October Business After Hours – Sponsored by TD
Bank
Attracting small-business owners makes up a big part of TD Bank clientele. “America’s
Most Convenient Bank” lives up to its name by offering extended weekday and
weekend hours and operating a 365-day-a-year call center to help with customer
banking needs – even on holidays – where the connection is always live, with a
TD Bank associate. The bank’s lending professionals are local bankers
making local loans, and they establish customer relationships focusing on
service and the delivery of individualized financing solutions.David Ferreira, TD Bank, gave welcoming
remarks to GPCC members at the October BAH, including a check list of items
members need to be aware of when applying for business financing.
BAH attendees had a first hand
glimpse into TD Bank’s services at the bank's Rhode Island
headquarters in downtown Providence.
TD Bank was also the perfect backdrop for the 2011 Sloan Award for Workforce
Flexibility presentation, awarded to RI Housing.
Business Over Easy Breakfast
The Comprehensive Pension Reform
Bill Package submited to the Rhode Island General Assembly, was the focus of
GPCC’s panel discussion at the Business Over Easy Breakfast forum. Panelists
included Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, Rhode Island General Treasurer
Gina Raimondo & George Nee, President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO.
Moderating the forum,before a sold out
audience was GPCC President Laurie White.
The event was sponsored by Janney Montgomery Scott LLC. To download a copy of
the pension reform bill & participate in a call to action by your Senator
or Representative, visit www.engageri.org
Life Sciences Technology Showcase
GPCC attended the Life Sciences
Technology Showcase, the inaugural event of RI’s Life Sciences Innovation Hub,
where science, talent, & capital strategically came together to collaborate
& accelerate innovation within the RI life sciences community. The Hub,
located in the heart of Prov’s Knowledge district & housed in RI Center for
Innovation & Entrepreneurship, was visited by dozens of scientists,
investors & entrepreneurs from throughout NE at yesterday’s event.
The Showcase included an open
studio walkabout, panel discussions, start-up pitches & poster
session, providing attendees with the opportunity to experience the richness
and breadth of the world-class life sciences research underway in RI. The
forum created the first opporunity for RI to align regional life
sciences expertise, and stimulate networking within that community.
The ultimate goal is to establish RI as the epicenter of life sciences
development (between Boston, New Haven and New York) in New England
RIBQ Wrap Up Party: Save the Bay
GPCC celebrated
the “wrap up” of RIBQ 3 at Save the Bay – the perfect setting to showcase our
feature story on Rhode Island’s
sustainable seafood, local catch practices and novel fishing technologies. Dave
Beutel of RI Coastal Resources Management Council demonstrated The Eliminator
Net, a collaborative, innovative design developed in RI and receiving
international acclaim.
Business Over Easy
Meet the New Leaders event, sponsored
by Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP, was recently convened at the
Providence Biltmore. This popular forum introduces Rhode Island’s new
top executives to the community and provides a forum to share lessons
of leadership.
The panel provided their insights into strategies for effective
and thoughtful development within their respective organizations and
gave their perspectives for providing a climate for collaboration.
Panelists included Donald Farish, president, Roger Williams University;
Timothy Horan, president, National Grid Rhode Island; Dennis
Keefe, president & CEO, Care New England; and Mim Runey, president,
Providence Campus, Johnson & Wales University.
All four panelists, although representing very different
organizations, noted flexibility, inclusiveness and branding as
important focuses of their leadership strategies. Balancing new
initiatives within the existing culture and having sensitivity to
timing of implementation these reforms was a theme they all lauded as
important in developing confidence in their platforms. Steadfast, yet
responsive planning was also a cornerstone to their strategy for
sustaining their organizations during the lackluster economy.
Ribbon Cutting - Elite Physical Therapy
Kudos to GPCC member Elite Physical Therapy for opening their 5th location in RI on Governor Street in Providence. Mayor Taveras joined in the Ribbon-Cutting festivities along with patients, staff & neighboring clinic physicians. Elite owner, Michael Nula was recently recognized by PBN in the 2011 class of 40 under 40 for his career success and community investment. Elite was also the recipient of Advance Magazine’s recognition as the “Best Physical Therapy Practice in the Nation.”
Coffee and Contacts
The Hampton Inn and Suites Providence Downtown General
Manager, Lauren Perez, greeted GPCC members visiting their 11th
floor Capital Suite for the recent Coffee and Contacts networking event.Chamber attendees experienced an impressive
270 degree view of College Hill, the upper bay and the Jewelry/Knowledge
District as a backdrop for introducing new business products and creating
collaborative opportunities.Congrats to
Scott Dugas, Cox Communications and Melida Espinal, OpenDoors, winners of the
one night stay give-a-way--compliments of The Hampton Inn and Suites Providence
Downtown.
Small Talk Leads Group
GPCC's Small Talk Leads Group provides targeted networking
opportunities for small businesses.Members give a brief description of their company product, or share a
need for collaboration with other local businesses, then use the remaining
networking time to develop contacts and resources. September's Small Talk Leads
Group, sponsored by Providence Place Mall's Panera Bread, included
representation from:ADK Group;
Cornerstone Records Management, LLC; Environmental Resources Management;
Innovex; Maffe Financial Group; Northeast Recycling Group; Lynn Pohl LTC, Inc.;
Professional Security Services; Cox Communications; JobsInRI.com; Stew Milne
Photography; Creative Chica; Building Performance Engineering; Sprint
Communications and RI Monthly Communications, Inc.
Business After Hours:
Stage Door Restaurant & Lounge at the Park Theatre
It was a great night to walk down memory lane and experience
the refurbished Park Theatre entertainment complex at the August
Business After Hours. The Stage Door Restaurant & Lounge, one
of four venues within the complex, was the perfect setting
for networking with its relaxing and intimate surroundings. Thank you
to complex owner Pi Patel and Joe Barone, manager of the Stage Door,
for their hospitality.
Business After Hours June
Deck Forty Two
Attendees enjoyed a picturesque summer night of networking at last
night’s Business After Hours held at Deck Forty Two in East Providence.
More than 85 business professionals mingled in the newly renovated
restaurant and outside deck and enjoyed fabulous food such as chowder,
clam cakes and raw bar. Thank you to owners Bob Barrow and Tim
Houlihan who recognized the value of the prime water front location and
offered to host last nights event. A good time was had by all!