United Way Announce Major Promotions and Hires – Bennett, Chapman and Tan
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United Way Announce Major Promotions and Hires – Bennett, Chapman and Tan
Kyle Bennett, of Cranston, has been named Director of Public Policy and Research, while Jennifer Chapman, of Providence, has been promoted to Project Manager, Data and Grants Administration, and Sophie M. Tan, also of Providence, joins UWRI as Project Manager, Workforce Development.
UWRI’s Community Investment staff is responsible for evaluating grant applications and making funding recommendations to respond to community needs, and reviewing performance reports from grantees to ensure donor gifts are achieving lasting community change.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTKyle Bennett
Bennett has had numerous positions with United Way, most recently serving as Director of Annual Campaign before assuming his role as Director of Public Policy and Research.
In his new position, Bennett and his team are responsible fore developing, implementing and evaluating UWRI’s public policy and advocacy arena to address unmet needs in the community, working closely with elected officials and having a presence at the State House.
A resident of Cranston, Bennett studied electrical engineering at North Carolina A&T State University and will obtain his B.A. from Rhode Island College in December 2017.
Jennifer Chapman
She is responsible for managing the organization’s competitive grant process from beginning to end, including the development of requests for proposals, program and project contracts, reporting systems and the dissemination of data reports.
Chapman also oversees the Olneyville Fund, from which UWRI has invested more than $3.1 million in the neighborhood it calls home in support of collaborations and special projects that address community needs.
She holds a B.A. from the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Analysis/Database Development from the University of Derby in England.
Sophie Tan
In her role, Tan will move forward the work of UWRI’s Adult Education Project, managing a portfolio of adult education and workforce development grantees and initiatives while representing Untied Way to the Governor’s Workforce Board.
Prior to coming to United Way, Tan spent seven years with the Institute for Labor Studies and Research with its Workplace Adult Education Project.
Tan is a resident of Providence and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. She has also studied undergraduate courses in Sociology and Spanish Language at the University of North Carolina at Asheville; graduate courses in Immigration Studies at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico; and completed the Core Certificate Program at the Institute for Nonprofit Management and Leadership at Tufts University, Tisch College of Civic Life.
Power List - Business
Big Bankers
Kevin Tracy and Oliver Bennett— There are deals and there are BIG DEALS. In Rhode Island, with all of the changing players and banking relationships, one reality is pretty much the same. If you have a big deal that needs sophisticated financing, the community banks may not be able to handle it.
Bank of America may have abandoned the Superman Building, but they are still in Rhode Island and still doing big deals. Kevin Tracy, the former Brown golfer and Oliver Bennett — long ago Fleet Bank trainees — are now the guys you bring in for a $50 million deal. The more things change - the more they stay the same.
Lookout
John Hazen White, Jr. — White has taken Taco to new levels as he has made a series of strategic acquisitions to bolster the Rhode Island manufacturing company into a global firm.
He continues to be a leader in American manufacturing investing in worker retention and employee training.
Behind the scenes, White is a combination of an adviser and moral compass to many in Rhode Island. Despite taking a lower profile than his Lookout RI days, White is still a force pushing for ethics reform.
Ambassador
Joe Paolino — Once the young Mayor who took over in the 1980s when Buddy Cianci was forced to resign (the first time), now the leading corporate voice in Providence if not Rhode Island.
While others complain at lunches at the Hope Club and University Club about the plight of the Capital City, Paolino has rolled up his sleeves and taken on issues like panhandling and homelessness.
With a real estate empire that includes much of downtown, some of the top properties in Newport and Hasbro’s campus in Pawtucket to name a few, Paolino has close ties to Governor Gina Raimondo and even closer ties to the Clintons - could a federal appointment be in the works in 2017?
Dominant
Steve Kirby — No one dominates commercial real estate in Rhode Island like Kirby does on Aquidneck Island. His red “Kirby Commercial” signs are literally everywhere across the island and in Newport proper -- they are more frequent than street signs.
Want to open a clothing store in Newport? Go see Steve Kirby. Looking to launch a startup tech firm? Call Kirby. Developed cool technology and want to start producing for the Navy? Email Kirby.
Kirby maybe the most influential in business on Aquidniick Island. (PS He will tell you which bankers to talk to).
Labor Boss
George Nee — President of the AFL-CIO, Nee is one of the most influential players in business in Rhode Island.
He is Vice Chair of the Convention Center Authority Board, on the Commerce Corp board, the most influential voice for labor at the State House, and involved one way or another in just about every negotiation on constructing public buildings or issuing a tax stabilization agreement in Providence.
For the most part his public persona has been more muted recently, but that has not impacted his private influence. If it happens in Rhode Island, Nee has probably touched it.
Monopoly
Sally Lapides — If Teddy Roosevelt were alive today and saw the number of Residential Properties’ real estate signs on the East Side he would call it a monopoly and want to break up the company. Lapides not only dominates one of the most affluent sections of Rhode Island, but she also delves into the arts, education and politics.
When you sell the wealthiest and most influential their homes, you make a lot of friends.
Lapides is a force in residential real estate and it will be interesting to see what she does next.
Transformative
Helena Foulkes — Two of the biggest decisions CVS ever made were the brain children of Foulkes. The Extracare card and the removal of tobacco from its stores were both influenced by Foulkes.
She has emerged as a national power in business and makes all the business lists for top women, but make no mistake - she is wildly influential in Rhode Island.
She is close to Raimondo and she may decide to jump into political waters in the future - or may decide if she can snag the CEO spot at CVS.
Visionary or Free Rider
Buff Chace — One of downtown Providence's biggest real estate magnates is a lightning rod in the Capital City. Widely considered to be one of the prime catalysts of Downcity's resurgence, Chace's accumulation of properties on Westminster Street is straight out of a Monopoly playbook.
His recent acquisition of the ProJo building has further solidified his dominance, which has not been without intense scrutiny, given his ability to continually secure -- and extend -- tax stabilization agreements at a time when the city's dire financial straits are close to reaching a head.
Wealthy, influential, and active in the community, Chace has chaired the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy and has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Providence Foundation, and is a director emeritus for GrowSmart RI and a trustee emeritus of Trinity Repertory Theatre.
Big Time
Richard Baccari — One of the biggest real estate developers in New England. For decades he has been a major player in Providence, Rhode Island and the northeast.
During that span, he has been the driving and innovative force behind some of the region's most significant residential and commercial development endeavors.
See a Stop and Shop development and Baccari probably built it. Has fought back business challenges and much more.
