Naming Providence Business News’ 40 Under Forty is one of the most enjoyable things we do all year. It’s an opportunity to glimpse the best of Rhode Island present while also seeing what the future will bring.
And what a future! It is easy to be caught up in the conflict and negativity of the daily grind. Reading the 40 Under Forty applications is like taking a cleansing breath – it pushes away the pessimism and relieves the stress as we peer into a hopeful future. That is why we celebrate these young achievers.
PBN’s criteria remain the same in this, the third year of the 40 Under Forty: career success, community involvement and a commitment to making a difference. This year’s choices were particularly difficult, as more people entered than ever before.
The final group reflects the diversity and richness of Rhode Island’s work force. Twenty-two men and 18 women comprise this year’s class. They include entrepreneurs, partner attorneys, company managers, owners of family businesses and a National Guard officer.
Slightly more than half work in Providence, which is not surprising given the ongoing economic vitality of the state capital. But you could look at the number the other way around, and appreciate that nearly half of the state’s most vibrant businesspeople work outside the city limits, proving that Rhode Island’s future lies in utilizing the talent of all of its citizens, not just the ones located in its urban core.
People like Tia Bush. The quality-control executive for Amgen – located in West Greenwich – is doing more than making sure that the company’s products are pure and safe. She is one of four team leaders for a program exclusive to Amgen’s Rhode Island site that is designed to attract and retain the best employees. She understands that the future depends on continuing investment, not just in processes, but in people.
Also among our 40 is Anthony Gemma, whose family business is Gem Plumbing & Heating Services in Lincoln. Gemma has accomplished what may be one of the most difficult tasks in business. He took a successful company and transformed it, nearly quadrupling its revenue in the course of seven years. And the growth may not be over. That is impressive, to be sure, but just as compelling is his commitment to helping other businesses through the Gem Institute for Performance Excellence.
As an active participant in the nonprofit sector, Michael Goldstein is driven by a commitment to service. His focus was already apparent at the age of 15 when he was teaching algebra to summer-school students in San Francisco. As a student at Brown University, he founded a chapter of the same summer program and grew it into a year-round academic support system for economically disadvantaged youth. The entrepreneurial urge took him to Europe, but he returned in 2004 to become executive director of City Year Rhode Island, centered in Providence. His belief in the transformative power of public service keeps him going, and the state is the better for it.
Service is also what motivates Maj. Michael P. Manning. After postings in Kosovo and Iraq, the head of the R.I. National Guard’s State Partnership Program – based at Quonset Point – was drawn back to “wearing the green suit,” as he puts it, by the chance to serve not only his country, but his state. He is passionate about helping Rhode Islanders develop a better connection to the world beyond Narragansett Bay.
These are the snapshots of just four of our 40 honorees, but they give you an idea of the impressive full picture. We recognize them based on their past experiences and their current success, and the promise they hold out for Rhode Island’s future. Read this section to learn more about them. Just as importantly, celebrate the talented young people in your workplace. Next year, they may be among PBN’s 40 Under Forty.
The members of the 40 Under Forty Class of 2007 are:
• Tia Bush
Dear Mark,
Events like these are what make RI extraordinary. We experience the extraordinary life paths of others through your publication. Thank you. Is the deadline for this closed?
Sincerely,
Sixcia Devine