Rhode Island native Patrick J. Canning has moved up in the world. The former office managing partner at KPMG LLP’s Providence office, Canning has now taking the same position in KPMG’s Boston office. His name should be very familiar in business circles locally. He is a past treasurer of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, as well as other groups. He was also a trustee of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council.
Canning answered a few questions about his departure from the Rhode Island business scene.
PBN: Is it difficult to leave the Rhode Island office where you have spent your entire career?
CANNING: I was born and raised in Rhode Island and educated at Providence College, so I will always be a Rhode Islander. KPMG LLP was fortunate to be chosen as the Best Place to Work in Rhode Island in 2007 for companies with 50-150 employees [by PBN]. That is a testament to how great an office we have in Providence. Great people who mentor and care about each other, and great clients who make it interesting and rewarding for us to come to work every day. I will miss it, but I know that the office is in good hands with Mike Caprio as KPMG’s new Providence office managing partner.
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PBN: What has been your role at the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council?
CANNING: RIPEC is a business-funded organization that is essentially a watchdog over the state budget. As a trustee, I was one of many business leaders who worked with the executive director of RIPEC to provide input on matters most important to the business community, whether related to tax competitiveness or state spending. Gary Sasse was RIPEC’s executive director for many years and was incredibly well respected by the business community and Rhode Island’s political leaders. RIPEC always has a seat at the table and John Simmons has continued that tradition after succeeding Gary, who is now Rhode Island’s Director of Administration. RIPEC is thinly staffed but does amazing work. I have assisted RIPEC’s staff over the years on tax policy research and various studies of Rhode Island’s tax competitiveness with the end goal of attracting and retaining business in our state, which is important to me.
PBN: You have been involved with other groups, such as the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence College’s mentoring program. What relationships will be difficult to maintain as you move on?
CANNING: My new responsibilities in Boston will require me to become deeply involved in the Boston business community, but the experience I’ve gained here in Rhode Island will shorten my learning curve. I was treasurer of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce for the past six years, and expect that Mike Caprio will join the Chamber Board in September.
As chair of Providence College’s Executive Mentoring Committee, which was formed three years ago, we have been able to match more than 40 PC juniors and seniors with executive mentors who are members of the Providence College President’s Council. The mentors are primarily CEOs who are looking to give back by mentoring an undergraduate with an interest in pursuing a career in their particular industry. The program has been a great success, and there is hope that more college graduates will feel a greater connection to our state and begin their career here in Rhode Island after graduation. The next chair will take the program to even greater heights.
PBN: What do you see as the strengths of the business community here in Rhode Island?
CANNING: Like most states, we have issues such as an oversized budget and unemployment problems, and largely due to size, we have limited site locations for larger companies to relocate here. Until recently, we had just about the most uncompetitive tax policy in the country. Having said that, there is a sense that we are all in this together, and we appear ready to make the difficult choices to fix our problems. The business community is resilient. The governor’s proposed [2009 supplemental budget and 2010 budget] is highly controversial but addresses many of the hard choices that have to be made, and the leadership in the General Assembly has publicly stated their goal of improving the state’s tax policy. The Chamber, under the current leadership of President Laurie White and Chairman Ed Cooney, have worked extensively with the governor, and the House and Senate leadership, on issues important to the business community. As the voice of businesses large and small, the Chamber has made bold moves recently to seed two new initiatives that will help to position Rhode Island for an economic rebound. The Chamber’s Knowledge Based Economy initiative included Chamber funding to connect many diverse constituencies including the business community, higher education, health care, and capital funding sources to focus on Rhode Island’s strengths and align our business creators with high growth market opportunities. The second initiative is the Business Attraction Campaign that will focus on attracting new businesses to Rhode Island and retaining the businesses that are already here.
PBN: There’s always been talk of the “brain drain,” talent leaving Rhode Island for greener pastures. You’re now part of that brain drain. Any advice to business community leaders in Rhode Island on ways to keep the talent here?
CANNING: Rhode Island has never suffered from a lack of talented business leaders. My advice to business community leaders is to keep your company here in Rhode Island. KPMG is fortunate to have a thriving business in Rhode Island, with two offices in Providence and East Providence. This allows us to grow future leaders so that when there is change at the top, our business continues. Change brings about new ideas and a fresh way of looking at problems and challenges. KPMG has a 45-year history in Rhode Island and community involvement is expected of all of our employees. My hope is that our business leaders and their employees get involved in organizations like the Chamber and others to make your voices heard in the General Assembly. I think Rhode Island’s best days are ahead.
