PBN December 24, 2021

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Primary care at CVS? The plan has critics

BY MARC LAROCQUE | Larocque@PBN.com

IN A WORLD OF QUICK, ­convenient services such as Uber, Doordash and Amazon Prime that consumers have at their fingertips, CVS Health Corp. sees a massive opportunity to deliver primary health care services in a modern, frictionless fashion.

Some Rhode Island doctors, however, are wary about what the Woonsocket-based pharmacy giant has in mind.

CVS outlined its plans for a companywide transformation during an investor summit held in New York City on Dec. 9.

CHAIN REACTION

FOCUS: HEALTH CARE

Supply snags deliver blow to R.I. businesses

BY JACQUELYN VOGHEL | Voghel@PBN.com

WITH

CYCLING’S POPULARITY SURGING DURING the COVID-19 pandemic, demand has been sky high at Providence-based outerwear company Cleverhood LLC. That’s because the company designs and produces stylish rain capes that are popular among bike riders, particularly in places such as New York City and in Europe. But while Cleverhood founder and owner Susan Mocarski says demand has swung in her favor, it’s the supply side of the economic equation that’s causing her big headaches right now.

Nearly every step of getting rain capes made and into the hands of customers has been slowed by kinks in Cleverhood’s supply chain – a chain that winds its way through China and Vietnam and then halfway around the world to the U.S. The delays and additional costs are preventing Cleverhood from capitalizing on its popularity.

SEE CVS

PAGE 20

BOLD MOVE: Susan Mocarski, owner of outerwear company Cleverhood LLC in Providence, says the company took a big risk early on in the COVID-19 pandemic when it decided to buy a bulk load of inventory, but the move is now paying off as it has allowed the business to keep up with demand for its rain capes despite disruptions in the supply chain.

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CONTENTS

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Supply snags deliver blow to R.I. businesses......................1

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Who’s on the Board?

Rhode Island Community Food Bank.................................. 3 5Q: Jacquelyn M. Baginski................................................... 4 Dining Out: Back to the igloos?........................................... 5

President & Publisher: Roger C. Bergenheim 680-4848 | Publisher@PBN.com

Spotlight: Picerne Real Estate Group.................................. 6 Something New: Project Pasta............................................ 6 Hot Topic: Can PPL handle offshore wind?........................ 7

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Health Matters: Hospital-level care with comforts of home......................... 8

Advertising@PBN.com | Fax: 401-274-0270 Director of Sales and Marketing: Annemarie Brisson 680-4800 | Brisson@PBN.com

Nonprofit in Action: Dare to Dream Ranch........................ 9 What’s Happening............................................................... 10

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Another Look: New R.I. tourism chief ‘thinking big’................................. 16

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People in the News.............................................................25 Mackay’s Moral...................................................................25

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Guest Column: Elizabeth C. Tippett.................................. 27 Editorials and Opinion........................................................28

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One Last Thing: Agueda Del Borgo...................................30

SOMETHING NEW | 6

FOCUS: HEALTH CARE

Primary care at CVS? The plan has critics Some Rhode Island doctors are wary of CVS Health Corp.’s plans to establish 250 to 350 primary care centers via its nationwide footprint of retail centers by the end of 2024...................................................1

EDITORIAL Editor@PBN.com | Fax: 401-274-0670 Editor: Michael Mello, 680-4820 | Mello@PBN.com Managing Editor: William Hamilton 680-4826 | Hamilton@PBN.com

HealthSource RI seeing big benefits from ARPA The cost of monthly premiums for plans through HealthSource RI have been reduced due to $30 million in subsidies included as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act..................................... 18

Copy Editor: Matt Bower, 680-4824 | Bower@PBN.com

Lists

(EDUCATION, NONPROFITS)

Special Projects Editor/Researcher: James Bessette 680-4838 | Bessette@PBN.com Staff Writers: Marc Larocque 680-4830 | Larocque@PBN.com

Urgent Care Centers...........................................................22 Energy Companies.............................................................. 23

FOCUS: HEALTH CARE | 18

(HEALTH CARE, GOVERNMENT, REAL ESTATE/DEVELOPMENT)

Nancy Lavin, 680-4822 | Lavin@PBN.com (CITY GOVERNMENT, ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT, FINANCIAL SERVICES)

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED COMPANIES

Cassius Shuman 680-4884 | Shuman@PBN.com

Aloft Providence Hotel

12

Ocean House

5

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island

25

Orsted A/S

7

(HOSPITALITY/TOURISM, GOVERNMENT)

Bryant University

12

Jacquelyn Voghel 680-4828 | Voghel@PBN.com

Picerne Real Estate Group

6

Care New England Health System

8

Professional Ambulance

4

Center for Dynamic Learning

9

Project Pasta

6

Cleverhood LLC

1

Providence College

18

CVS Health Corp.

1

Quonset Development Corp.

14

Dare to Dream Ranch

9

Rhode Island Hospitality Association

12 14

Discover Newport

16

Rhode Island Manufacturers Association

French Confection

14

Rhode Island Small Business Development Center

Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce

12

R.I. Airport Corp.

Green Energy Consumers Alliance

7

R.I. Commerce Corp.

5 16 7, 16

Hasbro Inc.

25

R.I. Department of Health

8

HealthSource RI

18

R.I. Division of Public Utilities and Carriers

7

Johnson & Wales University

12

R.I. Office of Energy Resources

7

Kent County Memorial Hospital

8

Symposium Books Inc.

Narragansett Electric Co.

7

The Malted Barley Brewing Co.

12

National Grid

7

Trans-Tex LLC

14

North Atlantic Distribution Inc.

14

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FOR STARTERS

WHO’S ON THE BOARD? BOARD MEMBERS Edward O. Handy III, board president Chairman and CEO The Washington Trust Co.

Jyothi Subramaniam, board vice president Former faculty Johnson & Wales University

Mission statement: The Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all Rhode Islanders by advancing solutions to the problem of hunger.

Year founded: 1982 Top executive: Andrew Schiff, CEO 2020 revenue: $28.5 million

Michael DiSandro, board treasurer Senior vice president and team leader Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

Deb Thurston, board secretary Food coordinator, Tap-In

Carmen Diaz-Jusino

Peter Marino

Vice president, community development officer, BankNewport

CEO and president, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island

Mary Eastman

Kathy O’Donnell

Human resources lead, Fidelity Institutional Client Experience and FBOT Operations Services Group Fidelity Investments Inc.

Senior vice president and head of public affairs, Citizens Bank N.A.

Kimberly Fernandez

Former associate chief, patient services Providence VA Medical Center

Executive director Federal Hill House Association

Renee St. John

Rilwan Feyisitan Jr.

Chief financial officer Jewish Collaborative Services

Executive director, Community Action Partnership of Providence

Paul Silver

Angelo Garcia

Louis Amoriggi

Founder and executive director Segue Institute for Learning

Senior vice president Webster Bank N.A.

Gregory Garger

Maureen Barishian Senior accountant and investment analyst, Bryant University

Mathies J. Santos

Partner, Hinckley Allen & Snyder LLP

Alison Tovar Associate professor, nutrition and food sciences, University of Rhode Island

Executive director, labor and employee relations, Textron Inc.

Genie McPherson Trevor

Brian Gross

David Veliz

Kate Brewster

Creative partner, Nail Communications

Executive director Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale

David Macchioni District director Stop & Shop Supermarket Co.

Editor, Edible RHODY

Director, Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty

Lisa Wesner Vice president, global brand finance Hasbro Inc.

warmest wishes for a holiday season filled with peace, joy and prosperity.

www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | 3

FOR STARTERS

5Q: Jacquelyn M. Baginski R.I. state representative, D-Cranston

BY CASSIUS SHUMAN | Shuman@PBN.com

1

Even as a freshman legislator, you have been described as a “champion for business” by some business leaders in the state. Why do you think you have been given that label?

How flattering. My family and I operate Professional Ambulance, a private EMS [emergency medical services] service based in Providence. I ran for office because as a small-business owner, I was frustrated by the barrage of legislation making it harder to do business here. Small businesses are the lifeblood of Rhode Island’s economy, yet our voice at the Statehouse is weak. I really want to change that.

2

What do you think the state’s businesses could use in assistance at this time?

Rhode Island businesses need a break.

Every year it seems there are new and onerous laws passed that further control employment practices, increase taxes and fees, or bring about burdensome regulations that make it harder to turn a profit. While many such bills are passed with good intentions, the burdens they place on the backs of business are hardly considered because there’s nobody at the Statehouse talking about the negative, unintended consequences they might bring about and that must change.

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

The labor shortage is the biggest challenge facing businesses right now.

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3

What would you like to see the state do to address the labor shortage?

The labor shortage is the biggest challenge facing businesses right now. In the short-term, it would be great for the state to find ways to help incentivize folks to return to the workforce.

However, our longer-term strategy to enhance our labor pool must focus on investing in workforce training and development.

4

What do you think is the best plan for using the $1.1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds?

Before we decide on specific proposals, I think we need to establish some guardrails. I hope that we use ARPA funds to make one-time capital investments in our communities. It would be a shame to establish new programming that we won’t be able to fund ... once the ARPA fund is depleted.

5

What can owners of small businesses do to get involved with government to address their business needs?

It begins with staying informed about legislation being considered. The easiest way to do that is to join an email distribution list from a trade organization and watch out for updates.

Then, it’s as simple as sending an email to the state representative or senator in your district to introduce yourself and let them know your concerns. n

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FOR STARTERS DINING OUT | BRUCE NEWBURY

THE WINTER OF 2022 IS HERE. It is the second full winter under the COVID-19 pandemic. During the first winter, The idea of living life outdoors other than during the high summer became the thing to do. We managed to “take it outside” as best we could.

Outdoor dining has become very popular and has defied conventional wisdom. We dined outdoors well into the fall, and even during some points in the winter. A subcategory of outdoor dining is the so-called “igloos.” The feeling among some restaurant owners who have used the igloos is mixed on whether they will remain after the pandemic. Last year, the prefabricated structures proved to be wildly popular and popped up everywhere from Woonsocket to Newport. They can seat as many as six diners. At the Ocean House in Westerly, there were also some repurposed ski gondolas. The three luxuriously appointed shelters – which have the feel of Cinderella’s coach – were a big hit last winter and are back this year. They are described by the five-star resort as “three wellappointed gondolas with two firepits, and touches of soft, white-lit trees, thoughtfully designed to transport guests to a memorable winter wonderland.”

As was reported last winter, local and state governments are lurching toward making policy on outdoor dining in public spaces. The sidewalks of Newport are prime real estate for seating. The Newport City Council attempted to address the issue at a meeting in April. Councilwoman Kathryn Leonard expressed the pre-

Back to the igloos?

ALPINE THEME: Instead of igloos, the Ocean House in Westerly is using repurposed ski gondolas to protect diners from the elements.

COURTESY OCEAN HOUSE

vailing viewpoint, stating the public interest must be served by examining if public spaces such as sidewalks and parking spots are to be used. If so, what would the arrangement be for the business to use them? It was a fair question, but the issue was never fully settled. Now it is time again to address the question.

The shape of things to come may be in New York City. Officials there are not sugar-coating things. The ad hoc program of 2020 was to prop up the businesses by cutting out red tape.

Now that things may become permanent, one city official said the red tape will return. It should come as no surprise to those in the food service community.

In a discussion of the business climate, consultant Maggie Longo, restaurant and hospitality counselor at the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center, brought up a point of view not often heard in the din of the last 21 months. As she put it, “Everyone wants to be in the restaurant business.” It has never lost its

image as a glamorous industry. Longo said the impression outside the business is that restaurant ownership and management is a lucrative enterprise.

But, while the rewards of service of food, drink and hospitality are substantial in nonfinancial aspects, the dollars and cents of the day-to-day operation of an eatery can be a matter of pennies. Many establishments can’t afford the red tape.

In Newport, Mayor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano said on my radio show that it was the act of the City Council in extending existing emergency powers held by City Manager Joseph J. Nicholson Jr. In reviewing each restaurant’s plans, he will carry the ad hoc public-private partnership through the upcoming season, after which further study will be needed to find what should be done permanently.

“Some restaurants will have to go through the [city] manager to allow [outdoor dining spaces]. [Nicholson] is in the best position to judge, then he can recommend to the council,” Napolitano said. The rumor on restaurant row of new fees being assessed may come up again. Meanwhile, the temperature inside each igloo is approximately 15 degrees warmer than the outside temperature without the use of any heating element. Warm hospitality awaits and should be a comfort. n Bruce Newbury’s radio show and podcast, “Dining Out with Bruce Newbury,” is broadcast on WADK 1540 AM and several radio stations throughout New England. Email him at Bruce@BruceNewbury.com.

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FOR STARTERS SOMETHING NEW

SPOTLIGHT

FIRST OF ITS KIND: Jamie Freda makes her vegan pasta at Hope & Main in Warren.

PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

Preserving tradition with pasta

BY CASSIUS SHUMAN | Shuman@PBN.com

JAMIE FREDA SPENT her summers in Puglia, Italy, learning the finer points of cooking traditional Italian food from her grandmother.

“She taught me everything,” Freda said. “She made the simplest foods taste good because of the quality of ingredients.”

It was only natural that Freda took what her grandmother taught her and pursued a culinary education, first at the International Culinary Academy in New York City and then at ALMA – the International School of Italian Cuisine in Parma, Italy.

What she discovered was that her passion was rooted in making pasta.

“Preserving tradition was what I found through pasta,” Freda said.

What she also found was that no company offered gluten-free, grain-free, vegan pasta. If they do, it is not like traditional pasta, she said.

So, she moved to Rhode Island a year ago and launched Project Pasta out of the Hope & Main kitchen in Warren, where she makes beet, carrot, leek, spinach and tomato fettucine and tomato gnocchi, which she sells at farmers markets.

The pasta has a cook time of 30 seconds since it is comprised of three ingredients: konjac root, tapioca and dry, dehydrated vegetable flour.

“The gelatinization of the konjac root just needs a quick in and out of water,” she said. “It’s a first of its kind – something I know people need.” n

BRANCHING OUT: Picerne Real Estate Group began by building single-family homes in Rhode Island before expanding both its services and its coverage area. Pictured, from left, are Fred DiFusco, Northeast region district manager; Ron Serpa, district manager; and Carol Macari, human resources manager, at the group’s Warwick office.

PBN PHOTO/ELIZABETH GRAHAM

Building on family values Builder also manages multiunit properties

BY CASSIUS SHUMAN | Shuman@PBN.com

PICERNE REAL ESTATE GROUP built the foundation for its business model by building single-family homes in Rhode Island before success led to the development and management of multiunit housing properties around the country.

Founded by Romeo Picerne in 1925, the company is geared toward stability and sustainability, operating on a blueprint calling for the utilization of teamwork and family values while supervising the acquisition, development, construction and management of multifamily properties.

“The vision has come true and grown beyond what [Romeo] could have expected,” said Fred DiFusco, district manager at the Warwick corporate office. “It’s a Rhode Island company that turned into something pretty impactful nationally.”

The company’s third generation, led by David Picerne, CEO and president, branched off from its Rhode Island operation in 1982 to the Southwest region of the United States to grow the business. The company expanded over the ensuing decades, managing properties in Arizona, Florida and Nevada.

“Nationwide, we have just under 20,000 total multiunit apartment homes in 93 communities,” said Ron Serpa, district manager at the Warwick office.

The company also manages an affordable housing component aimed at long-term elderly and disabled care, working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Serpa said that despite its diverse portfolio, the primary branch of the organization continues to be the multifamily housing division.

Its 130 Rhode Island employees are focused on the management and revitalization of more than 3,800 apartment homes in 24 locations throughout the state.

In 2009, the company embarked on a three-year, $26 million upgrade campaign for its multifamily apartment properties in Rhode Island.

The improvement work to Picerne’s properties continues today.

“The portfolio has changed a bit since 2009 but the modernization initiatives have continued year after year,” said Serpa, noting that upgrades were performed at the Bayside Country Club, and Shady Oaks and Cowesett Hills apartment properties.

One of the upgrades was an

$850,000 expansion of the Cowesett Hills clubhouse, adding a gathering space and state-of-the-art fitness center. The company has spent $4.4 million in total on upgrades to the property, which was built in 1968.

Serpa said Picerne values the relationships it has with local architects, builders, contractors and vendors for conducting work on its properties.

Although the company is focused on its properties, the greatest source of pride is its workforce.

Promotion is a focus in developing its labor force, beginning with local college internships.

Serpa, who was hired by Picerne after graduating from the University of Rhode Island, said the company is big enough to provide opportunities for advancement, and small enough so employees can become known within the company.

“Family has been the company’s mantra – from the Picerne family down to us – and a focal point when we are explaining who we are to people,” he said.

DiFusco said the company operates with an infectious culture of collectiveness and enjoyment that permeates its workforce and is passed along to the community and its business partners.

“We’re families helping families,” he said. n

OWNER: The Picerne Family, under the leadership of Ronald Picerne

LOCATION: 75 Lambert Lind Highway, Warwick

TYPE OF BUSINESS: Full-service property management and real estate development firm

EMPLOYEES: Approximately 600 nationwide/130 local

6 | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com

YEAR FOUNDED: 1925 ANNUAL REVENUE: WND

FOR STARTERS HOT TOPIC

Can PPL handle offshore wind?

BY NANCY LAVIN | Lavin@PBN.com

CONNECTING MASSIVE ARRAYS of offshore wind turbines to the state electric grid is a complicated process, and some fear the corporation looking to buy Rhode Island’s utility company is not up to the task.

And with plans to bring 1,000 megawatts worth of offshore wind to the state over the next decade, the state’s environmental and economic future requires a utility company with that expertise and experience.

Which is why environmental advocacy groups are urging state utility regulators not to approve the pending $3.8 billion sale of National Grid subsidiary Narragansett Electric Co. to PPL Corp. In a series of hearings the week of Dec. 13, groups made their case to the R.I. Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, which must give its blessing to the utility transfer.

Among those arguing against the sale was Kai Salem, policy coordinator for Providence-based Green Energy Consumers Alliance.

“Rhode Island has very ambitious climate goals that it must meet,” Salem said. “We may not be all the way on track to getting there yet, but we have a plan to do so and a utility company that does have a lot of expe-

rience working with states and regulators on these very advanced and complex processes to make renewable projects happen.”

That company is National Grid, which played a crucial role in the country’s first offshore wind farm off the coast of Block Island, as well as in project selections in New York and Massachusetts.

PPL Corp., meanwhile, has no experience in connecting or going out to bid for offshore wind projects, which the company admitted in filings to the state. However, the company insisted its 100-year track record providing power to 2.5 million people, primar-

ily in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, was proof that it could take on Rhode Island’s power business, including renewable energy projects.

PPL will also bring on more than 1,000 National Grid workers, who can lend their expertise in offshore wind, Mark Miller, a spokesman for PPL Corp., said in an emailed statement.

“All that experience, talent and expertise, including experience with connections to wind power, will remain under PPL Corp. and its Rhode Island entity should the Division approve our petition,” Miller said in a statement.

But Salem was unconvinced, as was the Conservation Law Foundation, which also opposed the sale due to PPL Corp.’s lack of experience with the renewable energy programs, said Margaret Curran, a senior attorney for CLF. The amount of power generated by offshore wind projects makes it

‘Rhode Island has very ambitious climate goals.’

KAI SALEM, Green Energy Consumers Alliance policy coordinator

a critical component of the state’s decarbonization goals, Curran said.

Economic development, including port infrastructure and jobs, also depends upon the state’s ability to establish itself as a leader in the “blue economy,” state leaders have agreed.

The pending sale has already put that reputation at risk, at least in terms of the 600-megawatt offshore wind farm the state announced in October 2020. The bidding process was put on hold amid the pending sale of Narragansett Electric. Meanwhile, delays in the federal approval for Revolution Wind pushed the project slated for federal waters off Block Island back to at least 2023, while other states such as Massachusetts and New Jersey have awarded thousands more megawatts worth of offshore wind projects.

“The center of energy has already shifted,” Salem said.

R.I. Commerce Corp., which has made offshore wind development a focus of its economic strategy, referred requests for comment to the R.I. Office of Energy Resources, which declined to comment since it is a party to the ongoing hearings. Orsted A/S and Eversource Energy, joint developers of Revolution Wind, also declined to comment. n

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FOR STARTERS | HEALTH MATTERS

Hospital-level care with comforts of home

BY MARC LAROCQUE | Larocque@PBN.com

CALL

it home sweet hospital.

Kent County Memorial Hospital in Warwick recently received a waiver from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and approval from the R.I. Department of Health to offer the state’s first hospital-at-home acute care program.

“I think it’s the future of health care in Rhode Island,” said Dr. Ana Tuya Fulton, executive chief of geriatrics and palliative care for Care New England Health System. Fulton has been overseeing the launch of the new program at Kent Hospital.

The state’s second-largest hospital is joining 186 other medical facilities in 34 states that have received such waivers, which allows for vital Medicare reimbursement at the same rate as in-person hospital care. Because of the COVID-19 crisis, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last year moved to allow full coverage for hospital-at-home care in the face of a rising number of hospitalizations.

While physicians have been making house calls for hundreds of years, hospital-at-home programs as they are currently known date back to the

1990s, pioneered by a geriatrician and professor of medicine named Dr. Bruce Leff at Johns Hopkins University. His research demonstrated the health benefits of keeping a patient in their familiar comfort zone. Among them: fewer falls, drastic reductions in delirium, decreases in infections and better food.

Kent will join at least three hospital systems in Massachusetts that have been pleased with the results of their hospital-at-home program, including Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, both in Boston, and University of Massachusetts Memorial Health in Worcester.

“Patients like being in their home, where they’re happier and sleeping in their own beds, surrounded by loved ones, their favorite cat and TV,” said Dr. Taki Michaelidis, medical director of the program at UMass Memorial Health. “In your home environment, you just recover better.”

Hospital-at-home services are generally aimed at older adults who don’t need intensive care, Fulton said.

“We know older adults do better in familiar settings,” Fulton said. “Hospi-

PRECHECKS: Dr. Ana Tuya Fulton, right, Care New England Health System executive chief of geriatrics and palliative care, and Ruth Scott, senior director of population health for Integra Community Care Network LLC, review their plans before the hospital-athome program goes live at Kent Hospital in Warwick.

COURTESY CARE NEW ENGLAND HEALTH SYSTEM/ RYAN PICKERING

‘We know older adults do better in familiar settings.’

DR. ANA TUYA FULTON, Care New England Health System executive chief of geriatrics and palliative care 8 | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com

talization can present complications for older adults. Hospital-at-home can be higher-quality care for older adults who have complications in the traditional hospital settings.”

Kent Hospital is launching the program in January after a soft launch in the last few weeks of 2021. The hospital is establishing a “command center” at the Trowbridge Building on the Kent campus, and the program is being staffed by an around-the-clock team of eight to 10 dedicated employees who will monitor a total of 10 patients, with the hospital equipping each patient with a computer tablet for telehealth services, in addition to equipment to monitor vital signs, Fulton said.

Kent’s hospital-at-home program, which requires an in-person physician evaluation before someone is admitted, also entails daily home visits from a registered nurse and mobile integrated health paramedics, and a daily check-in with a physician, which can take place virtually. If the condition of the patient suddenly declines, as detected from their vital signs or a report to the hospital, the command center sends a paramedic or doctor to the home as quickly as possible, Fulton said. If an emergency arises, doctors and paramedics can make it to the patient’s home within 30 minutes, based on the limited coverage area for the program, Fulton said.

Kent Hospital’s waiver lasts for one year, at which time the state Department of Health and the Medicare program could renew the program, Fulton said.

While such programs create more space at the hospital, they don’t solve staffing problems plaguing hospitals nationwide, Michaelidis said.

“What you do see at times is there are some efficiencies we gain,” he said. “Where those come from is that we can virtually monitor patients. …

It’s safe, effective and frankly families love it.”

In addition to increasing a patient’s comfort and mobility, hospital-athome programs help limit the spread of contagious diseases in the hospital environment, Michaelidis said.

At Brigham and Women’s Hospital, hospital-at-home services have predated the Medicare waiver by four years, now serving 16 at-home beds, said Dr. David Levine, who leads the program. Levine conducted a randomized control trial in 2018 that showed that median direct costs of acute care for hospital-at-home patients were 52% less than control patients receiving traditional care, and readmissions were 24% less.

A big difference is increased mobility, as patients in a hospital are less likely to walk around the room and hallways than a person in his or her own home, Levine said. Staying immobile can lead to more health problems, he said.

“It’s called hospital-acquired disability,” Levine said. “If you’re lying in bed for a day, that debilitates your body quickly, especially if you’re an older adult. Anything we can do to change that equation is very powerful for patient status.” n

NONPROFIT IN ACTION | FOR STARTERS Helping veterans cope with trauma

BY JAMES BESSETTE | Bessette@PBN.com

WHEN MILITARY PERSONNEL leave the battlefield, the battle does not end for some. Karen Dalton fully understands this.

She grew up in an environment where her father, a former U.S. Marine, struggled with anger management issues. Dalton would later marry a person who had similar struggles, she said, which later caused her to develop fibromyalgia, a physical pain disorder brought on by fatigue and mood issues.

While she was going to school to become a certified health coach, Dalton realized she wanted to do something impactful to bring veterans out of the emotional trauma they endured while serving and afterward. In 2015, not long after she began organizing events to help military veterans in distress, she established Dare to Dream Ranch in Foster, an 11-acre facility that provides veterans a gateway to productivity and comradery with one another.

Dalton recalls meeting one U.S. Navy veteran who said the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs sent him to school for woodworking and engraving. Those activities, Dalton said, helped him with his suicidal ideations after he left service and the veteran now helps other veterans at the ranch with woodworking.

Dare to Dream Ranch also offers various activities, such as flyfishing; therapy that shows veterans how to

raise cows, chickens and rabbits; and also working with horses on a weekly basis.

“Through all the different programs that we offer, they [veterans] find something that helps in their everyday life,” Dalton said. “We get a lot of individuals like that. They’re able to find different ways to help them with their challenges.” The ranch normally assists between 900 and 1,000 veterans annually, Dalton said, but that number dropped to 100 in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ranch managed to stay sustainable through donations and grants from the community, Dalton said. On April 1, Dare to Dream Ranch raised $80,046 through United Way of Rhode Island’s 401Gives Day campaign, raising more than four times than the previous year’s event.

The ranch also has a partnership with the Center for Dynamic Learning, where inner-city youths are taught building and engineering skills. In return, the youths are turning shipping containers into homes, and the homes are being brought to the ranch for free housing for the veterans.

“This will allow those individuals who are still working … [who] find themselves in this gap of ‘I make

VALUABLE RESOURCE: George Huddleston, president elect of the board of directors of Dare to Dream Ranch, a nonprofit in Foster that offers alternative therapy programs for military veterans and their families, with volunteer Kathy Hassell and Merica, a 3-year-old miniature horse she is training to pull a carriage.

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

too much money and I can’t get help through these other organizations that are supposed to help homeless veterans,’ ” Dalton said. “We’re

providing that resource to them to not only get the benefit of the programs, but also to save money and get their own place.” n

Get Social LIKE us TAG us TWEET us VISIT us PBN.com

We’re on a quest to help support the Rhode Island business community.

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www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | 9

FOR STARTERS | WHAT’S HAPPENING

ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND: Terry Gray, acting director for the R.I. Department of Environmental Management, will be the guest speaker at the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Eggs & Issues breakfast event Jan. 12 at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln.

COURTESY R.I. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Acting DEM director to speak at NRI Chamber breakfast event TERRY GRAY, acting director for the R.I. Department of Environmental Management, will be the guest speaker at the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Eggs & Issues breakfast event. Gray will discuss the environment and its impacts on the state. Breakfast will be served.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12, 7:45-9 A.M. $25/members; $35/nonmembers Kirkbrae Country Club, 197 Old River Road, Lincoln.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3xYlNO6

Building new relationships

Establishing connections

THE TRI-TOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE will hold its networking group in a forum setting in which business owners and entrepreneurs can build business relationships with one another. Four one-hour group sessions will be held over two days.

MONDAY, DEC. 27, 8 A.M. TO 1 P.M., TUESDAY, DEC. 28, 8:30-9:30 A.M. Free

THE NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND Chamber of Commerce will hold a networking event, hosted by R1 Indoor Karting Inc. Members of the Emerging Leaders Council and the Women’s Business Council are hosting their first networking event of 2022. Business professionals and entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to meet and build relationships with one another.

Admission includes food, a complimentary drink and access to experience Dart City at the facility.

THURSDAY, JAN. 6, 5-7 P.M. $25/members; $35/members

Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce, 280 School St., Mansfield.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3oushkF

R1 Indoor Karting Inc., 100 Higginson Ave., Suite 10, Lincoln.

Lions Club Pier Plunge

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3m0C3JZ

THE NARRAGANSETT LIONS CLUB will hold its 2022 Pier Plunge. The plunge normally attracts more than 2,000 participants who take a quick plunge into the water. Proceeds raised will benefit various charities supported by the Lions Club. The first 350 participants registered will receive a complimentary beach towel.

SATURDAY, JAN. 1, NOON TO 2 P.M. $20

Meet, mingle over coffee THE SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND Chamber of Commerce will hold a First Friday Coffee networking event,

Narragansett Town Beach, 79 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3xZIIso

BESTPLACES TO

Interested in having your businessrelated event included in What’s Happening? Contact PBN Researcher James Bessette at (401) 680-4838 or Research@PBN.com.

ENROLLMENT IS NOW OPEN

Access the application by hovering over the QR code with your phone camera or visit PBN.com/events

WORK★RI 2022 AWARDS

If your company’s culture has successfully adapted to the pandemic and your teams are flourishing, it’s time to get recognized!

CATEGORIES SMALL EMPLOYERS

(15 - 49 employees)

MEDIUM EMPLOYERS

(50 - 149 employees)

LARGE EMPLOYERS

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ENTERPRISE EMPLOYERS

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All companies in RI and Southern Mass. with at least 15 employees are eligible to apply.

NEED MORE REASONS TO APPLY? Energize your team Drive the engagement & enthusiasm of current employees

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Visit PBN.com for details For sponsorship or advertising opportunities, contact Advertising@PBN.com 10 | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com

WHAT’S HAPPENING | FOR STARTERS hosted by Save One Soul Animal Rescue League. The event will allow local business professionals to meet and mingle with one another in a relaxed setting. Attendees are encouraged to bring business cards.

FRIDAY, JAN. 7, 8-9 A.M. $5/members; $10/nonmembers Save One Soul Animal Rescue League, 577 Kingstown Road, South Kingstown.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3Evj3uh

Set new goals THE RHODE ISLAND Small Business Development Center will hold a workshop titled “7 Never Fail Strategies for Your New Year Goal Setting.” The two-part workshop will show attendees various strategies that are necessary to help build personal success, as well as help attendees walk away with an action plan. Bethany Mascena Tracy, a business leader, will lead the workshop.

TUESDAY, JAN. 11, 11 A.M. TO NOON. Free Online.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3ousp3S

Expand your customer base THE CENTER FOR WOMEN & Enterprise will hold a workshop titled “Growing your Customer Base – Small Business Certification and Contracting.” Attendees will learn about supplier diversity, including a breakdown by top industries of money procured, what the advantages and disadvantages of getting certified are, certification requirements and qualifications.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 12, 9-10:30 A.M. Free Online.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3rEBuJ8

Employee training POLARIS MEP and the Phoenix Partnership will hold an eight-week manufacturing developmental series on the framework for manufacturing, problem-solving tools, people management, presentations and communication. Each class will be held every

UPCOMING PBN EVENT: The 2022 Book of Lists Premier Event will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 20. For more information, visit PBN.com. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Advertising@PBN.com.

Thursday at the New England Institute of Technology and runs between four and five hours.

THURSDAY, JAN. 13, NOON THROUGH THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 4 P.M. Free New England Institute of Technology, 1 New England Tech Blvd., East Greenwich.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3IqFMdm

Growing with Google THE CENTER FOR WOMEN & Enterprise will hold a workshop titled “Grow with Google.” Attendees will learn how to create or claim business profiles on Google, manage business information across Google Search and Google Maps, and use Google My Business with potential customers.

THURSDAY, JAN. 20, NOON TO 1 P.M. Free Online.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3lELq1D

Skating around

hosted by United Skates of America.

The event will allow attendees to learn about the organization’s education justice campaigns. Skating, music, food and laser tag will be offered at the fundraiser. Proceeds raised will support the alliance’s effort to provide a healthy and thriving Rhode Island fueled by engaged and empowered young people.

SATURDAY, JAN. 22, 5:30-8:30 P.M. $15 United Skates of America, 75 New Road, East Providence.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3osJhYA

Improving your skills HOLIDAY INN MANSFIELD-FOXBORO Area will host a 4U22 personal development seminar. Billy Giannouloudis, a results coach and motivational speaker, will lead the seminar and help attendees improve skills, both personally and professionally, in the new year.

THURSDAY, JAN. 22, 6:30 P.M. $25 Holiday Inn Mansfield-Foxboro Area, 31 Hampshire St., Mansfield.

INFO AND REGISTRATION: bit.ly/3pvSazW

THE ALLIANCE OF RHODE ISLAND Southeast Asians for Education will hold a Youth Organized Fundraiser,

www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | 11

SUPPLY CHAIN SNAGS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“Something we could produce in three months maybe with a lot of hustle [before the pandemic] is now looking like a year,” Mocarski said recently from her downtown office. “And then on top of that, all of the pricing has gone up two-fold.”

Plenty of others feel her pain. While many companies are seeing customers clamoring for their products and services, delayed shipments and skyrocketing expenses for goods have hampered the ability of companies to keep up with that demand, particularly during the busy holiday shopping season.

Few sectors have been left unaffected. Supply chain disruptions have hit businesses from big manufacturers and retailers to independent shops and restaurants. Even service industries such as lodging have had issues. In one case, the furniture for the new 175-room Aloft Providence Hotel was trapped at a port in California as the grand opening date loomed, the hotel manager told a gathering of hospitality leaders at Johnson & Wales University in October. The furniture eventually arrived and Aloft Providence opened earlier this month.

Such supply problems cause ripple effects.

For example, automakers that had throttled back production at the start of the pandemic are struggling to churn out cars because of shortages in components such as computer chips. Fewer new cars mean declining activity at places such as Quonset Point in North Kingstown, one of the largest car ports on the East Coast.

Meanwhile, the lack of new cars on dealership lots has sent prices soaring, forcing many customers to turn to the used market, where reasonable prices have become harder to find.

The supply chain challenges mean consumers are seeing higher prices for a variety of goods.

At Cleverhood, shipping troubles have been compounded by higher tariffs and duties adding 60% to 100% to an item’s original price for customers overseas, where about 40% of the company’s business comes from.

For one popular item listed at $99, a buyer in France would need to pay nearly double that to cover duties and tariffs, according to Mocarski.

“I’m grateful that people are still willing to pay that,” she said, “but it clearly has to hurt our [sales].”

‘GOT COMPLACENT’ The supply chain problems can be blamed in part on a shift in consumer behavior that was touched off by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, according to Michael Gravier, a marketing professor at Bryant University.

Most notably, people stopped going out to shop and eat and instead turned to their smartphones and computers to place orders, which put increased pressure on the shipping and delivery services.

At the same time, “many governments around the world did a good job with putting extra money into people’s pockets, supporting industries to keep employment up and investing in infrastructure,” Gravier said. As lockdown measures eased globally, people with the means to spend more were eager to do so.

“We have all this extra money, and we had months, over a year of demand that wasn’t satisfied,” he said. “A lot of middle America and above has pent-up savings. They’re spending them, and our supply chain systems were pretty much

BOXED OUT: French Confection owners Karen Mauprivez, left, and Xavier Mauprivez, center, help Taylor Brendlinger of Portsmouth with her order, including one of their popular Yule logs, at their Middletown bakery. Ordering specialized boxes for the cakes and other supplies has been a problem this year.

PBN PHOTO/DAVE HANSEN

optimized for the world before the explosion of demand.”

A shortage in shipping containers – simple but essential components that allow goods to be easily transferred between ships, trains and trucks – is playing a major role in supply disruptions, Gravier said.

Beginning in the 1950s, modifications to shipping containers vastly improved the shipping process, allowing workers to move large amounts of goods more cheaply and efficiently. Over the decades, companies became overly reliant on this ease in shipments from the most inexpensive sources they could find, Gravier said.

“Businesses got complacent about worrying about the risks they assumed there,” he said.

“They assumed there would always be a steady, safe demand that was always growing and that they could plan for.”

But most businesses didn’t factor in pandemicrelated spikes in demand, and they are now overwhelmed. Not only are there not enough shipping containers, but the escalating need for more has also driven up prices. A $3,000 order of containers from China now costs $9,000 or more, Gravier said.

Meanwhile, this surge in shipments is overwhelming places where goods are transported, Gravier said. While ports are most impacted, warehouses are also feeling the strain, and a shortage of truck drivers further slows deliveries.

DIFFICULT DECISIONS For restaurants, supply shortages are driving up expenses on everything from flour to takeout boxes – if they can secure these orders at all.

Sarah Bratko, senior vice president of advocacy and general counsel at the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, has heard it all lately. One restaurant is considering measures such as selling chicken

at market price as if it were seafood. Another is expecting to spend an additional $40,000 on French fries this year.

“It’s food, it’s materials, it’s liquor, and it’s sometimes all three at a time,” she said.

And problem areas shift without warning. One week, restaurants are hard-pressed to find pickles.

The next week, it’s cups. And when these items are eventually tracked down, they often come with a hefty price tag.

For Ronald Koller, owner and president of The Malted Barley Brewing Co. in downtown Providence, the situation is beyond frustrating.

“Every week there’s new surprises,” Koller said. “There was a period where we literally couldn’t find napkins anywhere for two or three weeks.”

Meanwhile, even basic but essential staples such as flour can add to financial strain, Koller said. A 50-pound order used to cost him $14. Now it’s $22.

The growing expenses come at a time when business is booming, despite new variants of COVID-19 raising public health concerns. The event schedule at the craft beer pub is booked through December 2022.

Still, that popularity hasn’t allowed The Malted Barley to avoid the impact of supply chain shortages. The restaurant has made menu changes to work around unavailable foods, Koller said. Sometimes, the financial decisions are more difficult.

“You have to think, do I raise my prices, reduce the portion size?” Koller said. “How do I make it work?”

In hospitality-dependent Newport, the pandemic has been “the hit that keeps on coming,” said Erin Donovan-Boyle, executive director of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce. There CONTINUES ON PAGE 14

‘There was a period where we literally couldn’t find napkins.’

RONALD KOLLER, The Malted Barley Brewing Co. owner and president 12 | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com

Moving forward together We’ve been through a lot together and have proved to be resilient. The approaching new year brings with it new possibilities to help our clients, communities and teammates move forward and prosper — safely.

Using our industry-leading digital tools, like mobile check deposits, Erica,® CashPro® and access to Zelle,® individuals and businesses are finding it easier to do their everyday banking. Across the country, the expertise of our specialists and our teammates in financial centers is helping clients meet all their financial needs at every stage of their lives.

In our communities, we continue to collaborate with local partners, business leaders, experts and academics across the public and private sectors to fuel job growth and financial stability. More than $400 million of our $1.25 billion commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity is already supporting diverse small businesses and partners, including many recipients here in Rhode Island who provide job skilling and hiring programs.

We’ve also increased resources to support our teammates’ emotional and financial well-being. Recently, we raised our minimum hourly wage for U.S. employees to $21 per hour, moving closer to our goal of $25 by 2025.

My teammates and I look forward to growing existing partnerships and creating new ones as we work together to make a difference. Have a safe and happy holiday season.

What would you like the power to do? ®

Kevin Tracy President, Bank of America Rhode Island

Learn more at bankofamerica.com/rhodeisland

Zelle and the Zelle related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license. Bank of America, the Bank of America logo, Erica® and CashPro® are registered trademarks of the Bank of America Corporation. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender © 2021 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | 13

SUPPLY CHAIN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

have been capacity limits, labor shortages and now supply chain problems.

About 40% of local businesses reported significant challenges caused by a lack of supplies, according to a recent Chamber survey. Many businesses have developed strategies to lessen their troubles.

The owners of the French Confection bakery in Middletown have resorted to ordering the same materials from several suppliers in the hopes that at least one vendor can deliver on time. The downside: the bakery is short on some products and overstocked on others. It’s all costly for the business, which pays for its orders in cash.

“There are times we can’t get the ingredients we need, but then there are other times we order it and one person doesn’t have it, the next supplier doesn’t have it, we order it again from the third supplier, and then the other ones come through,” said owner Karen Mauprivez.

While the French Confection had mostly dodged passing the costs to their customers, the bakery had to draw the line at the Yule logs.

The traditional Christmas cakes require specialized, long boxes for packing, which have gone up about $5 a box. Mauprivez was forced to respond with an 8% price hike.

The boxes have caused issues beyond pricing.

The bakery ordered them in August and was told last month to expect delays. Then a few weeks later, there was more bad news: the supplier only had the cardboard boxes in the wrong sizes.

With no other option, the French Confection has been packing the cakes into awkwardly oversized boxes.

The holiday shopping season has been a mixed blessing for retailers. Consumers are still in the buying spirit, but many store owners are struggling to keep shelves stocked.

At Symposium Books Inc. in Providence, shipments have been “a little choppy, but not a killer,” said owner Scott McCullough. For most book orders, shipments that would normally arrive in one to three days now take about a week.

That hasn’t caused significant issues, McCullough said, but he’s still on alert for potential troubles because the situation has been so unpredictable.

During a typical holiday season, Symposium would stock five to 15 copies of certain popular titles. This year, McCullough nearly doubled those numbers so he could deal with unexpected rushes without having to place orders that would likely not be fulfilled until after Christmas.

“I’d say it will get a little more complicated as the holiday season gets going,” he said earlier this month.

‘I think it will sort of linger on through next fall or so.’

MICHAEL GRAVIER, Bryant University marketing professor also getting calls for prospective customers doing the same. “[The U.S. will] never get 100% of [the overseas manufacturing] back, but if we could get 10% of it back, that would be a huge amount of business,” he said.

For now, however, the supply chain problems are a huge hassle.

Woody says the company has plenty of fabric to make lanyards, but it is struggling to find metal clips that are attached to the end of the lanyards.

Those clips come from China but are unavailable right now.

If Trans-Tex received an order for 500,000 lanyards, it would have to turn it down. “We don’t inventory that number of parts,” Woody said.

David M. Chenevert, executive director of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association, says some companies have also been slowed by equipment failures because materials needed for repairs are scarce.

In those scenarios, “we’re not going to be able to get certain products to our customers,” Chenevert said. “So it’s going to be delayed to a consumer down the road. Everything is pushed back.”

The consequence of reduced production is playing out on the docks at Quonset Point. Due to the limitations facing carmakers, shipments have dropped dramatically at the Port of Davisville, Rhode Island’s largest port.

Automobile shipments from foreign companies make up about 95% of the imports at Davisville, but they’ve slowed dramatically since the start of the pandemic because carmakers at first cut production because they were unsure of the consumer appetite to make big-ticket purchases in a crisis.

When those companies realized that Americans were in the mood to buy, other factors such as computer chip shortages made it difficult to ramp

‘PUSHED BACK’ Long before goods are hitting the shelves, the supply chain shockwaves are being felt in factories, including those in Rhode Island.

Many manufacturers are struggling to balance supply levels with fluctuating demand. As the troubles drag on, some are redesigning their supply chain by broadening their supplier base and adding suppliers closer to home.

In fact, Michael Woody says what’s happening now could benefit the American manufacturing sector in the long run – giving more momentum to the “reshoring” movement that’s been underway for years.

Woody, CEO of Trans-Tex LLC, a Cranston company that produces printed narrow fabrics, says he’s already on the hunt for suppliers nearby and

THINKING AHEAD: Scott McCullough, co-owner of Symposium Books Inc. in Providence, says he placed bigger orders for popular books early this holiday shopping season as a way to counteract shipping slowdowns.

PBN PHOTO/ELIZABETH GRAHAM

14 | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com

up quickly.

Consumers in need of a new car have paid the prices, and so have companies that rely on a steady stream of incoming vehicles, such as North Kingstown-based importer North Atlantic Distribution Inc., which unloads the cars, then outfits them with upgrades before sending them to dealerships.

The port’s inbound traffic decreased by more than 25% from 2019 to 2020, according to Steven J. King, general manager of Quonset Development Corp., which oversees the port.

As of November, the port was on track for an even sharper drop-off in 2021: NORAD unloaded 338,447 cars at Davisville in 2019, 247,324 cars in 2020, and 143,600 through September of this year.

THE ROAD AHEAD When will the situation return to normal?

Many businesses are buckling down for what they anticipate will be persistent problems.

Gravier expects that government efforts, such as the White House’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, will help to create long-term change in supply chain management, as will cybersecurity improvements. Companies are already looking to reduce the number of countries they get their components from, he said.

For now, however, Gravier anticipates congestion at ports will continue. Shipping container shortages, a lack of workers and even inflation won’t make things easier at least until late next spring.

Afterward, knots in the supply chain “will start to unravel,” Gravier said, “but then I think it will sort of linger on through next fall or so.”

While Gravier doesn’t see immediate relief on the horizon, he expects that in a year’s time, companies and world governments will have come up with more fixes to mitigate the severity of shortages and disruptions in the supply chain.

In the meantime, Mocarski at Cleverhood continues to feel her way through the crisis.

The company sources materials from China and has them delivered to a factory in Vietnam where the rain capes are made. What was a weekslong process now takes months, not including the additional months it takes to ship the product to the U.S. And the rising costs have been a burden, too.

Cleverhood made a decision early in the pandemic that turned out to be the right one. The company committed to buying a bulk load of inventory – a gamble that paid off because it allowed Cleverhood to better keep up with demand.

That said, Mocarski admits now that the big financial commitment in a time of crisis and uncertainty was “terrifying.” n

WOMEN IN HEALTH CARE February 4, 2022 Highlighting women in health care who are shaping their own organizations as well as the path forward for other women in the industry.

Profile the heroes in your organization who have worked on the front lines and behind the scenes, those who are new to the industry and those who are well established, in this PBN special feature on February 4.

full page

9.75” x 13.73”

half page 9.75” x 6.34”

quarter page

4.79”x 6.34”

Information to include in profile: • • • • • • •

Name Job Title Company Name Phone number Email address Company Website Number of years working in your current industry

• Number of years with your current company/firm • Undergrad degree/university • Law degree/university • Official bio, 150 to 300 words • High resolution headshot (minimum 300 dpi)

DEADLINE: January 26, 2022

Don’t miss this chance to share your success with your customers and employees.

Reserve your ad space by calling Linda Foster at 401-680-4812 or Foster@PBN.com www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | 15

ANOTHER LOOK | PBN.COM New R.I. tourism chief ‘thinking big’

BY CASSIUS SHUMAN | Shuman@PBN.com

(Editor’s note: A version of this story was first published on PBN.com on Dec. 14.)

PROVIDENCE – “Thinking big is going to be one of the things that is going to set us apart from other states” on tourism, said Anika KimbleHuntley, the new chief marketing officer at R.I. Commerce Corp.

And part of thinking big in the nation’s smallest state also means thinking differently, says Kimble-Huntley, who’s been on the job since Sept.

7. How differently?

Rhode Islanders can expect a new tourism campaign to replace the successful “Fun-Sized” videos first launched in 2017, she said during a recent interview. But here’s the twist: she wants residents to help decide on the next pitch to lure visitors because, she says, nobody knows the Ocean State better than its residents do.

“There is an opportunity for us to do something that is user generated,” said Kimble-Huntley, who has more than 20 years of marketing experience, mostly outside the state. “What do the people of Rhode Island think Rhode Island is?”

The last tourism marketing campaign launched by the state was in 2017, with the “Fun-Sized” videos. Will “Fun-Sized” be brought back in 2022 or should we expect something new?

I think although we’re the smallest state in the union, we have an opportunity to think big.

Thinking big is going to be one of the things that is going to set us apart from other states. That means thinking differently and thinking big. In terms of branding, there is an opportunity for us to come up with options that people are comfortable with. I think it would be amazing to bring the communities together and ask the communities how they define Rhode Island.

R.I. Commerce all but shut down marketing efforts out of state last year, though many still came to Block Island and other beach destinations. In what ways has the pandemic hurt the state’s tourism most, and what needs to be done from the state’s end to repair the damage?

The marketing for the state did not stop. There was a shift in focus, in terms of who was targeted.

The target market was really focused on the drive market, as people weren’t comfortable flying into Rhode Island, and a lot of international visitations had been completely wiped out.

What has been hurt the most has been the tourism piece because when there is a lack of visitation, there is a trickle-down effect where there are less people in the hotels, less people visiting attractions – you have weddings canceled and events that aren’t happening. So I think in terms of challenges moving forward, there are going to be concerns for COVID-19 and its variants.

Another challenge is business and international travel, which has been down. The piece we have an opportunity with, in terms of recovery, is creating a statewide destination marketing strategy and the launching of technology-based marketing solutions to learn more about the visitors that are coming and their preferences.

GETTING HER BEARINGS: Anika Kimble-Huntley, the new chief marketing officer at the R.I. Commerce Corp., has a wall in her office adorned with a map of the state featuring some of its many outdoor attractions for residents and tourists.

PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

The hospitality industry has been among the most devastated during the pandemic.

Can tourism grow here with restaurants unsure if they can meet staffing needs? And is R.I. Commerce involved in coming up with a plan to nurse that industry back to health?

When you look at neighboring states, Connecticut and Massachusetts, and look at our tourism spending, it is down about 4% year-to-date October compared with 2019. Connecticut is down 10%, and Massachusetts is down 17%. So, our recovery is outpacing our [neighboring states].

Regarding the restaurants, food costs have gone up, staffing is an issue, inflation, and then there is the issue of a lack of business travel. I think that although the restaurants are seeing a hit, there is still opportunity. I’m very optimistic, and I know that restaurant industries are very resilient. But I do believe the travelers to the state will continue to contribute to that industry because people can only be cooped up for so long.

We saw that as soon as some of the COVID restrictions were lifted, people started coming out of the woodwork from all our drive markets.

There is a lot of federal funding that is coming to small businesses, and I think that will have a great impact on making sure they can keep their doors open.

How do you see the state and regional tourism districts working together to bring tourism back to pre-pandemic levels, and do you expect that to happen by next summer?

The variants put such a wrench into every-

thing we are doing that it is really hard to predict if we’ll reach pre-pandemic levels by next summer. Rhode Island is very resilient, and the state has learned to be flexible and adapt and continue to move forward.

One example came out of my visit to Newport when I spoke with Evan Smith [CEO of Discover Newport] and his team. We spoke about how great hotel week was and the thought of turning it into hotel month. So, the goal is to bolster tourism and hotel occupancy during the offseason, but also through that collaboration a great idea was born and implemented immediately.

We will create signature events. In my experience that is always a big driver of people; when you create something, and you’re known for it, people continuously come back for it. So, we will create more of those types of events, and work with the regions to do that. And we will partner with [the R.I. Airport Corp.] to promote flights coming into Rhode Island, as well as find ways to bring back international travel.

What are your thoughts for leveraging federal aid to support or address marketing and tourism needs in the state?

Our goal with federal aid has been divided into four areas: paid advertising in partnership with the regions, working with the regions to develop new attractions and destination events, upgrading technology and the state’s tourism website, and doing a strategic analysis on accessibility in the state, meaning moving people around the state – being able to get to Newport seamlessly or being able to get to South County seamlessly. n

‘The goal is to bolster tourism and hotel occupancy during the offseason.’

ANIKA KIMBLE-HUNTLEY, R.I. Commerce Corp. chief marketing officer 16 | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com

FEBRUARY 10, 2022 | 9AM | MARRIOTT PROVIDENCE

2022 – THE CHALLENGES AHEAD: Inflation, supply chain, labor shortages ... and now Omicron…

• What lies ahead for the economic recovery in the state for 2022? And where are there opportunities?

• Rising Inflation – how will interest rates be impacted?

• Can and will consumer spending keep up with rising prices?

• How will business move forward safely?

• How well is the state using federal pandemic aid to help challenged businesses?

• Build Back Better Plan – what it could mean to RI and area businesses?

KEYNOTE SPEAKER PBN’s 2022 Economic Trends Summit will feature a

THOMAS TZITOURIS Head of Fixed Income Research, Strategas

keynote address by Thomas Tzitouris, Head of Fixed Income Research, Strategas followed by a panel discussion with local business experts from various industry sectors providing thoughts on the region’s economic trends and forecasts for 2022, as well as industry-specific viewpoints.

For sponsorship and advertising opportunities, contact 680.4800 or Advertising@PBN.com

www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | 17

FOCUS | HEALTH CARE

HealthSource RI seeing big benefits from ARPA

BY CASSIUS SHUMAN | Shuman@PBN.com

THE

calls from doubting policyholders have been coming into HealthSource RI recently as they express concern that there might have been a mistake on their invoice.

That’s because of the American Rescue Plan Act – the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package, which includes about $30 million in tax credits to provide financial help to people who purchase health insurance through Rhode Island’s marketplace.

Now the agency’s customer service team reports that people are caught off guard about the low cost of their policies.

“People are calling up in disbelief, and they want to validate that their invoice is correct,” said Lindsay Lang, HealthSource RI director.

“They can’t believe it.”

Aid from ARPA has reduced premiums across the board at the health insurance exchange and increased the range of people eligible for coverage. In some cases, monthly premiums can cost less than a dollar, Lang said.

The cost savings are due to $30 million in subsidies such as the “advanced premium tax credit,” which provides the needy assistance by lowering the cost of monthly premiums, Lang said. People who earn more than 400% of the federal poverty

level are now eligible for coverage.

For people at poverty level, the cost of insurance is nominal, with single individuals earning less than $18,000 annually seeing their premiums reduced to less than $1 per month.

“It sounds too good to be true – like one of those gimmicky ads you would see on a billboard – but it’s actually true,” Lang said. “If you have a dollar in your pocket, you could get coverage for a month.”

How long will these subsidies last?

Robert B. Hackey, a professor of health policy at Providence College, said that while the ARPA subsidies may be unsustainable due to their temporary, one-time nature, he sees the subsidies that are a part of the Affordable Care Act remaining intact, and believes there will be no end to subsidized health coverage in the U.S., as the public values health care.

“In the ’60s and ’70s everyone thought the cost of health care would be unsustainable, but yet here we are,” said Hackey, who co-authored a book titled “Today’s Health Care Issues: Democrats and Republicans.”

Hackey said one of the drawbacks to the current subsidized system is cost sharing, as unhealthy participants must pay out-of-pocket costs beyond their premiums, which can make health care prohibitive in some

‘They want to validate that their invoice is correct.’

LINDSAY LANG, HealthSource RI director 18 | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com

­ OORDINATING C COVERAGE: HealthSource RI Director Lindsay Lang, third from left, meets with staff members, from left, Contessa Brown, senior analyst; Leslie Racine Vazquez, operations manager; and Steve Micke and Katherine Rivera in customer service.

PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

cases.

As of now, Hackey said, ARPA has played a valuable role in the state’s health care system.

“It’s a pretty remarkable thing for the people who thought that they couldn’t afford coverage,” he said. “It also relieves the burden of the hospitals because they would be treating those folks as uncompensated care.”

Implementation of ARPA-subsidized tax credits meant an increase of 13% in HealthSource enrollees for 2021 over the prior year. For now, the enhanced tax credits have been extended into 2022 under ARPA, which people can apply for during the open enrollment period until Jan. 31.

Lang said that with the ARPA subsidies, there’s an increase in assistance of about $52 a person per month on average. The average premium price prior to ARPA was about $123 a month after applying tax credits.

Now, the premium is about $68 a month on average.

Under ARPA, a 60-year-old earning $60,000 annually would see their premium reduced from $742 to $425 a month. The premium for a 30-yearold earning $30,000 a year would be decreased from $193 to $83 a month.

A family of four that earns a collective $70,000 annually will be eligible for their coverage at $274 a month. That is a cost reduction of up to $800 less than it was prior to ARPA. “So, it’s real money,” Lang said.

Robin Dionne, HealthSource RI spokesperson, said 19% of those enrolled have premiums under $1 a month, compared with 2.5% prior to the ARPA subsidies. And 43% have premiums under $10 per month, compared with 10% prior to ARPA. “One provision that ended is additional financial assistance to people who received unemployment insurance benefits during 2021,” Dionne said. “At this time, that federal benefit is scheduled to end on Dec. 31.”

Lang said the unemployment assistance could return in 2022 under the Biden administration’s Build Back Better Plan. Per the benefit, the unemployed could receive the maximum tax credit and a zero-cost deductible policy.

HealthSource RI also has a program for employers that provides about 1,000 small businesses with commercial insurance policies.

Lang said the HealthSource goal is to boost the percentage of insured Rhode Island residents from 96% to 100%, but she noted that the uninsured population is difficult to reach because they might not be receiving information about HealthSource RI or believe the coverage does not apply to them.

The uninsured are disproportionately represented by young people who tend to be male and from the Latino community, she said, noting that some people are falling into the ranks of the uninsured for the first time due to employment status.

“We’re built for job loss, or income loss,” Lang said. “We are here for you, and you can get really low-cost coverage through us.” n

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www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | 19

FOCUS | HEALTH CARE CVS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

While closing 900 of its nearly 10,000 U.S. stores over the next three years, the company said it plans to use its nationwide footprint of retail locations to establish 250 to 350 primary care centers by the end of 2024, each staffed by two care teams, which consist of a doctor and two advanced practice nurses.

“The market is ripe for change that only we can deliver,” CEO Karen S. Lynch said at the investors event.

A big part of the CVS primary care plan is to incorporate smartphone technology to reduce the paperwork and waiting associated with a doctor’s visit, using geolocation technology to allow patients to check in and fill out forms digitally. And the care continues after the appointment, as CVS plans to maintain contact with patients through its interactive app to send reminders of doctor’s recommendations, inquire about a patient’s status, deliver further instructions and allow patients to refill prescriptions and schedule future visits.

“We’ll make it super simple,” said Alan Lotvin, executive vice president for CVS Health. “When you get to the doctor’s office, guess what? You don’t get the clipboard and get asked 150,000 questions that you know nobody is actually going to look at. No check-ins. No I’ve-got-to-stand-behindseven-­people. It’s just geofence, ‘Hello, welcome, nice to see you’re here, we’re running on time, see you in two minutes, have a seat or have some coffee.’ ” “And really importantly,” Lotvin added, “when you leave, you will know exactly what happened, exactly what the plan is. ‘Your blood pressure is a little high? We want to lower it. Here’s the things that we’re going to do. And here’s what you want to do.’ … You not only become empowered, which is a term that’s great, but you become engaged.”

Some local doctors worry that the full-on pivot

by CVS into more primary care services will just create more headaches for them and potentially cheapen the personal quality of health care in the long run.

Dr. Howard Schulman, a general internist with a practice in East Providence, said he’s concerned that quick trips to the new CVS primary care centers will not be coordinated and will leave a patient’s regular doctor in the dark before the patient’s return to their doctor’s office when a more complicated medical issue arises.

“It seems like a money-making deal, as opposed to helping coordinating care and better service for patients,” Schulman said. “We don’t need help taking cheap, five-second appointments for antibiotics, things like that.

“The most important thing when you go see a doctor is that you see a good doctor, not whether they have a [short] line outside,” he said. “If

PREP TIME: A man waits to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at a CVS pharmacy store in Buffalo Grove, Ill., earlier this month. The Woonsocket-based chain has plans to put emphasis on primary care at some locations.

AP PHOTO/NAM Y. HUH

there’s a big line outside of a restaurant, that’s a reason to go.”

And it could be a financial blow to primary care physicians in private practice who are struggling with low reimbursement rates from coverage providers, while generally getting paid less than specialty doctors, Schulman said.

“It’ll be more competition, and another hassle to deal with,” Schulman said.

CVS executives said they see opportunity in the 25% of adults who do not have a primary care provider, with a 24-day average wait time to see a primary physician in the U.S., where 20% of adults didn’t see a doctor or went without recommended care within the past year. And the company said it could also reduce costs for U.S. medical patients, who on average face $11,100 in health care costs each year.

Lynch said CVS will not necessarily be in competition with primary care doctors across the country. Instead, CVS would be establishing its care facilities in markets that have low physician availability.

“Clearly, these unmet needs create opportunities for CVS Health to connect consumer experiences in ways that lower cost, increase access and

improve the quality of care and improve health outcomes,” Lynch said. “They want to be part of the solution and they recognize some of their patterns might require an extension. We’re a natural extension of that. We look at this as a partner, not necessarily competing.”

Natalie Schibell, a senior analyst at Forrester Research Inc. who focuses on the health care industry, said the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated by a decade the concept of “consumer centricity,” and CVS is seizing on that consumer demand for digital communications and convenience to earn its share of the country’s $4 trillion in annual health care spending.

Schibell said she expects other companies to follow suit, including potentially Walmart Inc., which currently offers urgent care services and prescription delivery, and Amazon.com Inc., which offers telehealth services along with prescription delivery.

“I think established primary care providers should be worried because this is a convenience for the consumer,” Schibell said. “CVS, I think, is capitalizing on a rise in consumerism. … Patients are demanding everything at their fingertips. They want that same convenience in health care.” n

‘The most important thing when you go see a doctor is that you see a good doctor.’

DR. HOWARD SCHULMAN, general internist 20 | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com

events

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BUSINESS Premier Event JANUARY 20

The best business networking event of the year!

Business leaders and executives join PBN in honoring the many companies featured in the Book of Lists. #PBNBOLPREMIER

BESTPLACES TO

WORK★RI AWARDS

JUNE 8

Celebrate the state’s best employers, who are selected based on extensive employee surveys and feedback reports from Best Companies Group. #PBNBPTW

AWARDS APRIL 28

PBN’s C-Suite Awards program recognizes top C-level executives for public, private and nonprofit companies who are innovators, trailblazers, role models and leaders in the community. #PBNCSUITE

40

AWARDS MAY 25

PBN honors the success of women in a variety of industries and recognizes younger, professional women to watch as well as industry leaders.

A career achiever and outstanding mentor are also honored. #PBNBWA

under

forty AWARDS

JULY 21

Recognizes forty men and women, under the age of 40, who are successful in their careers and involved in their communities. #PBN40UFORTY

of Rhode Island AWARDS

AUGUST 4

Healthiest Employers in Rhode Island recognizes employers who have implemented worksite Health & Wellness programs and have shown a commitment to employee health and safety. #PBNHealthiestEmployers

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&

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AUGUST 18

PBN’s newest award program will recognize 25 leaders over the age of 55 for their notable success and strong leadership, both in their fields and in the community, as well as a sustained demonstration of leading others. #PBN25LeadersandAchievers

SEPTEMBER 29

Two great programs, one great event celebrating both growth and innovation in the region. #PBNFGIC

SUMMITS DECEMBER 1

A panel of experts share best practices in leveraging D&I in the workplace. In addition, companies and leaders will be recognized for their exceptional efforts in promoting D&I within their organization and in the community. #PBNDiversitySummit

NOVEMBER 9

Recognizes manufacturers in multiple categories including Lean Manufacturing, Exporting, Workforce Development, Product Innovation and Design and Supply Chain Management. Two individuals will receive the Leadership & Strategy and Manufacturing Champion Award.

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www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | 21

FOCUS | URGENT CARE CENTERS (ranked by number of patient visits in 2020) FOCUS | URGENT CARE CENTERS (ranked by number of patient visits in 2020) 2020 rank

1

2020: 2

Center | Website Director

Address Phone

Southcoast Health Urgent Care Centers | southcoast.org/urgentcare Bradley Silverman, executive director

39 Commerce Way Seekonk, Mass. 02771 (508) 336-6181

No. of patient visits in 2020 Total no. of locations

88,877 7

Total number of clinicians Total staff

47 137

CLOSER LOOK

Top services

Flu vaccines, insect bites, lacerations, minor burns, physicals, point-of-care testing, rashes, respiratory illnesses, simple fractures, sprains

Total patient visits in 2020:

323,885 LIST RESEARCHED BY James Bessette

2 2020: 4

Atmed Urgent Care | atmedurgentcare.net Elaine Narducci, executive director

1524 Atwood Ave. and 5750 Post Road Johnston and East Greenwich, R.I. 02919 and 02818 (401) 273-9400 and (401) 398-8760

59,447 2

6 48

Full lab and X-ray, occupational medicine services, travel clinic, urgent care/walk-in center

3 2020: 3

Concentra Urgent Care Inc. | concentra.com Mark Glovasky, Rhode Island center operations director

1830 Mineral Spring Ave. North Providence, R.I. 02904 (401) 353-1999

53,812 2

18 23

Injury and illness treatment

NEED A COPY? To purchase a copy of this list, call (401) 273-2201 or visit PBN.com/lists for more information.

UPCOMING LISTS Jan. 7: Business & Professional Associations, Rhode Island Coworking Spaces; Jan. 21: Business Development Resources, Employee Benefit Administrators, High-Tech Funding Sources.

WANT TO JOIN? For more information about participating in PBN’s Top Lists, or to make additions or corrections, call (401) 680-4838 or write to Research@PBN.com.

NL = Not listed last year.

4

2020: 4

Garden City Treatment Center Inc. | gctreatment.com Anthony Mechrefe, Mary Mechrefe, Tanya Gaudioso and Tara Cavanagh, owners

1150 Reservoir Ave., Suite 100 Cranston, R.I. 02920 (401) 946-2400

45,062 1

6 60

Licensed, free-standing emergency room, weekly orthopedic clinic, physical therapy

FOOTNOTES j The facility opened Jan. 4, 2021.  Site of service for Lifespan Pediatric Behavioral Health Emergency Services.

5

Primary Walk-In Medical Center | primarywalkinmedical.com Dr. Constantine Vafidis

684 Warren Ave. East Providence, R.I. 02914 (401) 434-0022

26,100 1

5 18

Drug screens, illness and injury treatment, lab services, joint cortisone injections, school physicals, weight-loss services

2020: 8

Providence Community Health Centers Inc. | providencechc.org Merrill R. Thomas

375 Allens Ave. Providence, R.I. 02905 (401) 444-0400

25,202 1

7 24

Immediate treatment of various illnesses, including allergies, burns, colds, fever and sprains

7 2020: 11

Lifespan Urgent Care Center - Warwick | lifespan.org Bharat Hingorani

17 Airport Road Warwick, R.I. 02889 (401) 606-2520

9,318 1

12 12

Provides treatment for adults and children 18 months and older for cold and flu, earaches and sinus infections, fractures and sprains, animal bites and other health needs

8 2020: 11

Lifespan Urgent Care Center - Middletown | lifespan.org Bharat Hingorani

1360 West Main Road Middletown, R.I. 02842 (401) 606-3110

8,067 1

10 10

Provides treatment for adults and children 18 months and older for cold and flu, earaches and sinus infections, fractures and sprains, animal bites and other health needs

9 2020: NL

Lifespan Urgent Care Center - Providence 1 | lifespan.org Bharat Hingorani

66 Branch Ave., Suite 150 Providence, R.I. 02904 (401) 606-2590

7,227 1

11 12

Provides treatment for adults and children 18 months and older for cold and flu, earaches and sinus infections, fractures and sprains, animal bites and other health needs

10 2020: 10

Bradley Hospital Access Center 2 | lifespan.org Kathleen Donise

1011 Veterans Memorial Parkway East Providence, R.I. 02915 (401) 432-1000

773 1

12 17

Conducts planned admission evaluations for both inpatient and partial levels of care, as well as emergency evaluations for children and adolescents in crisis

2020: 6

6

1 The facility opened Jan. 4, 2021.

2 Site| of DECEMBER service for Lifespan Pediatric Behavioral Services. BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com 22 24, 2021-JANUARY 6,Health 2022Emergency | PROVIDENCE

FOCUS | ENERGY COMPANIES (ranked by number of local full-time employees) FOCUS | ENERGY COMPANIES (ranked by number of local full-time employees) 2021 rank

1

2020: 1

2

2020: 2

3

2020: 3

4 2020: 4

Company | Website CEO/President

Address Phone

National Grid PLC | nationalgridus.com Stephen Woerner, president, National Grid New England

280 Melrose St. Providence, R.I. 02907 (800) 322-3223

Schneider Electric | schneider-electric.com Annette Clayton, North America CEO and president

132 Fairgrounds Road South Kingstown, R.I. 02892 (401) 789-5735

No. of local full-time employees

Services offered

Year founded

950

Clean energy delivery company, electricity, natural gas

1883

Eversource Energy | eversource.com Joseph R. Nolan

50 Duchaine Blvd.

New Bedford, Mass. 02745 (800) 592-2000

578

193

Digital transformation of energy management and automation

Electricity, gas and water service

1836

LIST RESEARCHED BY James Bessette

2012

Design, siting, financing, construction, and ongoing management of solar power systems and wind turbines

5 Richmond Square Providence, R.I. 02906 (401) 619-5906

39

Clean energy solutions engineering and construction

2010

Isaksen Solar | isaksensolar.com Brad Camiel and Ryan Rego, co-founders

18 Pocasset St. Fall River, Mass. 02721 (508) 567-0647

19

Solar panel installation for residences and businesses in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts

2017

Energy Development Partners | edp-energy.com Maarten Reidel, principal and managing member; Frank A. Epps, principal and CEO

260 West Exchange St., Suite 102A Providence, R.I. 02903 (401) 349-1229

16

Renewable energy project development

2013

8

First Point Power LLC | firstpointpower.com Peter Schieffelin, CEO

2000 Chapel View Blvd., Suite 450 Cranston, R.I. 02920 (401) 684-1443

15

Retail commercial supplier providing electricity

2009

2020: 8

9

eNow Inc. | enowenergy.com Jeffrey Flath, founder, CEO and president

133 Hallene Road Warwick, R.I. 02886 (401) 732-7080

12

Solar electrical systems used to power lift gates, in-cab HVAC, refrigeration, telematics and hotel loads

2011

10

E2SOL LLC | e2sol.com Anthony Baro, managing principal

10 Dorrance St., Suite 700 Providence, R.I. 02903 (401) 489-2273

10

Renewable energy design and build developments, electric transportation infrastructure design and build

2010

Arctura Inc. 1 | arcturawind.com Neal Fine, founder and CEO

336 Columbia St. South Kingstown, R.I. 02879 (401) 595-7379

6

Develops technologies and products that reduce the cost of wind energy

2016

12

Northeast Solar & Wind Power LLC | neastsolar.com Vito Dominic Buonomano, owner

937 Smith St. Providence, R.I. 02908 (401) 228-1900

4

Energy efficiency and renewable energy

2009

13

Got Sun Go Solar Inc. | gotsun-gosolar.com Ronald Bennett, owner

1539 Fall River Ave., Suite 1 Seekonk, Mass. 02771 (774) 229-2986

3

Turn-key commercial and residential solar design, installation and monitoring

2009

PowerDocks LLC | power-docks.com Chris Fagan, co-founder; Anthony Baro, managing partner and co-founder

10 Dorrance St., Suite 700 Providence, R.I. 02903 (401) 489-2273

2

Aquatic electrical charging platforms

2016

Ocean Wave Energy Co. | owec.com Foerd Ames, owner

1678 East Main Road, Unit 21 Portsmouth, R.I. 02871 (401) 380-6906

1

Marine renewable energy development

1978

5

6 2020: 6 7

2020: 9

2020: 7

2020: 9

11

2020: 11

2020: 12

2020: 13

14

2020: 14

15

2020: 15

Total number of local full-time employees:

1,933

85

2020: NL

CLOSER LOOK

Green Development LLC | green-ri.com Mark DePasquale, founder and CEO

2000 Chapel View Blvd., Suite 500 Cranston, R.I. 02920-3040 (401) 295-4998

Newport Renewables | nptre.com Michael Cabral and Stuart Flanagan, principals

1 Aquanis Inc. rebranded as Arctura Inc. in October 2020.

2009

NEED A COPY? To purchase a copy of this list, call (401) 273-2201 or visit PBN.com/lists for more information.

UPCOMING LISTS Jan. 7: Business & Professional Associations, Rhode Island Coworking Spaces; Jan. 21: Business Development Resources, Employee Benefit Administrators, High-Tech Funding Sources.

WANT TO JOIN? For more information about participating in PBN’s Top Lists, or to make additions or corrections, call (401) 680-4838 or write to Research@PBN.com.

NL = Not listed last year.

FOOTNOTE j Aquanis Inc. rebranded as Arctura Inc. in October 2020.

www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | 23

| SPONSORED CONTENT |

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE SECURITY

BANKING

LAW

SecurityRI.com Board of Directors has elected Gian Gentile as Chief Executive Officer.

Gian has served the company for almost ten years, in his prior role as Chief Operating Officer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship from Johnson & Wales University. His security, technology, and leadership knowledge will continue to assist with SecurityRI’s future innovation and growth.

Amy Walsh has joined JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking as an Executive Director for Middle Market Banking in Rhode Island.

Amy has more than 20 years of commercial banking experience. She serves as a Board Member for the Newport County Chamber of Commerce and on the Business Partners Committee for South County Hospital. Amy is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and the University of Pennsylvania Stonier Graduate School of Banking. In 2020, she was recognized by Providence Business News as a “Woman to Watch” in Financial Services and by New England Banking Magazine as a “Women in Banking” award recipient.

HEALTH CARE

SIGN MANUFACTURING

HEALTH CARE

HEALTH CARE

Maureen Bischoff, HopeHealth’s Chief Operating Officer was elected to the CareLink Board of Directors as Treasurer.

Maureen has been with HopeHealth, a non-profit hospice, palliative care, and home health provider for over 10 years. CareLink is a non-profit network of post-acute and community-based care providers focused on older adults and adults with disabilities.

Poyant, a sign manufacturer, and branding specialist serving local, regional, and national organizations, has named Susan Poyant Director of Human Resources and Safety. Susan is responsible for all Human Resources activity including recruitment, career planning, employee safety, HR information systems, compensation planning, etc. Susan joins Poyant with 35 years of experience, having started in the electrical utility industry, then Amica Insurance and most recently retiring from Acushnet Company.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Rivier College and has been certified by the Society of Human Resources Professional as a Compensation Professional and Global Compensation Professional.

DaeHee Kim, MD, has joined Rhode Island Medical Imaging as a radiologist.

Dr. Kim was an Assistant Attending Radiologist, Assistant Member, Department of Radiology, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He completed a Fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at New York Presbyterian Hospital – Weill Cornell Medical Center & Memorial Slone Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Kim was Chief Resident, Residency in Diagnostic Radiology, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, MA. He earned a BS, Cum Laude, from Binghamton University, State University of New York. Dr. Kim earned an MD from the University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health.

He resides in Barrington.

Jeanna M. Harvey Barnes, MD, has joined Rhode Island Medical Imaging as a radiologist.

Dr. Barnes completed a Thoracic and Cardiac Imaging Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and a Diagnostic Radiology Residency at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital. She also held an internship at the University of Miami/JFK Medical Center Palm Beach Regional GME Consortium, Atlantis, FL. Dr. Barnes earned a BA degree in Economics, Cum Laude, from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, and an MD, graduating with Research Distinction, from the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in Florida. Dr. Barnes lives in Providence.

Kelly, Souza & Parmenter, P.C. (KSP Law) is pleased to announce that Michael D. Resnick has become a partner at the firm. Michael is an integral part of the land use, construction and business practices at KSP Law. He regularly appears before municipal boards in all aspects of land use, zoning and planning throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.As a partner, Michael plans to continue to grow his practice and provide his clients with excellent service and successful outcomes while continuing the tradition of tenacity at KSP Law.

HEALTH CARE Colette Silverman, Executive Director of Scandinavian Communities in Cranston, was elected as CareLink Board of Directors as Secretary. Colette has served as the Executive Director of Scandinavian Communities, a senior care provider offering a continuum of care, for the past two years.

Prior to this role, Colette was the Administrative Director of Corporate Quality for Cape Cod Healthcare.

CareLink is a non-profit healthcare network providing post-acute and community-based services to older adults and adults with disabilities throughout the state of Rhode Island.

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IT’S PERSONAL Johnson to lead United Way board DOLPH JOHNSON, executive vice president and chief global human resources officer for Pawtucket-based toymaker Hasbro Inc., was recently named the new chairperson for the United Way of Rhode Island’s board of directors. He succeeds Michele Lederberg, executive vice president, chief legal officer and chief administrative officer for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

What drove you to get involved with the United Way of Rhode Island?

Both my desire and decision to become involved with United Way of Rhode Island came naturally. I feel that the organization’s mission is an extension of the purpose we hold dear at Hasbro, “to make the world a better place for children and families.” The inequities in our state are clear and I believe United Way is uniquely positioned to address the root causes of issues in order to create the change we need. I am drawn to that call to action, and to the incredible people of United Way who share this passion to serve.

What goals do you hope to achieve for the organization?

First and foremost, I’m eager to support [CEO and President] Cortney Nicolato and the exceptional team she’s built. I am inspired by

Cortney’s vision and the immense capability of the team focused on executing that vision. I also want to serve as encouragement to our board to take on an even deeper level of engagement; this work requires us all to play a bigger role. And I want to ensure United Way connects with the next generation of supporters.

It’s incredibly important to connect with this group so they can light the path for future generations.

What areas of the community do you feel the United Way needs to focus on in the upcoming year?

Our Black and brown communities continue to experience disproportionate inequities on many fronts.

But I believe strongly that housing and education must remain our most critical areas of focus. It is hard to envision a good quality of life without first having a safe, afford-

able home to go to each night. And much of that quality of life is built upon a foundation that begins with education. I think we’re all aware of the challenges our kids face to learn today and that the pandemic exacerbated the inequities we see.

So much of our future is grounded in ensuring everyone has equal access to opportunities, especially housing and education.

What new initiatives at the United Way do you hope to be directly involved with?

It’s not a new area, but one where I have tremendous passion and that is closing the educational inequity gap.

My sister is a high school principal, and we talk often about outcomes for kids who lack access to the internet or to computers. I cannot imagine the challenges children faced learning virtually during the pandemic, but to do it without the technology they needed was truly impossible. In this digital age, we must do everything in our power to ensure every Rhode Island child has this access.

These kids are our future, and I can’t think of a place where my time in this role would be better invested. n

MACKAY’S MORAL | HARVEY MACKAY

Customer service is key Comedy writer Robert Orben had an interesting take on customer service: “You go to a coin-operated store and wash and dry your clothes. Then you go to a filling station where you pump your own gas. And on to a fastfood restaurant where you carry your own tray. And what is it being called?

A service economy!”

The irony has not escaped customers, who will be the final arbiter of the current options.

Electronic self-service may be the wave of the future for many organizations, but lots of consumers are bucking the trend. The CRM Buyer website reports that researchers surveyed more than 24,000 consumers in 12 countries about customer interactions, and here’s what they found: n Eighty percent prefer customer service from a human being instead of an automated system. n Eighty-three percent say that interacting with a customer service rep is important on the phone or in a store. n Sixty-eight percent believe they’re more likely to get a better deal when negotiating in person instead of online. n Eighteen percent said they would renew products or services because of

good personal customer service, even if they were more expensive.

Companies are facing new and serious issues meeting the expectations of customers in the current climate.

Hiring difficulties, pandemic restrictions, merchandise shortages and financial challenges have made many organizations rethink their practices.

And stressed employees need support more than ever as they handle extra work and procedures.

In addition, customers who got accustomed to online shopping and home delivery have caused many businesses to make adjustments to the services they offer.

Those challenges aren’t disappearing soon.

And an unhappy customer who receives poor service can make or break a business. Bad online reviews can cripple an otherwise thriving operation.

So, the one constant that must not suffer in the midst of all these

obstacles is good customer service.

There are some fundamentals to keep in mind.

Hire the right people. The rule is you either hire smart or manage tough. Hiring smart is better, but it requires you to know what you’re looking for and to recognize the skills and attitude you want.

Keep score. If you don’t measure performance, your team will be in perpetual warm-up mode. Let employees know what they’re being measured on and how it is relevant to them, their customers and the organization’s bottom line.

Reward the desired outcome. For instance, if you want your salespeople to create relationships and long-term accounts, reward them with back-end commissions, bonuses or some form of appreciation.

Practice what you preach. If you want a motivated customer service rep, you need to be motivated yourself. You need to love your customers

An unhappy customer ... can make or break a business.

because if you’re not sincerely motivated yourself, you’ll never motivate other people to provide excellent service.

Give employees the power to serve the customers’ needs.

Steve Hardison, who went on to become a successful executive coach, began his career in sales at Xerox.

Product returns were against company policy at the time, but according to a story in the Chicago Tribune, one day Hardison decided to let one of his customers return a copier. When his boss demanded an explanation, Hardison said, “If I lose a job because I took care of a customer, then I never had a job.”

The next day, his boss’s boss called him into his office. Hardison fully expected to get fired. Instead, the executive said, “I wish I had more people like you.” His reputation for honesty and integrity was made.

Mackay’s Moral: Make “at your service” your motto. n Harvey Mackay is the author of the New York Times bestseller “Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive.” He can be reached through his website, www.harveymackay.com.

www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | 25

IT’S PERSONAL GUEST COLUMN | ERIC CORMIER

Personality put to the test AS THE LABOR MARKET becomes more competitive, the pressure to hire the right people and engage them within the company’s culture has amped up. Companies have sped up their recruiting process to avoid missing strong job candidates and many interviews are being conducted remotely. Employers are finding it hard to get a feel for a person’s personality traits, strengths and weaknesses.

That has resulted in personality tests becoming a more common practice in the recruiting process.

Personality tests help determine someone’s skill level in several areas – leadership, critical thinking skills, communication style and work ethic.

If understood and used properly, this information can be a good tool to determine someone’s fit in a company.

Along with hiring benefits, companies are also seeing personality tests are effective team-building tools for current employees.

The biggest advantage to using a personality test in the pre-employment process is to identify candidates who are not a good fit for company culture. Employers know the type of candidate they want to recruit for specific positions in their company, and a test can show if they feature those

character traits.

Some pre-employment tests, like the Predictive Index assessment, can predict how a candidate will perform on a certain job. Learning more about a person’s strengths and weaknesses can be more informative than looking at a resume that has been meticulously prepared.

The Five-Factor Model test is another pre-employment test that can help employers in interviews.

By focusing on the five most-studied personality traits – conscientious, likable, unconventional, extroverted and stable – employers can gain more insight into the candidate and generate more meaningful interview questions.

Knowing a person’s personality traits and character tendencies can be extremely useful to ensure a new hire is a long-term fit for a company. More long-term hires mean less need for new employees, reducing the added expenses of training and onboarding processes.

The usefulness of personality tests

is not limited to the hiring process.

Having current employees take one can help a company identify future leaders and form more productive teams.

While vocal leaders are easy for companies to identify, a test can dip deeper and unveil employees with undiscovered potential. There may be employees whose traits line up well for leadership positions and the personality test exposes this untapped talent. Employers can take this opportunity to coach this group so they reach their potential.

Every employee has strengths and weaknesses, not just leaders. By using a personality test to further understand an employee’s traits, employers can evaluate a work group’s collective balance of motives, conflict and strengths. Managers armed with this information can tailor their leadership approach for each team member, which will impact employee morale and productivity.

Sharing the results of a test with an

The usefulness of personality tests is not limited to the hiring process.

employee – including leadership – can help them develop greater confidence within their roles.

The CliftonStrengths, DiSC and Strength Deployment Inventory are strong personality tests for a company to assess their employees’ potential.

When used as a development tool, the tests can lead to greater job satisfaction and higher employee retention.

Business leaders need to carefully evaluate their options when using personality tests. Along with the added cost, there is the potential to put too much weight into the results of the test and not trust the established recruiting process.

The use of the tests can also make the hiring process difficult for potential candidates. If a test is too long or hard to access, it could cause candidates to opt out.

However, potential positives from a personality test usually outweigh the negatives. Proper research on each test and vendor is imperative to ensure it is a good fit for the company. n Eric Cormier is a manager of human resources services in Rhode Island for Texas-based Insperity Inc., which provides human resources and administrative services.

GUEST COLUMN | ELIZABETH C. TIPPETT

Think before you quit RECORD NUMBERS OF AMERICANS have quit their jobs in recent months.

Millions more may be preparing to follow them to the exits. One survey found that around a third of workers wanted to make a career change.

But one of the things I learned as a lawyer and as a professor specializing in employment law is that timing and preparation matter when it comes to quitting a job. So even if you have another job lined up, it’s worth considering a few factors that might influence whether you quit now or stay in your current role for longer.

No unemployment insurance. In general, workers who quit are not eligible for unemployment insurance, which is reserved for those who lost their job through no fault of their own, generally as a result of a layoff.

Two weeks’ notice not required.

Employers often request that workers provide two weeks’ notice before they quit, but your employer cannot force you to stay in a job. Almost all employment relationships in the U.S. are terminable at will, meaning the employee can be terminated – or can quit – at any time.

Check your vacation balance. If you are eligible for vacation or paid time off, it’s worth checking your vacation

balance, as well as your company’s policy regarding vacation payout for workers who quit. Some state laws require companies to pay out the vacation balance as part of a final paycheck. Other states allow companies to refuse to pay out.

Consider your need for leave. If you expect to need family or medical leave to take care of a newborn baby, recover from a health condition or care for a sick family member, now may not be the best time to quit.

Although state law varies, you’ll be eligible to take unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act only if you have worked for a company for more than a year.

The law applies only to companies with more than 50 employees and workers who have logged at least 1,250 hours at the company in the past 12 months.

Health care: Plan ahead. Quitting a job also means losing health coverage received through your employment.

Your termination paperwork should explain how long you will remain covered under the current plan. If you have a new job lined up, you’ll want to ask when you can expect to be covered under the new plan. For any gaps, you can opt to continue under your old employer’s plan through a law called COBRA, but you’ll have to pay the full premium.

You may want to look at the Affordable Care Act health care exchange.

Consider any bonuses on the line.

If you are lucky enough to be eligible for a bonus, you’ll want to check its terms and conditions.

It’s not unusual for companies to require workers to be employed on the date the bonus is paid to be eligible to receive the payment. If you happen to quit the week before, you may be out of luck.

If you expect to receive a big bonus this year, you may want to stick around until that bonus check is in your bank account.

Timing and preparation matter when ... quitting.

26 | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com

The final paycheck: Know your rights. State laws will generally impose rules requiring your employer to pay your final paycheck within a certain period. If you’re owed sales commission, there may be separate rules on when that needs to be paid.

State rules also prohibit your employer from making deductions from your paycheck without your permission – such as deductions for equipment or to recoup a signing bonus or relocation expenses.

Do not take anything from the office (without permission). If your job involved working on a laptop or in an office, it might be tempting to download files for future reference.

Don’t.

That’s a great way to trigger an expensive lawsuit over whether you have stolen trade secrets. And yes, they will be able to tell that you plugged a thumb drive into the machine.

If you just need to download some personal files or a work sample for your future career, get permission. n Elizabeth C. Tippett is an associate professor of law at the University of Oregon. Distributed by The Associated Press.

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ISLAND BUSINESSES ARE climbing out of the crater caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but many are finding that the lingering fallout is dampening their recovery, according to Providence Business News’ Summer 2021 Business Survey.

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OPINION EDITORIALS

Pervasive supply chain woes could boost local manufacturing

BROKEN LINKS: Cleverhood LLC owner Susan Mocarski can’t meet the growing demand for rain capes her company designs because of the months it now takes for some overseas orders to be filled.

PBN FILE PHOTO/ ELIZABETH GRAHAM

Companies doing business overseas have long understood the importance of a dependable supply chain. But for everyone else, this holiday shopping season has provided a crash course on the subject and the weak links in that now-broken chain for consumer goods of all types.

Many businesses have adapted to the health-related challenges created by COVID-19. But their economic recovery has been slowed by delays and rising costs associated with the delivery of everything from car and computer parts to appliances, paper goods, fabric and food.

As this week’s cover story reports, nearly every local industry has been affected by the disruptions that began with worldwide factory shutdowns last year.

Providence’s Cleverhood LLC is among the local companies poised to strongly rebound next year – if it could just get enough rain capes from overseas suppliers to meet growing demand.

The French Confection bakery in Middletown has taken to ordering the same supplies from multiple vendors, hoping that at least one delivers. The result is shortages of some products and an oversupply of others.

And automobile imports at Quonset Point in North Kingstown have slowed dramatically.

Global supply chain issues are expected to linger well into the new year. The silver lining in this latest COVID-19-related crisis is that it may finally lead to increased government and private investment in domestic manufacturing.

Trans-Tex LLC CEO Michael Woody says a return of just 10% of overseas manufacturing to the U.S. would be significant.

“That would be a huge amount of business,” he said. n

Public needs say on new city bus hub The R.I. Department of Transportation made the right decision in pulling back from its preferred option for a new downtown Providence bus hub, to allow for more public input.

No one wants to see another delay in developing a new transit plan for city buses – and revitalizing Kennedy Plaza.

But state transportation officials need to make a better case why a proposed multihub system is the right one.

A year and a half after first unveiling that plan, the DOT now says it will be one of three options that will be presented in upcoming public hearings.

Developers are supporting a single-hub proposal that calls for an indoor transit center on Dorrance Street with a mix of retail and workforce housing. That plan is appealing, though the $77 million price tag could make it ­prohibitive.

A third option, to keep the central hub at Kennedy Plaza with improved security, would be a nonstarter for downtown business leaders.

After years of delays, let’s hope 2022 brings a plan the city, state, business and community interests can support. n

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OPINION OPINION

Many unprepared for broadband windfall BRIAN WHITACRE AND CHRISTINA BIEDNY GUEST COLUMN

The federal government is pouring billions of dollars into expanding broadband internet access. But it’s at the state level where the financial rubber meets the fiberoptic road. History suggests some states are ahead of the game, while others will have to play catch-up.

The recently signed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes significant funding to expand broadband access, to help households pay for their monthly broadband connections and to help people learn how to productively use those connections. This legislation represents Congress’ first formal recognition of the essential nature of highspeed internet.

Historically, broadband funding has been distributed from federal entities such as the Federal Communications Commission or U.S. Department of Agriculture directly to internet providers. The Government Accountability Office, which monitors and audits government operations, has been critical of these efforts.

This time, states are at the center of the funding. The $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, known as BEAD, requires each state to generate a five-year action plan laying out how it will use the funds.

Similarly, the $2.7 billion Digital Equity Act requires each state to establish an organization responsible for developing a digital equity plan. Digital equity means ensuring that every community has

adequate access to the technologies and skills needed to fully participate in society.

Not all states are equally positioned to handle the funds.

Some states have built detailed broadband maps that move beyond the highly criticized FCC versions, and clearly depict areas without access. Others have an established base of nonprofits and public entities that have already been successful at this type of work.

In short, states have varying track records when it comes to broadband projects. Rolling out billions of dollars of funding will be a challenge for those that are new to digital equity.

The largest portion of the broadband funding will be focused on broadband infrastructure. Each state will be awarded an initial amount of $100 million, with the remainder of the $42.5 billion allocated based on the percentage of unserved locations across states.

The states are then responsible for disbursing these funds. Unserved locations can include business sites, not just households.

So, while it might seem unfair that Vermont, with fewer than 50,000 people classified as unserved, receives the same initial allocation as Texas, with over 1.2 million people unserved, this investment is less than 15% of the total BEAD funding. The $100 million should also provide an incentive for states to establish their five-year action plans and to set up offices capable of awarding grants.

States have varying track records when it comes to broadband projects.

The task of setting up a process to handle grant applications and assess which ones should be funded is not trivial. Recent research has defined a competitive grant program as a key component of state broadband policy, including the establishment of evaluation criteria.

States with existing broadband offices and grant programs will be well positioned to hit the ground running. [Rhode Island does not have a broadband office.]

The law also adds several points related to grant awards that will be new for most states, regardless of how long their broadband office has been in place. One prevents states from excluding cooperatives, local governments, nonprofits and public utilities when considering who is eligible for the broadband funds.

The second requires grant awardees to establish a low-cost service option, leaving the definition of “low-cost” up to the state. Similar state-level efforts have not fared well in the past, and there is likely to be opposition from awardees about price and eligibility.

While federal programs to address broadband infrastructure have been around for a while, the focus on digital equity is new.

Here, again, some states are at an advantage.

California has had a program emphasizing digital literacy, accessibility and broadband adoption, with grant programs in each.

Most other states are newcomers to the topic, although there are resources to help them get started. n Brian Whitacre is professor and Neustadt chair at Oklahoma State University’s Department of Agricultural Economics.

Christina Biedny is a Ph.D. student in agricultural economics at OSU. Distributed

by The Associated Press.

Cellphone bans in the workplace reexamined RICHARD CARLSON GUEST COLUMN

Cellphones in the workplace can be a distraction – but they could also save your life.

In the aftermath of a devastating tornado ripping through an Amazon.com Inc. warehouse in Edwardsville, Ill., on Dec. 10 – killing six employees – the online retailer is reportedly reviewing its policy over mobile phone bans during working hours.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, it was common for Amazon to require its employees to leave phones at home or in vehicles before setting foot on the factory floor. The policy was relaxed during the pandemic but was due to be reintroduced in January. Amazon has indicated that a ban was not in effect at the factory at the time the tornado hit, although some employees have suggested Amazon had reinstated the ban elsewhere.

Speaking to Bloomberg, workers at an Amazon warehouse close to the Edwardsville plant said the tornado deaths underscored the need to access phones during emergencies – for example, to obtain information about potentially deadly storms or to help guide rescuers to where people might be trapped.

This isn’t the first time that the issue of cellphone bans in the workplace has come up as a safety concern. After a mass shoot-

ing at a FedEx center in Indianapolis in April 2021, the company faced questions about its ban. Not having a cellphone handy could mean you are unable to relay crucial information about an active shooter’s location.

Bans on employees using cellphones are relatively common in workplaces such as factories, farms and fast-food chains. Such employer rules are legal, and there is little that employees can do about it.

Employers adopt cellphone bans for a number of reasons, including the perceived negative impact of their use on productivity, security and privacy.

There are some laws that limit what the employer can do. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act limits an employer’s restrictions on hourly wage-earning employees’ personal activity, including cellphone use during time the employer treats as “off the clock.” If an employer limits personal activities such as cellphone use during extended breaks or lunch periods, it might have to “count” that time as “working time” for purposes of overtime pay.

But no law prohibits the employer from banning phone use or possession during actual work time or in a regular active

working area.

The National Labor Relations Act is one law that limits how far an employer can go in restricting cellphone possession. In fact, the right of employers to ban cellphones was recently addressed by the National Labor Relations Board, which is the agency that interprets the act. In a 2020 ruling, the board upheld a rule adopted by Cott Beverages Inc. to limit cellphone use and possession.

The board approved the rule because Cott Beverages did not ban employees from storing their cellphones in lockers or using their phones in nonworking areas such as break rooms and outside actual working time. A complete ban on cellphones probably would have violated the National Labor Relations Act, in the board’s view, because it would have interfered with the ability of employees to engage in union activity and related organizational activity.

Nonetheless, the devastating effects of the Edwardsville storm will up the pressure on employers to allow employees to keep hold of their phones, if only for their own safety. n Richard Carlson is a law professor at South Texas College of Law Houston. Distributed by The Associated Press.

www.pbn.com | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | 29

ONE LAST THING PERSPECTIVE

matters. Although real estate is often a competitive field, the National Association of Realtors’ code of ethics requires Realtors cooperate with each other to further clients’ best interest. I have always approached the business and my volunteer roles with a collaborative mindset.

Teamwork has never been more important than during the crisis of the last 20 months.

Realtors and staff for the association and local boards were privileged to work throughout the pandemic.

It took much coordination by all parties, modifying certain business practices, embracing virtual tools to facilitate meetings, professional development classes for recertification, attending remote conferences and conducting virtual showings, and eventually in-person. Our many affiliate partners: lenders, attorneys, inspectors and others also tweaked operations to collectively help our clients accomplish their housing and investment goals.

Sometimes the best way forward requires revisiting the past and reintroducing oldfashioned values through a contemporary lens: n Be respectful, grateful, kind and

encourage others to succeed. n Be inclusive, identify and mentor new

leaders and professionals, be curious and open to change. n Genuine collaboration paves the way for

positive outcomes.

Agueda Del Borgo Places & Spaces Realty LLC broker owner Rhode Island Association of Realtors president Agueda Del Borgo co-founded Providence’s Places & Spaces Realty in 2007. She began serving as the Realtors association’s 2022 president in November.

n Continuous professional development prepares us to be the best versions of ourselves and better serve clients.

We rise by lifting others and honor those who helped us by uplifting the next generations of new voices. n

Teamwork drives success PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

30 | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com

PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS

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EVENT AND EVENT DATE

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Book of Lists Premier, 1/20

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Health Care Educators; College Technology Programs Physician Groups

Notable Women in Health Care

Economic Summit, 2/10

Law Review

Tax Rates, RI; Public Companies in RI President’s Forecast

PBN Summit Recap

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Business Women Awards; Salute to Veterans

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Best Places to Work Awards; Notable Women in Banking & Accounting

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6/24

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Law Firms; Estate Planners CIOs; Software Development Companies

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Property & Casualty Insurers; Disaster Prep & Response Resources

Notable Women in Insurance

Banking & Finance Education (Secondary Schools)

RI Banks Private Secondary Schools

Health Care

RI Health & Dental Insurers; MA Health & Dental Insurers Commercial RE Sales: Office, Retail & Industrial

Law Review

Top Private Companies Cyber Security Companies

A Guide to Stuff, designed, made and built in RI; PBN Summit Recap; Notable Women in Law

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Health Care Summit, 10/27

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PBN Summit Recap; Manufacturing Awards; Notable Wealth Managers; Salute to Veterans

Manufacturing Awards, 11/9

Small Business

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Urgent Care Centers; Addiction Treatment Centers Energy Companies

JUNE

JULY 7/8

6/29

7/22

7/13

AUGUST 8/5

7/27

8/19

8/10

SEPTEMBER 9/2

8/24

9/16

9/7

9/30

9/22

Fastest Growing & Most Innovative Companies Awards

Fastest Growing & Most Innovative Companies Awards, 9/29; Cyber Security Summit, 10/6

OCTOBER 10/14

10/5

10/28

10/19

NOVEMBER 11/11

11/2

11/25

11/16

Diversity & Inclusion Summit & Awards, 12/1

DECEMBER 12/9

11/30

12/23

12/14

Diversity & Inclusion Summit & Awards; PBN Summit Recap

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32 | DECEMBER 24, 2021-JANUARY 6, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com