56 Rhode Island leaders have been selected to participate in the Gamma II Class of Leadership Rhode Island’s Core Program, a ten-month community leadership program now in its 27th year. The class convened for their orientation retreat on January 4 and 5 at the W. Alton Jones Campus of URI in West Greenwich.
Leadership Rhode Island (LRI) selected these leaders for the program based on a multi-part application and interview process which is based on demonstrated personal qualities such as passion for the state, commitment to community, and capacity for leadership. In addition, LRI’s selection committee seeks a class that is representative of the cultural diversity of the state, as well as balanced by various industries, sectors, regions of the state, age and experience, gender and other factors.
Throughout 2007, the Gamma II Class will participate in a series of day-long sessions dedicated to topics of statewide concern, such as healthcare, housing, education, government, the environment, the arts, and criminal justice. Rhode Island’s top leaders will be invited to address the class and to present a balanced look at current and pressing issues.
In addition, the class will have the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes look at these issues through enhancement activities. These may include police ride-alongs, a mock-legislative session at the State House, school and hospital visits, and others. The Gamma II Class also completes a small group project to support a need in the community.
The Core Program experience encompasses many multi-faceted learning experences. A graduate of last year’s class, Richard Smith of Sovereign Bank, articulated his reaction to the leadership program as follows: “Leadership Rhode Island has been a great experience for me as the program has helped broaden my understanding of leadership and the issues that face our community. Additionally, I have been able to forge many strong relationships with individuals in my class which will be of tremendous value to me personally and professionally.”
A full list of the Gamma II Class members follows:
Michele Berard of Butler Hospital, North Providence resident
Maryanne Bessette of Sovereign Bank, Lincoln resident
Craig M. Bilodeau of Sansiveri, Kimball & McNamee, Cranston resident
Laura Jean Bottaro of Little Medeiros Kinder Bulman & Whitney, Warren resident
Annette Mann Bourne of Rhode Island Housing, Cranston resident
Lt. Paul Campbell of Providence Police Department, Wakefield resident
Deanna Casey of AARP-RI, Newport resident
Vijay Chandrasekaran of CVS Corporation, Foxboro, MA resident
Luciano Cozzi of Grace Family Church of Rhode Island, Coventry resident
Patrick M. Crowley of National Education Association of RI, Lincoln resident
Liane Czirjak of Opportunity ID Inc., Cumberland resident
Lisa C. D’Agostino of RI Department of Labor, E. Greenwich resident
Sixcia Devine of Small Business Development Center of RI, Providence resident
Linda DiPalma of Family Service of RI, Bristol resident
Anthony DiPietro of Leadership Rhode Island, Providence resident
Marie Esposito of The Wolf School, Rumford resident
Michael Fantom of Providence Ronald McDonald House, Duxbury, MA resident
James Ferrara of Fidelity Investment Company, W. Greenwich resident
Karen Fifer Ferry of Neigborhood Health Plan of RI, Providence resident
Glenn Gardiner of Newport Collaborative Architects, Newport resident
Peter T. Ginaitt of Lifespan, Warwick resident
Maura Goodwin of Gateway Healthcare, Wakefield resident
Akhil Gupta of Johnson & Wales University, Pawtucket resident
Elisa Heath of Jewish Federation of RI, Pawtucket resident
Robert Howley of Cox Communications, Glastonbury, CT resident
William Hurley of EBS Econotel Business Systems Inc., Riverside resident
Kimberly E. Jalette of MetLife, Lincoln resident
Maria N. Janes of The Washington Trust Company, Westerly resident
Richard A. Jardin of Gilbane Building Company, Walpole, MA resident
Mary “Midge” Kahn of South Kingstown CARES, Wakefield resident
Melissa N. Kollitdes of CVS/Pharmacy, Charlestown resident
Thomas E. Lisi of Yarlas, Kaplan, Santilli & Moran, Lincoln resident
Rosanne Lowe, Ph.D. of Lowe Psychological Associates, E. Greenwich resident
Linda Maaia of Full Channel TV Inc., Rumford resident
Molly “Mary” Donohue Magee of Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport, Portsmouth resident
Augustine “Gus” Manocchia of Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI, N. Kingstown resident
Carol Martin of The Miriam Hospital, Bridgewater, MA resident
Norman Marzano Jr. of RI Department of Transportation, N. Scituate resident
Darlene Masse of Hasbro Inc., Rumford resident
Edward A. Mastriano of WJAR NBC 10, Pawtucket resident
Edith F. McGuire of Care New England, East Greenwich resident
Sonia Millsom of United Healthcare, E. Greenwich resident
Paul Oliveira of Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co., Seekonk, MA resident
Amy M. Quinn of Cox Communications, South Kingstown resident
Mike Ritz of The Genesis Center, Providence resident
Lt. LeRoy V. Rose, Jr. of RI State Police, Lincoln resident
Brian Schattle of Rhode Island Airport Corp., Cranston resident
Kristen M. Sherman of Adler Pollock & Sheehan, Wrentham, MA resident
Jennifer Shimkus of RISE (Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education), Providence resident
Sharon L. Terreault of Meeting Street, Cranston resident
Maria J. Tocco of Providence Public School District, Warwick resident
Katherine R. Trapani of RI Statewide Planning, E. Greenwich resident
Patricia A. Trinque of Rhode Island Housing, Chepachet resident
Linda N. Ward of Opportunities Unlimited, INC., Cranston resident
H. Brad Weaver of Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI, W. Greenwich resident
James Will of Amica Mutual Insurance Company, Hope resident
Leadership Rhode Island is an educational foundation whose mission is to provide leaders and emerging leaders with knowledge and access to resources which will enable them to positively affect their communities. In support of this mission, Leadership Rhode Island now oversees several educational programs for community leaders and aspiring leaders, including programs for college students and women. For more information about Leadership Rhode Island, its programs, and its community involvement, please call 401/273-1574 or visit www.leadershipri.org.
