Karl Wadensten - Providence Business News

SILVER LINING: Eduardo Naya, director of marketing for Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, says there’s a silver lining to more older workers entering the workforce, which ensures their knowledge that used to be underutilized in retirement –  or relocated to Florida – stays in Rhode Island. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

READY AND ABLE: Older workers filling R.I. employment gaps

Cover Story 03/29/2024

After 35 years in insurance marketing, the last 20 with Rhode Island-based Amica Mutual Insurance Co. managing multimillion-dollar campaigns, Eduardo Naya tried to retire. It...

Report: R.I. leaders should tailor Investment Tax Credit to manufacturing

Editor's Choice 10/30/2023

PROVIDENCE – A new state report on Rhode Island’s Investment Tax Credit shows that between 2019 and 2021 the program did not break even...

Employee benefits program launching for RIMA, RITA members

Health Services 10/17/2023

PROVIDENCE – For years Melissa Travis says rising costs have made it difficult for employers she’s worked with across Rhode Island to provide their...

OPEN SPACE:  Meliza Urquhart, community manager at Paragon Mill in Providence, shows one of the new units offered at “workforce” rates for people who earn between 80% and 120% of the area’s median income. Demand in that slice of the housing market is far beyond the supply.  PBN PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO

MAKING ROOM In the MIDDLE: R.I. struggles to create workforce housing,...

Cover Story 04/28/2023

For nursing assistant Johnbray Brown, moving into a workforce-rate unit in the renovated Paragon Mill in Providence’s Olneyville neighborhood was a hard-won victory spanning...

NO TIME TO WASTE: VIBCO Inc. CEO and President Karl Wadensten isn’t waiting for state leaders to solve Rhode Island’s workforce housing shortage. He’s looking to build so-called “tiny homes” on the campus of his Richmond business that can be rented to workers. COURTESY KARL WADENSTEN

Businesses can play key role in boosting workforce housing

Editorial and Op-Ed 04/28/2023

Could so-called “tiny homes” help solve Rhode Island’s affordable housing shortage? One business owner, VIBCO Inc. CEO and President Karl Wadensten, thinks so. He’s...

PAWTUCKET OFFICIALS gave decided to delay issuing $27 million in public bonds planned to help finance the Tidewater Landing project. / COURTESY FORTUITOUS PARTNERS

Opinions differ how funding delay impacts soccer stadium project

Economic Activity 03/24/2023

PAWTUCKET – With a timeout called on the central part of the funding for the Tidewater Landing project, supporters and detractors of the 10,500-seat...

MORE EFFORT NEEDED: Rhode Island needs better infrastructure, more housing and more effort to foster emerging industries, according to panelists at Providence Business News’ Economic Trends Summit on Jan. 26, which included from left: keynote speaker Thomas Tzitzouris, head of fixed income research at New York City-based Strategas Research Partners; Karl Wadensten, CEO and president of VIBCO Inc.; Peter Phillips, chief investment officer at Washington Trust Wealth Management; Julietta Georgakis, chief of staff for the R.I. Executive Office of Commerce; and Kevin Casey, vice president of sales at Sweeney Real Estate & Appraisal. PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN summit: With recession looming, R.I. economy faces big test

Economic Activity 02/03/2023

The predicted downturn in 2023 will test Rhode Island’s business owners in a state that has yet to adequately prepare its labor force with...

KARL WADENSTEN, second from left, CEO and president of VIBCO Inc., makes a point during the panel discussion at Providence Business News' 2023 Economic Trends Summit in Providence on Thursday. Also on the panel is, from left, Thomas Tzitouris, head of fixed income research at Stratgas; Peter R. Phillips, senior vice president and chief investment officer at Washington Trust Wealth Management; Julietta Georgakis, chief of staff for the R.I. Executive Office of Commerce; and Kevin Casey, vice president of sales at Sweeney Real Estate & Appraisal. At far right is PBN Editor Michael Mello, the moderator. / PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

PBN summit panel: Economic indicators say recession coming in 2023

Economy 01/26/2023

PROVIDENCE – In many ways, the party is over. At least that's the way the panelists at Providence Business News’ Economic Trends Summit on Thursday...

PBN’s 2023 Economic Trends Summit slated for Jan. 26

Business Services 01/23/2023

PROVIDENCE – Inflation, labor shortages, a looming recession and a host of other issues affecting Rhode Island's economy will be discussed during Providence Business...