PBN Summit

FASTER ACTION: Dr. Ana Tuya Fulton, center, chief population health officer at Care New England Health System, says she’s thankful state leaders are working on longer-term solutions for its health care problems, but there needs to be some quick wins, too. Fulton is a panelist at Providence Business News’ Health Care Summit on April 2, along with state Sen. Pamela Lauria, a nurse practitioner, left, and Dr. Raj Hazarika, vice president and chief medical officer of commercial products at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of New England Inc.  PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

Summit panelists: R.I. trying to chip away at the many health...

PBN Summit 04/10/2026

When primary care nurse practitioner and state Sen. Pamela Lauria, D-Bristol, sees patients with urgent symptoms, she finds that a potential medical emergency isn’t...

SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS: Joseph Trunzo, left, associate director of Bryant University’s School of Health and Behavioral Sciences, participates in a panel discussion at Providence Business News’ Health Care Summit at Providence Marriott Downtown on April 2. The panel talks about ways to deal with the state’s health care woes. Also on the panel are, from left, Dr. Christopher Ottiano, interim chief medical officer and medical director at Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island; Linda Hurley, CODAC Inc. CEO and president; and Meghan Grady, Meals on Wheels of RI Inc. executive director.  PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

Health care panel: Team approach needed to make system fixes

PBN Summit 04/10/2026

It doesn’t take a clinical degree to diagnose why Rhode Island has difficulty retaining health care providers who completed their education in the Ocean...

DR. CHRISTOPHER OTTIANO, second from left, interim chief medical officer and medical director at Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, speaks during one of two panel discussions during Providence Business News' Health Care Summit at Marriott Providence on Thursday. Also on the panel are, from left, Joseph Trunzo, associate director of Bryant University's School of Health and Behavioral Sciences; Linda Hurley, CODAC Inc. CEO and president; and Meghan Grady, Meals on Wheels of RI Inc. executive director. / PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN health care summit: Multifaceted approach needed to repair R.I.’s ailing...

PBN Summit 04/02/2026

PROVIDENCE – When primary care providers choose to practice in Massachusetts or Connecticut over Rhode Island, it’s not about luxury. Across the board, the Ocean...

OPTIMISTIC: Daniela Fairchild, second from right, chief strategy officer at the R.I. Commerce Corp., talks about the potential of the Ocean Tech Hub partnership between Rhode Island and Massachusetts during one of the panel discussions at Providence Business News’ 2026 Emerging Industries Summit on March 11. Joining her on the panel are, from left, Ted Williams, president of Senesco Marine LLC; Ben Sorkin, CEO of Flux Marine Ltd.; Jason Noel, operations executive at Juice Robotics LLC; and Linda Larsen, maritime and industry engagement manager at Polaris Tech Bridge. PBN Editor Michael Mello, standing, moderates. PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

Panelists: Skills gaps, limited worker pool posing challenges in R.I.’s blue...

PBN Summit 03/27/2026

When the average person hears the phrase, “the Bay Area,” their thoughts typically turn to San Francisco Bay. Ben Sorkin, CEO of Flux Marine Ltd.,...

TECH TALK: Panelists listen as Peter Ricci III, center, CEO and president of Trace Sensing Technologies Inc., speaks during a panel discussion about biotechnology and life sciences at Providence Business News’ 2026 Emerging Industries Summit on March 11. Joining him on the panel are, from left, Nishita Roy-Pope, founder and CEO of Courage Builder; Glenn Robertelli, CEO of R.I. Bio; Lilia Holt, interim president of the R.I. Life Science Hub; and Mike Cavacas, senior manager at Amgen Rhode Island.  PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

Panelists: R.I. should build on life sciences momentum, foster interest in...

PBN Summit 03/27/2026

Between rapidly shifting tariffs, freezes to federal grant funding and changing U.S. Food and Drug Administration policies, R.I. Bio Director Glenn Robertelli acknowledges that...

TED WILLIAMS, far left, president of Senesco Marine LLC, speaks during one of the panel discussions at Providence Business News' 2026 Emerging Industries Summit on Wednesday. Also on the panel is, from left, Ben Sorkin, CEO of Flux Marine Ltd.; Jason Noel, operations executive at Juice Robotics LLC; Linda Larsen, maritime and industry engagement manager at Polaris Tech Bridge; and Daniela Fairchild, chief strategy officer at R.I. Commerce Corp. PBN Editor Michael Mello, standing, is moderating. / PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN summit panelists: Blue tech, life sciences face ‘a pivotal point’

PBN Summit 03/11/2026

PROVIDENCE – While drivers battle rush hour traffic on the Washington Bridge, Flux Marine CEO Ben Sorkin’s commute is smooth sailing – almost literally. Making...

IN DEMAND: Karl Wadensten, center, CEO and president of VIBCO Inc. and R.I. Commerce Corp. board member, talks about the need for skilled workers during the first panel discussion of Providence Business News’ 2026 Workforce Development Summit at the Providence Marriott Downtown on Feb. 19. With Wadensten on the panel are, from left, Matthew Weldon, director of the R.I. Department of Labor and Training; Farouk Rajab, CEO and president of both the Rhode Island Hospitality Association and the Rhode Island Hospitality Education Foundation; and Rosa Brito, manager of workforce development at Brown University Health. PBN Editor Michael Mello, standing, moderates. PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

DLT urges employers to use Real Jobs RI amid uncertain federal...

PBN Summit 02/27/2026

Rhode Island has built what Matthew Weldon, director of the R.I. Department of Labor and Training, calls one of the most replicated workforce systems...

TEACHING MOMENT: Aarin B. Clemons, second from right, workforce manager at Polaris MEP, speaks during a panel discussion about education at Providence Business News’ 2026 Workforce Development Summit on Feb. 19. Also on the panel are, from left, Henry Young, assistant provost at New England Institute of Technology; Donna Remington, senior director of experiential education and career services at Johnson & Wales University; John Olerio, executive director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives at the University of Rhode Island; Rosemary A. Costigan, president of the Community College of Rhode Island; and Katharine Amaral, director of programs and community partnerships at Junior Achievement of Rhode Island.  PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN summit: Workforce readiness starts before graduation

PBN Summit 02/27/2026

Rhode Island’s workforce challenges are no longer confined to unemployment rates or post-pandemic churn. Instead, educators and industry leaders say the pressure point has shifted...

PBN summit: Hasbro’s move doesn’t mean R.I.’s workforce lacks talent

PBN Summit 02/19/2026

PROVIDENCE – Hasbro Inc.’s relocation from Pawtucket to Boston will move upwards of 700 jobs out of state, but panelists at Providence Business News’...