Tanner Is Out as Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce

Tanner Is Out as Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce

Liz Tanner has “resigned” as the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Secretary.

Tanner leaves the agency after three years as Secretary, leaving a legacy of senior staff turnover and few results.

A GoLocalProv report published in February of 2024 unveiled the chaos:

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In just the past 24 months, multiple top-tier executives have resigned, and in some top positions, the job has been turned over multiple times. The turnover correlates with the last two years of Dan McKee’s governorship. And, much of the exodus has occurred since Liz Tanner took over as Secretary of Commerce beginning in June of 2022.

During the McKee and Tanner period, the position of Commerce Corporation president has been a revolving door.

The President’s position at Commerce was held by Jesse Saglio for seven years, and then he resigned in February of 2022. Hilary Fagan took over as President, and then she resigned in December of 2022. Since then, Bill Ash has served as “acting” president.

Then, he left.

In April 2024, Jim Bennett was named to the President’s position by McKee, which has brought some stability.

Bennett is credited with bringing Organogenesis to Rhode Island — a biotech company with hundreds of new jobs.

 

Tanner and Hasbro and Other Failures

One area in which Tanner came under criticism was her lack of relationships with both small and major businesses. The announcement of Hasbro looking to relocate to Boston in 2024, caught the McKee administration flatfooted.

In January, Rhode Island was ranked the worst state in America to start a business.

Other projects that have stalled or failed under Tanner include the Fane Tower, the Superman Building, and Providence Place Mall, which has gone into receivership.