Tuesday, October 8, 2024

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Spotlight

STRONG SKILLS: Carley Ferrara is the owner of Iron Mountain Forge & Furniture, a metal fabrication and design company in Providence specializing in furniture and decor that also offers “Sip & Smash” blacksmithing classes and beer tastings. Welding in the background is Devon Jalette.
PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

It’s all within her hands

Carley Ferrara, owner of Iron Mountain Forge & Furniture, knew from a young age that she wanted to work with her hands. Finding her...
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: Peter Evangelista spent his summers assembling trophies with his brothers in their father’s World Trophies Co. shop but never envisioned himself taking over the business until his father was eyeing retirement in 1987 and he realized he could own his own business, so he bought it. 
PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Trophy maker has helped people celebrate moments, honor loved ones for...

Stepping into World Trophies Co.’s shop on Silver Spring Street in Providence, you’ll likely be greeted by a 6-foot-tall bronze figure proudly perched atop...
SOARING SALES: Co-owner Mark DeFestano says sales exploded at Bristol Bikes LLC, which specializes in electric bicycles, following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns and he anticipates continued demand now that it will take years to repair the Washington Bridge in Providence, which was partially closed in December due to an infrastructure failure. DeFestano is pictured with his wife and co-owner, Robin Paradis.
PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

Pedaling DeFestano’s Bristol Bikes wares

The pandemic restrictions and a growing appreciation among consumers for electric bicycles has resulted in boosted sales at Bristol Bikes LLC, an independent distributor...
NEW DIGS: Thomas Finn, CEO of AVID Products Inc., stands in the company’s new headquarters in Providence. AVID recently relocated from Middletown. 
PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

AVID Products continues to ride the sound wave

For decades, AVID Products Inc. was best known for supplying the in-flight headphones that airlines offer to passengers. Launched in 1953 and taking its name...
TEST FLIGHT: Erin Linebarger flies a prototype robotic drone in Newport. The drone was developed by Robotics 88 Inc., the company she co-founded with Tyler Lane to assist with prescribed fire planning, which involves controlled burns to remove dead and harmful vegetation to prevent the spread of wildfires and allow for new growth.
PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN

Robotic startup blazing new trail for fire planning

When Erin Linebarger and her partner first entered the XPRIZE Rainforest competition, she was planning on developing robotics that fly just below the rainforest’s...
JACK OF MANY TRADES: Marine Solutions Inc. owner Dick Cromwell, left, who says he’s always enjoyed working around boats, ran many other businesses before launching the marine vessel dealer in Portsmouth in 1995. He’s pictured with Miles Brugman.
PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN

Cromwell sailing smoothly

Richard “Dick” Cromwell ran many businesses throughout his career before launching Maritime Solutions Inc. in 1995, including a restaurant and scooter rental company. “I’ve had...
FARMER FIRST: Sowams Cider Works Co. owner Spencer Morris says he must have control over how the apples he plants are grown and harvested to successfully produce his craft ciders.
PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Morris keeps family apple farming tradition alive with cidermaking

Though most customers know Sowams Cider Works Co. through its Warren tasting room, or by the bottle at several Rhode Island liquor stores, the...
TURNING THE PAGE: Laurie Sutherland says she always wanted to own her own bookstore, so when she saw an online ­advertisement for the sale of Island Books in Middletown, she visited the store, fell in love with it and bought the store. 
PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN

Sutherland keeps Island Books’ story going strong

Whether she’s reading fictional fantasies or ­enlightening memoirs, Laurie Sutherland says she’s always loved books because of the knowledge she gains from each one. “I’ve...
TWO-FOR-ONE: Providence Tour Co. guide Kate Kelly, center, leads a Crime Cuisine Tour at Trattoria Appia on Federal Hill in Providence. At right are two of the dozen or so attendees, Tom and Marylou Costello, of Franklin, Mass.
PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Transforming tourism to connect with city’s culture

For the price of a meal, you can take a walk with Bradly VanDerStad, founder of the Providence Tour Co., which he launched in 2018...
BRANCHING OUT: Laura Wistow, director of marketing for Bad-Adz in Pawtucket, says the marketing and advertising services the company provides for grocery stores can be applied to other industries and the company began taking on clients in other industries in 2023.
PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Pivot from print to digital a Bad-Adz move that’s paying off

When Bad-Adz founder and President Joel ­Albrizio started his marketing business in the late 1970s, the heights of modern-day digital marketing were still largely...
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