Stories
Community spotlights
Our goal is to connect like-minded individuals with diverse backgrounds that share a similar passion, vision and ambition for moving both Rhode Island forward, at the same time, giving back to communities across the country. One of the ways we accomplish this goal, is by spotlighting individuals and organizations in the community doing momentous things. Past spotlights have included: former New England Patriot Jarvis Green, former NFL player Marques Ogden, comedian Anthony DeVito, and countless incredible individuals from right here in Rhode Island, including Emily Levin of Mighty Well and Carrie Rich of The Global Good Fund, just to name a few. Check out our Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/FountainHeadRI/ ) for the most current spotlights videos. In addition, see below for spotlights held in previous years – future spotlights will be stored via our Facebook page only.
Latest spotlights on Facebook ↗
Community spotlight
FHRI LIVE Spotlight: Erin Carr-Jordan, CEO of Kids Play Safe & Five-11
Live spotlight with the amazing Erin Carr Jordan, Founder & CEO of Five-11 Finding Balance & Kids Play Safe. Get the Finding Balance app for the youth in your life on the App Store, learn more about the app at…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Carrie Majewski, Founder & CEO of Women in Leadership Nexus
Carrie discusses her fast growing Organization, Nexus, how to get more women into leadership positions, and what the future of work may look like in these uncertain times (and how leaders can get it right). Featuring…
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Live Spotlight: Adrian Van Alphen, an International Executive Search and Professional Recruitment Executive
Our first spotlight of 2021 featured a conversation between Adrian van Alphen and FHRI’s own Erica Busillo Adams on job recruitment, adaptability, and how to always be ready to be a candidate for your next job…
Community spotlight
December Live Spotlight: Katie McDonald, Holistic Executive Coach and Founder, B.Nourished
Recently on November 30th, FountainHead RI Board Member, Erica Busillo Adams, welcomed Katie McDonald, of B.Nourished, to join our community for an incredible (and well timed) live community spotlight focusing on…
Community spotlight
September Live Spotlight: Women for Women International
Check out our YouTube page to listen to the complete session between FHRI Board Member Kassandra McGlone and Sabreen Alikhan of Women for Women International: https://www.facebook.com/FountainHeadRI/ Link to Recording:…
Community spotlight
August Spotlight: Jeffrey Kuehn of Colossal Contracting, LLC
What is your current position at Colossal Contracting, LLC? I am the Vice President of Engineering for Colossal Contracting. What inspired you to build a career in engineering services / Federal IT? From an early age,…
Community spotlight
First Live Stream Spotlight: Darlene Slaughter , Chief People Officer, March of Dimes
Listen in here as our own Erica Busillo Adams leads a live spotlight session with Darlene Slaughter, Chief People Officer at the March of Dimes. The dialogue is timely and extremely dynamic, touching on all of the…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Nan J. Morrison of Council for Economic Education (CEE)
What is the Council for Economic Education (CEE)’s origin story? What is CEE’s mission? Our mission is to equip kids with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so that they can make better decisions…
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Spotlight: Chris Stevens of JPMorgan Chase
What is your current position at JPMorgan Chase? What inspired you to build a career in commercial banking? I am the Executive Director for JPMorgan Chase’s Commercial Bank in Providence, Rhode Island, supporting Middle…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: The Daily Note
What is The Daily Note’s origin story? This is a question we always enjoy answering! Back in high school, Coog was always talking about music (Hip-Hop, in particular). It was to the point that a friend jokingly said for…
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Spotlight: Wayne Grover – Founder, You Are Not Alone Gifts
What is YANA Gifts’ and the YANA Foundation’s mission, and how does YANA work to achieve that mission? Loneliness is an epidemic that is affecting the entire globe. Prior to the current crisis we all are experiencing,…
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Spotlight: Octavia Abell – Govern for America
What is Govern for America’s origin story? In 2015 I joined Governor Raimondo’s team in Rhode Island and saw firsthand the impact that state government has on our lives and the role that dedicated public servants can…
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Spotlight: Sarah Tomolonius – Co-Founder – Sustainability Investment Leadership Council (SILC)
What inspired you to build a career in the financial / private equity sector and what is your current position? I had no designs on starting a career in the financial sector. Though I always tested better in math than…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Gui Costin – Speaker, Author, Founder and CEO – Dakota Funds Group
What inspired you to become an expert in selling to – or, more broadly, communicating with – the Millennial Generation? Our lives today are primarily driven by the Internet, meaning we are connected all the time and can…
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Spotlight: Meg Grady- Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island
What is Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island’s mission? The mission of Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island is to meet the nutritional and other special needs of seniors in order to help them maintain their independence. Our…
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Spotlight: Bill Bartholomew – The Bartholomewtown Podcast
Download the Bartholomewtown podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/163601 What is The Bartholomewtown Podcast ‘s origin story? I’m a lifelong lover of Rhode Island history, politics and media. I grew up somewhat…
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Spotlight: Dr. Eugenio Fernandez Jr. – Asthenis
What is Asthenis’ origin story? What inspired you to start a pharmacy in your hometown of Providence? My name is Eugenio Fernandez Jr., PharmD, MBA, MPH. I grew up nearby on Hanover Street in Providence and attended Asa…
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Spotlight: Lauren Broccoli – State Society of Rhode Island
When was the State Society of Rhode Island (SSRI) founded? What is your core mission? The State Society of Rhode Island (SSRI) was officially founded in 2014, when it received its 501c3 non-profit status. Informally,…
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Spotlight: Juliana Cardona Mejia of Street Entrepreneurs
What is Street Entrepreneurs origin story? In 2015 Juliana Cardona founded Street Entrepreneurs to provide entrepreneurial education to disadvantaged youth, with classes in shelters and prisons. At community centers,…
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Spotlight: Tae Lee – Founder of ToGoBOX
What is ToGoBOX’s origin story? Why was Providence, RI the right place to start this company? ToGoBOX is an online lunch marketplace for corporate employees that offers $1 delivery service. Born out of Providence, RI in…
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Spotlight: Marques Ogden – Former NFL Lineman, Motivational Speaker, Author and Entrepreneur
Click the above image to learn more about former NFL Offensive Lineman turned Entrepreneur, Author and Motivational Speaker Marques Ogden What was it like to grow up in the Ogden household as a child? How did sports (in…
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Spotlight: Michael Basch – Enhancing Tulsa’s Economic Footprint
Click the above image to learn more about Tulsa Remote which was created to enhance Tulsa’s talented and successful workforce community by bringing diverse, bright and driven individuals to the city for community…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Jarvis Green; 2 X NFL Champion and Owner, Oceans 97
When you were a child did you dream of a future in the NFL or was that a dream that was realized later in life? I realized later in life that I would have an opportunity to play for a Division I team by going to LSU. My…
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Spotlight: Ray Watson; Chief Executive Officer/Founder – Providence Cultural Equity Initiative
What is the mission and vision of Providence Cultural Equity Initiative (PCEI)? What is PCEI’s origin story? The Providence Cultural Equity Initiative (PCEI) is an Agency that promotes, cultivates and advocates for the…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Emily Levy – CEO & Co-Founder: Mighty Well
What is Mighty Well’s origin story? I had a PICC line, used for delivery of intravenous medicine needed to treat my chronic neurological Lyme disease. I was diagnosed during my second year at Babson College, and my…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Comedian Anthony DeVito
At what point did you decide to take your comedy career from a hobby to ‘professional’? What did you do different in your approach when you did this? Starting in New York, everyone was already treating it like a job. So…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Matthew Glassman; Start-Up Investor/Restauranteur/Stand Up Comedian
Q: You seem to be involved with quite a bit; what drives you to get involved with a new project? A: Inspiration comes in unexpected ways. Since branching out on my own in 2011, I have become industry agnostic. My first…
Community spotlight
Upcoming Event: Networking and Comedy Show – Comedy Connection
Join us on Sunday, August 26, 2018; 6 pm – 9 pm Networking 6 pm – 6:45 pm Comedy Event to start promptly at 7pm with ticket costs at $15 a person Headliner Anthony DeVito with featured performance by Erica Spera and…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Kevin Egolf, CFO: Iroquois Valley Farms LLC
Tell us about Iroquois Valley Farms and what the company does: Iroquois Valley Farms is an organic farmland REIT (real estate investment trust) that was built to support the business of organic and regenerative farmers.…
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Spotlight: Cindy Sabato, Communications Director: Save The Bay® – Narragansett Bay
What is the mission and vision of Save The Bay? Save The Bay’s mission is to protect and improve Narragansett Bay. Our vision is a fully swimmable, fishable, healthy Narragansett Bay accessible to all. We work to…
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Spotlight: Joanne Quinn, Executive Director: Autism Project of Rhode Island
How did you first get involved with The Autism Project (TAP)? My youngest son, Patrick, was diagnosed with autism in 1999. His original team of teachers and therapists at his school were some of the founding mothers of…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Jennifer Dalton, CEO/Founder BrandMirror
Share with our community a bit about yourself, your current role as a brand strategist, and what made you focus on the branding business. I grew up in an entrepreneurial family, which made starting my own business seem…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Carole Ann Penney, CPC Leadership and Career Coach
Carole Ann Penney is the Founder & CEO of Penney Leadership, LLC. As a Certified Professional Leadership & Career Coach, Carole Ann guides mission-driven professionals to pivot into more meaningful careers and develop…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Pat Brown CEO – WeSurv
Could you share with us what made you jump into the Start-Up space? I didn’t realize I owned a start-up until someone told me. When I visited San Francisco, everyone said that those who own a start-up have a backpack…
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Spotlight: Luis Barrios Engagement Manager – Sprout CoWorking
Would you share for us some background details about Sprout and how it came to be? Sprout was founded in January 2015 by Zachary Weinberger and John Kevorkian after seeing the growing trend of co-working spaces in big…
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Spotlight: Patsy Culp Founder & Creative Director – And Celebrate
Patsy Culp is the founder and creative director of Celebrate, LLC since 2014. Patsy has spent thousands of hours studying, designing, and executing boutique special events while supporting a diverse array of clients in…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Olivia Rodrigues Professional Stylist and Co-Founder of The Branding Edit
Olivia Rodrigues is a Providence-based stylist who lives for helping her clients go through personal transformations by falling in love with their wardrobes, and enhancing their signature styles. Olivia is also the…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Rhode Islander Brittanny Taylor on Fashion, Lifestyle, and Branding
Born and raised in Providence, RI Brittanny Taylor is a fashion and lifestyle photographer and social media branding consultant. What is Brittanny Taylor Photography’s origin story? The origin story of my photography…
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Spotlight: Jillian Butler, Rhode Island’s Wavemaker (Rhode Island Commerce Corporation)
Jillian Butler serves as the Wavemaker Fellowship Director for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. In this role, Jill is responsible for facilitating the annual application & award process, promoting the program to…
Community spotlight
Wealth Building 101 With Justin Medeiros (Part 2 of 3) #FHRIMoneyMoves
Written by: Justin Medeiros Start a portfolio This might seem like a daunting and expensive task, but these days you can start a portfolio with even the smallest dollar amount. Online brokers will even develop a…
Community spotlight
3 Tips for Millennials Who Want to Give Back: Co-Founder David Almonte
Interview of FountainHead RI Co-Founder David Almonte by Samantha Delgado, Manager – Communications, PR & Corporate Responsibility, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants: As a young accountant…
Community spotlight
FountainHead RI leaders Almonte, Dodier, and Ter Meer talk about the future of Rhode Island on the RNN Network.
Do we, as a society, empower future leaders or do young people of quality empower our future? Who leads whom? What is the heartbeat of change within a community? FountainHead RI leaders Jason Dodier, David Almonte, and…
Community spotlight
Wealth Building 101 With Justin Medeiros (Part 1 of 3)
Wealth Building 101: There are so many amazing and downright shocking financial success stories out there. You hear them from time to time about ordinary working class people becoming millionaires. Accumulating a net…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Five Questions With Jennifer Rousseau (Committee Member and Director of the Cherrystone Angel Group)
Jennifer Rousseau is the executive director of the Cherrystone Angel Group and a FountainHead RI committee member. The angel investment group was recently named one of the four most active in the region. Rousseau talks…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Carrie Rich – Co-Founder and CEO of The Global Good Fund
Click Here Click Here Carrie Rich speaking on pursuing the ‘Global Good’ (Click image to read more) Carrie Rich with Mentor J. Knox Singleton, CEO of Inova Health System One of the core tenets of the Global Good Fund is…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Maria Johansson – Founder of L’Ecole Des Enfants, Inc.
Click Here Click Here Tell us a little bit about your organization and what lead you to create it? My personal passion for adventure, culture and exploring areas of the world less traveled by the main stream tourist led…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Khe Hy – Founder of RadReads and the Oprah for Millennials
Click Here Click Here One of the core tenets of FountainHead RI is about diversity and international collaboration among young leaders, which falls exactly in line with your personal story. Could you please share more…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Alyssa Gill – Founder of Hometeam and Venture for America (VFA) Fellow in Providence, RI
Click Here Click Here My name is Alyssa Gill and I’m a Venture for America (VFA) Fellow living and working in Providence, Rhode Island! VFA is a fellowship program that connects recent college graduates to startups in…
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Spotlight: Matt Wilson – Adventurer and Co-Founder of the Travel Company Under30Experiences
Click Here Click Here Hola from Costa Rica everyone! Here are some answers I’ve come up with based off of the questions from the FountainHead RI team. Could you share with us what made you want to take the leap and…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Nicole White – President of the Short Bowel Syndrome Foundation for Children of New England
Click Here Click Here Tell us a little bit about your organization and what lead you to create it? The Short Bowel Syndrome Foundation for Children of New England, Inc. (SBSNE, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: Digital Nomad Soheila Yalpani
How did you get started on this current path? Was it difficult overcoming your fears to just take off and become a digital nomad? Getting to where I am today has not been a straightforward path, but I’ve always had a…
Community spotlight
Rhode Island Non-Profit Spotlight: Erica Busillo Adams
1. When did you uncover your passion for Non-Profits? I have always had a strong desire to give back (I remember being inspired to start a Save The Rainforest club in first grade after seeing the movie FernGully – how’s…
Community spotlight
Spotlight: William C. Tondo – Bryant University
Click here to purchase 1. How did you get started on this current path, becoming a leader at your University? What groups are you currently involved in. One of the reasons I chose Bryant University was because I knew…