PROVIDENCE – U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline were the keynote speakers for a reception and banquet last night honoring the winners of Providence Business News’ seventh annual Business Excellence Awards.
Frank Coletta, anchor for WJAR NBC 10 News Sunrise and News at Noon, was master of ceremonies for the event at the Providence Marriott Downtown, which attracted more than 200 business, nonprofit and government leaders from across southeastern New England.
In his comments, Cicilline congratulated the winners. “Particularly, I am excited that there are three sectors represented that are so important to Providence,” Lifespan for health care, Johnson & Wales from education and Gilbane for construction, he said. The role of local government goes beyond just cutting costs, the mayor added. “We also need to look at how we can grow business and break down barriers.”
“I am struck … something they all share is a vision for the future.”
Reed also began by praising the Business Excellence honorees. “Paul Choquette is not only a great business leader but a great community leader,” he said. And looking at the Gilbane chairman and the other Business Excellence honorees, “I am struck … something they all share is a vision for the future.” To achieve this level of success requires leadership, the ability to change; but federal support also has been critical to the success of most of these institutions, the senator said.
“We are at a critical moment,” Reed continued. Rhode Islanders have been left behind as the income of most Americans has risen over the past several years, and we need to reverse that trend, he said. “That depends on business leadership, but it also depends on how we invest in education, in the future work force.” Though a college degree generally brings a greater income, he said, the Ocean State has a lower share of college graduates than its neighbors.
“It makes sense, if we increase education, we increase income. That’s one of the reasons we lag New England. … So one of the things we have to do is make college affordable here in Rhode Island,” Reed said.
“But there’s another challenge: How do we keep these educated Rhode Islanders in Rhode Island? And that, again, depends on opportunities.” For that, he suggested relying on the private innovation economy: “Provide education, then let private business do its job.”
Infrastructure also is important, Reed said, citing this summer’s bridge collapse in Minnesota and the need for road and transportation spending in Rhode Island. “But we also need to do much more to invest in energy. … This is not just a matter of energy policy, this is a geopolitical issue, so we can stop sending our dollars to the Persian Gulf.”
In addition, he said, “We, at a national level, need to get involved in health care,” an issue he called “the ultimate Rubik’s cube,” for its complexity.
“We at least have to get children’s health care right. … If we can care for children, we’ll save billions over the course of their lives,” helping children who otherwise might become a burden on society to grow into productive, tax-paying citizens.
Still, Reed said, “all that wouldn’t do any good without the vision and spirit of people like those here tonight.”
This year’s awards and their winners are:
• Business Leadership: Paul J. Choquette Jr., chairman of Providence-based Gilbane Inc., for his leadership in business, family and public policy.
• Business Excellence, more than 100 employees: Lifespan, the Providence-based nonprofit health care system that includes The Miriam, Bradley, Newport and Rhode Island/Hasbro Children’s hospitals, for its “fantastic” turnaround.
• Business Excellence, fewer than 100 employees: Vibco Vibrators Inc., an industrial equipment maker in Richmond’s Wyoming section, for its inventiveness and lively workplace atmosphere.
• Excellence in a Nonprofit Organization: St. Mary’s Home for Children of North Providence and Cranston, for nurturing the state’s neediest youngsters.
• Community Involvement: Johnson & Wales University, where community service is a part of the curriculum.
• Entrepreneurship: SolarWrights Inc., the Bristol-based provider of renewable energy systems that last year was honored by PBN as the state’s Fastest-Growing Private Company.
“Whether through strong, forward-thinking leadership, entrepreneurial spirit or community engagement,” this year’s winners “demonstrate a dynamism that gives us all reason to be confident in the state’s future,” Publisher Roger C. Bergenheim wrote in his introduction to the BEA special section that will appear in PBN’s Dec. 3 edition. Besides profiles of each winner and Reed, the special section will include a list of past winners of the BEA awards, which over their seven years have attracted applications from more than 300 organizations, and a list of the judges who gave their valuable time to help select this year’s winners.
The presenting sponsor for the 2007 awards is Bank Rhode Island. Also serving as BEA partners this year are Bryant University; Cox Communications; Lefkowitz, Garfinkel, Champi & DeRienzo; Mastors & Servant; and Partridge, Snow & Hahn.
For additional information, see the Business Excellence Awards 2007 supplement that will be published in the Dec. 3 print and online editions of Providence Business News.
