Biography

A native of Rhode Island, Deb attended the University of Rhode Island, receiving a B.A. in Economics (1982) and an Executive M.B.A. (1986). She is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt.

From 1970 through 1984, Deborah was employed by Rhode Island Hospital Trust National Bank.  During that time period she served as a Trust Officer and held various positions including Research Assistant, Investment Trader, Investment Analyst, and Economist.

In 1984 she left the Bank to participate in the creation of Van Liew Capital, a wealth management firm serving affluent individuals.  As Vice President, she was responsible for virtually all administrative aspect of the business including accounting, legal and compliance, client reporting, performance measurement, and mutual fund management.

Beginning in 1988, Deborah spent the bulk of her professional career as Textron Inc.’s Assistant Treasurer – Investment Management. She was responsible for overseeing the investment management of Textron’s global retirement and employee benefit funds, totaling approximately $8 billion in market value. She was also a member of Textron’s Investment Committee and the Textron Charitable Trust’s Contribution Committee.

Since retiring in 2013, Deborah has served as the Executive Director of the Rhode Island 4-H Club Foundation, Inc.  The mission of the Foundation is to support the youth programs of the URI/College of the Environment and Life Sciences. 4-H programs focus on learning opportunities for youth aged 5 to 19 years old, in school and in after-school settings, and community clubs.

For the past 6 years, Deborah has also been a part-time instructor in the College of Business Administration at the University of Rhode Island, teaching the BUS390 Junior Passport course. She also is a teaching assistant with BUS423, the Student Managed Investment Fund (The Ram Fund).

She further serves the College as a member of the Finance Advisory Board within URI’s College of Business. She is a member of the Executive Board and Chair of the Investment Committee for the University of Rhode Island Foundation.

Deb serves on various community and non-profit boards. She is a trustee of Trinity Repertory Company and the Chair of Trinity’s Human Resources Committee. She is President of the Board of House of Hope CDC, a community development company focused on ending homelessness in RI. She sits on the Diocesan Finance Council for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, She is a member of the Investment/Pension Committees of the Catholic Investment Trust, Inc. (Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence), the Congregation of the Mission Western Province, St. Louis, Missouri (Vincentian Priests), The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (New Jersey), and Meeting Street Center.