Having established a career as a consultant for Fleet Bank, Brendan McNally was hired in 2009 for his knowledge and contacts in the business community as the first director of the Rhode Island Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Until closed earlier this year, it was a collaborative effort supported primarily by Brown University, as well as the R.I. Economic Development Corporation, the R.I. Science and Technology Advisory Council and the Slater Technology Fund. more

Crossing guards at Woonsocket’s Kevin Coleman Elementary School celebrate International Walk to School Day Oct. 3. Thirty-six schools across the state joined in recognizing the importance of exercise for mental and physical health. In Woonsocket, Mayor Leo Fontaine, rear center, Coleman Principal Lisa Jacques, upper right, and Miss Rhode Island Kelsey Fournier, far left, joined the celebration. Students, parents and teachers also walked and biked to school together. more

At Grainger Inc., a national industrial-supply distributor, the work is all about customer needs. Lately, that goes far beyond making sales and filling orders. more

BOSTON – Gov. Deval L. Patrick last week announced that the 2013 Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Internship Program will expand paid internships for college students at Massachusetts-based “clean energy” companies. more

Is there a skills gap in Rhode Island? That is, are available jobs going unfilled or being taken by employees who then cost companies, large and small, thousands of dollars in training hours and instruction? more

Scientific advancements in local university laboratories are breaking through in the marketplace at the fastest pace since the recession. more

Next week Rhode Island voters will be asked – through a ballot referendum - to support the state’s first public institution of higher education. By voting yes on Question 3, you will be improving higher education for thousands of Rhode Islanders, making them more effective and competitive as employees. In addition, you will be creating hundreds of badly needed jobs for Rhode Islanders. more

BOSTON – Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray announced $780,000 in funding to promote and advance Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, jobs and workforce-development initiatives. technology, economic development, workforce, education, public policy, workforce development, more

Roger Williams University has launched its Affordable Excellence initiative, which will include a tuition freeze for all undergraduate students for the 2013-2014 academic year, as part of an effort to confront the increasing tuition costs and high debt associated with attending college. more

Brown University will inaugurate Christina H. Paxson as its 19th president in a ceremony on the College Green at 2 p.m. on Saturday, with a reception to follow. more