2016 eleventh annual
distinguished achievement 
awards & gala

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Newport Marriott • Newport, Rhode Island

See photos: weekend events and ceremony.

Watch the video.

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The event honors alumni and friends of URI who have brought distinction to themselves and the University through their professional achievements, outstanding leadership and community service.

president’s awards

George Graboys, Hon. ’99
Chairman and CEO (retired), Citizens Financial Group

George Graboys spent 24 years with Citizens Financial Group, serving as president, chairman, and CEO. He was a member of the R.I. Board of Governors for Higher Education from 1983–1991, and served as chair from 1995–1998. He has received numerous awards for his civic and charitable endeavors, including the ADL Torch of Liberty Award and the Rhode Island Children’s Crusade Leadership Award. He was an adjunct professor at URI’s College of Business and a founding member of the Board of the College Crusade of Rhode Island, where he served as chair. He has also served as chair of the URI Foundation, the Rhode Island Foundation, the Rhode Island Urban Project, and AAA of Southern New England. Graboys holds degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of Pennsylvania.

Scott Singer ’83
Head of Global Business Services, Rio Tinto

Scott Singer is a leader in world-class supply chain management, advanced sourcing strategies, outsourcing, and cloud computing. As head of global business services for Rio Tinto, a leading international mining group, he is supported by a team of over 4,000 employees on five continents and is responsible for the company’s information systems and technology, procurement, finance, people, and group property service delivery functions. Prior to Rio Tinto, Singer spent 19 years with United Technologies. In addition to leading Rio Tinto GBS, Scott serves as managing director and country head for Rio Tinto’s Singapore regional office. Singer earned an M.S. and Executive M.B.A. from the University of New Haven.

Laurie White ’81
President, Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce

Since October 2005, Laurie White has been president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce—Rhode Island’s largest private sector business advocacy and economic development organization. A significant portion of the Chamber’s work is devoted to developing the state’s Knowledge Economy by driving advanced industry formation; entrepreneurship; medical, academic and industry collaboration; technology transfer; talent retention; and competitive tax policy. White is a frequent speaker on these topics. From January 2003 to July 2004, she served as executive counselor to the governor for policy and communications, and prior to that, she was senior VP of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. In 2010, she received an honorary doctorate in business administration from Johnson & Wales University. White is a member of the URI Foundation Executive Board.

International Game Technology (IGT)
(Corporate Award)

IGT is a leading gaming and lottery company with over 12,000 employees worldwide. The company employs over 80 URI graduates and offers internships to URI students. IGT has been a regular sponsor of URI’s MBA and College of Engineering capstone programs, also advising on a proposal-writing course at URI’s Harrington School of Communication and Media. IGT has been a generous supporter of various University initiatives, including the Thomas M. Ryan Center, URI Alumni Association Big Chill Weekend scholarship fundraiser, URI Computer Science and Statistics Department, and the Science and Math Investigative Learning Experience for school-age children. IGT Executive Vice President Robert Vincent ’75 serves on the URI Foundation Board and Harrington School Advisory Board, and was an honorary chair of the 2016 Big Chill Weekend. The Distinguished Achievement Award will be accepted by Michael Chambrello, CEO of IGT’s North American Lottery Organization.

rising star award

Raymond Two Hawks Watson, M.C.P. ’05, Founder and CEO, Providence Cultural Equity Initiative

athletic director’s award

Edward B. Deutsch ’68, Managing Partner, McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP

deans’ awards

College of Arts and Sciences

Adam Wiener ’87, Executive Vice President and General Manager, CBS Local Digital Media

College of Business Administration

Frederick J. Newton ’78, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Apollo Education Group, Inc.

College of Engineering

Jay Blazensky ’82, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer, VoiceBase, Inc.

College of the Environment and Life Sciences

Kenneth Ayars ’83, M.S. ’85 , Chief, Division of Agriculture, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

College of Health Sciences

R. Bert Reid Jr., M.S. ’93, Co-Owner, OPT Physical Therapy

College of Nursing

Karen L. Waldo ’88, Registered Nurse, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

College of Pharmacy

Susan C. Johnson ’81, Pharm.D. ’88, Director of Research, Eastern Connecticut Hematology & Oncology Associates

Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies

Laura A. Pisaturo ’91, Chairperson, Rhode Island Parole Board

Graduate School of Oceanography

The G. Unger Vetlesen Foundation