PBN BUSINESS WOMEN AWARDS 2020 WOMAN TO WATCH, SOCIAL SERVICES/NONPROFIT: Kristin Urbach | North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce
WIND FARMERS FROM AROUND the nation and overseas have turned their attention to the coast of Rhode Island, and Kristin Urbach is doing everything in her power to get the region bulked up with wind-power industry workers, supplies and support services.
The North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce executive director has been working closely with Quonset Business Park, R.I. Commerce Corp., her board and Chamber members for the past five years to ramp up training and preparation for the wind-power industry.
Urbach does run many more-traditional activities for the Chamber’s 400 members. Among them are greatly expanding the yearly Taste of NK Chamber party; creating of a new video promoting tourism in North Kingstown; co-hosting a televised business forum with Lt. Gov. Daniel J. McKee; and hosting the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Shop Small Saturday and the Wickford Village Walking Tour.
But Rhode Island wants to promote itself as an epicenter of the wind-power industry on the East Coast, and Quonset Business Park and the waters of nearby Block Island could be centerpieces.
“We have a very forward-thinking board,” Urbach said of the Chamber and its development of a multiyear training program and internships in wind technology for high school students and adult learners.
Amy Walsh, a senior vice president for Bank of America Corp., agrees that the Chamber board is progressive, but she emphasized Urbach’s initiative and talent at coming up with ideas and connecting people who can bring ideas into reality.
“She is always willing to find innovative ways of doing things and bringing unique ideas to market,” Walsh said of Urbach. “She has a natural ability at drawing people together.”
Urbach said handling the COVID-19 pandemic requires leaders to be proactive and to funnel information and resources between government and businesses. For instance, in preparing North Kingstown for the reopening of retail shops, she organized a small-business advocacy group to plan group purchases of essential items, such as sanitizer and plexiglass for building germ barriers.
“Dozens of merchants are trying to figure this out on their own,” Urbach said. “I want our Chamber to be a one-stop shop. Leaders need to do the homework and set the table.”
