in opinion to emerge before the next reelection cycle.”

The McKee administration has indicated that the budget proposal will include tax relief measures. He has previously said he’d like to lower the state’s 7% sales tax rate so it’s in line with the 6.25% rate in neighboring Massachusetts.

The administration also says the proposal will call for enhanced support for education, incentives for increasing housing construction and the replenishment of the state’s “rainy day” fund.

Shekarchi expects points of conflict among the leaders, even though the state’s financial picture looks bright right now.

“It’s not personal,” he said. “[It’s just that] their priorities may not match up with our priorities and vice versa.”

One point of agreement: Shekarchi and Ruggerio say 2024 is not the year for tax increases, a clear signal that they won’t be supporting the annual call by a union-backed coalition to raise the income tax rate for Rhode Island’s highest earners.

In fact, in a December interview with Providence Business News, Ruggerio and new Senate Majority Leader Ryan W. Pearson floated the idea of eliminating tangible property taxes, which are levied on businesses by municipalities for items such as equipment, furniture and fixtures.

Former Gov. Gina M. Raimondo made a similar proposal in 2020 – a plan that would have increased state aid to cities and towns to cover their lost tax revenue – but it was abandoned when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

What matters are likely to draw legislative attention over the next six months? Here are a few likely candidates: BUDGET SURPLUS

Buoying talk of tax reductions is the projected $610 million budget surplus, the second year in a row that the state is expected to end the year in the black after several years of structural deficits.

The latest estimates show revenues running ahead by 5%, which state fiscal advisers attribute to better-than-expected tax receipts, dollars remaining from last year’s budget surplus and significant job vacancies.

Still, Shekarchi is looking to temper expectations.

“That doesn’t mean we are going to have a surplus in May,” Shekarchi said in December. “And I’m sure there will be other issues that will pop up during the session. It’s all based on revenue. At any given moment we may run ahead with revenue, but we also may run behind.” Pearson, too, notes that part of the surplus is due to more than 1,000 job openings in government. “As we fill those vacancies, you can expect a lot of that money is going to get eaten up,” he said. Advocates working to shore up residents who are struggling financially have urged lawmakers to use some of the surplus for child care, health care and cash-assistance programs. “We urge policymakers to deploy these once-in-a-generation funds toward systemic change, rather than dispersing

RETURN TO THE ROSTRUM: Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio takes his place at the front of the Senate chambers on Jan. 3, the first day of the 2023 General Assembly session. It’s a position Ruggerio has held since 2017. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO the funds to a multitude of small projects, however valuable they may be,” said Weayonnoh NelsonDavies, executive director of the Economic Progress Institute. “We need to think big.” Brenda Clement, director of HousingWorksRI at Roger Williams University, says state leaders can learn from the temporary programs instituted during the pandemic, such as Rent Relief RI, which provided financial assistance to renters. “These are programs that we started on a temporary basis and should continue because they work,” she said. Michael DiBiase, CEO and president of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, says lawmakers should be careful to avoid creating liabilities that will need to be funded with tax dollars in the future. “That [surplus] money is one-time money. The budget is fairly tight from this year to next year,” he said. “[Programs] run on continuing revenues and most need continuing money, which becomes difficult if the economy weakens.” If the surplus ends up being as big as projected, Shekarchi says he would rather return some money directly to the public. “If we have some extra money, giving a strategic, targeted tax cut is not out of the question,” he said without naming potential cuts. “That is certainly on the table.” ENERGY COSTS ‘The needs of The prospect of bigger energy bills is weighing heavy on the minds of many business and residential utility customers. students have In October, customers saw a spike in electricity rates charged by Rhode Island Energy, the new name for the state’s primary gas and electric changed, and company. About half the respondents to a recent Providence Business New online poll said state lawmakers should provide relief from energy the costs of prices this session. So far, the R.I. Public Utilities Commission has approved a six-month suspension of the $6 monthly things have charge for residential customers. And there was a $60, one-time credit on gas and electric charges for ratepayers, distributed on Nov. 1, using $32.5 changed.’ million from the state’s settlement with PPL Corp., Rhode Island Energy’s parent company. Lowincome ratepayers are getting additional rate relief

RYAN W. PEARSON, through $3.8 million from the state’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a move proposed by Senate majority leader McKee. The governor is also promising to introduce

legislation to suspend the state’s 4% gross receipt tax on electricity bills through April, an action that Shekarchi and Ruggerio say they’re open to supporting.

At the same time, the two legislative leaders have said they “will be exploring other additional legislative options,” but they have yet to publicly identify other relief plans.

As for more progressive relief directly to ratepayers, DiBiase warns against using one-time money, whether from the budget surplus or federal dollars, to pay down customers’ utility bills.

How prices rise and fall in the short term is unknown. Energy costs will “continue to be an issue that everyone is feeling,” DiBiase said. “We haven’t had a complete conversation about these things. The cost issue has not been addressed.”

Meanwhile, assistance programs such as the Good Neighbor Energy Fund – subsidized by energy companies and private donations – have seen an increase in applications this winter.

The rising costs in housing and energy have been a “devastating combination,” said Cortney Nicolato, CEO and president of the United Way of Rhode Island Inc., which oversees the fund.

“And when you add the cold … it’s driving a rise in calls from households seeking energy assistance,” she said.

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

In the previous legislative session, the General Assembly agreed to devote $250 million in ARPA money toward the construction of affordable housing, plus another $50 million for homeowner assistance.

What’s happened since then?

Advocates for the poor say the shortage of homes has not subsided, and rent and house prices remain far beyond the means of many people.

And that has Ruggerio openly criticizing the McKee administration’s handling of the $250 million allocation and questioning the performance of Josh Saal, who the governor appointed as the state’s first “housing czar” a year ago.

“I don’t think they did a good job getting the money out in a timely manner,” Ruggerio said.

For Clement, $250 million is only a down payment in rectifying the housing crisis.

“We are not investing enough state dollars. It’s simply not enough to keep up with existing demand, never mind growth,” Clement said. “We need to be producing X number of units each year just to keep up.”

To that end, Shekarchi says he’ll throw his support behind legislation that will make it easier to build homes, such as expanding the areas where multifamily and accessory dwellings can be constructed and allowing homes to be built in commercial and industrial zoning districts.

He also wants to investigate having the state purchase unused buildings such as schools for reuse as either temporary or permanent housing.

“It’s about production. The only way you solve the affordable housing crisis is to create more supply,” he said. “And the only way you build more supply is to create and convert [existing buildings into] housing.”

But Ruggerio and Pearson say allocating more money isn’t the answer, at least not until they see results from the $250 million set aside months ago.

“At this point [the questions are], ‘How are you doing? Are you making progress? And how can we help?’ ” Pearson said.

EDUCATION FUNDING

Leaders in the two chambers are clearly at odds over the state’s education funding formula.

Pearson, who has served as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, characterized the formula as outdated and “arbitrary,” last amended in 2010.

“The needs of students have changed, and the costs of things have changed,” Pearson said.

Pearson says additional funding should be directed partly toward multilingual learners, a group whose numbers have continued to rise. And many students – approximately 10,000, according to Pearson – are left out of the current funding regime due to misclassification.

“We need to make sure [the formula] captures all of these students across the state,” he said.

Senate leaders plan to scrutinize the overall share the state pays to local municipalities and will look at instituting recurring increases, rather than a one-time allocation as was done during the pandemic, in which local districts were given between $40 million to $50 million.

Shekarchi argues that change isn’t needed right now.

“People say to change the formula. But what that means is to take money from one community and give extra money to someone else,” he said. “It’s a very dangerous thing to do.”

Instead, he would like to see better accounting for the federal money awarded to school districts.

“The local communities are flush with education money,” he said. “Before they come asking for new and more money, I want to see an accountability of what they had last year.”

DiBiase agrees the funding formula needs to be changed to divert more education aid to disadvantaged communities and to provide more financial support for charter schools.

“The reliance on property taxes is problematic because the communities that have the lowest wealth also [have the] most disadvantaged children,” he said.

Many parents are “voting with their feet” by moving to districts with better-performing schools and charter schools, he said.

“Public charter schools are some of the few bright spots for these kids,” DiBiase said.

LIFE SCIENCE HUB

Shekarchi has vowed to “lead the charge” for creating a new quasi-public agency to strengthen the state’s life sciences and biotech sector.

His support comes after a report from the Rhode Island Foundation in October outlined a plan to build a biotech sector to rival Massachusetts.

The plan: spend $50 million over two years, in part to forge state, private and academic partnerships that could give the sector a jump-start. At the same time, a quasi-public agency with a $1.5 million budget would use existing tax incentive programs offered by R.I. Commerce Corp. to woo biotech companies. “It’s a unique opportunity,” Shekarchi said. “The timing is right because we have infrastructure money. If we can create a bioscience hub, we can create great therapies that will help people and hopefully create a good industry for private sector jobs.”

Carol Malysz, executive director of life sciences trade group RI Bio, says momentum is already building now that the state has broken ground on a new health lab and a wet lab is expected to be constructed nearby in the Jewelry District.

“Several companies have already expressed an interest in starting up, relocating or establishing a satellite office at these facilities,” she said of the Providence labs.

Shekarchi says he plans on reaching out to research and nonprofit institutions, as well as legislators, to gauge the support.

“The only way that process works is if you get buy-in and partnership not only from my other partners in government like the Senate and governor but with Brown University and other educational [institutions],” he said.

So far, Ruggerio hasn’t exactly embraced the idea.

He says he hasn’t talked with Shekarchi about the biotech initiative, but he is willing to listen. “If [Shekarchi] can bring in some companies, I think that would be helpful,” Ruggerio said.

What the Senate president would support, he says, is an expansion of workforce training and apprentice programs. “We have to get into the training business right now,” he said. “The economy is going to change. And those are the types of programs we need to move into the future.”

DiBiase remains on the fence while details are being formulated. But using tax dollars to “chase companies” to the state is rarely the best course of action, he said.

“We would be more supportive of investments to higher education for research or workforce training or for infrastructure such as lab space and would be less supportive of direct subsidies or tax incentives to individual biotech companies,” he said. n

‘Giving a strategic, targeted tax cut is not out of the question.’ K. JOSEPH SHEKARCHI, House speaker

ON WATCH: Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council CEO and President Michael DiBiase, right, and Manager of Research Justine Oliva will be keeping a close eye on numerous fiscal issues during the 2023 legislative session.

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Johnson & Wales University is Training the Cybersecurity Leaders of Tomorrow

Did you know that phishing attacks make up over 80% of reported cybersecurity breaches? More than $17,700 is lost every 60 seconds because of a phishing attack. It’s been reported that ransomware transactions amounted to $102.3 million every month in 2021. Despite another record year of breaches in 2022, nearly half of U.S. businesses still have not put a cybersecurity risk plan in place.*

Who’s alarmed?

Enter Douglas Tondreau, Anthony Chavis and the students that participate in Johnson & Wales’ Cybersecurity Center undergraduate and graduate courses. The Center, recently designated as a National Security Agency/Department of Homeland Security (NSA/DHS) Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE), provides an encouraging and innovative space for learning and research. cyber professionals. Their impressive work was an important component to giving our cyber program the legitimacy it needed to become an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).

Doug: Johnson & Wales developed the cybersecurity curriculum to match the NSA (CAECDE) standards. This means the curriculum was primarily designed using the Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework), training students on how to help organizations operate and maintain systems performance and security while protecting and defending their environment. We’re outcome-focused at the university, so courses are designed to help students feel confident and prepare to enter the workforce.

Johnson & Wales University has always been closely tied to industry—whether through internships, industry-experienced faculty, community engagement, or creating academic programing to address emerging industry needs—the university is committed to the success of its graduates and the business sectors they are employed by. Today, industry is demanding well trained cybersecurity professionals. Johnson & Wales is answering the call.

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Undergraduate degrees at Johnson & Wales include Cyber Threat Intelligence & Defense and Computer Science. The university also offers graduate degrees in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Instructional Design & Technology and Information Security/Assurance. Can you folks share a bit about JWU’s Cybersecurity Center and its programming?

Anthony: The department, which is housed in the Johnson & Wales’ College of Engineering and Design, was created to meet a growing need for trained cyber professionals. In its seventh year, the department has really developed into a comprehensive and toptier defense education center. I can still remember that first year, there were about 40 students, and an ambitious goal of becoming a nationally recognized NSA program and one of the top programs in the northeast. It’s fantastic to see what that first cohort is doing now in the workplace— true 020202 ››››

As you both mentioned, the Center recently was designated as a National Security Agency/ Department of Homeland Security (NSA/DHS) Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE)— not an easy feat! Can you share what kind of doors this opens to students in your programming?

Doug: This designation means a lot to Johnson & Wales. It signifies that the university is a premier cybersecurity academic and research institution. This certification demonstrates that Johnson &

Wales courses and degrees meet the most important industry standards and NSA/DHS requirements.

Anthony: Our Center of Academic Excellence designation also signifies to potential students that our curriculum meets and exceeds traditional cyber security standards. It means that theory is blended with a high-impact, hands-on approach— preparing students for the professional world. It also opens the door for NSA partnerships, competitive internships, and grant funding in some cases. We are currently seeing a trend where students are receiving full time job offers months before graduation.

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Johnson & Wales is known for its hands-on learning approach. Can you share how this real-world educational model creates well trained cybersecurity graduates?

Doug: At Johnson & Wales we pride ourselves on providing high-impact learning opportunities, many of which include experiential educational approaches. Real-world learning in cybersecurity gives students the experience and exposure to academic tools they will need to explore, research, and apply their course work in real-world contexts. We teach our students how to build and secure environments using various cloud-services and network equipment, mirroring realworld industry. Students then use these frameworks to build, test and learn how to properly secure various environments.

Anthony: For a lot of my classes, I look to build up student confidence and familiarity—through book and lab work— prior to intensive platform exploration. This solid foundation allows students to tackle more challenging labs in time, providing confidence in exploration. It allows me as the instructor to give them greater and more lifelike problems and scenarios.

Irene: As a current student, Johnson & Wales has helped to equip me with confidence and knowledge to grow as a future cybersecurity professional. The university has taught me from the very beginning to prioritize the safe use of technology. As president of the university’s National Cyber Students of America (NCSA) chapter, I bring this mindset and experience to other peer chapters. Communicating the importance of cybersecurity practices has also been a priority— our class created short videos across social media to help people avoid falling victim to cybercrimes. The department also prioritizes promoting diverse networking, research, and job opportunities through organizations like Women in Cybersecurity (WiCYS). The department is striving to help diversify the cyber industry— we have a range of staff and faculty who are dedicated to supporting students from all backgrounds and experiences.

PARTICIPANTS

Anthony Chavis M.S.

Assistant Professor, Network Security and Cyber Intelligence, Johnson & Wales University

Irene Murzyn ’23

Johnson & Wales Cyber Threat Intelligence and Defense Major, president of the university’s National Cyber Students of America (NCSA) chapter

Douglas Tondreau M.S.

Assistant Professor, Cyber Threat Intelligence and Defense, Johnson & Wales University

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That’s a great transition into discussing what graduate placements and outcomes look like for Johnson & Wales Cybersecurity or Computer Science graduates.

Anthony: We’re thrilled to see the success of our graduates! Former students are getting excellent jobs at organizations like MITRE, Hasbro, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), General Dynamics, American Solutions, Hilton, and Citizens Bank. Some grads are doing independent contracting for large technology and media organizations like Facebook and Twitch. As I mentioned before, it is not uncommon for students to receive job offers months prior to graduation.

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The Center works closely with a few notable community safety organizations like the Providence City Police Department and the Rhode Island State Police to help better resource and train their staff. Can you share a bit more about these partnerships and how the university is playing its part to help keep the state safe from cybersecurity threats?

Doug: Our relationship with law enforcement at the state and local level has allowed us to partner on creating a safer Rhode Island. We’re in discussions with Lieutenant Colonel Robert A. Creamer of the state police and Terrence Green, Detective Supervisor of the Providence Police, to plan the creation of a Faraday room, an enclosure used to block electromagnetic fields, which will provide the state with the necessary tools and resources needed to collect, analyze, and store evidence in a secure environment. The Faraday room will also serve as a cybersecurity training facility for local and state police officials.

The university is also currently partnering with the Rhode Island State Police to strengthen our telecommunications infrastructure and provide training to new recruits. These partnerships allow a transfer of knowledge from experts in the cybersecurity field, to experts in the public safety field—a very rewarding partnership for the department and university.