The Leadership Rhode Island Women’s Network (LRIWN) seeks to empower, support and inspire women to connect more concretely on professional, personal and policy interests, and also to create meaningful and positive change in the community. The network was formed by women in the Mu II class after they graduated from LRI’s core program in 2016.

April 2, 2019
RI Women: Past, Present and Future
This event showcased the power of Rhode Island women, past and present. The historical narrative covered pioneer Anne Hutchinson as well as other notable women who helped to transform a state, run by predominately male leadership and, as a result, created new opportunities for women.

September 17, 2018
“Meet and Greet”
The LRIWN Group Steering Committee members were introduced and plans for future events and socials were outlined.

November 16, 2017
Issues facing Immigrants in Rhode Island
Through a three-person moderated panel—Henrietta White-Holder (LRI ’11), Senator Ana Quezada and Delia Rodriguez-Masjoan (LRI ’96)—moderated by Margie O’Brien Reed (LRI ’16), the discussion highlighted the positive work being done to serve the population and discuss the hardships and needs of the programs within our state. It focused on the ways we build an all-inclusive community, integrating immigrants into the existing society, while also preserving cultural heritage.

June 14, 2017
Screening of the documentary, 13th, and panel discussion
13th is a documentary directed by Ava DuVernay (Selma) that looks at the policies and environments from slavery to present day that have shaped and an amplified the crisis of mass incarceration our nation faces today.

May 31, 2017
The Status of Working Women in RI
Women’s Fund Executive Director Kelly Nevins presented attendees with benchmarks of where women stand in Rhode Island in comparison to other states.

Maria Caliri
Co-Chair, LRI ’16
Corporate Communications Manager, Textron Inc.

As Corporate Communications Manager, Maria’s responsibilities include executive and employee communications for Textron Inc., a global, multi-industry Fortune 500 company.  She has created high-quality content for diverse industries, including aviation, defense, construction management and financial services. A certified Six Sigma Greenbelt, she has a comprehensive background in change management communications. Maria’s experience also includes decades as a freelance writer for both the University of Rhode Island and Bryant University.

Prutha Patel
Co-Chair, LRI ’16
Vice President, Patel Investments

Prutha is Vice President of Patel Investments, a real estate investments portfolio consisting of 50 commercial and residential units.   A 2012 graduate of Boston University, Prutha is also active in the community. She is President of the Board for The Lady Project, a Board Member of Sojourner House, a Board Member of the Dexter Donation Commission, and a member of the Executive Leadership Team of the Heart Ball Committee for the American Heart Association. Passionate about raising awareness for Lupus, she founded the RI Lupus Support Group in 2016.

Margie O’Brien Reed
Member, LRI ’16
Host of RI Capitol TV

Margie has been telling stories for over 20 years as an award-winning news reporter, anchor and, since 2015, Host of RI Capitol TV.  She also is the founder of Image, a consulting company to assist individuals and organizations with media, messaging and strengths training. She majored in political science as an undergraduate at St. Anselm College and holds a master’s degree in communications/broadcast journalism from Emerson College.  LRI’s Mu II’s chose Margie to be the class graduation speaker in 2016.  Margie lives in Barrington with her husband, Todd Reed, and three children, Camden, Cole and Delaney.

Cheryl Shaw
Member, LRI’16
Director of Program Operations, Collette

Cheryl is the Director of Program Operations at Collette, a tour operator celebrating its centennial this year.  She also serves on the boards for The Avenue Concept and The Providence Singers and is a former member of the board of the East Providence Arts Council which won First Place in the 2018 Providence Journal Readers’ Choice awards for Best Local Event and Best Festival for “The Looff – A Whirlwind of Art, Music and Life.”  Her Strengths are Learner, Restorative, Connectedness, Relator and Discipline.

Kira Wills
Member, 2016
Co-Director of Unified Solutions, Communications Consultant

Kira Wills is a native Rhode Islander with over a decade of experience in the corporate, nonprofit and education sectors at AT&T, Citizens, South Providence Development Corporation and the Community College of Rhode Island. At an early age she learned the weight and value of self-advocacy and commitment to community. Not only does she still embrace those beliefs, she encourages others to do so as well.  She serves on the Providence Juvenile Hearing Board and on the Inclusive and Excellence Commission at Rhode Island College. Her top five strengths are Learner, Arranger, Activator, Communication and Connectedness.