Fastest Growing & Innovative Companies 2022

FROM THE EDITOR

Handling ‘the difficult things’ sets them apart

FOR MOST LOCAL BUSINESSES, the last two years have presented the biggest challenges they will ever face. But as this year’s fastest-growing and most innovative companies remind us, there is also ample opportunity – and profit – in crisis problem-solving.

Two of this year’s leaders in reve nue growth are repeat winners in their categories, managing outsized growth in 2020 and 2021 compared with pre-pan demic years. Both credit the same team approach to meeting a community need they used before COVID-19 that allowed them to respond to growing demand as the crisis unfolded.

“It’s how you handle the difficult things that sets you apart,” said J2 Con struct Inc. President Jeff Lipshires. The Middletown-based contractor tapped into strong demand for luxury homes and took on new commercial projects. Lipshires credits a committed staff in helping revenue grow an impressive 190% last year compared with 2019.

North Kingstown-based AdCare Rhode Island Inc. has faced a different type of community need – growing demand for mental health and substance abuse services. The demand for its detox and residential services has been “un like anything we have ever seen,” said AdCare CEO Fred A. Trapassi Jr.

Tapping into telehealth services allowed a dedicated staff to help the most people possible and helped grow

revenue 71% over two years.

Read on to see how technology is also driving success for many of this year’s top innovators. They include producers of thermal camera systems and quieter outboard motors and batteries, as well as the use of mobile robots on construc tion sites and the state’s all-electronic tolling system.

We’d especially like to thank return ing presenting sponsor CBIZ & MHM and returning partner sponsors Cox Business and Gallo|Thomas Insurance. Michael Mello Editor

Amazing Customers. Dedicated Employees.

Thank You! Thank You!

We’re growing because of your support, and we simply can’t thank you enough!

Congrats as well to all the great local companies helping to make our community such a special place to live and work. We couldn’t be more honored to be included here with each of you!

FASTEST GROWING

Doing what’s right...for you! greenwoodcu.org 2669 Post Road, Warwick

Accounting TaxAdvisory

Congratulations to the 2022 Fastest Growing & Innovative Companies honorees! We are thrilled to celebrate your stories of growth and innovation. This year’s honorees have demonstrated the ability to protect their bottom lines and manage and build their competitive advantage, despite today’s environment of profound uncertainty.

From tax planning to accounting and advisory services,CBIZ & MHM has the expertise to provide information and actionable strategies that can help your business move forward.

PARTNER SPONSOR MESSAGES

Cox Business congratulates the incredible businesses being honored as Providence Business News’ Fastest Growing and Innovative Companies and we wish you continued success. As your local managed and hosted solutions provider, Cox Business looks forward to supporting your business.

Gallo|Thomas is proud to sponsor the 2022 Fastest Growing & Innovative Companies Awards. We congratulate the outstanding group of 2022 honorees and salute your unique attributes and business acumen. Gallo|Thomas is passionate about serving our clients, our employees, and our local community – and delighted to share this special recognition with the companies and individuals honored this year.

CONTENTS

FASTEST GROWING COMPANIES

$75 MILLION AND ABOVE

1. BayCoast Bank 6

2. SEACORP LLC 7

3. Blount Fine Foods Corp. 7

4. Lafrance Hospitality Corp. 9

5. Charcuterie Artisans 9

Fastest Growing Private Companies List, $75 million and above 10

$25 MILLION TO $75 MILLION

1. J2 Construct Inc. 11

2. Acertitude Inc. 12

3. John Matouk & Co. 12

4. Purvis Systems Inc. 13

5. Greenwood Credit Union 13

Fastest Growing Private Companies List, $25 million to $75 million 14

$5 MILLION TO $25 MILLION

1. Adcare Rhode Island Inc. 15

2. Available Staffing Network LLC 16

3. Pranzi Catering and Events Inc. 16 4. Catalano Construction Inc. 17

5. Brave River Solutions Inc. 17

Fastest Growing Private Companies List, $5 million to $25 million 18

$250,000 TO $5 MILLION

1. Lathrop Insurance Agency Inc. 19

2. Integrated Media Group 20

3. Thompson Insurance Group 20

4. O’Neill Consulting Group Inc. 20

5. IT Support RI 20

Fastest Growing Private Companies List, $250,000 to $25 million ..............................................21

INNOVATIVE COMPANIES

ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING: Gilbane Inc. 22

ENERGY & THE ENVIRONMENT: E2SOL LLC 22

FOOD, BEVERAGE & AGRICULTURE: Blount Fine Foods Corp....................................................23

GOVERNMENT: R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority 24 HEALTH & WELLNESS: First Circle Inc. (Chewsi RI) 24

INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION: Rhode Island CEO Council 25

MANUFACTURING: U.S. Extruders Inc. 25

NONPROFIT: DESIGNxRI 26

TECHNOLOGY: FlorLink Inc. 26 Flux Marine Ltd. 27

NVTS Night Vision Technology Solutions Inc. 27

Record loans helped boost revenue

BY NOEMI ARELLANO-SUMMER | Contributing Writer

BAYCOAST BANK CEO (OR EQUIVALENT) Nicholas Christ, CEO and president

2021 REVENUE $143.3 million

2019 REVENUE $110.1 million

REVENUE GROWTH 30.2%

MARIE PELLEGRINO, senior vice president and chief finan cial officer of Swansea-based BayCoast Bank, says the bank’s 30.2% revenue growth from $110.1 million in 2019 to $143.3 million in 2021 was due in large part to the federal Paycheck Protection Program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to help keep small businesses on their feet.

“In 2021, we had a record number of loan closings,” Pellegrino said of the government stimulus loan pro gram. “We facilitated applications and dispersed money. Everything was fast paced.”

The bank’s Commercial Lend ing Division arranged 828 loans in 2021 during the second round of the program, totaling $88.1 million across its branches in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Several of BayCoast Bank’s di visions grew in 2021, including the Community Banking Division, which saw the opening of two new branches in Rhode Island; BayCoast Financial Services, which earned $1.3 million throughout the year; and the Partners Insurance Group, whose revenue rose by 23% since 2020, hitting $6 million.

BayCoast contin ued that momen tum into 2022, having opened two additional branch es in the Ocean State.

BayCoast Bank was forced to move to a remote-only work system at the onset of the pandemic. The informa tion technology department made sure everyone was equipped with laptops and phone systems so they could work from home, while interactive

teller machines were implemented so customers could still perform transac tions even when bank tellers weren’t in the office.

“Our customers rave about how they love it,” Pellegrino said.

Dan DeCosta, senior vice president and chief information officer, and his team had the hardest job of all at the beginning of the pandemic: configur ing a way for the BayCoast Bank team to process PPP loan applications.

DeCosta described the day in April 2020 when he was abruptly informed that the bank needed a way to ac cept loan applications that very day, despite not knowing anything about what they were at the time.

Despite being put on the spot, he said, “We figured out a way to accept applications by 2 p.m. It took two or three hours. It wasn’t the prettiest, but it just needed to accept applications. The organization came together from there.”

Five hundred applications came in that first weekend alone. Once the initial rush had tapered off, DeCosta and his team redesigned the program so that it automatically fed the appli cation information into the SalesForce technology they were using. Appli cations were prioritized by date and automatically assigned to employees based on who had the least work, in a round-robin fashion. Previously, this

had been a laborious process done through email.

“Tech is huge, but people have a major impact as well,” DeCosta said. “We had [about] 300 employees work ing remotely almost overnight. It was all-hands-on-deck.”

The IT department handled much of the initial load in those first few weeks of getting everyone working remotely, including adding hundreds of employees onto the virtual private network system. They had to keep an inventory log of all devices and organized hundreds of laptops for employees.

“We worked a crazy number of hours,” DeCosta said.

Able to handle forms, signatures and documents for the PPP loans electronically, without navigating the mail, the program DocuSign proved to be invaluable during the loan process es, and it was extremely helpful that the bank had already purchased it for use. Ultimately, employees began to use DocuSign for handling internal processes as well.

“The tech was ready for us,” De Costa said.

BayCoast Bank employees slowly began to adapt to the new technology, and DeCosta said it was gratifying to hear from colleagues that everything was great and easy to use since so many people often dislike new pro cesses and systems.

“These moments have small victories; people are more willing to adopt new technology, and there’s less pushback,” he said. “Thousands of small-business employees were paid because of the loans. They could buy groceries despite their businesses shutting down.” n

‘We had [about] 300 employees working remotely almost overnight. It was allhands-on-deck.’

DAN DECOSTA, BayCoast Bank senior vice president and chief information officer

MONEY TALKS: Amy Hernandez, right, manager of BayCoast Bank’s downtown Providence branch on Dorrance Street, speaks with universal banker Bianca Gouveia.

PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

More production, higher profits

BY ANTHONY VECCHIONE | Contributing Writer

$75M AND ABOVE

SEACORP LLC CEO (OR EQUIVALENT) David Cadorette, president

2021 REVENUE $94.5 million

2019 REVENUE $76.8 million

REVENUE GROWTH 23.1%

FOR 30 YEARS, Middletown-based SEACORP LLC was primarily an engineer ing services-based company focused on the local naval warfare center.

In the last three years, prototype work led to production contracts with the Naval Sea Systems Command. The company won its first production contract as a prime contractor for the Multi Mission Modular Mast that it developed as a prototype.

“We took some of the hardware work we were doing and we became a major supplier to Lockheed Martin Corp. in Syracuse, N.Y., and Progeny Systems, now part of General Dynamics Mission Sys tems, for hardware components for their electronic warfare systems,” SEACORP President David Cadorette said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SEACORP transitioned to a work-at-home environment. However, a significant por tion of the workforce performed classified work and had to report to a facility.

Going forward, Cadorette says SEA CORP is expanding from submarines into surface platforms, unmanned platforms, undersea, surface and aerial vehicles. n

Staying fed through

BY JENNA PELLETIER | Contributing Writer

$75M AND ABOVE

BLOUNT FINE FOODS CORP. CEO (OR EQUIVALENT) Todd Blount, CEO and president

2021 REVENUE $530.9 million

2019 REVENUE $432.4 million

REVENUE GROWTH 22.8%

EVEN AFTER 142 YEARS in business, Blount Fine Foods Corp. continues to grow, increasing annual revenue by 22.8% last year compared with 2019.

CEO and President Todd Blount attri butes most of Blount’s recent growth to the way it was positioned at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Fall River-based company, which produces more than 900 products, in cluding prepared soups and macaroni and cheese, for retail stores, restaurants and institutions throughout the country, filled consumers’ desire for high-quali ty prepared foods at a time when many restaurants were temporarily closed or operating at a reduced capacity.

“Probably the core element [to our growth] was having products available for the deli department at retail,” Blount said. “Many shelves were empty at the time. But we were fortunate enough to have a bunch of our items that were ready to go. That gave us the ability to grow quickly because we were basically filling a vacuum.” n

Lafrance makes up for lost time

BY WENDY PIERMAN MITZEL | Contributing Writer

$75M AND ABOVE

LAFRANCE HOSPITALITY CORP.

CEO (OR EQUIVALENT)

Richard Lafrance

2021 REVENUE $75.9 million

2019 REVENUE $65.7 million

REVENUE GROWTH 15.5%

WITH SO MANY PLANS put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lafrance Hospitality Corp. is making up for lost time, and revenue, with one of the best hotel services of all – weddings.

“We’ve seen pent up demand in our wedding activity both in hotel room nights, as well as hosting weddings at our various venues,” CEO Richard Lafrance said.

The Westport-based hospitality group even opened the Westport Marriott Towne Place and the Mansfield Fairfield Inn within the last two years and now serves as management oversight of Tru by Hilton in Manchester, N.H.

As a result, Lafrance welcomed a 15.5% revenue increase last year com pared with 2019.

Additionally, the company developed two take-out restaurant concepts to supplement its food take-out business, Lafrance said. He noted that both Back Door Burgers and Cockpit Charlie’s have continued to grow in volume.

Lafrance forecasts an additional 10% growth in revenue over last year. n

Hungry for continued growth

BY JOHN A. LAHTINEN | Contributing Writer

FORMED IN 2020 when Daniele Foods and Creminelli Fine Meats merged, the team at Charcuterie Artisans was still celebrat ing the new venture when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

The Burrillville-based food manufac turer immediately implemented a wide range of practices, including temperature checks and installing dividers to keep its nearly 700 employees safely working. Charcuterie weathered the pandemic and grew its revenue by 14.3% last year com pared with 2019.

Despite consumer and supply chain uncertainty, Charcuterie launched its Del Duca brand in May. It also has transi tioned the Creminelli snack pack line into 80% post-consumer recycled packaging, a move that diverts the equivalent of more than 11 million water bottles from land fills and oceans.

“Innovation is key to growth, both innovation in the products we make, as well as consistently improving how we make them,” Charcuterie Chief Marketing Officer Eric Schwartz-Johnson said. “We love our craft and enriching others’ lives with it.”n

visit us at blountfinefoods.com follow us @blountfinefoods @blountsfamilykitchen @clamshacknationvisit us at blountfinefoods.com follow us @blountfinefoods @blountsfamilykitchen @clamshacknation visit us at blountfinefoods.com follow us @blountfinefoods @blountsfamilykitchen @clamshacknation visit us at blountfinefoods.com follow us @blountfinefoods @blountsfamilykitchen @clamshacknation

Chewsi helps you save on your dental care. Free to join. Scan the QR to learn Chewsi ChewsiDental.com 1-855-624-3974 readers save at the dentist.

2

1 BayCoast Bank |baycoastbank.com NicholasChrist

2 SEACORPLLC 1 |seacorp.com DavidCadorette, president

3 Blount Fine FoodsCorp. |blountfinefoods.com ToddBlount

4 Lafrance Hospitality Corp. | lafrancehospitality.com Richard Lafrance, CEO

5 Charcuterie Artisans |charcuterie.com ChrisBowler, CEO

6

Ocean State JobLot |oceanstatejoblot.com MarcPerlman, principal owner and CEO;Alan PerlmanandSteveAronow, principal owners

7 Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island | nhpri.org PeterMarino

8

9

Southcoast Health System 2 |southcoast.org Dr. RayfordKruger, interim CEO and president

Navigant Credit Union |navigantcu.org KathleenOrovitz

10

Woodard & Curran |woodardcurran.com AlysonWatson, CEO

11 Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island | bcbsri.com Martha L.Wofford

12

BankNewport | banknewport.com Jack F. Murphy

13 Hope Global |hopeglobal.com MarcelinoDe Santiago, president and chief operating officer

330 Swansea Mall Drive Swansea,Mass.02777 (888)678-7641

62 Johnnycake Hill Middletown,R.I.02842 (401)847-2260

630 Currant Road Fall River,Mass.02720 (774)888-1325

41 Old Bedford Road Westport,Mass.02790 (508)678-7888

1000 Daniele Drive Burrillville,R.I.02839 (401)568-6228

375 Commerce Park Road North Kingstown,R.I.02852 (401)295-2672

910 Douglas Pike Smithfield,R.I.02917 (401)459-6000

363 Highland Ave. Fall River,Mass.02720 (508)679-3131

1005 Douglas Pike Smithfield,R.I.02917 (401)233-4700

33 Broad St., Floor 7 Providence,R.I.02903 (401)273-1007

500 Exchange St. Providence,R.I.02903 (401)459-1000

10 Washington Square Newport,R.I.02840 (401)846-3400

$143.3 mil. $110.1 mil. December 30.2% $33.2 mil. Financial institution

$94.5 mil. $76.8 mil. December 23.1% $17.7 mil. Engineering services

$530.9 mil. $432.4 mil. September 22.8% $98.5 mil. Food manufacturing

$75.9 mil. $65.7 mil. December 15.5% $10.2 mil. Catering, event venues, hospitality, hotels

$255.9 mil. $223.9 mil. December 14.3% $32 mil. Gourmet food manufacturer

$825 mil. $725 mil. December 13.8% $100 mil. Retail

$1.5 bil. $1.3 bil. December 13% $174.9 mil. Nonprofit health maintenance organization

$995.5 mil. $898.4 mil. September 10.8% $97.1 mil. Health care system

$117.1 mil. $107 mil. December 9.4% $10 mil. Credit union

$262.9 mil. $246.3 mil. December 6.8% $16.6 mil. Engineering, science and operations

$1.8 bil. $1.7 bil. December 6.7% $114.5 mil. Health insurer

$103.9 mil. $97.9 mil. December 6.1% $6 mil. Financial institution

1

$100 mil. $95 mil. December 5.3% $5 mil. Manufacturing Hospital |butler.org MaryMarran,

Nixon PeabodyLLP

50 Martin St. Cumberland,R.I.02864 (401)753-7800

345 Blackstone Blvd. Providence,R.I.02906 (401)455-6200

1 Citizens Plaza Providence,R.I.02903 (401)454-1000

$120.3 mil. $114.8 mil. September 4.8% $5.6 mil. Hospital

$527 mil. $505.5 mil. February 4.2% $21.5 mil. Law firm

Building for a positive future

BY WENDY PIERMAN MITZEL | Contributing Writer

J2 CONSTRUCT INC. is celebrating another banner year in Rhode Island. The Middletown-based construction manage ment and general contracting company has continued keep ing a solid footing in building luxury homes and moving even further into projects within the commercial industry.

really hard to get where we are and who want to keep getting better.”

J2 CONSTRUCT INC.

CEO (OR EQUIVALENT)

Jeff Lipshires, president

2021 REVENUE $31.4 million

2019 REVENUE $10.8 million

REVENUE GROWTH 190.5%

“When I came into this, I thought we would grow, but we have far ex ceeded what I thought in such a short time,” J2 Construct President Jeff Lipshires said.

Founded in 2018, J2 Construct has mushroomed from earning $10.8 mil lion in revenue in 2019 to $31.4 million last year. According to Lipshires, 2022 is on track to be just as successful.

“We’re continuing to grow and are already close to our revenue from last year,” Lipshires said. “The work is coming to us.”

The company currently services Rhode Island, as well as southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the neighboring islands. J2 Construct built 22 new homes ranging from $1 million to $12 million and is working on commercial projects, such as a ho tel renovation, The Weekapaug Yacht Club in Westerly, assisted living centers and even a car wash.

Lipshires said his con nections in the construc tion industry helped get J2 Construct off the ground. His staff of 60 and even more contractors continue to build quality projects that fill out the com pany resume.

Patti Watson, founder and principal

at Taste Design Inc. in Middletown, has partnered with J2 Construct on many projects and says it comes down to trust.

“What I appreciate about Jeff is he brings the same level of service and dedication to everything he does,” Watson said. “I can introduce a client and a project and he will act in that client’s best interests. He has always been so good to put numbers to a proj ect that give a client options. That is so valuable.”

Lipshires has made some strategic moves. When J2 Construct purchased ABC Construction in 2020, it scaled up in terms of infrastructure, particu larly accounting and systems. As the COVID-19 pandemic began, Lipshires applied for some federal Paycheck Protection Program money for that first year to keep the company moving and completing projects.

Also integral to success at J2 Construct is treating employees well, and that includes the significant number of women hired to fulfill the company’s value of promoting gender equality.

“I try to take care of our employees and empower people and reward peo ple for their contributions. We like to keep them involved in a lot of exciting projects and keep things new and interesting,” Lipshires said. “There’s a lot of people here who have worked

J2 Construct is finding so much success that the construction compa ny is literally growing its footprint. It purchased the old Middletown Grange building for $2.2 million for use as the construction firm’s new headquarters at East Main Road and Aquidneck Avenue in Middletown. It is also home to the new Food Shack restaurant and just down the street from the compa ny’s Pell Hotel renovation project.

“We’re excited about the develop ment of the site; we have some great plans and ideas to make it a promi nent gateway to Middletown,” Lip shires said.

Having cultivated a talented group of carpenters, J2 Construct aims to hone its cabinet-making and mill wright functions.

“We have a lot of people here who have worked really hard to get where we are,” Lipshires said. “We strive to get better. It’s how you handle the difficult things that sets you apart – if there’s an issue, we stick with it and get it done.”

An extension of the building pro cess, J2 Construct also offers property and estate management. Lipshires describes construction as a tough business. Labor shortage, material availability issues, rising costs and other complications add “more com plexity” to keep projects on schedule he said.

However, Lipshires is still in awe of J2 Construct’s efforts despite these challenges.

“The fact that we can continue to grow during this time is great,” he said. n

‘We strive to get better. It’s how you handle the difficult things that sets you apart.’

JEFF LIPSHIRES, J2 Construct Inc. president

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: J2 Construct Inc. President Jeff Lipshires, foreground, and his team go over plans for the company’s Pell Hotel renovation project in Middletown.

PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN

A worldwide game changer

BY KIMBERLEY EDGAR | Contributing Writer

$25 MILLION TO $75 MILLION

ACERTITUDE INC. CEO (OR EQUIVALENT) Kevin O’Neill, founder and managing partner

2021 REVENUE $27 million

2019 REVENUE $12.6 million

REVENUE GROWTH 114.7%

BORN OF A JOINT VENTURE between two talent-search consultants introduced in Las Vegas, top-tier executive search firm Acertitude Inc., headquartered in New York but with offices worldwide, includ ing in Providence, had world reach from its 2015 beginnings.

But when Acertitude cultivated roots in London during the COVID-19 pandem ic, that, along with its China presence in Shanghai, solidified the firm globally, landing it at No. 21 on Hunt Scanlon’s 2022 Top 50 Recruiters list, among numerous other accolades.

“That’s been a game changer,” said Kevin O’Neill, managing partner and co-founder along with Philadelphia-based Rick DeRose. “It felt risky at a time when it seemed like the world was imploding. It’s made a global firm of us.”

New pre-deal offerings helped Acerti tude grow its Providence office revenue by 114.7% last year compared with 2019.

Before conducting executive searches in unfamiliar spaces, clients connect with thought leaders in those areas.

Looking ahead, O’Neill says he’s confi dent the firm will continue to grow. “Even in markets that are difficult, the right people, the right teams find a way to thrive,” he said. n

Riding a wave of interest

BY JOHN A. LAHTINEN | Contributing Writer

$25 MILLION TO MILLION

JOHN MATOUK & CO. CEO (OR EQUIVALENT) George Matouk Jr.

2021 REVENUE $68.7 million

2019 REVENUE $42.8 million

REVENUE GROWTH 60.6%

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 250-plus team at John Matouk & Co. has never slowed down.

Whether it was supporting others by producing much-needed masks or keep ing up with the growing demand for its products from customers stuck at home, the Fall River-based fine linen and home accessories provider pressed forward.

“We did our best to meet the demand until the normal suppliers were able to come up to speed,” Chief Financial Officer John Rozo said.

With a rock-solid infrastructure and strong relationships with its suppliers, Matouk has ridden the wave of consumer interest in products for the home, experi encing more than 60% growth in revenue, from $42.8 million in 2019 to $68.7 million in 2021.

In the past two years, the company has invested heavily in equipment to increase production efficiency, including new multi-ply cutter and automated quilting machines. n

A profitable strategy

BY WENDY PIERMAN MITZEL | Contributing Writer

$25 MILLION TO $75 MILLION

PURVIS SYSTEMS INC. CEO (OR EQUIVALENT)

Joseph Drago

2021 REVENUE $44.9 million

2019 REVENUE $29.7 million

REVENUE GROWTH 51.2%

A SERIES OF STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS over the last five years is paying off for Purvis Systems Inc., a Middletown-based technology solutions partner that devel ops, implements and maintains mis sion-critical solutions for federal and local governments.

Rick Foster, vice president of business development and marketing, said those investments were made in the areas of process improvements, customer support, product enhancements and business de velopment. The goal of these investments, he said, was to enhance the high level of service to the company’s clients, as well as create new opportunities for employ ees and better position Purvis for future growth and expansion.

The result was a 51.2% increase in reve nue last year compared with 2019.

“We are motivated by challenges, with an ability to succeed where others can’t,” Foster said. “We’re large enough to be trusted by the U.S. Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health and some of the nation’s most sophisticated pub lic safety organizations, yet we’re small enough to be nimble and flexible.” n

Investing in future growth CREDIT UNION CEO (OR EQUIVALENT)

BY NANCY KIRSCH | Contributing Writer

ADDING STAFF AND UPGRADING technolo gy spurred Greenwood Credit Union’s 20.3% revenue growth last year compared with 2019. The Warwick-based credit union also experi enced a 19% increase in employees and a 12% increase in customers during that period.

“Going paperless accelerated how quickly we could process loan applications and files,” Greenwood CEO and President Frederick Reinhardt said. “We wanted to make sure we were there to help our business partners achieve financial success … now we’re invest ing in robotic process automation technology.”

Adding call center staffers proved valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic, as custom ers wanted to connect primarily online or by phone. Reinhardt says the federal Paycheck Protection Program was a “lifesaver,” as it supported many of Greenwood’s commercial clients.

“Additional government support helped average consumers make loan payments and pay down debt, and it spurred economic activ ity,” Reinhardt said.

As for 2022, Reinhardt sees continued solid growth. “I want to believe that the invest ments we’ve made in people and technology pay us back when we’re there to help our customers and business partners be success ful,” he said. n

Matouk congratulates our region's most innovative and successful companies.

And we urge all businesses, large and small, to join together in an effort to make our country and our planet healthier, safer, and more sustainable for the generations who come after us.

1 J2 ConstructInc. |j2construct.com JeffLipshires, president

499 East Main Road Middletown,R.I.02842 (888)301-0076

$31.4 mil. $10.8 mil. December 190.5% $20.6 mil. and general contracting

2 AcertitudeInc. |acertitude.com KevinO'NeillandRickDeRose, co-founder and managing partners

1 West Exchange St. Providence,R.I.02903 (212)861-0002 $27 mil. $12.6 mil. December 114.7% $14.4 mil. search firm and leadership consultancy

3 John Matouk &Co. |matouk.com GeorgeMatouk Jr., CEO 925 Airport Road Fall River,Mass.02720 (508)997-3444 $68.7 mil. $42.8 mil. December 60.6% $25.9 mil.

Manufacturer of fine bed and bath linens

4 Purvis SystemsInc. |purvis.com JosephDrago, CEO 88 Silva Lane Middletown,R.I.02842 (401)849-4750 $44.9 mil. $29.7 mil. April 51.2% $15.2 mil. Engineering services

5 Greenwood Credit Union | greenwoodcu.org FrederickReinhardt

2669 Post Road Warwick,R.I.02886 (401)739-4600

$32.3 mil. $26.9 mil. December 20.3% $5.5 mil. Credit union

6 Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co.Ltd. 1 | kahnlitwin.com Alan H.Litwin, managing director

951 North Main St. Providence,R.I.02904 (401)274-2001

$57.4 mil. $52.2 mil. December 10% $5.2 mil. Accounting firm

7

Altus Dental InsuranceCo. | altusdental.com JosephPerroni

10 Charles St. Providence,R.I.02904 (877)223-0577

$73.8 mil. $67.2 mil. 2021 9.8% $6.6 mil. Dental insurance

8 Fuss & O'NeillInc. |fando.com BrianKortz, associate and office manager

317 Iron Horse Way Providence,R.I.02908 (401)861-3070

$56.5 mil. $53.2 mil. June 6.2% $3.3 mil.

Consulting engineers, planners and scientists

Helping others is a labor of love

BY ANTHONY VECCHIONE | Contributing Writer

ADCARE RHODE ISLAND INC. CEO (OR EQUIVALENT) Fred A. Trapassi Jr.

2021 REVENUE $13.2 million

2019 REVENUE $7.7 million

REVENUE GROWTH 71.4%

ADCARE RHODE ISLAND INC. weathered the COVID-19 storm. Now, the North Kingstown-based organization offering mental health and substance abuse services is poised for further growth.

The organization’s revenue grew by 71.4% last year compared with 2019. Fred A. Trapassi Jr., AdCare Rhode Island’s CEO, said the organization’s outlook for 2022 is “very good,” with AdCare adding 21 beds to help more people in need.

“Once the 21 beds come online and we go to 80 beds, I think there will be no shortage of people in need of our service, and we look forward to serv ing all of them,” Trapassi said.

AdCare Rhode Island provides detox and residential services for addiction at outpatient facilities in Smithfield, South Kingstown and Warwick. Trapassi said the expan sion will help to address the growing fentanyl epidemic. AdCare, Trapassi says, is the only residential treatment facility in Rhode Island that will start patients on medication-assisted therapies.

“The need is not only in our com munity, and not only in our state, but across the country. It is unlike anything we have ever seen,” Trapassi said. “We believe strongly that everyone may not be ready to be clean and sober. We believe that the assisted therapies are very good for the right person, at the right time

in their life.”

The chances that individuals being treated by AdCare will get on the road to recovery is high. AdCare has an 82% success rate for individuals who want to be put on a medica tion-assisted treatment or those who may be on methadone and want to de tox and get onto suboxone or vivitrol.

AdCare expanded its telehealth initiative during the COVID-19 pan demic and it has plans to increase its outpatient services and add a hybrid health services model.

“Telehealth really helped us,” AdCare Rhode Island Chief Operat ing Officer Sarah Horgan said. “It allowed people to maintain treatment that they otherwise would not have been able to get. But now that we have seen COVID dying down, we are seeing that people want to get back to more of their reality. Adding hybrid models and adding 20 additional beds will be helpful.”

AdCare offers an intensive outpa tient program and individual treat ment via telehealth so patients do not have to come into the facility. Horgan says the organization has seen an improvement in offering services to individuals. As a result, it has helped AdCare grow because patients can be at home after work and schedule their appointments via Zoom, Horgan said.

At the height of the pandemic, AdCare saw an increase in people who needed its services. Horgan said people were working from home and experienced isolation. She said AdCare saw more addiction cases and others who needed services.

“Our employees maintained our mission to provide that care, and they did a really good job,” Horgan said.

AdCare also saw a substantial in crease in alcohol use during the pan demic, particularly among younger individuals. There was also an uptick in anxiety and depression during the health crisis.

Since becoming part of Ameri can Addiction Centers, AdCare has enhanced its website, multimedia marketing and business development. Trapassi says AdCare is working to get the word out to the people in the community of what the organization is and does, some of the improve ments AdCare has made within the organization and the amenities offered to patients.

“We have done a very good job in getting the word out,” Trapassi said.

Trapassi also said that AdCare sus tained growth during the pandemic due in large part to employee dedica tion. He says AdCare’s team loves the work they do and they love the people AdCare works with.

“It’s a lot of hard work; this isn’t an easy job for a lot of people, but it is a labor of love,” Trapassi said. “We are committed to the people that we serve. We are all Rhode Islanders; we all live here, we work here, we raise families here.” n

‘We are committed to the people that we serve.’

FRED A. TRAPASSI JR., AdCare Rhode Island Inc. CEO

HEALTHY CONVERSATION: Michael Coburn, Operating Sarah Horgan; improvement, Rhode Island meet organization’s office.

PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS

Strong investments in workforce

BY ISABELLA DELEO | Contributing Writer

$5 MILLION TO $25 MILLION

AVAILABLE STAFFING NETWORK LLC CEO (OR EQUIVALENT) Danilo Reyes, founder and president

2021 REVENUE $11 million

2019 REVENUE $7.2 million

REVENUE GROWTH 51.9%

AVAILABLE STAFFING NETWORK LLC founder and President Danilo Reyes seems to have tapped into a winning formula: people and passion.

Founded in 2015, Reyes has led the orga nization through several years of change, including staying open during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it was classified as an essential business.

The Providence-based staffing company saw impressive revenue growth of 51.9% last year compared with 2019. Reyes attri butes this recent growth to investing in employees, particularly doubling the num ber of recruiters that the firm employs. The company focuses on job placements in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Plus, Available Staffing Network began offering a referral bonus program, which Reyes implemented due to the pandemic and plans on continuing in the future for people seeking work through the firm.

When the firm facilitates a candidate’s job placement, Reyes said, “they’re able to feed their families. That is the most rewarding part for me.” n

Still serving a full menu #3

BY JOHN A. LAHTINEN | Contributing Writer

$5 MILLION TO $25 MILLION

PRANZI CATERING AND EVENTS INC. CEO (OR EQUIVALENT)

Lisa Mattiello and Nick Mattiello, owners

2021 REVENUE $9.9 million

2019 REVENUE $6.6million

REVENUE GROWTH 49.7%

PRANZI CATERING AND EVENTS INC. has grown over the years, from its humble beginnings in Seekonk in 1997 to being the full-service catering company in Providence boasting 175 employees and a 30,000-square-foot showroom and produc tion space.

But the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Pranzi’s business. From the rising cost of goods, higher fuel prices and ongoing labor shortages, the caterer has had to be both flexible and more mindful of the bottom line.

Such focus, along with treating em ployees and customers with care, enabled Pranzi to grow despite the health crisis, increasing its revenue by 49.7% last year compared with 2019. One factor to Pranzi’s growth was that it offers everything an event needs, from tents to tables to chairs to linens and everything in between.

“We also make things easier for our clients with the rentals, so customers feel ease planning an event with us since we have all the resources they need,” Pranzi co-owner and General Manager Nick Mat tiello said. n

BY ANTHONY VECCHIONE | Contributing Writer

$5 MILLION TO $25 MILLION

CATALANO CONSTRUCTION INC. is grow ing its business by doing what it does best: pursuing large site-work packages for primary education facilities.

“We have found success in these proj ects and have shifted our primary focus to these opportunities,” Catalano President Jason Catalano said. “By partnering with repeat general contractor clients, I believe our team is able to refine our processes and interactions, resulting in increased productivity and revenue.”

Focused on building education CONSTRUCTION INC. CEO EQUIVALENT) Catalano, president

Although COVID-19 forced schools to transition to remote learning, Catalano’s projects continued without stopping. Catalano explained that projects with new buildings being constructed next to exist ing schools have detailed phasing plans to ensure the safety of students and uninter rupted operation.

Going forward, the Cumberland-based company envisions multiple opportunities for new work, with a continued focus on the educational sector.

“Material and fuel costs are in a state of perpetual fluctuation, but we are continu ing initiatives to reduce energy consump tion and coordinate material purchases,” Catalano said. n

BY NANCY KIRSCH | Contributing Writer for

PROVIDING A PORTFOLIO of advanced technology services to a broad array of clients, Warwick-based Brave River Solu tions Inc. achieved 17.1% revenue growth last year compared wtih 2019. President Jim McAssey attributes that growth to an outstanding leadership team.

“We’ve built a strong team that has the ideal skills and experience. They collab orate … to set our course and determine how and where we grow our business,” he said.

Brave River also adopted new cloudbased technologies, which McAssey says have helped automate important proactive tasks so that the company’s information technology clients’ environments are stable, secure and scalable. He also said when Brave River budgeted for 2022, the company believed it could continue to experience very high growth. However, some clients, McAssey said, have become somewhat conservative with spending, given inflation and recession fears.

“We are having a good year; seeing 5% [to] 8% growth,” McAssey said. “To maintain a strong trajectory into 2023, we must continue to attract and retain the best employees.” n

1 Adcare Rhode Island Inc. | adcare.com Fred A. Trapassi Jr., New England region CEO; Sarah Horgan, chief operating officer

2 Available Staffing NetworkLLC | availablestaffingnetwork.com DaniloReyes

1950 Tower Hill Road North Kingstown,R.I.02852 (401)294-6160

$13.2 mil. $7.7 mil. September 71.4% $5.5 mil.

Mental health and substance abuse services organization

3 Pranzi Catering and EventsInc. | pranzi.com LisaMattiello, co-owner and president;Nick Mattiello, co-owner and general manager

500 Broad St. Providence,R.I.02907 (401)274-9300 $11 mil. $7.2 mil. December 51.9% $3.8 mil. Professional staffing and recruiting

CLOSER LOOK four companies from 2021: Adcare Rhode Island Inc. Allergy Friendly Foods

10 Rosario Drive Providence,R.I.02909 (401)383-3631

$9.9 mil. $6.6 mil. December 49.7% $3.3 mil.

Catering weddings, corporate events, social private events

Automated Business Solutions Inc. Available Staffing Network LLC

4 Catalano ConstructionInc. | catalanoconstruction.com JasonCatalano, president

5

Brave River SolutionsInc. | braveriver.com JimMcAssey, president;VincentDiPippo, chief technical officer

10 Nate Whipple Highway Cumberland,R.I.02864 (401)658-3999

$12 mil. $9.5 mil. December 26.8% $2.5 mil.

Sitework, excavation and utility contractor specializing in commercial, academic and municipal projects

6 Gurnet Consulting |gurnet.com MartinKing, founder and CEO

875 Centerville Road Warwick,R.I.02886 (401)828-6611

$5.5 mil. $4.7 mil. December 17.1% $805,078 Technology

7 Westerly Community Credit Union | westerlyccu.com StephenWhite

8

(add)ventures |addventures.com StephenRosa, CEO

10 Dorrance St. Providence,R.I.02903 (888)776-3354 $7 mil. $6 mil. December 16.7% $1 mil.

Digital strategy development, execution and management

9 Vertikal6 |vertikal6.com RickNorberg, CEO

122 Granite St. Westerly,R.I.02891 (401)596-7000

$17.3 mil. $14.9 mil. December 15.9% $2.4 mil. Credit union

10 Automated Business SolutionsInc. | absne.com MichaelArdry, president

20 Risho Ave. East Providence,R.I.02914 (401)453-4748

$17.9 mil. $15.5 mil. December 15.5% $2.4 mil.

Multidisciplinary brand culture and communications firm

30 Service Ave. Warwick,R.I.02886 (401)825-4400

$8.9 mil. $7.8 mil. December 14% $1.1 mil.

Comprehensive, strategy-driven managed information technology services

415 Kilvert St. Warwick,R.I.02886 (401)732-3000

$15.9 mil. $14.3 mil. December 11% $1.6 mil. Office equipment sales and service

Finding the right solutions for clients

BY JOHN A. LAHTINEN | Contributing Writer

LATHROP INSURANCE AGENCY INC.

CEO (OR EQUIVALENT)

John Lathrop, chairman; Dan Lathrop, president; James Kane, vice president

2021 REVENUE $2.3 million

2019 REVENUE $865,011

REVENUE GROWTH 164.2%

BORN FROM THE Great New England Hurricane of 1938, family-owned Lathrop Insurance Agency Inc. in Westerly has been working to design and place the best insurance portfolio to fit its clients’ needs for more than 80 years.

“Insurance is about protecting people from financial loss at a time where they face their biggest obsta cle,” President Dan Lathrop said.

“Whether they have just had a fire, a computer hack or a major recall, when people turn to their insurance company it is in a time of need. See ing people come out on the other side of a claim is the reason we come to work every day.”

Whether there is an issue of insur ance being too expensive or coverage challenges that need to be addressed, Lathrop says the company is devoted to finding the right solutions. Once coverage is in place, Lathrop Insur ance is there to assist in anything, from delivering certificates to help ing track ways to reduce costs.

Lathrop Insurance performed well throughout the COVID-19 pandem ic due in large part to something it has been doing all along – focus ing on caring for its clients and its employees.

“We kept our employees safe through distancing but without sacrificing client service,” Lathrop said. “We invest ed in computer and phone systems that allowed our employees to work re motely without our clients ever feeling like they were working with a remote employee. Every employee that worked from

home did so with a hard phone, dual monitors and a setup as if they were in the office. When clients called, they were not directed to a voicemail nor an ‘out of office’; they had the same ‘Hello, you have reached Lathrop Insurance, how may I help you?’ that we have always provided.”

That recipe for success appears to be working and then some as the com pany saw revenue increase by 164.2% last year compared with 2019.

Over the past two years, Lathrop Insurance has placed a tremendous focus on expanding its offerings to better serve clients. From offering an expanded carrier selection to agent training to enhancing digital sys tems, each of the company’s invest ments has been focused on enhancing service.

“Our innovation comes from our ability to look at a client challenge and use the tools at our disposal to creatively solve the challenge,” Lathrop said. “We have a real estate investment client that bounced from carrier to carrier for years, with challenges arising from working with insurance programs not well-suited to their needs. By utilizing a plat form that was originally designed for banks, we were able to provide a solu tion to the client’s needs that both covered them correctly and made it easier to do business.”

James Kane, partner and vice

president, was quick to echo Lath rop’s sentiments, saying it is the company’s personal service, access to markets and knowledge to anticipate coverage challenges before a claim that really set the provider apart.

“We remain focused on doing what’s best for customers,” Kane said. “For example, cyber insurance has been a huge issue for a few years now. We have partnered with an IT [information technology] security firm to help clients not only be cov ered correctly, but also to make sure they are compliant with everything they need to continue to run their business in the changing world. It feels good to be the people that our clients count on.”

So, what’s in store for 2023? More of the same, if Dan Lathrop has any thing to say about it. In addition to launching new group benefits insur ance services, the company has made several new hires and is introducing a new app that will enable custom ers to track all of their policies from anywhere.

“Lathrop Insurance cares about our employees and our customers,” Lathrop said. “While that is an easy thing to say, we build that philoso phy into everything we do. When we recommend a personal insurance package, our agents are trained to recommend the plan that they would purchase if they were put in the same situation as the client. When there are challenges, we strive to provide solutions as if those challenges were our own, and we always recommend what is right for the client.” n

‘Seeing people come out on the other side of a claim is the reason we come to work every day.’

DAN LATHROP, Lathrop Insurance Agency Inc. president

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: Pictured from left are Lathrop Insurance Agency Inc. account executives Pam Gersbeck and Elena Ivanez-Vilaplana; Vice Presidents David Anderson and James Kane; President Dan Lathrop; and commercial account executive Gina Arnold at the company’s Westerly office. PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

Scaling COVID-19 hurdles

BY NANCY KIRSCH | Contributing Writer

$250,000 TO $5 MILLION

INTEGRATED MEDIA GROUP

CEO (OR EQUIVALENT)

Gil Lantini and Ralph Coppolino, founders

2021 REVENUE $2.8 million

2019 REVENUE $1.3 million

REVENUE GROWTH 107.5%

NIMBLY PIVOTING TO ADDRESS COVID-19 pandemic-related challenges helped Cranston-based Integrated Media Group experience 107.5% revenue growth last year compared with 2019.

“Going from full in-office employment to fully remote with no systems for remote work was quite an undertaking … we adjusted quickly to establish new proce dures,” IMG co-founder Gil Lantini said.

IMG, a digital marketing agency, also doubled down on some business lines. Lantini says the agency’s SalesForce con sulting practice exploded, with businesses recognizing that they had to adapt their technology.

While IMG’s digital marketing busi ness initially took a significant hit due to the pandemic, it is currently 200% higher than where it was pre-pandemic and 300% higher than where it was at its lowest point, Lantini said.

With a consistently expanding staff –and no key personnel leaving – Lantini predicts IMG will close out 2022 with 70% greater revenue than last year.

“[Employee] retention has been the best it’s ever been for us when most businesses were facing the opposite,” Lantini said. n

Filling vacancies a high priority

BY KIMBERLEY EDGAR | Contributing Writer

O’NEILL CONSULTING GROUP INC. EQUIVALENT)

RECRUITING QUALITY CANDIDATES can be risky business, even in the best of times.

But when COVID-19 flattened the global economy – and many companies’ profits in 2020 – O’Neill Consulting Group Inc. kept clients front and center.

“We ran into the burning building while others were departing,” said Kevin O’Neill, managing partner of the South Kingstown-based firm he founded in 2004. “It was more about getting back to the basics.”

2021

That meant traveling when no one else was, meeting clients face to face to discuss talent-search needs for seniorand mid-level management roles in various sectors, including private equity and front-line producers such as those in the consumer goods and health care industries.

As markets recover, so are revenues. Last year, O’Neill Consulting generated $4.5 million in revenue. Growing con fidence is renewing interest in filling vacancies that have been dormant since the pandemic hiring freezes, as well as creating new roles to meet emerging post-pandemic needs. n

BY KIMBERLEY EDGAR | Contributing Writer

On fast track to success #3

$250,000 TO $5 MILLION

THOMPSON INSURANCE GROUP

CEO (OR EQUIVALENT) Kenneth Thompson, president and principal

2021 REVENUE $3.5 million

2019 REVENUE $1.9 million

REVENUE GROWTH 81.3%

NETWORKING, CUSTOMER REFERRALS and charitable contributions helped East Providence-based insurance agency Thompson Insurance Group raise aware ness and almost double its profits last year compared with 2019.

“These three [years] combined account for 65-68% new-business growth,” agency President and Principal Kenneth Thomp son said.

Thompson Insurance’s revenue grew 81.3% last year compared with 2019. It’s tracking to surpass 2021’s numbers by at least 19% by the end of the year.

Since buying his first agency in 2007, Thompson has steadily added five more agencies, with an additional agency pending for 2023. He also consolidated two offices in Woonsocket into one.

In 2020, the agency remained open, helping auto, home and commercial clients and new customers who couldn’t reach their agents when COVID-19 shut tered other businesses.

“We were up and running and ful ly functional without missing a beat,” Thompson said. “They’d say, ‘I love that you’re open. I can’t reach my own agent. Here’s what I have going on. Can you help me?’ ” n

Remaining cybersecure

BY KIMBERLEY EDGAR | Contributing Writer

IT SUPPORT RI CEO (OR EQUIVALENT) Nick Bernfeld and Paul Riendeau, CEOs REVENUE $4.1 million REVENUE $2.8 million GROWTH 43.3% TO $5 MILLION

WHILE ONE BOSS was traveling, a hacker hijacked the company chief’s email and directed company accountants to wire six figures to a fake company.

It’s a true story that North Smith field-based IT Support RI hears all too often when southern New England’s small and midsize businesses come calling after suffering staggering losses due to a lack of cybersecurity.

As more businesses wise up to phishers and cyberscammers, they are hiring IT Support RI to build, maintain and monitor firewalls to prevent cyberattacks.

Revenue grew by 43.3% to $4.1 million last year compared with $2.8 million in 2019, with projections to reach $4.7 million this year.

IT Support RI emphasizes cybersecuri ty in its package of services: email mainte nance, everyday help desk and voice-over internet protocol phones.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company made house calls setting up hardware, installing software and tran sitioning to cloud systems for hybrid and remote work.

“We did whatever we could to help our clients succeed,” Sales Manager Tony Folco said. “We do it all for them.” n

1

Lathrop Insurance AgencyInc. |lathropinsurance.com JohnLathrop, chairman;DanLathrop, president;JamesKane, vice president

2 Integrated Media Group | growwithimg.com GilLantiniandRalphCoppolino, founders

3

Thompson Insurance Group | thompsoninsurancegroup.net Kenneth Thompson, president and principal

4 O'Neill Consulting Group Inc. | oneillconsulting.com Kevin O'Neill, founder and managing partner

5 IT SupportRI |itsupportri.com NickBernfeld and;PaulRiendeau, CEOs

33 Crestview Drive Westerly,R.I.02891 (401)596-2525 $2.3 mil. $865,011 January 164.2% $1.4 mil. Insurance agency

1145 Reservoir Ave., Suite 300 Cranston,R.I.02896 (401)300-9921 $2.8 mil. $1.3 mil. December 107.5% $1.4 mil.

2761 Pawtucket Ave. East Providence,R.I.02914 (401)434-7203

10 High St. South Kingstown,R.I.02879 (401)284-1700

70 Woodland Road North Smithfield,R.I.02896 (401)522-5200

6 E2SOLLLC |e2sol.com AnthonyBaro, managing principal

7

Secure Future Tech Solutions | securefuturetech.com Eric M.Shorr, CEO;Lisa A.Shorr, vice president

8 Bryant AssociatesInc. | bryant-engrs.com Jeffrey C.Bryant, CEO

9

East Coast Technology Group | ectne.com Steven J.Gietz, founder and president

10 A4 ArchitectureInc. | a4arch.com RossCann, president and managing director

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

475 Kilvert St., Suite 110 Warwick,R.I.02886 (401)921-2607

640 George Washington Highway Lincoln,R.I.02865 (401)722-7660

Digital marketing agency and software implementation

$3.5 mil. $1.9 mil. December 81.3% $1.6 mil. Insurance agency

$4.5 mil. $2.6 mil. December 74.4% $1.9 mil.

Search firm and talent solutions consultancy

$4.1 mil. $2.8 mil. December 43.3% $1.2 mil. Information technology services

$2 mil. $1.5 mil. December 33.3% $500,000

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

$4.1 mil. $3.2 mil. December 28.1% $900,000 Information technology and cybersecurity services

$1.7 mil. $1.6 mil. December 11.7% $182,545 Consulting engineers

1300 Highland Corporate Drive Cumberland,R.I.02864 (401)464-9005 $1.9 mil. $1.7 mil. December 10.5% $180,000

320 Thames St. Newport,R.I.02840 (401)849-5100

11 Joe Casali EngineeringInc. | joecasali.com JosephCasali, president

12

Woodmansee InsuranceInc. | woodmanseeins.com RalphWoodmansee, president, personal lines

13 The TNS Group |thetnsgroup.com AmiSoifer, CEO

300 Post Road Warwick,R.I.02888 (401)944-1300

1122 Main St. Richmond,R.I.02898 (401)539-7000

17 Arsene Way Fairhaven,Mass.02719 (508)992-2541

Personalized business managed information technology services, cybersecurity preventive, firewall installation, computer support services

$320,000 $300,000 6.7% $20,000 Architecture

$1.8 mil. $1.7 mil. December 5.9% $100,000 Civil/site engineering

$1.5 mil. $1.4 mil. December 5.3% $75,000 Insurance agency

$303,839 $300,896 December 1% $2,942

Managed information technology services provider

Gilbane Inc. includes AI on the construction site

BY JENNA PELLETIER | Contributing Writer

GILBANE INC., BASED IN PROVIDENCE, has recent ly benefited from extra “brains” and “eyes” at some of its construction sites – but not the human kind.

ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING

Last year, Gilbane began using a fleet of auton omous mobile robots to provide safety monitoring and track progress at job locations. The proprietary artificial intelligence platform – dubbed “Didge” –was developed with Boston-based Nextera Robotics.

“When we began the joint-venture partnership with Nextera, we weren’t exactly sure what we were going to build but we knew we wanted to start push ing the industry forward with the technology being used in the field,” Gilbane Operations Manager Eric Cushman said.

At first, Gilbane put together an in ternal team to help guide development. Having the robot function autono mously, “without a human dragging it around,” emerged as a main priority, Cushman said.

The robots obtain detailed visual data, allowing Gilbane to provide con struction managers and clients with continuous progress updates remotely. This feature was especially beneficial when the company was dealing with COVID-19 pandemic-related restric tions, Cushman said, and it continues to be useful as precautions have eased.

The robot drives around and collects images using a 360-degree camera, Cushman said. Engineers and managers at the office then pull up those images and do a side-by-side comparison with Gilbane’s building information modeling on the computer

to make sure work has been done accurately.

The Didge fleet currently includes 30 robots, both wheeled and tread versions. Each can drive for up to six hours and can park itself at the nearest base for recharging.

“During the course of a really busy day on a construction site, the robots are taking some of the burden off of our teams so that they can focus on other things,” Cushman said. “It frees them up to solve construction-related problems, as opposed to just project documenting.”

Cushman also said plans are in the works to make the technology available to other companies, both within and outside of the construction industry. n

BY HUGH MINOR | Contributing Writer

ANTHONY BARO, managing principal of Provi dence-based renewable energy design company E2SOL LLC, says power generation is undergoing a transformation similar to the transition from dial phones to smartphones.

Improving travel through solar power & THE ENVIRONMENT

E2SOL is is made up of a team of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-accredited archi tects and engineers focused on developing energy efficient solutions.

With the company’s most recent innovation, high way medians and rest areas convert solar power into energy that recharges electric vehicles. Through this method, it will increase revenues for states, as well as make travel for those driving electric vehicles much more convenient.

E2SOL says the new product design is under patent pending review.

“The customer base for electrified vehicles continues to grow and we are responding to the demand for better and more accessible services,” Baro said.

Not only will this product deliver more resources to electric vehicle driv ers, it will repurpose existing unused structures. Baro says E2SOL is focused on transforming its dormant highway infrastructure into active power sourc es and revenue-producing assets.

“Electric vehicles are taking over fossil fuel-powered cars. The technol ogy right now is fantastic, especially solar,” Baro said. “People can be pro ducing their own power from the sun.”

Pilot demonstrations of E2SOL’s new product are expected to commence

at the beginning of 2023, with the product slated to hit the market later in the year. Also, the company projects that its revenue will increase by $5 million or more over the next three years, and local employ ment will increase by 15 to 20 people.

E2SOL’s ultimate goal is to electrify the transpor tation sector across the country and help individu als and businesses achieve their renewable energy needs.

When asked about the growth opportunities E2SOL has in front of it, Baro said, “We’re growing faster than the resources that we have. The challenge for us right now is to catch up with all of the demand we have. It’s a good challenge to have.” n

‘The robots are taking some of the burden off of our teams so that they can focus on other things.’

ERIC CUSHMAN, Gilbane Inc. operations manager

‘The customer base for electrified vehicles continues to grow and we are responding to the demand for better and more accessible services.’

ANTHONY BARO, E2SOL LLC managing principal

CHARGED UP: From left, E2SOL LLC electrical design engineer Mashhor Alshrieef, energy market research analyst Brianna Baro, Managing Principal Anthony Baro, head cheerleader Kelli Baro, and marketing analyst Brandon Baro in the company’s Providence office.

PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS

MOBILE PARTNER: From left, Gilbane Inc. Lead Superintendent Chris Pielech, construction intern Nick Shurling and project engineer Lauren Muldoon pose with an autonomous mobile robot. COURTESY GILBANE INC.

A unique soup du jour at Blount Fine Foods

BY JENNA PELLETIER | Contributing Writer

BLOUNT FINE FOODS CORP.’S products are sold on a national scale, but the company had to look no fur ther than Warren for the idea behind its new Clam Shack line of seafood soups.

FOOD, BEVERAGE & AGRICULTURE

Inspired by the success of its seafood restaurant on the Warren waterfront and the innovative smallbatch food products produced nearby at the Hope & Main food incubator, the company in 2018 developed a small-batch product that could be sold through local markets: ready-to-serve seafood soups.

“We followed the same path as a small entrepre neur,” CEO and President Todd Blount said. “And we delivered all the soups to local markets our selves.”

Based on the soups’ success in Rhode Island and an increased de mand for prepared foods due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Blount last year went national with the concept. The company has shrunk its standard 4-pound bagged soup product designed for business-to-business usage at hot food bars and restaurants down to a family-friendly 30-ounce size.

The bagged soups, such as New England clam chowder, lobster bisque, shrimp and corn chowder, and sea food gumbo, are packaged for retail in paper cups that look like takeout containers.

TODD BLOUNT, Blount Fine Foods Corp. CEO and president

“Instead of just using plastic, we wanted this product to look more homemade and also simple,” said Blount, whose family started the busi ness as an oyster harvesting company in 1880. “Now, we can’t directly fill a

paper cup because after a week, it might weaken and then collapse. So, that’s why there’s a bag in there.”

Blount also developed a method to blast-freeze the soups, which opened up additional sales opportuni ties – they can be sold frozen or fresh. The once-lo cal line is currently available at brick-and-mortar retailers throughout the country, as well as through the e-commerce meal company Hello Fresh.

The New England clam chowder is the company’s bestseller. But, to Blount’s surprise, the seafood gumbo soup the company created at the request of Texas-based grocery chain HEB has emerged as the company’s “most-complimented” soup.

“That’s been a little bonus,” he said. n

’S UPCOMING EVENTS

REGISTER NOW OCTOBER 6 | CROWNE PLAZA |

‘We followed the same path as a small entrepreneur, and we delivered all the soups to local markets ourselves.’

SOUPED UP: Blount Fine Foods Corp. employees, from left, Amanda Hadad, Nathan Hayden, Marques Irving, William Bigelow, Thomas Gervasi and Robin Leatherwood show off the company’s Clam Shack soup line.

PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN

An open road to smoother operations GOVERNMENT

BY NOEMI ARELLANO-SUMMER | Contributing Writer

DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, with fewer people traveling on the roads and opting to stay home, the R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority used the opportunity to convert to an all-electronic tolling system. The real kicker? RITBA began this innova tive project only using its own on-site staff and got remote-only help from its vendor, Kapsch Traffic Com, which was located in Texas at the time.

The quasi-state agency maintains four major and 10 minor bridges along Route 138 through James town, as well as the approaches to Rhode Island’s four major bridges – the Newport Claiborne Pell, Mount Hope, Jamestown Verrazzano and Sakonnet River bridges.

The RITBA team phased each toll collector shift onto the new electronic system fairly slowly, two lanes at a time, taking months to get the entire project done.

“The two outside lanes were our pilot program,” RITBA Executive Director Lori Silveira said, comparing the beginning of the process to per forming surgery on someone with the surgeon giving instructions over the phone from the Lone Star State.

Using human toll collectors meant that cars had to stop and start con stantly to pay tolls going onto the Newport Bridge; now traffic is smooth thanks to the new technology. RITBA is now urging as many people as it can to sign up for a transponder, as it’s a quick and cheap way to pay tolls.

RITBA isn’t quite done with the project, even if the all-electronic toll

ing system is in business. The agency is installing a new gantry on the Newport Bridge, and the old toll booths are set to be moved sometime next year.

“Every moment I look out the window and see traffic moving smoothly is rewarding,” Silveira said.

However, COVID-19 forced the agency to think outside the box during the process, RITBA Director of Tolling Katie Coleman said. Some staff got sick during the pandemic, forcing others to work double shifts. There were also supply chain delays that caused disruptions along the way.

“We had to try even if we failed, and we were only able to reach our goals with the staff and the vendor cooperating,” Coleman said. n

Curing toothaches for those in need &

BY NANCY KIRSCH | Contributing Writer

SOME 74 MILLION AMERICANS lack dental insur ance. With that knowledge, First Circle Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Dental of Rhode Island, in 2017 developed Chewsi RI, a service connecting patients with dentists, periodontists and oral sur geons, among other services, offering affordable and accessible dental care.

Blaine Carroll, president of First Circle and Chewsi, says those lacking insurance are the pain point in the industry. “They don’t get all the dental care their dentist recommends because they can’t afford it,” Carroll said.

Licensed dentists enrolled with Chewsi provide quality dental services to Chewsi patients who, on average, save 24% on their dental bills. Chewsi, which currently has seven employees, assesses dentists a transaction fee on every service they provide such patients. “We offer a unique solution because we don’t charge patients or dentists a monthly or annual fee,” Carroll said.

Chewsi’s technology allows pa tients to search easily through an app or online for dentists, register with Chewsi via a desktop or mobile app, and approve payments for complet ed services in five different ways.

Individuals with Medicaid or private insurance can use Chewsi for services not covered by their insurance, and Chewsi has no waiting periods, limita tions or exclusions.

Jeff Naugus, First Circle vice president of network and business relations, says some patients still may

have anxiety around dental visits. “[In such instanc es], Chewsi helps move them forward by delivering savings on dental care,” he said.

So, what’s the advantage for dentists – currently in approximately 5,000 locations across 12 states in New England, Florida, the Midwest and Hawaii – to participate in Chewsi? By offering their own in house membership plan, Chewsi dentists can track patients’ annual treatments and services, as well as patients’ reenrollment in Chewsi.

“We pay the dentists within two business days through an electronic funds transfer that goes direct ly into their bank account and we pick up the credit card processing fees,” Carroll said. n

‘Every moment I look out the window and see traffic moving smoothly is rewarding.’

LORI SILVEIRA, R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority executive director

CLEAR LANE: The R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority implemented new technology to collect bridge tolls more efficiently. Pictured, from left, are R.I. Bridge and Turnpike Authority Director of Tolling Katie Coleman, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Goular, Executive Direc tor Lori Caron Silveira and Director of Engineering Eric Seabury.

PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN

‘We offer a unique solution because we don’t charge patients or dentists a monthly or annual fee.’

BLAINE CARROLL, First Circle Inc. and Chewsi RI president

AVAILABLE OPTIONS: From left, First Circle Inc. CEO Joe Perroni and Blaine Carroll, president of First Circle and Chewsi RI, look over a tablet with the company’s new dentist search function.

PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS

Where leaders can turn for help

BY ISABELLA DELEO | Contributing Writer

INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION

THE NEWLY FOUNDED Rhode Island CEO Council may only be less than 1 year old, but founder and CEO Robert Fiske draws upon more than a decade of experience creating exclusive consortiums, provid ing a space for some of the top business leaders in the state to learn, grow and talk shop.

Fiske founded the Chief Executives Club of Rhode Island in 2006, which he ran until 2012 before moving to the West Coast. When Fiske moved back to Rhode Island during the COVID-19 pandemic, he turned once again to his experience and interest in cultivat ing a community for top business leaders. Amid the pandemic, Fiske drew from conversations he had with other local CEOs about what they were needing most at that time.

“We’ve been isolated. We need these conversations,” Fiske said. “Every thing is changing. We have the issues of: How do I recruit? How do I retain employees? We’re all dealing with ma jor issues there. How do we deal with office or remote?”

Inspired by these issues, Fiske founded the Rhode Island CEO Council in Cranston, which invites CEOs of large and smaller-scale organizations throughout the state for presenta tions, roundtable discussions and community.

conversation and inspiration that he says happen at the meetings. “I hear the conversations, I hear the ideas [and watch] how people get enthused, go back to the office, they go, ‘I’m going to solve this prob lem,’ ” he said.

Fiske says the CEOs run the companies that pay everybody’s paychecks, that stimulate the economy, that determine what the employment rate is in the state. But his mission extends beyond just helping CEOs do better work.

“If we can help them improve the way they lead businesses, both economically and culturally, we can change the state and make everybody happier, with a thriving economy in the state,” Fiske said. n

ROBERT FISKE, Rhode Island CEO Council founder and CEO

Through the council, local business leaders who are council members have a sanctuary to have candid discussions about a myriad of challenges, such as workforce and supply chain issues brought forth by the pandemic.

Fiske also treasures the sparks of

Plastic makes perfect for new products

BY ANTHONY VECCHIONE | Contributing Writer

THE OCEANS OF THE WORLD contain islands of plastics and other garbage. Westerly-based manufac turer U.S. Extruders Inc. is intent on changing that.

MANUFACTURING

U.S. Extruders’ core business is designing and building custom extruders – a type of plastic pro cessing machine – for the medical, automotive and construction industries. Recently, USX secured an innovation voucher award from the R.I. Commerce Corp. to focus on end-of-life fishing nets by trans forming these nets into recycled plastic pellets that could be used for new products.

Gill nets are made of Nylon 6 plastic, while today’s fishing nets are primarily composed of polypropylene and polyethylene plastics. USX estab lished a proof-of-concept processing operation focusing on the recycling of fishing nets.

The company created a project white paper detailing the benefits of recycling and the process required to recycle fishing nets.

In conjunction with the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Cen ter at the Graduate School of Ocean ography, the College of Engineering, Commercial Fisheries Research Foun dation, Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island and other partners, USX is moving to extrude plastics found in fishing nets to produce recy cled plastic pellets. These pellets can be used to produce new products.

USX Marketing Manager Eric Adair says the company is aware of the issues surrounding the concerns of plastic recycling, and feels that

environmental, social and governance policies are important to its customers and employees.

“That said, we instituted a fishing net recycling project in an attempt to help create a circular econo my for end-of-life nets that are located in many of our fishing ports or abandoned on the ocean bottom,” Adair said.

Funding from the R.I. Commerce innovation voucher program helped the company make the decision to advance the project, Adair said.

“We are currently collecting old fishing nets and preparing them to be extruded soon after we have our process line assembled and ready to go,” he said. n

‘If we can help [CEOs] improve the way they lead businesses … we can change the state and make everybody happier.’

‘We instituted a fishing net recycling project in an attempt to help create a circular economy for end-of-life nets.’

ERIC ADAIR, U.S. Extruders Inc. marketing manager

SPARKING CONVERSATION: Rhode Island CEO Council founder and CEO Robert Fiske regularly hears discussions among local business leaders about how to address a myriad of challenges impacting multiple industries.

PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS

NOTHING BUT NET: From left, U.S. Extruders Inc. Plant Manager Wade Lippo and assemblers Lexus Falcone and Dan Brownhead work with fishing net.

PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

BY HUGH MINOR | Contributing Writer

Building an industry by design NONPROFIT

DESIGN AND INNOVATION go hand in hand at DESIGNxRI. The Providence-based nonprofit creates economic development opportunities for Rhode Is land designers, design businesses and for the design sector to grow and thrive.

Executive Director Ellie Brown says the non profit’s goal is to “let the rest of the country and the world know that Rhode Island is the state to go to for design talent and that [local] designers who go to school here decide to stay and become part of our design and creative community.”

By collaborating with a diverse group of partners, including R.I. Commerce Corp. and Rhode Island School of Design, Brown hopes to elevate design by creating a more equitable and thriving environment.

DESIGNxRI’s initiatives include EQUITYxDESIGN, the Design Catalyst Program, Pre-Catalyst Program and the Design Challenge.

Brown says the organization’s pro grams offer something for people at all stages of their careers and work really well as a whole. For example, she said, the EQUITYxDESIGN cohort is for ex perienced designers who want to solve real-life equity issues in their firms.

The Design Catalyst grants help small, local designers launch the next phase of their businesses with capital, confidence and a few more people on their side.

“A vast new range of possibilities has opened up to us,” Jones said. “We have made connections, acquired necessary tools and expanded the range of services we can offer.”

DESIGNxRI is known for Design Week RI, an annual celebration featuring local designers and entrepreneurs. Events include talks, tours, panel discussions and parties that showcase talent.

Central to the organization’s mission are its efforts to advocate for more diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry so that underrepresented communities feel welcomed and supported.

“We are trying to remove barriers for people who want to learn, be included, build a business in Rhode Island,” Brown said. n

ELLIE BROWN, DESIGNxRI executive director

The impact is powerful. Grant recipient James Jones of James Jones Studio says the studio would not be set up for success if he did not receive that financial support.

FlorLink provides a hub to help retailers

BY HUGH MINOR | Contributing Writer

TECHNOLOGY

KEEPING TEAMS CONNECTED on the sales floor is the key behind Newport-based FlorLink Inc. and its SmartHub technology suite.

The platform collects, connects and routes live data and information so businesses can optimize the customer experience, identify trends and boost profits.

CEO Mark Barnes says the number of smart devices and sensors in the retail space is going to explode over the next five years. FlorLink is well positioned, he says, to take advantage of this prolif eration of internet-connected sensors and devices.

Florlink collects and manages inputs from a vari ety of sources and then maps these inputs to outputs such as two-way radios, smartwatches, tablets, digital displays and email/text notifications. Think of it as gathering all of the information you have on multiple devices, synthesizing it and presenting it in digest form so that front-line staff can easily make deci sions and calculate their next move.

The end goal for retailers is a streamlined workforce that offers exceptional customer experience and also increases sales.

“By aggregating sensor data [such as temperature] and device health from many different sources and making this information accessible in the cloud, users can remotely access reports and analyze data that enables them to improve device uptime and reduce costs,” Barnes said.

Through a range of equipment that includes floor sensors and call buttons,

sales team members are alerted of a customer’s needs in real time via text alerts and two-way radios. Managers at every level can view reports and moni tor activity at any time.

The FlorLink solution has been in development for over six years, with a previous version installed in major chains such as Staples, CVS Pharmacy, Best Buy and Walmart. More recently, support and investments from AT&T and Microsoft Corp. will allow FlorLink to scale into more markets.

“The response has been very positive,” Barnes said. “We’re working on another round of venture funding in order to be able to support the spike in demand forecasted for 2023.” n

‘We are trying to remove barriers for people who want to learn, be included, build a business in Rhode Island.’

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT: From left, DESIGNxRI Executive Director Ellie Brown, Program and Events Manager Davin Samuels and marketing associate Rue Sakayama at the nonprofit’s Providence office.

PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

‘Users can remotely access reports and analyze data that enables them to improve device uptime and reduce costs.’

MARK BARNES, FlorLink Inc. CEO

A PERFECT LINK: FlorLink Inc. CEO Mark Barnes poses with the company’s SmartHub system, a platform that collects, connects and routes live data and information.

PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN

Outboard motor systems quietly making waves

BY NOEMI ARELLANO-SUMMER | Contributing Writer

TECHNOLOGY

BRISTOL-BASED OUTBOARD MOTOR developer Flux Marine Ltd. is aiming to shake up the recreational boating industry by quieting it down. The company’s all-electric outboard motor and battery systems are almost completely silent, and are helping to further reduce pollution from gas and diesel motors.

While a student at Princeton University, Flux Marine CEO Ben Sorkin was passionate about envi ronmental education and used to salvage boats. Over the course of five years, he developed an outboard engine for electric marine use, with the capacity to use high power. “We took apart and redesigned the motor to be efficient,” Public Relations Director Zach Heath said.

Flux Marine’s motors have self-suf ficient cooling systems and don’t require much maintenance. Current ly, the motors are designed for small lakes, and one of the company’s next goals is to focus on extending their range to use during multiday boating trips.

Flux Marine’s debut at last sum mer’s Newport International Boat Show impressed the crowd. “We turned heads being out on the water, and there’s excitement over what we’re building,” Flux Marine Chief Operating Officer Daylin Frantin said.

The company recently finished up its first round of funding, ultimately raising $15.5 million. Flux Marine is opening a new headquarters in Bristol, and is already focusing on manufac turing preorders of the motors and battery systems. Flux Marine also has

A guiding light through darkness

BY ISABELLA DELEO | Contributing Writer

NVTS NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INC. has seen a lot of changes over the past year as the North Kingstown-based organization gears up for the future.

TECHNOLOGY

NVTS, which makes thermal camera systems that are often used for U.S. military and commer cial maritime applications, and even whale detec tion, has earned grants such as a 2019-20 Rhode Island State Innovation Grant and a 2022 grant from Veterans Ventures Capital. This year, NVTS has made the switch from an LLC to a C corporation and has moved from Jamestown to Quonset Busi ness Park.

“There’s a sense of pride behind what we do,” NVTS CEO and President Joe Janson said.

Janson, a U.S. Coast Guard veter an, says solving problems is a core motivation for the work that his com pany does. If problems for the custom er can be solved, lives can be saved, he said, whether there are ground forces or with search and rescue.

“If what we produce is able to as sist and save lives or solve a problem, then that excites us,” Janson said.

“We’re always looking for something that is also replacing something else out there that is old and antiquated.”

Some of NVTS’ products include driver vision enhancers, which are cameras placed on vehicles to provide drivers with vision for night and day, and the Guardian 4, which allows operators to see clearly in all types of weather out at sea. NVTS’ cameras

its eye on becoming an engine manufacturer for the recreational boating industry nationwide. “It’s a pas sion project; if you’re not truly excited, you’re never going to effortlessly grow your idea into a startup, then grow into a company in the industry,” Frantin said.

Frantin acknowledges that the company’s success hasn’t come without its hardships. Technology has hurdles, he said, adding that the company had some pushback to its innovations.

One bright side of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it brought people out to the water more often. “Boat sales are up and the industry’s growing,” Frantin said. “It’s an exciting time for us.” n

can capture images from nearly 25 miles away and can be used for purposes such as search and rescue, surveillance and border patrol. They have a price range of between $25,000 to $400,000.

Janson draws from his own military knowledge and Rhode Island connection in his work.

“Being ex-Coast Guard, being on the ocean here in Rhode Island and having that experience, I’m very in tune with operator issues on a maritime basis,” Janson said. “Since our products are mostly military base, some light commercial, we under stand what’s needed in this space with operation, the motion of the vessels on that and so we’re always looking at ways to improve.” n

‘We turned heads being out on the water, and there’s excitement over what we’re building.’

DAYLIN FRANTIN, Flux Marine Ltd. chief operating officer

QUIET RIDE: Flux Marine Ltd. engineers Milo Ferrazzolo, Attila Delingat, Linden Zlotea and Greg Roche pose with boats and motors in their new Bristol location.

PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN

‘If what we produce is able to assist and save lives or solve a problem, then that excites us.’

JOE JANSON, NVTS Night Vision Technology Solutions Inc. CEO and president

A CLEAR PICTURE: Joe Janson, CEO and president of NVTS Night Vision Technology Solutions Inc., views an image produced by a thermal camera at his North Kingstown office.

PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

No one likes to hear from their insurance broker. Except our clients.

When you are an integral part of their advisory team, a trusted partner with more answers than questions. When you are a collaborator, a strategic counselor with more solutions than problems. When you deliver competitive rates from the top-rated carriers. When you bring real value to the relationship – clients are glad to hear from you. That’s the Gallo | Thomas difference. | 401-732-9100