Providence Business News will honor five Rhode Island businesses and a business leader at the fourth annual Business Excellence Awards on Nov. 18 at Bella Vista Restaurant & Lounge at One Finance Way in Providence.
Dr. John Bowen, president of Johnson & Wales University, will receive the “Business Leadership” award. Bowen is an active member of the business community and has helped build the university’s presence in the state.
Bowen, the university’s fourth president, started at the school as a faculty member 30 years ago. He later served as director of the school’s culinary division, as president of the Providence campus and in June became head of the entire Johnson & Wales system.
This year’s winner for “Business Excellence” for a company with less than 100 employees is Newport Collaborative Architects. The 23-year-old company is regularly recognized for its work in the area of hospitality, education, performing arts and historical restoration.
The winner for “Business Excellence” for a company with more than 100 employees is Gem Plumbing and Heating, based in Lincoln. “The Gem leadership has learned through experience that the key to fulfilling the company’s dedication to excellence is through empowerment of a highly competent, motivated and rewarded work force,” according to a statement from the contest’s judges.
Warwick’s Cool Polymers will receive the “Entrepreneur/Innovation” award for solving engineering problems with thermally conductive plastics.
Koch Eye Associates, based in Warwick, will be honored for its community involvement efforts, which CEO Peter Koch and all his employees are involved in.
Women and Infants’ Hospital was selected as the “Greatest Place to Work.”
“The spirit of the hospital is fostered through formal organization development and enhancing the ‘culture of caring’ team project initiative,” the contest judges wrote.
The keynote speaker for the evening is Ronald K. Machtley, president of Bryant University. Michael Pare, editor of Providence Business News, and Mark Scott, general manager of Cox Business Services, New England, are the co-hosts.
The presenting sponsor for the event is UnitedHealthcare, a United HealthGroup Company.
Partnering sponsors include: Cox Business Services; Partridge Snow & Hahn; Mastors & Servant; Citizens Bank; Lefkowitz, Garfinkel, Champi DeRienzo P.C.; Staples; and Bryant University.
