STAFF DIRECTORY
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Secretary of Commerce | CEO, RI Commerce
Elizabeth Tanner was appointed Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce in June 2022, under Governor Daniel McKee.
President and Chief Operating Officer
Jim Bennett joined the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation as President and Chief Operating Officer in April 2024...
Chief Strategy Officer
Daniela Fairchild serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. In this role, she...
Chief Marketing Officer
Anika Kimble-Huntley serves as Chief Marketing Officer for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. She is responsible for marketing the state to a broad audience as a destination for tourism and commerce, attracting...
Executive VP of Investments
Jeff serves as the Executive Vice President of Investments of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. In this role, he...
Chief Financial Officer/Senior Controller
Justin Medeiros is the Chief Financial Officer/Senior Controller at the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation...
Managing Director of Financial Programs
Neil serves as Managing Director of Financial Programs for Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. Neil has nearly forty years of experience...
RI COMMERCE STAFF
APEX Program Support Manager
Jake joins the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation as the APEX Program Support Manager...
Associate Vice President, Business Development – Defense Sector
Gloria serves as Commerce Corporation’s agency ambassador to businesses within Rhode Island’s robust defense community...
Director of Outreach and Engagement
Doris’s role plays a crucial role in representing and promoting the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation’s activities at various business-related events.
Business Engagement Specialist
As a Business Engagement Specialist, Charlene provides services to in-state companies at any stage of business. She works with...
Senior Business Advisor - Government Procurement
Jeff Brant serves as the Senior Business Advisor- Government Procurement for Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. In this role...
Associate Vice President of Tourism Marketing
Mark is responsible for implementing and managing the activities of the corporation’s tourism efforts, PR, publications...
Vice President, Business Engagement
During his tenure at the Commerce Corporation, Christopher has held various positions...
Vice President of Innovation Initiatives
Lisa is the Vice President of Innovation Initiatives at Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. She leads the Innovation Team...
Customer Service and Administrative Assistant II
Emilee joined the Commerce Corporation in 2024 as Customer Service and Administrative Assistant II. She engages clients who call for assistance...
Financial Services Operations & Compliance Manager
Maria is responsible for the development, maintenance, and distribution of policies and procedures of all Financial Service systems...
Vice President of Business Development and Investments
Will serves as the Vice President of Business Development and Investments for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. In this role...
Renewable Energy Fund Project Coordinator
Jacob’s role at the Commerce Corporation is to manage and actively maintain all Energy Programs that RI Commerce has to offer...
Customer Service and Administrative Assistant
Hope joined the Commerce Corporation in 2023 as customer service and administrative assistant. She engages clients who call for assistance...
Strategic Initiatives Operations Manager
As Strategic Initiatives Operations Manager, Amy serves as the internal program and operations control nexus...
Senior Director of Advertising and Public Relations
Robin is the Senior Director of Advertising and Public Relations at the Commerce Corporation...
Director of Compliance and Oversight of Financial Programs
Stacy serves as the Director of Compliance and Oversight of Financial Programs and is responsible for...
Digital Equity and Community Engagement Manager
In her current role as the Digital Equity and Community Engagement Manager, Lisa oversees stakeholder engagement, coordinates...
Business Engagement Specialist
Lori provides advisory services to in-state companies at any stage of business. She works with...
Deputy Director of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
Patrick Griffin serves as Deputy Director of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement. In this role, Patrick is responsible for...
Business Engagement Specialist
As a Business Engagement Specialist, Gaby provides services to in-state companies at any stage of business...
Senior Grants Administrator
Kaleena Harrington serves as the Senior Grants Administrator. She works closely with the administration to....
Salesforce Data Entry Administrator
John is the Data Entry Administrator focusing on the Salesforce side of RI Commerce’s data...
Contracts & Accounting Manager
Karen’s primary responsibilities include processing accounts payable for all entities, contract management, purchasing...
Research Analyst
Eben Kiesow serves as the Research Analyst for Rhode Island Commerce Corporation...
Innovation Program Analyst
Marc joined Rhode Island Commerce Corporation as the Program Analyst for the Wavemaker Fellowship Program...
Director of Loan Portfolio and Credit
Walter joined the Commerce Corporation in July 2024 as Director of Loan Portfolio and Credit. He is responsible for credit and loan management...
Rhode Island APEX Accelerator Director
Chad Lewis serves as the Rhode Island Apex Accelerator Director for Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. In this role...
Food Strategy Project Manager
Alison joins the Food Strategy team with local and national experience in food system work. Prior to this role...
Ocean Tech Hub Director
Director Wavemaker Fellowship
In this role, Barry is responsible for facilitating the annual application & award process, promoting the program to potential...
Social Media Manager
Staff Accountant
Staff Accountant
As Staff Accountant, Dominique supports the overall Accounting and Human Resources departments with...
Human Resources Manager
As the Human Resources Manager, Renee is responsible for the entire employee life cycle and all functions...
Renewable Energy Fund Program Manager
Karen Stewart serves as the Renewable Energy Manager. In this role, Karen is responsible for overseeing the Renewable Energy Fund...
Director of Broadband Strategy
Brian Thorn serves as the Director of Broadband Strategy for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation...
Minority Business Support Director
As Minority Business Support Manager, Olinda acts as the Liaison between Commerce and local organizations...
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Secretary of Commerce
Elizabeth Tanner was appointed Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce in June 2022, under Governor Daniel McKee.
President and Chief Operating Officer
Jim Bennett joined the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation as President and Chief Operating Officer in April 2024...
Chief Strategy Officer
Daniela Fairchild serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. In this role, she...
Chief Marketing Officer
Anika Kimble-Huntley serves as Chief Marketing Officer for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. She is responsible for marketing the state to a broad audience as a destination for tourism and commerce, attracting...
Executive VP of Investments
Jeff serves as the Executive Vice President of Investments of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. In this role, he...
Chief Financial Officer/Senior Controller
Justin Medeiros is the Chief Financial Officer/Senior Controller at the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation...
Managing Director of Financial Programs
Neil serves as Managing Director of Financial Programs for Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. Neil has nearly forty years of experience...
RI COMMERCE STAFF
APEX Program Support Manager
Jake joins the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation as the APEX Program Support Manager...
Associate Vice President, Business Development – Defense Sector
Gloria serves as Commerce Corporation’s agency ambassador to businesses within Rhode Island’s robust defense community...
Director of Outreach and Engagement
Doris’s role plays a crucial role in representing and promoting the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation’s activities at various business-related events.
Business Engagement Specialist
As a Business Engagement Specialist, Charlene provides services to in-state companies at any stage of business. She works with...
Senior Business Advisor - Government Procurement
Jeff Brant serves as the Senior Business Advisor- Government Procurement for Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. In this role...
Associate Vice President of Tourism Marketing
Mark is responsible for implementing and managing the activities of the corporation’s tourism efforts, PR, publications...
Vice President, Business Engagement
During his tenure at the Commerce Corporation, Christopher has held various positions...
Vice President of Innovation Initiatives
Lisa is the Vice President of Innovation Initiatives at Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. She leads the Innovation Team...
Customer Service and Administrative Assistant II
Emilee joined the Commerce Corporation in 2024 as Customer Service and Administrative Assistant II. She engages clients who call for assistance...
Financial Services Operations & Compliance Manager
Maria is responsible for the development, maintenance, and distribution of policies and procedures of all Financial Service systems...
Vice President of Business Development and Investments
Will serves as the Vice President of Business Development and Investments for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. In this role...
Renewable Energy Fund Project Coordinator
Jacob’s role at the Commerce Corporation is to manage and actively maintain all Energy Programs that RI Commerce has to offer...
Customer Service and Administrative Assistant
Hope joined the Commerce Corporation in 2023 as customer service and administrative assistant. She engages clients who call for assistance...
Strategic Initiatives Operations Manager
As Strategic Initiatives Operations Manager, Amy serves as the internal program and operations control nexus...
Senior Director of Advertising and Public Relations
Robin is the Senior Director of Advertising and Public Relations at the Commerce Corporation...
Director of Compliance and Oversight of Financial Programs
Stacy serves as the Director of Compliance and Oversight of Financial Programs and is responsible for...
Digital Equity and Community Engagement Manager
In her current role as the Digital Equity and Community Engagement Manager, Lisa oversees stakeholder engagement, coordinates...
Business Engagement Specialist
Lori provides advisory services to in-state companies at any stage of business. She works with...
Deputy Director of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
Patrick Griffin serves as Deputy Director of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement. In this role, Patrick is responsible for...
Senior Grants Administrator
Kaleena Harrington serves as the Senior Grants Administrator. She works closely with the administration to....
Salesforce Data Entry Administrator
John is the Data Entry Administrator focusing on the Salesforce side of RI Commerce’s data...
Contracts & Accounting Manager
Karen’s primary responsibilities include processing accounts payable for all entities, contract management, purchasing...
Research Analyst
Eben Kiesow serves as the Research Analyst for Rhode Island Commerce Corporation...
Innovation Program Analyst
Marc joined Rhode Island Commerce Corporation as the Program Analyst for the Wavemaker Fellowship Program...
Director of Loan Portfolio and Credit
Walter joined the Commerce Corporation in July 2024 as Director of Loan Portfolio and Credit. He is responsible for credit and loan management...
Rhode Island APEX Accelerator Director
Chad Lewis serves as the Rhode Island Apex Accelerator Director for Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. In this role...
Food Strategy Project Manager
Alison joins the Food Strategy team with local and national experience in food system work. Prior to this role...
Ocean Tech Hub Director
Director Wavemaker Fellowship
In this role, Barry is responsible for facilitating the annual application & award process, promoting the program to potential...
Social Media Manager
Staff Accountant
Staff Accountant
As Staff Accountant, Dominique supports the overall Accounting and Human Resources departments with...
Human Resources Manager
As the Human Resources Manager, Renee is responsible for the entire employee life cycle and all functions...
Renewable Energy Fund Program Manager
Karen Stewart serves as the Renewable Energy Manager. In this role, Karen is responsible for overseeing the Renewable Energy Fund...
Broadband Strategy Director
Brian Thorn serves as the Director of Broadband Strategy for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation...
Minority Business Support Director
As Minority Business Support Manager, Olinda acts as the Liaison between Commerce and local organizations...