Our Mission
We engage and connect people through shared experiences that positively transform individuals, organizations and communities.
Our Vision
We see a Rhode Island that is flourishing — economically, civically, culturally — built on a foundation of ever-improving human capital whose strengths and potential we spend each day revealing and igniting.
And we see the lessons of this lively leadership experiment being shared and amplified around the country and the world to nurture the kind of fully-engaged societies that create lasting, positive change.
Our Beliefs and Values
- Recognizing leaders and investing in their personal and professional growth and connections with one another will result in individual, collective and statewide transformation.
- It is vital to bring everyone to the table to collectively identify and solve challenges facing our state.
- Experiencing transformative experiences in a cohort creates an environment for bridging across differences.
- Large-scale change requires a broad network of individuals, with deep and personal connections based on trust and respect, who are able to have frank discussions.
- With each class, long-term relationships are created which continuously generate new energy through contributions and exchange of ideas amongst the broader LRI network.
- We believe in the power of shared best practices and shared learning to enable our state to go further, faster.
- We are open to anyone seeking to move the needle of tough challenges within our state.
- We value contributions over formal credentials.
- We embrace diversity and divergence.
Our Impact
From "weaving back the civil fabric" of RI cities/towns to "outstanding leadership innovations" to moving the needle for statewide workplace engagement, Leadership Rhode Island's impact has been honored locally, regionally and nationally with five awards in the past five years from Common Cause RI, Association of Leadership Programs, GoLocal, and the Rhode Island Press Association.
History
Leadership Rhode Island has been a recognized leader among organizations of its type from the beginning in 1981. At that time, there were only a scattering of community leadership programs across the United States, while today there are hundreds. LRI has been an innovative pioneer, serving as a model and mentor for many of the groups that have followed.
Board of Governors
The Board of Governors serves as LRI’s primary governing body. Responsible for the current state of the organization as well as for its future, the LRI Board leads in the development and execution of effective strategies consistent with LRI’s mission and vision. It also provides financial management and directs all fundraising to ensure adequate resources for the organization. The Board also oversees and supports all LRI programs and services. Board members are widely respected Rhode Island leaders from a cross-section of community sectors, including business, finance, education, and community nonprofits.

Nicole Benjamin
Chair, LRI '13
Shareholder, Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Achiever
- Discipline
- Focus
- Competition
- Communication
Nicole J. Benjamin is a Shareholder at Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C. with more than a decade of courtroom experience and who has been recognized for her successes in complex commercial litigation matters.
Nicole has represented public and private companies in high-stakes litigation in federal and state court. She has defended clients against antitrust, breach of contract, business tort, employment, intellectual property, products liability and toxic tort claims. She also has defended class actions and litigated cases involving international law, mergers and acquisitions, securities laws and banking laws. Nicole also has represented state departments, state general officers and municipalities in matters of significant public importance, including constitutional challenges to government actions.
In addition to her trial court practice, Nicole has successfully briefed and argued cases in the First Circuit and the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
Nicole has been selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2019 - 2021 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Commercial Litigation and, in 2021, also in the area of Appellate Litigation, she was recognized by Chambers USA’s America’s Leading Business Lawyers 2019 and 2020 in the area of Litigation: General Commercial, she was recognized by Rhode Island Monthly in 2019 and 2020 for her Professional Excellence in the Law in the area of Appellate Practice, she has been named a Rhode Island Rising Star 2012 - 2020 by the publishers of Super Lawyers and she was named 40 Under Forty by Providence Business News. She also is the recipient of the 2017 Rhode Island Bar Journal Lauren E. Jones, Esq. Writing Award and the Roger Williams University School of Law 2016 Alumni Service Award.
In addition to her position as Chair of the Leadership Rhode Island Board of Governors, Nicole also serves on the executive committee of the Board of Directors of Roger Williams University School of Law (Vice Chair), the Rhode Island Bar Association (Secretary), and the Rhode Island Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (Vice President). She also serves on the Board of Trustees of Roger Williams University and the Board of Governors of the University Club.

Pete Rumsey
Vice Chair, LRI '19
Chief Business Development Officer, The University of Rhode Island Research Foundation
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Restorative
- Individualization
- Achiever
- Communication
- Arranger
Pete is the Chief Business Development Officer for the University of Rhode Island’s Research Foundation and is responsible for the development and implementation of growth strategies to achieve the mission and revenue goals of the organization. The URI Research Foundation oversees the commercialization of protected intellectual property, and the development of business relationships and driving economic development with corporate and government partners for URI.
Pete joined URI with more than 30 years of high-tech experience focused on achieving top- and bottom-line results, building and coaching strong global customer-facing teams, and developing critical strategic partnerships. Pete has proven success in start-up, growth, enterprise/fortune and turn-around global organizations from $0 to $1.5B+ in revenues.
Immediately prior to his current role, Pete was the Director of the Rhode Island Innovation Campus Initiative, reporting to RI Commerce Secretary Pryor and Governor (now US Commerce Secretary) Gina Raimondo, and was responsible for overseeing the attraction of prospective participants, connecting stakeholders, and helping to administer the application and selection process. The RI Innovation Campuses bring together industry, academic, and research entities, in partnership with the University of RI, into a common physical facility and business sector focus, and foster collaboration on best-in-class innovative solutions, to create and grow high-value jobs while catalyzing private-sector investment in Rhode Island.
Pete’s prior background includes high-profile executive management and business roles with Lighting Science Group as Executive VP of Business Development; B2Q Technologies as a Co-founder and Principal; Boston-Power as Chief Customer Officer; Wright Line/Eaton Corp as VP of Sales and Marketing, where he was instrumental in its sale to Eaton Corp.; American Power Conversion, with influential sales, marketing and global operational positions over his 14-year tenure as Executive Vice President of Global Sales, VP of Global Enterprise Solutions Group, General Manager and Vice President of Asia and Latin America, and Director of Global Strategic Partnerships; and Equity National as Chief Operating Officer. Pete served as an officer in the United States Air Force Intelligence Command’s Electronic Warfare Center (AFEWC) during Desert Storm and Desert Shield and was a recipient of both the Meritorious Service and Air Force Achievement Medals. Pete earned a BSEE with honors from Cornell University, and attended executive development programs at both Stanford and Harvard University.

Sulina Mohanty
Treasurer, CLRI '06
CEO, BrightSpot Leadership, LLC
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Connectedness
- Belief
- Individualization
- Maximizer
- Positivity
Sulina was born and raised in Rhode Island. She attended the University of Rhode Island, and then moved to Phoenix, AZ to start her career as a teacher and completed a masters program in Special Education from Arizona State University. She continued her career as a coach and administrator, focused on empowering students, families, and teams. Currently, Sulina is an independent consultant and coach, working with school districts, organizations, and individuals to maximize their impact.

Ashia Graziano
Secretary, LRI '19
Director of Development, Brown University
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Maximizer
- Communication
- Arranger
- Individualization
- Activator
Ashia Graziano is the Associate Director of Parent and Family Giving at Brown University. Ashia is responsible for conceiving, developing, and implementing the external programming and internal relationships between the University and the non-alumni families of undergraduates. Additionally, she manages a portfolio of families who are philanthropically engaged with the University. Ashia’s work has contributed to Brown boasting the top parents program in the country for a number of years. Ashia brings over a dozen years of development experience to this role.
Prior to joining the Office of Parent and Family Giving, Ashia managed the Brown Women’s Leadership Council. In this role she oversaw the 72-member active presidential advisory council and managed the 125 Years of Women at Brown Conference which brought together over 700 Brown alumnae during a two-day conference with 26 distinct offerings featuring 77 female speakers including Janet Yellen, then Chair of the Federal Reserve, and world-renowned fashion designer, Diane von Furstenberg. The conference garnered significant attention and was covered by over 14 national media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN.
Ashia completed her undergraduate studies at Assumption University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies with a minor in Theology. Ashia is a current member of the R.I.S.E. Women’s Leadership Conference Advisory Council and a graduate of the 2019 Leadership Rhode Island Core Program.
Ashia was born in Dominican Republic and has resided in Rhode Island since the age of six. She lives in Cranston with her husband John, and two young daughters, Olivia and Addison.

Ting Barnard
Member, LRI '15
Owner, Ting Barnard's Studio
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Learner
- Connectedness
- Responsibility
- Intellection
- Individualization
Ting Barnard graduated from Boston University in 2002 with a degree in Sociology. Upon graduation, she started her 10-year career in the Investment World as a Chief Relationship Officer for firms such as Boldwater Capital Management, Deutsche Asset Management and Lehman Brothers in Boston and New York City.
Ting currently owns a woman’s fashion line named after her mother Tong (Tong means “gold” in Thai) and works independently as a Marketing Consultant and Brand Ambassador promoting local artists and non-profit organizations at Ting Barnard's Studio.
Ting is closely involved with several local organizations: StyleWeek, SEED Innovation Meets Education, Year Up - RI, Amos House, PVD Lady Project, Summit Neighborhood Association, Children's Friend and Lincoln School. She was also part of Leadership Rhode Island’s Lambda II Class, served as the Program Co-Chair for the 2016 MU II Class and is an LRI-certified Strengths Coach.
Ting strongly believes in philanthropy and emphasizes the importance of being actively engaged in one’s community...”LOVE where you live...”

Hamza Chaudary
Member, LRI '17
Shareholder, Adler Pollock & Sheehan
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Achiever
- Learner
- Positivity
- Individualization
- Input
Hamza helps clients achieve their business objectives and goals through custom-tailored legal solutions. He represents clients in a wide range of civil matters in state and federal court. Hamza is committed to providing excellence to his clients through his solid work-ethic, combined with effective and efficient representation. His background in real estate and computer science assists him in advising clients in a wide range of matters.
Hamza has significant experience in cases involving real estate, land use and zoning matters, including all phases of development and permitting. Moreover, Hamza has successfully litigated land use and zoning matters in the Rhode Island Superior Court and Supreme Court, including winning a case on behalf of a client on a matter of first-impression. Hamza also uses his prior real estate experience in delivering results for clients in municipal tax appeal cases.
Prior to joining Adler Pollock and Sheehan, Hamza served as a real estate analyst for a commercial real estate firm appraising property across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He also served as a lobbyist and spokesperson for several successful initiatives before the Connecticut Legislature. Hamza also served as an advisor and lecturer for the National Student Leadership Conference in Washington D.C., New York and in several countries across Europe.
Hamza is civic-minded and is committed to serving the community. In 2009, he coordinated a highly acclaimed symposium highlighting violence on college campuses and the appropriate institutional responses in light of the Virginia Tech tragedy and other events.

Sharon Conard-Wells
Member, LRI '91
Retired, West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Connectedness
- Restorative
- Communication
- Belief
- Adaptability
Sharon dedicated much of her life to serving as the Executive Director of West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation (WEHDC), recently retiring after 29 years. Under her leadership, over $122 million was invested in real estate and community development and an additional $4 million for lending. WEHDC became a NeighborWorks America chartered member and a US Department of Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institution. The agency holds several national certifications including Green Organization, Home Ownership Center, Full Cycle Lender, and HUD-approved Counseling Agency. Their real estate developments have ranged from single-family new construction to sophisticated historic brownfield mills to mixed-income, mixed-use rental projects.
Sharon is a recipient of many accolades including the 2019 United Way RI John H. Chafee Lifetime Service Award and the 2018 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Equity.

Greg Garvin
Senior Project Manager, LRI '08
Member, Gilbane Building Company
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Learner
- Harmony
- Intellection
- Individualization
- Context
By day, Greg Garvin is a Preconstruction Manager and Purchasing Team Leader for Gilbane Building Company, a 150 year old, family-run, multi-national Construction Management firm. In his role he brings his eye for risk management and strategic thinking to ensure that large, complex construction projects are set up for success. During his 15 year career at Gilbane, Greg has performed roles across many different functions, which has provided him with a wide array of skills and a multidisciplinary perspective. Having operated primarily in Rhode Island and Boston, Greg has experience with a broad spectrum of markets such as: K-12, Life Sciences, Higher Education, Sports & Entertainment, Healthcare and Corporate Office.
Greg received a BS degree in Construction Management with a minor in Business in 2006 at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. Dedicated to reinvesting in his alma mater, Greg has sat on the CM Professional Advisory Board at Roger Williams for nearly a decade. Greg is currently the Vice-Chair of the Board and co-chair of the Academic Committee where he enjoys arranging and leading guest lectures that accents the curriculum with valuable industry experience. Greg also serves on the Board of Governors for Saha Global, a 501(c)(3) organization that helps entrepreneurial women provide safe, clean drinking water to rural villages in Northern Region of Ghana.
In life, Greg is passionate about rootedness and the power of place, which he attributes to his upbringing on a 3rd generation dairy and beef farm in rural New Hampshire. He believes that local communitarianism is the key to resiliency in the face of current and future social, economic and climate challenges. Greg is a member of Strong Towns and Southside Community Land Trust, and his hobbies include gardening, enjoying the outdoors, reading, and listening to podcasts & music. Greg lives in Providence, Rhode Island with his lovely wife and two energetic children.

Vinny Gebhart
Member, LRI '15
Vice President Operations, Powerhouse Dynamics
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Input
- Achiever
- Ideation
- Analytical
- Arranger

Priscilla Gonzalez-Santos
Member, LRI '17
Human Resources Business Partner, Global Consumer Products, Hasbro
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Harmony
- Relator
- Discipline
- Focus
- Restorative
Priscilla Gonzalez-Santos is the Human Resources Business Partner for the Global Consumer Products teams at Hasbro. In this role she assesses, anticipates and facilitates organizational and people related strategies that align and drive short and long-term business direction.
Prior to joining Hasbro, Priscilla served as the Director of Human Resources at Edesia, a U.S. non-profit, social enterprise, with a mission to treat and prevent malnutrition in developing countries worldwide. In this role she oversaw all functions of the Human Resources Department. She has prior experience working outside of Human Resources in specialized roles in marketing, public relations and event planning.
Priscilla holds a B.A. in Communications and a minor in Women Studies from Rhode Island College. In 2014 she received her certification in Human Resources Management from Bryant University. In 2017 she graduated from Leadership Rhode Island’s Core Program. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) of Rhode Island and serves in the Leadership Rhode Island Board of Governors.
She lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two children.

Michele Leone
Member, LRI '16
Vice President of Gas, Rhode Island Energy
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Strategic
- Significance
- Achiever
- Self-Assurance
- Activator
Michele is the Vice President of Gas for Rhode Island Energy (RIE) and is responsible for the safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation of Rhode Island’s natural gas distribution system. She oversees natural gas supply procurement, gas control, resource and investment planning, gas asset management and engineering, and operation of the gas distribution system and RIE’s two liquified natural gas plants. Prior to taking on this role in 2022, Michele held numerous roles during her 22 year career at National Grid in a variety of areas across New England and globally, including Director of Rhode Island Gas Operations, Director of Group Sustainability and Environment, Director of Rhode Island Strategy and Performance Management, Director of Electric Business Planning and Performance, and Manager of New England and Upstate NY Site Investigation and Remediation.
Michele holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Engineering, graduating summa cum laude from Syracuse University, and a Master’s of Science in Engineering in Environmental Engineering, graduating from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Michele was a member of the 2016 Mu II LRI Core Program Class (best class ever!).
Michele lives in southern Massachusetts with her husband and son. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and spending time at the ocean.

Ted Shallcross
Member, LRI '11
Senior Vice President & General Manager, Amica Mutual Insurance Company
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Individualization
- Achiever
- Adaptability
- Relator
- Maximizer
Ted currently serves as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Amica Life Insurance Company, responsible for overseeing all activities of the organization. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in both economics and accounting, graduating cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross. He has been recognized as a Providence Business News 40 under Forty award winner for career and community accomplishments. He is a graduate of the 2011 Leadership RI core program, and he is a CPA, winning the Nicholas Piccione Gold Medal Award and KPMG Peat Marwick Award for obtaining the highest score on the exam in the State of RI.
Ted is also actively involved in the community, in addition to serving as vice chair on the Board of Governors of Leadership Rhode Island, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Providence Children's Museum, as well as various committees for the RI Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School.
Ted resides in East Greenwich, RI with his wife and two young children. In addition to spending time with his family, Ted appreciates being outdoors, playing golf, and enjoying the wonderful RI food culture.

Christine Sheehan
Member
Chief of Staff, Gallup
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Maximizer
- Activator
- Communication
- Empathy
- Belief
Staff

Mike Ritz
Executive Director, LRI '07
mritz@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x103
Contact Mike about governance, sponsorship, programs, and alumni relations.

Mike Ritz
Executive Director, LRI '07
mritz@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x103
Contact Mike about governance, sponsorship, programs, and alumni relations.
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Communication
- Activator
- Futuristic
- Strategic
- Maximizer
Training language instructors from multiple cultures while studying applied psycholinguistics in Mexico City sparked Mike's lifelong interests in human behavior and communication.
Over 25 years, Mike served as a Tri-lingual interrogator in the U.S. Army, established his first company by the age of 25, motivated people to excel at his fitness Boot Camps, and served as a Regional Manager for an international healthcare company based in the United Arab Emirates. A former on-call interrogation analyst for CNN, Mike has been interviewed hundreds of times for TV, radio, newspapers and magazines. He participated in nine documentaries in the past 15 years; "Songs of War" won an International Emmy.
Under Mike's leadership for the past 11 years, Leadership Rhode Island has received numerous accolades, including the Excellence in Public Service Award by Common Cause RI, two National Innovation Awards from the Association of Leadership Programs and three Community Outreach Awards from the RI Press Association for public forums in partnership with The Providence Journal and Rhode Island College. LRI’s innovative Make RI Stronger social enterprise is recognized by Gallup as an inspiration for the global strengths movement.
On the heels of serving as the Rhode Island Chairman for the Department of Defense Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve since 2012, Mike spearheaded the national transformation from an executive strategic subcommittee to ESGR's first board of directors since its inception in 1972. He was awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service before being recruited to serve as President of the board of FORGE, a national nonprofit focused on decreasing veteran suicides through The Overwatch Project.
Mike is a board member for the Association of Leadership Programs and co-creator of the National Leadership Network, representing 700,000+ community leadership program alumni across the country. @MikeRitz

Michelle Carr
Deputy Director, LRI '14
mcarr@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x107
Contact Michelle about LRI's programs, training, strategic initiatives and performance measurement

Michelle Carr
Deputy Director, LRI '14
mcarr@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x107
Contact Michelle about LRI's programs, training, strategic initiatives and performance measurement
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Input
- Maximizer
- Developer
- Arranger
- Belief
Michelle Carr serves as Deputy Director at Leadership Rhode Island where she oversees programs, trainings and strategic initiatives; develops thought leadership and operational strategy; and stewards human capital and impact measurement.
A Cuban-American, and the first in her family to go to college, Michelle has spent her career creating environments where individuals step beyond their comfort zones, find common ground, and grow personally, professionally and as engaged community members. She was recruited to Leadership Rhode Island’s staff as the Director of Programs while a member of the 2014 Kappa II class and promoted to Deputy Director in July 2016.
As a Community Faculty Member at Providence College in the Global Studies Department and Feinstein Center for Community and Public Service, Michelle has connected students to the Rhode Island community through service learning and participatory action-based senior theses. Her teaching has focused on strengths-based leadership, career readiness, public service, civic engagement, and global citizenship. Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Business Studies certificate from Providence College.
Previous to Leadership Rhode Island, Michelle served as Director of Community Relations at Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island where she led state policy change and cross-cultural competency trainings. She founded Welcoming Rhode Island, a recipient of the Metcalf Award for Diversity in the Media and local affiliate of Welcoming America. Her initiatives were highlighted nationally in 2014 and she was invited to share best practices at the White House for the first National Convening on Immigrant and Refugee Integration.
Michelle has been entrusted with scholarship selection, board and career recruitment, and leadership program oversight in several volunteer roles with organizations such as RI Latino Arts, Coalition of Advocates for Student Opportunities, New Leaders Council of RI, Latino Dollars for Scholars, the Juanita Sanchez Community Fund, RI Commerce Corporation Latino Entrepreneurs, and the RI Association of Former Legislators Scholarship Fund. Michelle currently serves as a Community Advisory Board member for United Way of Rhode Island. In 2018 she was awarded the Providence Business News 40 under Forty Award, recognizing forty men and women, under the age of 40, who are successful in their careers and involved in their communities. @MichelleDCarr

Kristin Zosa Puleo
Director of Development & Alumni Engagement
kzosapuleo@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x112
Contact Kristin about sponsorships and alumni relations

Kristin Zosa Puleo
Director of Development & Alumni Engagement
kzosapuleo@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x112
Contact Kristin about sponsorships and alumni relations
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Adaptability
- Input
- Arranger
- Ideation
- Restorative
A native Rhode Islander with an unabashed love for her tiny home state, Kristin has an MA in Art History, a strong background in hospitality, non-profit event management and program development.
Kristin is the Director of Programs at Leadership Rhode Island, overseeing the curriculum development and implementation of LRI’s Core and College Programs. Prior to joining the Leadership Rhode Island team in 2017, Kristin was at Johnson & Wales University, where she worked in the department of Providence Campus Events executing high-level events for the administration, board members and executives. Previous to this role, as the event and program coordinator at the Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University, she worked to grow the presence of the museum in the community through hands-on public programming, social media outreach, and student-centered events.
Kristin currently participates in Commissioner Infante-Green’s Rhode Island Parent Advisory Committee and is a parent volunteer for her kids’ Girl Scout troops. She has also volunteered as City Manager for the PVD Lady Project, and has served on the board of the Exeter-West Greenwich PTA, the district in which her two girls attend school. In her spare time, you’ll likely find her on the beach, or running the streets, training for her next road race. In 2017, Kristin completed her sixth marathon in New York City, as a part of the Boston Children’s Hospital charity team. In 2020, Kristin was a recipient of Providence Business News’ 40 under 40 award. @kmzpuleo

Teresa DeFlitch
Director of Leadership Development
tdeflitch@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x102
Contact Teresa about LRI's leadership programs and Leadership in Action projects

Teresa DeFlitch
Director of Leadership Development
tdeflitch@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x102
Contact Teresa about LRI's leadership programs and Leadership in Action projects
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Learner
- Intellection
- Connectedness
- Strategic
- Relator
Teresa DeFlitch has decades of experience in experiential learning, project and program management, and training. A leader in education innovation, she began her career in museums and public history. She oversaw national outreach for a history education project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, trained thousands of Congressional staffers for the Architect of the Capitol, and led the development of Winchester Thurston School’s nationally recognized City as Our Campus program. She has consulted with several organizations on projects that explore new boundaries in teaching and learning, including the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, and the Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment (CREATE) Lab at Carnegie Mellon University. Most recently, as Director of People and Education, she led the development of a people-centered HR strategy for the James Beard-nominated Pittsburgh Distilling Company (Wigle Whiskey and Threadbare Cider) while leading special projects, including the launch of a new spirits tourism trail across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington, DC. She holds a BA in History from Saint Vincent College and an MA in History from the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Originally from Pittsburgh, Teresa fell in love with Rhode Island as a Buchanan-Burnham intern at the Newport Historical Society, knowing that one day she would call the Ocean State home. She lives in Barrington with her husband, Rick, and son, Silas.

Abby Burnep
Director of Training & Consulting
amontine@leadershipri.org
401-273-1574 x111
Contact Abby about LRI's training and consulting services, including Make RI Stronger

Abby Burnep
Director of Training & Consulting
amontine@leadershipri.org
401-273-1574 x111
Contact Abby about LRI's training and consulting services, including Make RI Stronger
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Achiever
- Learner
- Input
- Developer
- Relator
A graduate of Providence College, Abby was excited to return to Rhode Island as part of the LRI team in January, 2020. As Training Administrator, she oversees LRI’s consulting and training social enterprise, including the Make Rhode Island Stronger initiative to bring strengths-based development to organizations statewide. Prior to joining LRI, Abby completed an M.B.A. degree in nonprofit management at Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management.
Abby brings experience in domestic and international education programming and nonprofit management. From 2016-2018, she worked as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, where she collaborated with a team of public school educators to implement best practices for teaching English. As part of this work, Abby designed and led professional development sessions for Ecuadorian educators citywide and delivered pre-service training sessions to newly arrived Peace Corps Volunteers. Before joining the Peace Corps, Abby worked in development and fundraising at several New York City nonprofits. In this work, she developed successful grant proposals, designed program models, and collaborated with staff to guide organizational strategy.
Outside of work, Abby is passionate about cultural exchange and travel. She solo-backpacked through six countries in South America, and she hopes to continue visiting new places in her free time.

Chris Donovan
Events & Communications Manager
cdonovan@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x101
Contact Chris about LRI events and communications

Chris Donovan
Events & Communications Manager
cdonovan@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x101
Contact Chris about LRI events and communications
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Restorative
- Individualization
- Arranger
- Strategic
- Analytical
Christopher Donovan is the Events and Communications Manager with Leadership Rhode Island. His background as a stage manager in the performing arts drives him to deliver seamless experiences that keep the ‘magic’ in the spotlight, while keeping all of the nitty gritty details ‘behind the curtains’. Having had the privilege of his work taking him to more than 25 states, he decided to call Providence, RI home in 2013, and has not once looked back.
Since 2017 he has been the organizer and host of the monthly Providence PechaKucha Nights, where community members share stories, creations, and ideas using the PechaKucha presentation format of 20 images that each last 20 seconds.
He is a proud graduate of the UMass Dartmouth Charlton College of Business with a BS in Marketing.

Joanne Gallogly
Office Manager
jgallogly@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x100
Contact Joanne about LRI operations

Joanne Gallogly
Office Manager
jgallogly@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x100
Contact Joanne about LRI operations
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Relator
- Harmony
- Responsibility
- Achiever
- Arranger
Joanne Brasil Gallogly joined Leadership Rhode Island in 2014 after spending 20 years as a stay-at-home mom raising her two children. Joanne previously worked as a press and legislative aide to Governor Bruce Sundlun. She also worked for several years as a legislative aide for the Rhode Island State Senate. She attended Rhode Island College and St. Mary’s Academy Bay View.

Jane E. Nugent, Ed.D.
Project Advisor, LRI '95
jnugent@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574
Contact Jane about the LRI Advisory Council.

Jane E. Nugent, Ed.D.
Project Advisor, LRI '95
jnugent@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574
Contact Jane about the LRI Advisory Council.
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Learner
- Analytical
- Individualization
- Relator
- Achiever
Jane Nugent comes to Leadership Rhode Island with many years of experience in the nonprofit sector in Rhode Island. Jane was a Senior Vice President with the United Way of Rhode Island, having given 22 years of service. While at United Way Jane grant managed several million dollars per year in funding, and her major projects included: Needs for the Nineties, Making It Work, The Facts, Dollars and Sense, Building a Stronger Community, and Skill Up Rhode Island. Prior to her work in the nonprofit sector Jane taught for 15 years, five of which were spent in England. Jane has won several awards for her service to the community and has held membership on committees, boards, and task forces in Rhode Island. Jane received her Bachelor’s Degree from Bridgewater (MA) State University, and her Masters and Doctoral Degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Jane has been an active volunteer for LRI since the early nineties, having given presentations to both the Core Class and the College LRI Class on issues pertaining to the nonprofit sector, and has served on many LRI committees over the years. Jane currently gives professional development workshops at Children’s Friend and Service, and has recently volunteered with the RI Academic Decathlon, the ACE Charter High School in Providence, and the Tufts Certificate Program in Non Profit Practice. Jane was the Class Speaker for her LRI Class of 1995, the Omicron Class. In 2019 she was given the Habits of the Heart Award jointly awarded by LRI and the United Way of Rhode Island.

Kimberly Camacho
Leadership Development & Database Administrator
kramirez@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x105
Contact Kim about LRI's program logistics.

Kimberly Camacho
Leadership Development & Database Administrator
kramirez@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x105
Contact Kim about LRI's program logistics.
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Learner
- Arranger
- Responsibility
- Relator
- Achiever
Kim Ramirez serves as the Leadership Development and Database Administrator at Leadership Rhode Island where she spearheads all logistical aspects of programs to ensure they go off without a hitch while spearheading database design, implementation and maintenance.
Prior to joining Leadership Rhode Island Kim graduated from Year Up where she completed an internship at Citizens Bank, supporting various teams and partners in order to drive project delivery success. Kim, a first-generation Colombian-American, is a graduate of William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School. In May 2019, Kim graduated from Community College of Rhode Island with a Business Management Associate's Degree. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration at Rhode Island College.

Samantha Bergbauer
Leadership Development Coordinator
sbergbauer@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x104
Contact Samantha about the college leadership program

Samantha Bergbauer
Leadership Development Coordinator
sbergbauer@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x104
Contact Samantha about the college leadership program
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Responsibility
- Empathy
- Individualization
- Arranger
- Relator
Samantha graduated from Providence College with a Bachelor’s degree in Public and Community Service and Business Studies from the Feinstein Institute. After her undergraduate degree, she completed a year of service with AmeriCorps at RI Campus Compact and earned a Masters of Education in School Counseling from Providence College. Though she is originally from New Jersey, Samantha has lived in Rhode Island for several years now and considers it home.

Renzo Arteta
Training Administrator, CLRI '19
rarteta@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x118
Contact Renzo about brining Strengths to your company or organization.

Renzo Arteta
Training Administrator, CLRI '19
rarteta@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x118
Contact Renzo about brining Strengths to your company or organization.
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Restorative
- Input
- Adaptability
- Learner
- Connectedness
Born in Peru, Renzo (he/him) and his mom immigrated to the USA when he was just five years old so he boasts that he was raised by Rhode Island. Renzo credits the Providence based youth advocacy program, Young Voices RI, for encouraging him to expand past his comfort zone. He studied Biology and Anthropology at the University of Rhode Island and was an outreach worker for the URI SNAP Outreach Project. The Outreach Project set Renzo up with knowledge about social services and assistance programs, as well as the opportunity to support struggling families in Rhode Island, which led him to become the Community Resource Coordinator at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Like Young Voices RI, the College Leadership Rhode Island program also helped Renzo learn about his strengths so that he could move beyond perceived limits. In this role as the Training Administrator, Renzo hopes to share that gift to other eager Rhode Islanders.

Jacklyn Xavier
Engagement Coordinator, CLRI '20
jxavier@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x113
Contact Jacklyn about building stronger connections with LRI.

Jacklyn Xavier
Engagement Coordinator, CLRI '20
jxavier@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574 x113
Contact Jacklyn about building stronger connections with LRI.
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Restorative
- Achiever
- Adaptability
- Relator
- Responsibility
As the Engagement Coordinator at Leadership Rhode Island, Jacklyn Xavier looks to serve Rhode Island, and the communities within.
Jacklyn is in her final year studying at Rhode Island College (RIC) where she is majoring in Marketing with a minor in Communications and Data Analytics. While at RIC she attained the All American Title in the 100m relay through the track and field program, and made the Dean's List each semester since her sophomore year.
Jacklyn has been sharing her track and field talents as a high school coach since 2021, currently serving as the women's head coach at Central Falls High School. She also serves on the Young Adult Community Advisory Board of the Rhode Island Black Business Association, where she is helping to develop programs for students, ranging from middle school through post grad, to achieve academic, personal and professional success.
Jacklyn is a graduate of the 2020 Class of College Leadership Rhode Island (CLRI) and served as Co-Chair for the 2021 Class of CLRI.

Alicia Monnes
Accountant, LRI '18
amonnes@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574
Contact Alicia about all matters of finance, including accounts payable and receivable.

Alicia Monnes
Accountant, LRI '18
amonnes@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574
Contact Alicia about all matters of finance, including accounts payable and receivable.
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Harmony
- Learner
- Analytical
- Achiever
- Context
Alicia received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Stonehill College in 1998 and is a Certified Public Accountant in Massachusetts. After college she worked as an auditor in the financial services industry at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston for seven years. She then joined the Corporate Accounting group at Fidelity Investments in Boston where she was a Director for five years. After staying home with her young children for a couple of years, she began volunteering as an accountant for the local non-profit Books Are Wings in 2012. She then joined the Leadership Rhode Island team at the end of 2015. In 2018, she became the site coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for the Jonnycake Center in Peace Dale. In 2020 she expanded her role at the Jonnycake Center and is now the Director of Finance & Administration.
Outside of work Alicia enjoys spending time with her family, especially skiing and enjoying the beaches of South County and the lake near their home.

Richard Staples
Resident Photographer, LRI '90
office@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574
Contact Richard about LRI photographs.

Richard Staples
Resident Photographer, LRI '90
office@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574
Contact Richard about LRI photographs.
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Connectedness
- Context
- Ideation
- Belief
- Positivity
Richard retired from Fannie Mae at the end of 2014 after 12½ years with the company. His most recent assignment with Fannie Mae was as a member of the Foreclosure Prevention & Outreach Team, offering individualized counseling and assistance resources to homeowners across the country who are experiencing mortgage delinquency. Earlier he served on the company’s Ending Homelessness Team, Public Entity Loan Team, and Housing & Community Development Team. Prior to joining Fannie Mae, Richard worked for various banking institutions in a variety of management roles, including Community Reinvestment, Compliance, Marketing and Product Management.
Before retirement, Richard’s community interests focused primarily on issues related to affordable housing and homelessness prevention. He currently serves in board or committee capacities for the Community Housing Land Trust of Rhode Island, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and was elected Moderator for the Town of Barrington in 2020. Also, Richard volunteered as an adaptive ski instructor for AbilityPLUS Adaptive Sports. at Attitash & Wildcat Ski Areas in New Hampshire for twenty years. He grew up in Barrington, is a graduate of The Colorado College, and now lives in Barrington with his wife Betsy. They have three grown children and three grandchildren. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @rfstaplesjr and on LinkedIn.
This is Richard's eighth year volunteering as photographer for LRI and CLRI class session days and activities.

Carol Young
Resident Editor, LRI '92
office@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574
Contact Carol about LRI's newsletter.

Carol Young
Resident Editor, LRI '92
office@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574
Contact Carol about LRI's newsletter.
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Harmony
- Achiever
- Learner
- Communication
- Significance
Carol J. Young, a graduate of Syracuse University, spent her entire 45-year newspaper career at the Providence Journal. After several years as an education writer, she moved into editing. She served as state editor, city editor, metro managing editor and deputy executive editor. She also had a major role in the recruiting and hiring for the reporting staff and managed a highly successful reporting internship program.
She received numerous reporting awards and was selected by the New England Association of Newspaper Editors to receive its first Spirit of Journalism Award. After retiring in 2010, Carol was inducted into the Rhode Island Journalism Hall of Fame.
A member of the Mu class (1992), Carol was a volunteer presenter for LRI’s Media Day program long before she went through LRI herself. Alumni in the l980s and l990s may remember the “page one game” she created just for LRI, the journalism ethics discussions she led, or the visits to the Providence Journal she orchestrated. In recent years, she has edited LRI’s newsletters and two of LRI’s publications: "Crossing the Line" and "Dear President".
In addition to volunteering for LRI, Carol serves on the Board of Directors for Inspiring Minds, the Advisory Council for the President of the University of Rhode Island, and the board for the Hummel Report.

Christine McDermott
Layout Editor, LRI '11
office@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574
Contact Christine about LRI's newsletter and other publications.

Christine McDermott
Layout Editor, LRI '11
office@leadershipri.org
401.273.1574
Contact Christine about LRI's newsletter and other publications.
- CliftonStrengths Top 5:
- Maximizer
- Achiever
- Responsibility
- Futuristic
- Strategic
Partners and Sponsors
Many of LRI's major funders and supporters begin as employer sponsors. These are organizations who give their employees the time off, and usually the funding, to participate in the LRI Core Program. Over 500 organizations in Rhode Island have been employer sponsors, and the benefits of the employee's interaction in the community and newfound perspective are incalculable. The program develops the organizational, leadership and problem-solving skills of its participants. In addition, it offers new insights into the community, helping participants identify where strategic alliances might be forged, and providing a unique perspective on the behind-the-scenes workings of our state.
Opportunities and Jobs
Leadership Rhode Island’s mission is to engage and connect people through shared experiences that positively transform individuals, organizations and communities. We envision a Rhode Island that is flourishing — economically, civically, culturally — built on a foundation of ever-improving human capital whose strengths and potential we spend each day revealing and igniting. And, we see the lessons of this lively leadership experiment being shared and amplified around the country and the world to nurture the kind of fully-engaged societies that create lasting, positive change.
Our momentum is the strongest it’s ever been. If you are ambitious about goals, but like to have fun collaborating as a strengths-based team to reach them, you’ll be in good company. We're small enough for your ideas to make a big impact, and large enough to offer you opportunities to grow professionally at any stage of your career. We're passionate about creating the best place to work.