CEOs You Should Know Providence: Recent Episodes
News Radio 920 (WHJJ-AM)
CEOs You Should Know is iHeartMedia Providence's showcase of businesses that drive New England's regional economy. Hear from key business leaders who contribute to the vibrant and growing community.
Emilio DiSpirito is a Co-Owner and License Partner of Engel & Völkers Oceanside, a luxury real estate brokerage with two locations in Rhode Island. Alongside his business partner, Joe Fazio, Emilio leads a high-performance organization built on specialization and scale.
Emilio oversees all sales strategy, marketing, brand positioning, and talent attraction, while Joe leads operations and infrastructure—creating a brokerage model designed to deliver an elevated level of service for both clients and advisors. Their team is supported by a full-service backend, allowing advisors to focus exclusively on client experience and results.
In addition to leading the brokerage, Emilio runs the number one medium-sized real estate team in Rhode Island, ranked by RealTrends for multiple years. He is consistently ranked among the top real estate teams globally within Engel & Völkers and is in the top 1% of real estate sales professionals worldwide. Emilio is an elite Private Office Advisor, a REALM Global affiliate, and a consistent top producer regionally within BNI.
Beyond brokerage leadership, Emilio is an active real estate investor, home builder, and property flipper, giving him an operator-level perspective that allows him to guide advisors and clients at every juncture. He is also the host of the nationally syndicated The Wealth Architect Podcast on iHeartRadio, where he interviews top performers across real estate, business, and entrepreneurship with a focus on wealth creation, leadership, and long-term strategy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
President and CEO, John Kelly discusses the accomplishments at Meeting Street and the upcoming Telethone, Jan. 31, 2026.
John M. Kelly, President & Chief Executive Officer: John has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Meeting Street since 1998 and served as a member of its Board of Trustees from 1990 to 1997. Prior to accepting the position of President at Meeting Street, he was General Counsel for Cornish Associates, L.P., a real estate development company headquartered in Providence. In that role, he also served as the lead staff person for the Coalition for Community Development, a community organization formed to implement the revitalization of downtown Providence. Before joining Cornish Associates in 1995, John was a partner with the law firm of Tillinghast, Collins & Graham in Providence.
John is the former chair of The Highlander Charter School, The Providence Revolving Fund, The Genesis Center and the Providence Zoning Board of Review, the former Vice Chair of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, and a former member of the Board of Park Commissioners for the City of Providence. He currently serves on the Board of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute and is a member of the Rhode Island Foundation’s Blue Ribbon Commission for RI public schools. A Pittsfield, Massachusetts native, John received his bachelor's degree in government from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and his law degree from Boston College Law School.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Host Chris Ryan speaks with Co-CEO's Monica Rekhan and Charles Gay of Alka Oaks.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Linda Goler Blount, MPH Bio Linda Goler Blount, MPH, is the President and CEO of Community Catalyst, a national organization dedicated to building the power of people to create a health system rooted in race equity and health justice. A nationally recognized leader in public health, race equity, and systems change, Linda brings more than 25 years of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She most recently served as President and CEO of the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI)—the only national organization solely focused on the health and wellness of Black women and girls. During her tenure at BWHI, Linda led the organization through a period of significant growth and strategic impact. Under her leadership, BWHI advanced bold policy advocacy, launched evidence-based programs, and developed partnerships that elevated Black women’s health on the national stage—including a landmark collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That effort advanced BWHI’s mission to build the power of Black women to take control of their health and advocate for policies that support their well-being, while also shaping national standards for equitable, community-informed care. Prior to BWHI, Linda held senior leadership roles at the CDC, the American Cancer Society, and in the private sector, where she applied community-based research methodologies to address chronic disease prevention and health disparities at scale. She was a lead contributor to IndexUS, the first data set focused on the health of Black women using an asset-based approach—centered on studying healthy Black women rather than only illness or disease, and was named to Forbes’ 50 Over 50: Impact list for her leadership in public health. Throughout her career, Linda has been a steadfast advocate for solutions that center the lived experiences of those most harmed by health inequities. Her leadership is rooted in the belief that health is a right, and that people—especially those historically excluded from the health system—should be at the center of shaping the policies and practices that impact their lives. She holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Operations Research from Eastern Michigan University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
David McCready is president and chief executive officer of Southcoast Health. Southcoast Health serves communities across southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island as the largest provider of primary and specialty care in the region. The not-for-profit, charitable system includes three acute care hospitals – Charlton Memorial in Fall River, St. Luke’s in New Bedford (a Level II Trauma Center), and Tobey in Wareham – as well as a network of over 900 physicians, hospitalists, and midlevel practitioners.David joined Southcoast in October 2023 from Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital where he served as president for 5 years. In addition, David served for 18 years as a member of the leadership team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, including as senior vice president of a variety of clinical and non-clinical departments including inpatient services, surgical and procedural services, ambulatory operations, imaging, real estate, facilities/engineering, and all support services. David served as an instructor in the Master of Clinical Service Operations program at Harvard Medical School from 2019 to 2022.With a strong operations, strategy and finance background and focus, David served as a finance project leader for Partners HealthCare System before becoming the executive administrator and then vice chair for administration and finance for the 1,200-faculty member Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.In addition to his extensive hospital-based experience, David currently serves on the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Associations (MHA)‘s Board of Trustees and is an at-large policy delegate for the American Hospital Association’s New England region. He held leadership roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield earlier in his career. He attended the University of Pittsburgh where he earned his BS, MBA, and MHA, and trained as a William H. Ford Fellow for Healthcare Administration from 1994-1996.
- Harmony With Food's Mission:
- Providing proactive health insights. Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy provides insights via proactive testing: microbiome, food sensitivities, micronutrients etc.
- Shifting from reactive to proactive health care. Bridging the gap between traditional healthcare and modern personalized health care, treating the whole person.
- Promoting preventative proactive health.
In 2010, I received a call from the hospital that would alter the course of my entire life. The nurse on the other end of the line said bluntly: “You need to stop telling my patients about nutrition.”I was a Home Health Physical Therapist at the time and had just discovered the vast world of nutrition. More specifically, I discovered how poor nutrition was linked to many of the health issues my patients were dealing with. So of course, I started telling them about it… I explained how gluten and dairy were big inflammatory foods. How sugar plays a role in things like high blood pressure, inflammation, and chronic disease. How toxic oils like canola and sunflower oil result in inflamed, calcified arteries. So when I received that life-altering call, I knew I had to do something more...So it began…In addition to the nutrition seminars that my wife and I were already hosting, I began researching whole-food nutrition products that would make people feel better. That’s when I stumbled upon this thing called collagen…And on that day—June 6, 2017—NativePath was born.
Nicole Pineault has worked at RIBC for over 20 years specializing in donor recruitment. Her roles have included Marketing Assistant, Account Manager, Marrow Donor Recruiter, Recruitment Supervisor for RIBC’s National Marrow Donor Program, and Mobile Blood Drive Recruitment Manager. She was promoted to Director of Donor Resources in 2015 and became the Director of RIBC’s National Marrow Donor Program in 2018. Nicole received the ADRP Rolf Kovenetsky Recruitment Leader of the Year Award in 2019. In 2024, she was promoted to Executive Director of Blood Operations. Nicole holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from the University of Rhode Island. A member of the ADRP Executive Committee and past participant of the Patient Services Committee of the RI Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Nicole says, “I can’t think of a better way to spend my time than helping to ensure that patients receive the life-saving blood they need when they need it. The donors, patient families, drive sponsors, and coordinators I’ve been blessed to work with over the years have enriched my life in so many ways. I’ve learned important lessons like, tell the people you love that you love them…and cherish life’s simple pleasures.”Nicole lives in North Kingstown, RI, with her husband, Lt. Col. Dennis Pineault, and their two children, Caleb and Aubrey.
Aaron Robinson currently serves as President and CEO of South County Health, Rhode Island’s only independent health system. South County Health is the only Double 5 Star CMS rated hospital in the Northeast and known for its market leading quality and orthopedic program. He brings with him more than 20 years of diverse and progressive health care leadership experience in health systems and community hospitals.Aaron joined South County Health from Florida, where he served as CEO of three Community Hospitals and also System Service Line Executive for Heart & Vascular services at Health First. Located in Rockledge, FL, Health First is a $2 billion fully Integrated Delivery Network of hospitals, a multi-specialty medical group, post-acute & wellness services, and a health plan.A native Midwesterner, Aaron began his leadership career at SSM Health Care, an $8 billion multi-hospital system headquartered in St. Louis. Initially leading operations in SSM’s large and growing multi-site rehabilitation business and ultimately serving the system in service line development and hospital operations as VP of Operations for SSM’s 410 bed St. Joseph Health Center.Aaron holds an MBA from Lindenwood University in St. Louis and a BS in Physical Therapy from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His early background as a practicing physical therapist has helped direct him as a leader to build programs and services that transform and improve care for patients. He has served on numerous community and industry boards.
Hal Horvat leads Centreville Bank, a full-service mutual bank headquartered in West Warwick, Rhode Island, with over $2.8 billion in assets. Since joining in 2014 and becoming President, CEO, and Chairman in 2019, he has expanded the bank from 7 branches to 22 locations across Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut. Under his leadership, the bank has earned national accolades, including the 2025 America’s Best Workplace award and recognition as one of America’s Best Banks to Work For. With over 30 years of banking experience, Horvat has held senior roles at Centreville and Mansfield Bank and is actively involved in community and industry boards. A lifelong Rhode Islander, he holds degrees from the University of Rhode Island and Bryant University, which recognized him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2023.
Kathy is the President and CEO of Navigant Credit Union, responsible for its financial stability, member satisfaction, and overall strategic direction. With over 30 years of diverse experience in the financial services industry, she specializes in retail banking, sales management, corporate marketing and strategic planning. Kathy joined Navigant Credit Union in 2009 as the Executive Vice President & Chief Retail Banking Officer, where she played a key role in senior leadership and strategic planning. Prior to her role as President and CEO, Kathy led sales, marketing and business development, overseeing branches, the Contact Center, digital banking, training, and wealth management. She spearheaded both de novo branch growth and merger and acquisitions expanding the Credit Union from 9 to 26 branches. Kathy earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryant University and serves as a Board Member of the Simon W. Wardwell Foundation and Connecting Children For Families. In addition, Kathy is also a member of the RI CEO Council, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC), the CCUA Women’s CEO Leadership and Networking Group, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Community Depository Institution Advisory Council, and the Delta Dental RI Advisory Group.
Dr. Johnson completed her veterinary degree at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in 1991. She completed an internship at the Santa Cruz Veterinary hospital in California in 1992. After a few years doing general practice, teaching anatomy at a veterinary school, and completing a research project, she entered a residency program at Tufts University in the study of Emergency Medicine and Critical Care. She became board certified in this specialty in 1997. Dr. Johnson has published several articles and textbook chapters in the topics of head trauma, nosocomial infections, and pain management. She has also lectured to veterinarians and technicians at regional veterinary conferences. She is an active member of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. She is the chief of staff at both OSVS and BSVESS and the director of the internship and residency programs at OSVS. Dr. Johnson enjoys riding her horse, planting (but not weeding) her garden, scuba diving, and other outdoorsy stuff. Most of all she loves spending time with (but not cleaning up after) her husband (Dr. Gary Block of OSVS and BSVESS), two amazing children, and a menagerie of pets that includes horses, goats, dogs, cats, tortoises, and about 60,000 honeybees.
Todd Blount
Todd serves as President and CEO of Blount Fine Foods, a 5th generation company headquartered in Fall River, MA, with other facilities in Rhode Island and Texas. The company produces premium refrigerated soups & sides for restaurants and retailers nation-wide. Todd began working for Blount Fine Foods after graduating with a MBA from Boston University, in 1994. Todd won the Providence Business New’s Strategic Leadership award in 2015 and was an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the year regional winner in 2011, and Providence Business New’s 40 under 40 in 2007. Todd contributes his time coaching and advising food startups – and leads an angel fund to invest in their success. Todd serves on the boards of several organizations locally as well as co-creating a Christian leadership program called Rhode Trip which takes boys on a variety of outdoor adventure trips.
Kristin Lessard discusses 529 Day and more with Providence Promise Executive Director Madalyn Ciampi.
John Woods, Ph.D., is the chief academic officer and provost for University of Phoenix and
responsible for further developing and fulfilling the University’s academic mission. He is
charged with amplifying the University's high-quality, rigorous and career-relevant academic
programs, while spurring innovation to help working adults move efficiently from education to
careers. He leads a team of academic leaders and more than 3,000 practitioner faculty with
applied experience in the disciplines they teach. His office defines student learning outcomes
that align with employer expectations, and with the specific skills students should have to
improve their performance in today's competitive economy.
Dr. Woods provides leadership for assessment of student learning, instructional innovation,
faculty engagement, the student experience, accreditation, and institutional reporting.
Dr. Woods is the founding director of the University of Phoenix Career Institute® which annually
publishes the Career Optimism Index®. In 2022, Dr. Woods’ insights on the Index were featured
in numerous publications including Forbes and Inc. He is active as a speaker on career,
workforce and higher education issues at events including the 2022 SHRM conference, 2022
Economic Development Summit of WESTMARC, Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation’s 2022
Workforce Summit, and the 2022 Reagan Institute Summit on Education (RISE).
Prior to joining University of Phoenix, Dr. Woods served as a dean at a traditional liberal arts
college, an adjunct faculty member at numerous institutions over the last twenty-five years,
and as chief academic officer for over fifteen years at other institutions serving working adult
learners. He began his career in higher education focusing on helping colleges and universities
leverage technology for instruction with the Eduprise, Collegis and Deltak family of companies.
Denise Woodard is the Founder and CEO of Partake Foods, the allergy-friendly company that was inspired by her daughter’s experience with food allergies. Key moments this year include that Partake Foods announced it became a Certified B Corporation, and launched a collab with Ben & Jerry’s! Created in 2016, Denise started the business by self-distributing (selling cookies out of her car around NYC) and self-funding (depleting her 401K and selling her engagement ring). To date, the company has raised more than $20M from investors including HER, Rihanna, Circle Up Growth Partners, FF2032 and Marcy Venture Partners (Jay-Z’s venture capital firm).
Partake was named #45 on the Inc 5000 list in 2022. Denise was the first Black woman to raise more than $1 Million publicly for a CPG food startup. As a Black woman, Denise is passionate about raising awareness of Black and female entrepreneurship and increasing opportunities for underrepresented people seeking careers in the food and beverage industry. In 2020, Denise founded Black Futures in Food & Beverage, an annual fellowship program that mentors HBCU students and helps them secure internships and jobs at the program’s end. Prior to launching Partake, Denise spent a decade in consumer-packaged goods at various Fortune 100 companies. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jeremy, and daughter, Vivienne. She graduated with her BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Arizona State University.
Brendalee O'Hara is the CEO and Founder of O'Hara Senior Care Services.
"At O’Hara Senior Care Services, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to the delivery of Home Care Services. Our exemplary service and commitment to providing high quality care have provided us the continued honor of serving the needs of Clients and their families throughout all of Rhode Island & Southern Massachusetts since 2004. We are proud to be recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association as a trusted Agency to service those in need."
Michael Hund joined EBRP as the CEO in 2017. Michael previously served as the Director of Development for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, leading their successful $100 million Curing Cancer Now campaign driving achievement of the largest longitudinal genomic dataset in cancer, an end-to-end Precision Medicine Model, a 25 member consortium of leading academic medical centers, 10 approved treatments in just over a decade, and the tripling of patient life expectancy. Previously, Michael spent over a decade in leadership at the actor and philanthropist Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Fund, working on behalf of children and their families battling cancer and other life-threatening illness.
Michael received his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Yale University, CORe credential from Harvard Business School, and an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from the University of Kansas. Michael has spent his career dedicated to transforming healthcare and also sits on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations. He lives in Connecticut with his wife Sarah and four daughters.
Josh Fox has grown Bottom Line Concepts over the past 14 years to achieve billions of dollars in savings and refunds for many different organizations. In the day-to-day operations, his strength is building relationships as well as managing employees, vendors and an international sales team. He is hands on in overseeing all aspects of the business from meetings, contracts, negotiations, implementation and follow-up.
Passionate about various charities, Fox gives back to his community and is also an avid animal rights activist and enthusiast. Fox earned a bachelor’s degree in business and managerial economics from the University of Michigan.
Rachael Glaws launched RGI events in 2008 with an ambitious vision: to create a mission-led events firm providing strategy-driven experiences grounded in flawless logistics and beautiful design. She guides each distinctly curated event thoughtfully from concept to completion, navigating the nuances along the way with grace and style afforded by deep expertise. Under her leadership, RGI Events has won an armload of awards, including being honored as one of the Top 100 Events Resources in the country.
When not at the RGI atelier, Rachael can be found chasing her three young children and two dogs, restoring her 250-year-old New England farmhouse, and playing an active role in her community, most notably as patron and fundraiser for George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Cortney M. Nicolato is a mission-driven executive leader and systems change-agent with two decades of experience in nonprofit management and entrepreneurship. Cortney is president and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island, a statewide nonprofit with more than 80 employees and an operating budget of $28M. United Way proved during COVID-19 to be the only organization in the state that effectively harnessed resources from government, corporations, nonprofits, and individuals to address crises, starting with its 211 hotline, the front door to social services in the state, as well as through advocacy, fundraising, and grant making.
Jacob Zuppke is the President & CEO of Whisker, a leading innovator in connected pet care that's most notably known for Litter-Robot. Jacob's passion for creative engineering solutions and innovative marketing campaigns has transformed a connected pet care company into one of the best-selling and highest-rated brands on the international market.
Since 2015 when Zuppke joined the team, Whisker has grown from 30 employees to over 500 employees in 2023, and from $7.6M to over $180M in sales. Whisker's team of 500 people are dedicated to shaping the future of pet care. Jacob’s dedication to bringing innovative pet care products to market is partly influenced by his own fur children. At home, he has a Siberian cat named Lexie and a Yellow Lab named Emma.
Jason Johnson is a globally recognized subject matter expert in the International K-9 Community. As the Founder and CEO of Project K-9 Hero, Jason has dedicated his career to making sure retired Police K-9s and Military Working Dogs receive the medical care, rehabilitation, or rehoming that they deserve once their service to our country is complete. He is a former Field Canine Coordinator for the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program with Department of Homeland Security, Lead Instructor and Course Developer at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives National Canine Training Center, Kennel Master and K-9 Handler for the U.S. Department of State in Iraq and Afghanistan, Police Narcotics K-9 Handler and Trainer, and a U.S. Army Military Police Officer. Jason holds a Master’s Degree in Security Management, is a published author, and a executive producer of television and film.
Carlos Ventura is CEO of Feast and Fettle, a local, fully-prepared meal delivery service. F&F operates out of their local commercial kitchen, servicing Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. Providing "Home-Cooked Meals, Without the Cooking," Feast and Fettle helps you unwind, relax and enjoy the dinnertime you deserve with high-quality meals prepared locally and hand-delivered to your home.
Aimee Brewer is the president and chief executive officer of Sturdy Health, an integrated, independent non-profit health system.
Sturdy Health is comprised of Sturdy Memorial Hospital, a 142-bed acute care hospital, along with 26 primary and specialty care medical offices and an Urgent Care Center dedicated to providing a broad range of healthcare services to the residents of communities in Southeastern Massachusetts and neighboring Rhode Island. Since joining Sturdy Health in late 2021, Aimee has emerged as an extraordinary advocate for patients, caregivers, and communities. Aimee’s innovative mindset, supportive leadership, and advancement of collaborative community based care are already proving to be of tremendous benefit within the region.
Prior to joining Sturdy, Aimee served as president of NorthBay Health, an integrated care delivery system in Northern California, and HCA, one of the nation’s largest providers of healthcare in 21 states and the United Kingdom. She has served on multiple boards and is currently serves on the MHA Board of Trustees.
Ben Garthwaite serves as CEO of Fors Marsh and guides the company’s business growth and diversification. He cultivates a purpose-driven culture focused on using business as a force for good, with the belief that businesses must share responsibility for strengthening the systems in which we operate. He is committed to evolving company policies and practices so that each of Fors Marsh’s key stakeholder groups—community, client, employee, and planet—are positively impacted.
Under his leadership, Fors Marsh has earned B Corporation certification, has become a JUST employer, and received Top Workplace USA, the Northern Virginia Family Service CARE, and Inc. 5000 Hall of Fame awards, to name a few.
Over Ben’s tenure, Fors Marsh has grown from 20 employees and $5M in revenue to more than 400 employees with annual revenues exceeding $100M. Prior to joining Fors Marsh, he spent a decade in the technology industry supporting and leading programs serving military personnel and their families.
Michael Childers, President and CEO
Mike Childers serves as President and CEO for The Shaw Group. Prior to his role with Shaw, Mike served in several executive level roles throughout the energy industry, including President of Bernhard Energy, President and CEO of Synergy Renewables, CEO of TXU/Luminant Development and SVP, Business Development and Marketing at Saulsbury Industries. Mike also served as EVP at the former Shaw organization.
Mike serves as an independent board member at Aries Clean Energy and Cypress Creek Renewables. He has enjoyed a long career leading and developing entrepreneurial growth companies and he has an unrivaled energy and passion for the industry.
Simon Davies: Executive Director, Teen Cancer America
Now in its tenth year, Simon leads Teen Cancer America, the only national charity in the USA working directly with hospitals to advise, support and fund them in the development of specialized facilities and programs for adolescents and young adults with cancer. The charity is built on the successful model of Teenage Cancer Trust, UK where Simon was Chief Executive Officer for 13 years before launching Teen Cancer America in 2012.
His early career was in the management of substantial social and health care services in the fields of Learning Disability and Mental Health. He has been awarded an honorary Doctorate in Education by the University of Coventry, UK for his service development work and the advancement of professional education in the field of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer. Simon has developed an international reputation for success in bringing about change within traditionally structured health systems.
Ed Thomsen is in his 50th year as CEO of Thomsen Foodservice, a family owned Rhode Island business. He began working at Thomsen Foodservice immediately upon his graduation from Brown University. It has been a life-long endeavor to grow the company from its very modest beginnings, to the mid-sized enterprise it is today.
He is a resident of Rumford, Rhode Island, along with his wife Karen. Together they have 6 adult children and 8 grandchildren. He has been active within the community for those 50 years, serving on various boards, as well as coaching softball in the Rumford Little League for 14 years.
Fran Horowitz has served as Chief Executive Officer of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. since February 2017. She joined the company in October 2014 as the Hollister Brand President and prior to being named CEO, she held the role of President and Chief Merchandising Officer for all brands of A&F Co. from December 2015 – February 2017.
Prior to Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Ms. Horowitz served as Brand President at Ann Taylor Loft and held several leadership roles in merchandising at Express, Inc. and Bloomingdales, as well as various positions at Bergdorf Goodman, Bonwit Teller and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Additionally, Ms. Horowitz is a board member for Conagra Brands, Inc., SeriousFun Children’s Network and CECP. Fran attended Lafayette College and received her MBA from Fordham University. She resides in New Albany with her husband Michael and they have two adult children.
Dane Chapin graduated from UCLA 1982 with a degree in Economics. Age 25 was the last time anyone other than himself has signed his paycheck. He has had a lifelong love affair with entrepreneurship. Dane has founded and owned numerous businesses in numerous fields. Currently, he is CEO of The Op Games, a company he co-founded with his sisters in 1994. He stepped away from The Op in 2008 to start several other businesses including Made Here Brands where he is partnered with actor Scott Eastwood, Bindle Bottle and Zephyr Partners. Dane returned as The Op CEO in January 2022. Over the years, The Op has partnered with the world's most intellectual properties including Disney, Warner Bros., Fox, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, NFL, NBA, Elvis, Game of Thrones, Hasbro, Berkshire Hathaway, Nintendo, Microsoft, Mercedes Benz and countless others.
Jim Scheetz is the chairman, CEO and president of SmartMouth Oral Health Laboratories, a leading innovator in the fight against bad breath through a patented zinc-ion-activated technology designed to eliminate the root cause of bad breath: sulfur gas.
Scheetz began serving the company as a consultant in 2005, later joining the company’s board of directors in 2018. In his role, Jim leads SmartMouth’s team in their commitment to eliminate and prevent bad breath.
Scheetz is an accomplished C-Suite executive officer with a distinguished career and a solid reputation for advancing organizational strategy, mission and objectives to spearhead revenue, profitability and growth. During his 40-plus year career, he has worked in a variety of industries including banking, manufacturing and real estate development.
Jack Kudale is the Founder & CEO of Cowbell Cyber, the industry’s first
AI-powered cyber insurance provider that aims to make cyber insurance
accessible to all businesses. Cowbell Cyber makes cyber insurance easy and
delivers customized, standalone cyber policies with robust coverages that
deliver financial protection against all flavors of cyber incidents including
data breaches, ransomware attacks, and cybercrime. Our policies are
bundled with risk assessments, risk insights, cybersecurity awareness
programs and free-of-charge risk management services to help businesses
eliminate their cyber risk exposures.
Carl Taber is Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer for BayCoast Bank, a long-standing community bank, serving customers since 1851. BayCoast upholds the time-honored belief in community involvement and provides a wide range of financial services. They are your friends and neighbors, dedicated to supporting the communities where we live and work. BayCoast offers a wide range of financial solutions to suit your life and your lifestyle. After all, you have financial goals, and They're here to help you achieve them.
Glenn Gonzales is the founder and CEO of Jet It. Glenn has spent the past 24 years as a businessman, leader, aviation industry expert, and military veteran. There’s a reason Jet It has become the most innovative jet share ownership company: the people who are committed to going above and beyond every single day. Meet the team who continue to take our company and our member-owners to the next level. And the level after that.
Christopher Dagesse is President of DCD Automotive Holding, which includes auto dealerships in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Delaware under the brand names of Nucar and Boch Automotive.
Katje Afonseca is the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island and the Big Sisters Fund, collectively known as BBBSRI. The two 501(c)3 non-profit organizations have one mission: To create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.
Katje joined BBBSRI in 2003 as a marketing intern finishing her Bachelor’s Degree at Johnson and Wales University. She later returned to eventually become Executive Director in 2016. Under her leadership BBBSRI has improved and increased their service delivery, grown their endowment, and streamlined their operations resulting in BBBSRI’s gross profit margin increasing from 3% in 2015 to 13% in 2020.
Scott Avedisian is the CEO of RIPTA, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. RIPTA's mission is "to provide safe, reliable and cost effective transit service with a skilled team of professionals responsive to our customers, the environment, and committed to transit excellence." Scott Avedisian became CEO in 2018, after leading the city of Warwick, RI as Mayor for eighteen years. His tenure in Warwick was highlighted with projects that showed his commitment to good government and public service – a commitment that continues with his work at the helm of RIPTA.
Neeraj Gunsagar is the CEO and President of byte, a direct-to-consumer aligner company that is revolutionizing the orthodontic industry. Byte was recently acquired by Dentsply Sirona for $1.04 billion to expand its DTC Aligner business to dentists across the world.
As a 4th generation family member in the family-owned and operated Kayem Foods, Matt Monkiewicz, has done just about every job in the sales, marketing and distribution end of the business. Starting at age 14, his roles ranged from maintaining the grounds, shipping and truck driving. After completing his MBA at Babson, Matt sought experience outside the family business, working at internet startups and Fidelity Capital before rejoining Kayem Foods in 2002. Matt has been credited with building and leading the Marketing and R&D teams, first as the Director of Marketing and R&D, and then Vice President of Marketing which grew from a total of 2 people in 2003 to a team of over 16 by 2021. He led the development of the company’s strategic planning, which transformed from a regional meat processor and distributor to a national brand marketer and a leader in the food industry.
Rosanna Ortiz is CEO of RMO Public Relations and the founder of Style Week Northeast, both based in Providence, RI. RMO Public Relations specializes in project relations for the construction, beauty and fashion industry as well as events and acquiring earned media the right way.
Jason Macari is CEO of Baby Delight, a Rhode Island company based in Cumberland. Baby Delight focuses on bringing parents and babies closer as they experience all of the bumps in the road along the way. Their products help keep babies safe and comfortable and are available at major retailers and on Amazon.com
Michael D. Smith is CEO of AmeriCorps, the federal agency for service and volunteerism formerly known as the Corporation for National and Community Service. Smith has dedicated his career to social justice and public service in underserved communities like those where he grew up. AmeriCorps serves as a pathway to employment opportunities and helps develop vital work skills.
Cliff Wood is CEO of the Providence Foundation. For fifty years, the Foundation has helped advance bold, visionary initiatives that shape the present and future of downtown as the dynamic hub of a vibrant and prosperous Providence. Hear about the amazing work the Providence Foundation is doing to steward the future of Downcity in this fascinating episode.
Michael Andreozzi is the CEO of Beltone New England, a Rhode Island based company which has become the most trusted name in hearing aids. Throughout the years Beltone has won many awards for technology and service. Their hearing aid centers are located in all six New England States.
Summer Infant is a Rhode Island based company and a leader in infant and toddler care products. Since 1985, Summer Infant has been dedicated to making bath time, meal time, play time and every time in between special for you and your baby.
Jack Murphy – President and CEO of BankNewport
BankNewport is a mutual bank with deep roots in the Rhode Island community. It was founded over 200 years ago and continues to have a strong commitment to our local communities. Jack Murphy is President and Chief Executive Officer of BankNewport and OceanPoint Financial Partners, MHC, the Bank’s Mutual Holding Company. He is also Chair of OceanPoint Insurance, the Bank’s fully owned insurance agency subsidiary.
Kelly McShane- CEO and Managing Partner of Granny Squibb’s Organic Iced Tea
In 2009, Kelly McShane and her partner, Nick Carr teamed up with Robin Squibb to take Robin’s family brand, Granny Squibb’s Organic Iced Tea to the next level. Robin’ grandmother, Sally Squibb began making the refreshing, natural drink in Sanderstown, RI in the 1930’s. Today, the recipe is still the same…all natural ingredients and an unwavering dedication to the local community.
Lynn Singleton is leading PPAC into a brand new season in Fall 2021. Beginning in October, PPAC will present the Taco/The White Family Foundation Broadway Series which features six shows, plus a three show Encore Series, three specials and more! The season launch follows a recent restoration of the façade of the beautiful and historic Loew’s Theater building, built in 1928.
Ned Handy – Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Washington Trust
Edward “Ned” O. Handy leads a team of more than 600 Washington Trust employees dedicated to providing a full range of financial services, including commercial banking, mortgage banking, personal banking and wealth management and trust services through offices located throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. He has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Washington Trust since November of 2013.
Major Roger Duperree – Salvation Army Southern New England Division
Major Duperree has been with the Salvation Army for forty years. He talks about the vital services that the organization provides to Southern New Englanders in need and how the need changed during the pandemic. You can help support their work by donating online at www.salvationarmyri.org
Beau Tompkins, Senior Executive Director – Rhode Island Blood Center
For over 40 years, Rhode Island Blood Center has been the primary supplier of blood and blood products to patients being cared for in hospitals throughout Rhode Island and in neighboring states. Their mission is to help save lives by ensuring a safe, plentiful and cost-effective blood supply. Beau began working at RIBC in 2008 as the Operations Manager in Hospital Services.
Cheryl Merchant, CEO of TACO Comfort Solutions, a 100 year old, third generation family-owned global company based in Cranston, RI. TACO Comfort Solutions engineers and manufactures high efficiency indoor heating, cooling, and plumbing comfort systems.