Melissa Travis - Providence Business News

Business groups seek steeper cut in tax penalty interest rate

Economy 01/31/2022

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Daniel J. McKee has proposed cutting the interest rate on delinquent taxes owed to the state of Rhode Island from 18%...

AT A SECOND public comment meeting on the proposed Lifespan Corp. and Care New England Health System merger, many participants voiced concerns that the integrated health system, which would include Brown University, would monopolize the state's health care.

As public comment on Lifespan-CNE merger begins, mixed reaction in business...

Economic Activity 01/20/2022

PROVIDENCE – Members of the public can weigh in on the proposed merger of Care New England Health System and Lifespan Corp. at the...

NEW NAME, SAME FACES: Steven Monacelli, right, co-founder of Rhode Island accounting firm Restivo Monacelli, talks with staff member Ann McQueeney. Monacelli says the firm’s acquistion by WithumSmith + Brown PC allows the agency to provide more services. Monacelli is now a partner at Withum. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Local accounting firms disappearing in ‘upward mergers’

Financial Services 12/10/2021

Cranston accountant David E. Fontes has gone through four sets of business cards, email addresses and company logos in the last 17 years. But he’s...

READY FOR LAUNCH: Elizabeth M. Tanner, left, director of the R.I. Department of Business Regulation, and Melissa Travis, CEO and president of the Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants, are preparing for a pilot program in which blockchain technology will be used for the credentials of the state’s CPAs. / PBN PHOTO/CASSIUS SHUMAN

CPAs playing key part in R.I. blockchain pilot program

Financial Services 11/12/2021

Twenty-five Rhode Island accountants are preparing to be guinea pigs for a digital ID program using blockchain technology that, if successful, could transform the...

THE R.I. SENATE has passed a bill that would raise the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. / PBN FILE PHOTO/ARTISTIC IMAGES

R.I. issues guidance for businesses filing taxes on PPP loans

Economy 07/27/2021

PROVIDENCE – The R.I. Department of Revenue and Division of Taxation issued tax filing guidance on Monday for businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program...

Governor’s panel tackles workforce issues

Economy 07/22/2021

PROVIDENCE – Issues associated with Rhode Island's workforce were discussed during Gov. Daniel J. McKee's weekly R.I. 2030: Community Conversations event on Thursday. A panel...

Business leaders painting gloomy picture of PPP taxation

Coronavirus 06/14/2021

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island business leaders are painting a gloomy picture for the state if Gov. Daniel J. McKee’s proposal to tax forgivable Paycheck...

RISCPA Launches FREE CPA Assistance to COVID-impacted Rhode Island Small Businesses

PBN Connect 04/22/2021

Rhode Island Society of CPAs (RISCPA) has launched a new program in partnership with Rhode Island Commerce Corporation to provide free CPA assistance to...

ALWAYS IMPROVING: Bradford Soap Works Inc. machine operator Paula Panizza holds a bar of soap while CEO and President Stuart Benton looks on. Benton says he tries to get everyone to focus on incremental improvement every day. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

Bradford Soap CEO aims to clean more than hands on path...

Manufacturing 03/31/2021

PBN Manufacturing Awards 2021 Strategic Leadership: Stuart Benton, CEO and President, Bradford Soap Works Inc. A bar of soap has taken on a whole new importance...