White embraces JA mission

Laurie White, president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, was recently awarded Junior Achievement of Rhode Island’s highest honor, the Morris J.W. Gaebe Profile in Excellence Award. The award is named after the chancellor emeritus of Johnson & Wales University and recognizes R.I. business leaders and organizations that demonstrate courageous thinking and actions, vision and innovation, leadership and community mindedness.

You were honored by Junior Achievement for demonstrating a high level of commitment to the JA mission of inspiring young people to succeed. Why is it important to you to provide youth the resources they need to be successful?

Education is the key that springs open the door to a lifetime of success, prosperity and self-sufficiency. Junior Achievement provides students with an exciting opportunity to supplement their direct classroom experience with real-world insights.

What led you to pursue an education in journalism, and what later influenced you to enter the business world?

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The skills fundamental to journalism are relevant across a wide range of professions. Cultivating the ability to gather and make sense of information accurately and quickly and mastering the ability to write and speak clearly have served me well over the years. As a journalist, I reported on events, activities, policies, etc. After a period of time, I wanted to switch over to the “other side” where I would be in a position to actually influence events. Not a day goes by when I don’t use the fundamental skills I learned in journalism school.

What is the biggest threat to success for businesses in Rhode Island?

The biggest threat is the failure to recognize the importance of innovation and globalization as key economic drivers for any business, regardless of size, industry or geography.

As president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, what is the best aspect of the Ocean State?

The very close working relationships between business and the university communities. Those relationships will continue to be important to Rhode Island’s economic development, as will the efforts to retain a large percentage of the student population. •

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