PBN Summit

GROUP EFFORT: Peter Marino, fourth from the left, CEO and president of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, speaks during a panel discussion at Providence Business News’ Health Care Summit and Health Care Heroes Awards event on April 2 at the Providence Marriott. Also on the panel are, from left, Dr. Michael Wagner, CEO and president of Care New England Health System; Joseph Trunzo, founding associate director of Bryant University’s School of Health and Behavioral Sciences and a professor of psychology; Gregory Mercurio, senior vice president of radiation oncology at American Shared Hospital Services and CEO of Precision Radiation Oncology of Rhode Island; Linda Hurley, CEO and president of CODAC Behavioral Healthcare; and Dr. Raj Hazarika, chief medical officer for commercial products at Point32Health Services Inc. PBN Editor Michael Mello, standing, moderates.  PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

R.I. health care system needs to be more focused amid federal...

PBN Summit 04/11/2025

Every day, a patient worried about getting the care they need calls CODAC Behavioral Healthcare. The nonprofit offers psychiatric and mental health services to some...

GREGORY MERCURIO, third from left, speaks during a panel discussion at Providence Business News' Health Care Summit and Health Care Heroes Awards event on Wednesday morning at the Providence Marriott. Mercurio is senior vice president of radiation oncology at American Shared Hospital Services and CEO of Precision Radiation Oncology of Rhode Island. Also on the panel is, from left, Dr. Michael Wagner, CEO and president of Care New England Health System; Joseph Trunzo, founding associate director of Bryant University's School of Health and Behavioral Sciences and a professor of psychology; Peter Marino, CEO and president of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island; Linda Hurley, CEO and president of CODAC Behavioral Healthcare; and Dr. Raj Hazarika, chief medical officer for commercial products at Point32Health. PBN Editor Michael Mello, standing, moderates. / PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN Health Care Summit: Collaboration needed in light of federal cutbacks

PBN Summit 04/02/2025

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s already challenged health care system could face even more obstacles depending on federal policy shifts, according to Dr. Michael Wagner,...

IN PROGRESS: Michelle A. Reddish, left, administrator at the R.I. Cannabis Control Commission, talks about the commission’s process of putting a licensing system in place for recreational marijuana sales. She is one of four panelists at the Providence Business News’ 2025 Business of Cannabis Summit in Providence on March 6. Also on the panel are, from left, Benjamin L. Rackliffe, partner of Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC; Sasha Gorski, co-owner of Talaria LLC; and Ronald Crosson II, executive director of Urban Ventures Inc. and chairman and social equity officer of the R.I. Cannabis Advisory Board.  PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN summit: Doubling down on social equity in R.I.’s cannabis industry

PBN Summit 03/14/2025

With the blowback against any public policies specifically tailored to a single demographic – whether racial, gender-based or otherwise, there are still vocal advocates...

BORROWED TIME? Thomas Tzitzouris, head of fixed income research at New York City-based Strategas Research Partners, says households that have endured rising costs because of inflation will now have to deal with the debt they’ve built up.  PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

Economist: After high inflation, debt may hold back momentum

PBN Summit 02/14/2025

Inflation may have cooled in recent months, but households in Rhode Island and beyond continue to feel the aftereffects. Thomas Tzitzouris, head of fixed income...

WHAT’S AHEAD? R.I. Commerce Secretary Elizabeth M. Tanner, far left, talks about what businesses can expect in the coming months during Providence Business News’ 2025 Economic Trends Summit on Jan. 30 at the Providence Marriott. With her on the panel, from left, are Leeds Mitchell IV, principal broker and partner at MG Commercial Real Estate Services Inc.; Sylvia Maxfield, interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Providence College; Harold M. Horvat, Centreville Bank chairman, CEO and president; Edwin “Ted” Carr, Providence director of economic development; and Kristen Adamo, CEO and president of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. PBN Editor Michael Mello, standing, moderates. PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN summit: Panelists say several sectors feeling vulnerable

PBN Summit 02/14/2025

R.I. Secretary of Commerce Elizabeth M. Tanner had one piece of advice for businesses and organizations in Rhode Island that buy products overseas during...

PANELIST Nora Crowley, third from the left, speaks during Providence Business News' 2025 Workforce Development Summit on Thursday. With her on the panel, from left, is Ara Millette, director of talent acquisition at Brown University Health; Amy Grzybowski, New England Institute of Technology vice president of workforce development and community relations; Katharine Amaral, director of programs and community partnerships for the nonprofit Junior Achievement of Rhode Island Inc. Moderating is PBN Editor Michael Mello, standing. / PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN Summit: Demographics, political trends difficult for R.I. workforce

PBN Summit 02/13/2025

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island employers and stakeholder organizations struggling to train, recruit and retain talent in today's economic and political climate will be trying...

THOMAS TZITZOURIS, head of fixed income research at New York City-based Strategas Research Partners, speaks at Providence Business News' Economic Trends Summit on Thursday in Providence. He painted a mixed picture of the economic outlook for 2025. / PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN summit: No recession, but inflation will stick around through 2025

PBN Summit 01/30/2025

PROVIDENCE – It is unlikely that President Donald Trump will be able to quickly rein in the sticky inflation that has slowed economic growth...

AI AND DEI: Moderator Kevin Matta, third from left, speaks with the panelists at Providence Business News’ 2024 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit and Awards program at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick on Dec. 5. Also on the panel, from left, are Myra Coufal, Amgen Rhode Island diversity, inclusion and belonging site lead; Carolyn Belisle, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island vice president of corporate social responsibility; Talia Brookshire, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island chief diversity officer; Shameem Awan, Amica Mutual Insurance Co. DE&I assistant vice president; and NeeNee Shin, CBIZ Inc. director of diversity, equity and inclusion.  PBN FILE PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN summit panel: Even AI has biases that can hamper diversity

PBN Summit 12/20/2024

Artificial intelligence is being used in almost every aspect of business, and human resources is no exception. But while AI increases efficiency in sorting through...