Basebridge Coaching - Brie Oaks, Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Rhode Island, has helped numerous faculty members learn the strategies they need to succeed and thrive in academia. After years of watching her colleagues across universities struggle with being overworked and overwhelmed, Brie began training as a professional coach with the goal… Continue Reading
JUNE & GINGER - Brooke Salisbury, owner and head baker at June & Ginger, has always been passionate about spreading joy with her sweet creations. When she first started baking cakes for family and friends, she was also volunteering her time and delicious cakes to Icing Smiles, Inc. This nonprofit provides customized celebration cakes to families with children battling… Continue Reading
EL RINCON DOMINICANO - A long-time participant in the education and training programs of the RISBDC, Paola launched her successful Comida Criollo-style restaurant in the Upper South Providence neighborhood at the beginning of the pandemic. The work had just begun when Paola lost her business to a fire that started in an abutting residential unit a week later. Over… Continue Reading
BTONE FITNESS - 500 S Water St, Providence, RI 02903 https://www.btonefitness.com/locations/providence Kelsey Irish, owner of btone FITNESS in Providence, has always had a passion for athletics and fitness. With a long history of high-level competition in professional soccer and a partnership with a leading sports brand, Kelsey’s love for active movement led her… Continue Reading
FOGLIA - FOGLIA 31 State Street, Bristol, RI 02809 ● 401.253.1195 ● FogliaBristol.com Lawyer by day, vegan chef by night, Peter Carvelli is making a name for himself, developing a devoted following, hosting popular pop-up events, offering private catering, and doing short-term residencies featuring his elevated vegan cuisine. As the pandemic restrictions shifted in Rhode Island, “Chef… Continue Reading
RITUAL CAFÉ - RITUAL CAFÉ 2028 Warwick Ave, Warwick, RI 02889 ● ritualcaferi.com Business owner, Brett Read, is no stranger to entrepreneurial life. He is a real estate broker, property manager, and now, cafe owner. The vision for Ritual Cafe was inspired by Brett’s desire to experience a place where you could get excellent coffee and a delicious… Continue Reading
ALLUMÉ CHOCOLATE - ALLUMÉ CHOCOLATE 370 Main St, Wakefield, RI 02879 ● contact@allumechocolate.com ● allumechocolate.com Allumé Chocolate was created by local entrepreneurs Eric Snyder and Marissa Kervin. Their unique chocolate is made with a blend of specialty flavors, local dairy, and ethically-sourced ingredients from around the world. While exploring how to make their products more widely available, Eric… Continue Reading
ARCHERY GAMES PVD - ARCHERY GAMES PVD 40 Sonoma Court, Providence, RI, 02909 ● archerygamespvd.com Food, music, and art contribute a fair share of creativity in the Ocean State. And now we can add sports entertainment to this list thanks to Brian Seto, owner of Archery Games PVD. Archery Games offers combat archery, played similarly to dodgeball, but with… Continue Reading
ROCKY SHORES TATTOO COMPANY - ROCKY SHORES TATTOO COMPANY 554 West Main Rd, Middletown, RI 02842 ● RockyShoresTattoo@gmail.com Jen Beirola is an Air Force veteran who has been tattooing for more than 20 years and operated a successful tattoo parlor when she was stationed in Omaha, Nebraska. In early 2022, when she returned to Rhode Island, she contacted the RISBDC… Continue Reading
Helping Mozz Make A Dream Come True - On June 10, 2022, Mozz held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of their store. Mozz is a purveyor of fine Italian cheeses with a specialty in made-on-site mozzarella. Mozz is the life-long dream of owners, Christina and Luca Mignogna, but it look a gouda amount of support to make this dream a reality.… Continue Reading
Meet Whole Foods’ 2022 Supplier of the Year: The Backyard Food Company - In 2013, two dads, Louby Sukkar and Matt McClelland, became business partners with a startup condiment company that grew out of their backyard gardens (hence the name Backyard Food Co.) Fast forward 9 years later In May 2022, the company was awarded Whole Foods Market Supplier of the Year for the North Atlantic Region at… Continue Reading
Co-zy Ice Cream Café - There is a new reason to visit America’s first mall, The Arcade, in Downtown Providence. Co-zy Ice Cream Café opened its doors on July 8th and we can’t get over their delicious homemade ice cream. Owner and serial entrepreneur, Anh Tuyet Nguyen, is the woman behind the business. Along with her friend and culinary expert,… Continue Reading
Papi’s Coquito: A Cultural Tradition - Did you know the Coquito beverage is a coconut cream flavored rum enjoyed around the holidays and is a staple of Puerto Rican culture? It’s a drink that Victor Regino, owner of Papi’s Refrescos, found meaning in as he reminisced about his home and the lively celebrations he had with his family. At Papi’s Refrescos,… Continue Reading
Dogfrens - When Hazel was adopted as a “pandemic puppy”, little did she know she would also be socially distancing, too. Her mom and dad, Michaela & John, had a hard time finding playmates for Hazel that matched her energetic pawsonality. On the rare chance Hazel would make a new friend at the dog park, her mom… Continue Reading
Tracey Gear & Precision Shaft - Gears enable drive that moves the economy forward. Leo Tracey recognized this value in 1945, founding Tracey Gear & Precision Shaft in his garage. Supporting local businesses with machined parts enabled Leo to feed his large family and establish credibility in a variety of industries. Commitment to quality, customer service and value-added innovation has been… Continue Reading
White Electric Coffee Co-Op - White Electric Coffee opened their doors 21 years ago in Providence’s West Side. Since then, this coffee shop has become a favorite spot for teachers, students, workers, and cafe enthusiasts, leading to a strong and loyal customer base. As the business grew, a group of workers saw avenues for change. In 2020 their call for… Continue Reading
Declutter Pronto - As the owner of Declutter Pronto, Laurie Lindemann revolutionizes her clients’ homes and helps organize their overstuffed spaces into usable, organized areas tailored to their needs. But Lindemann’s success relies on entering her clients’ homes and offices—and the COVID-19 pandemic took a heavy toll. Like many other small business owners, Lindemann needed help, fast. Her… Continue Reading
SaladWorks - Fanfare, prizes, and even a “lettuce cutting” marked the 1st Year VIP Anniversary Celebration of the SaladWorks Providence location. Owners Aileen and John Pisaturo were joined by Gov. Dan McKee and other VIPs to commemorate SaladWorks’ success despite the uncertainty and challenges of opening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a creative business model and leveraging… Continue Reading
Presto Strange O Coffee Co. - Owners Jason and Jess Case began their coffee journey in 2010 with their business, Presto Strange O Coffee Co., on a trailer. Over time, Presto Strange O has built up quite a following as their mobile coffee truck has been located at a variety of Rhode Island events, such as the Providence Flea Market and… Continue Reading
SoCo Vedge - SoCo Vedge Say hello to South County’s new vegan food delivery service! Husband and wife team Dean and Julie Couchey rang in the new year by launching their business January 1, 2021, and success has come quickly. As a classically trained chef, Dean set out to prove that vegan food does not have to be… Continue Reading
Early “Retirement Plans” Bring Southern Comfort to Providence - Julia Broome has been in and out of the hospitality and event business throughout New England since her graduation from Boston University in 2009. But luckily for Providence, the restaurant that native daughter Broome always thought of as a retirement project came to fruition years earlier. When Covid-19 hit in March of 2020, Broome began… Continue Reading
Chibi’s Choice - Success with entrepreneurship requires essential ingredients, like hard work and good planning. Add patience and a sprinkle of luck to increase your chances of success. Aldo Abreu has been tested and has finally made an impact with his pet grooming business Chibi’s Choice. Searching for just the right location was a major test, spanning two… Continue Reading
Lovett’s Fine Cigars and Arts - While reestablishing his cigar business closer to target customers in Chepachet, RI, Douglas Lovett expanded to create a place where fine tastes come together. Rebranded in 2019 to incorporate his two passions, Lovett’s Fine Cigars & Arts presents clients with an opportunity to enjoy the best in cigars and features work from local artists, including… Continue Reading
Kismet Salon - After 40 years as a nail technician, Anita Barbera took a leap into entrepreneurship and opening her own salon. Though her timing, perhaps, couldn’t have been worse, she’s risen to the challenge in style. Barbera purchased a building in Cranston and opened the doors to Kismet Salon just one day before all salons were ordered… Continue Reading
Fab-You-Us - Ingenuity and grit best describe the spirit of small business owner Tracie Amaral of Fab-You-Us. Entering her third year of business, the pandemic presented a serious threat to the family fun center. Working with the support of RISBDC Small Business Consultant Dennis McCarthy, she accessed critical funding, made important required changes, and is poised to bounce… Continue Reading
Blush Bakeshop - From soup and pizza to doughnuts, cakes, danish, and more, Samantha Chamberlain has mastered vegan baking. As owner and Head Pastry Chef of Blush Bakeshop, Chamberlain has been selling her made-from-scratch vegan baked goods and pastries at farmers markets and pop-up events around Rhode Island since 2018. Shortly after establishing herself, she was ready to… Continue Reading
Sheehan Psychotherapy Associates - When Sheehan Psychotherapy Associates employee Ashley Marzullo began down the path to purchase the business from its retiring owner, she had no idea what obstacles and speed bumps would pop up. With the help of the RISBDC, today she stands proudly as the new owner, ready for great things. Over the two years it took… Continue Reading
RI Riddle Room - Being stuck inside a room trying to figure your way out may sound a little too much like everyday life these days, but for Byron Delmonico, the entrepreneur behind RI Riddle Room escape room, he’s not only used to it: he makes it fun! Delmonico first came to the RI Small Business Development Center in… Continue Reading
The Bodhi Spa - A beloved business in Newport is taking advantage of an exciting opportunity to expand to an additional location—and the RI Small Business Development Center (RISBDC) played an important role in making it happen. The Bodhi Spa had already built an excellent reputation among their customers, employees, and community and had been recognized by the Newport… Continue Reading
Whetstone Workshop - Concerned that cash flow could be a problem when it came time to pay monthly bills, the owners of metal fabrication outfit Whetstone Workshop wisely controlled their expenses when starting out. Procuring commissions from interior designers and architects for large architectural and sculptural installations, their typical project takes time to fabricate and must be synchronized… Continue Reading
Gerbs Allergy Friendly Foods - Gerbs Allergy Friendly Foods has been a RISBDC client working with Director Amit Basnet since June of 2016. As the world's premium allergy-friendly foods manufacturer, Gerbs is one of a handful of companies with products that are free from the top 14 FDA (Food & Drug Administration) recognized food allergens. Initially, Gerbs came to the… Continue Reading
NeQter Labs - Ransomware, phishing alerts, malware and skimming devices make up just some of the data breaches that businesses and private citizens are subject to on a daily basis. As the world relies increasingly on digital networks to communicate, manage money and conduct business the risks of abuses seem daunting. Even large businesses are not immune: The… Continue Reading
Quonnie Bait & Tackle - All Pete Silva wanted was to get in the game. As the owner of Quonnie Bait & Tackle, Silva was seeking a loan that would enable him to purchase the property the business had been leasing. Owning the property outright would open new doors for the development of the outdoor and sporting goods company, and… Continue Reading
Nanosoft - Along with a team of researchers at the University of Rhode Island and Brown University, Michael Godfrin developed a new technology for high-powered microscopes, which will enable faster development of drugs and other new and innovative nanomaterials. Armed with this technology, but with little experience in business, Michael was referred to the RISBDC, and began… Continue Reading
Beehive Handmade - When Jim Dowd and Sandra Bonazoli met in art school, the two jewelers started a relationship based on a love of metalsmithing. Inspired by beautiful vintage kitchenware, Jim and Sandra had an idea for a collection of metal giftware and keepsakes that incorporated thoughtfulness and charm, qualities they felt were missing from many modern products.… Continue Reading
Bio-One Inc. - Rhode Island native Zachary Mattera recently opened the state's first Bio-One Inc. franchise. Bio-One provides decontamination and biohazard cleanup services while treating clients with privacy and compassion, which difficult moments demand. This newest location serves Providence and surrounding areas. Mattera studied Criminal Justice at Norwich University. His years of experience and expertise are exhibited when… Continue Reading
Speech Services Rhode Island, LLC - Rhode Island business owners Paige and Jonathan Voccia are celebrating fast-paced success with their speech therapy business. The married couple share a commitment to helping those in their community with speech, communication, and cognitive difficulties and have always dreamed of owning their own business. “We were drawn to creating something of our own, building it… Continue Reading
Hope and Harmony: Holistic Health and Healing - Denise Dacier, owner of Hope and Harmony: Holistic Health and Healing, LLC, always knew she was a healer and that her life’s purpose is to help people. An RN since 2004 and an NP since 2013, she is now actively pursuing a certification in holistic nursing through the American Holistic Nurses Association. This is more… Continue Reading
Odettas - Odettas is the brainchild of Sabine Accetta and Cindy O'Donnell. Together, the duo creates handmade decorations, fashions, and a variety of eco-friendly jewelry — including pieces made with locally sourced sea glass. The pair are regulars at local craft and vendor fairs around New England. While Etsy and craft fairs were bringing in orders, Accetta… Continue Reading
Little Fire - Little Fire is a video production company that produces both commercial and narrative content in the digital space. Beyond working with clients to sell products, Little Fire also aims to be a platform for companies to broadcast their social messages. Co-founders Raz Cunningham and Aidan Laliberte brought impressive portfolios of work to their new venture.… Continue Reading
Barrett’s Garden, LLC - Liz Barrett has been resourceful and self-reliant throughout her career. So when it came time to share her vegan delights, she jumped in with both feet. Starting out with cashew based products designed to substitute for parmesan and ricotta cheeses, she’s been a big hit on the farmer’s market circuit Early success fueled her confidence… Continue Reading
Tu voz es Musica - The question on Yaneth Caecido’s mind was, “Can I duplicate the success I’ve enjoyed in my native Colombia now that I’m living in the United States?” Accolades and awards came easily to Yaneth in Colombia while singing, instructing and organizing muscial production recordings and performances. Duplicating this success with only limited English would be challenging.… Continue Reading
E. Frances Paper - Three sisters – well, one cousin and two sisters – who have been best friends since childhood made their dream a reality by starting a greeting card and paper products company in 2012. From its humble beginnings where Ali Flippin, one of the founders, made cards out of a tiny office, they have built a… Continue Reading
Hi-Way Guardian - Rhonda Simpson has been in the construction industry for 30 years as a driver, owner/operator and laborer. Over the past 5 years, she has also gained extensive experience in highway safety setups. Rhonda has been trained as a highway work zone safety traffic control technician (certificate #180006459), maintains a current medical card at all times,… Continue Reading
A Shore Thing - A Shore Thing is a beautiful, cozy spot right by Charlestown Beach with a unique shop behind the bed and breakfast with gifts and furniture repurposed right on site. Jen Messina had fallen in love with Charlestown after many years of visiting her aunt and uncle’s property where they ran an art gallery. She had… Continue Reading
Latte Love Coffee House - Tony Phouaykoumpha learned the essence of hard work, struggle, perseverance and work ethics at an early age. His parents sacrificed a good living in Laos to give him and his sister a shot at the American Dream when Tony was just 7 years old. He has always admired his parents’ hard work, zeal, integrity and… Continue Reading
HG80 - After more than 15 years as a bartender/mixologist, Josh Berner traded in his bottle openers and wine keys for tongs and a spatula to open HG80, a food truck based in Providence, RI. At , he serves untraditional tacos, potato chips, and sodas. Never doing anything the “traditional” way, Josh has always had an independent… Continue Reading
Unplugged Book Box - As passionate, lifelong writers and readers, Sarah Khan and Melanie McKnight developed a strong bond over their love of literature. They combined forces to embark on a venture rooted in their mutual interest in creating a brand they could stand behind. Both founders wanted to combine their love of self-care and books, while encouraging subscribers… Continue Reading
Destination Recommended - After years of working in the travel industry, destination marketing organization (DMO) guru Jim Brody had an idea for a startup business that he believed could change the travel industry entirely. Rather than requiring travelers to know where they want to go, or spend oodles of time searching the web to compare destinations, Brody’s website… Continue Reading
White Dog Distilling - A full-time science teacher at Scituate High School, Carlo Catucci found himself performing some tasty experiments at home. Crafting spirits in a 10-gallon pot, Carlo discovered he had a knack for distilling. As he developed his skills, family and friends encouraged him to turn his hobby into a business. Making the leap a few years… Continue Reading
Healthy Babies, Happy Moms, Inc. - Healthy Babies, Happy Moms, Inc. Over its first 13 years in operation, East Greenwich venture Healthy Babies, Happy Moms, Inc. was a successful small business, experiencing moderate growth. Founder Kathy Moren’s background as a neonatal intensive care nurse, with experience in home healthcare and corporate consulting, positioned her as the perfect person to launch… Continue Reading
California Liquors - Serial entrepreneur Miguel Fernandez always has a plan. With two successful businesses co-owned with family in the Dominican Republic under his belt, he was ready to strike out on his own and tackle a new adventure. With an eye to the stability of the industry, Miguel crafted a plan to one day own a successful… Continue Reading
Emerging Energy Acupuncture - The healthcare field is built on a foundation of creating an atmosphere of comfort and trust. Emerging Energy founder Mary Claire Dilks has taken precise measures to create a relaxed and safe space for her practice of acupuncture. Her success in building a thriving practice has brought her to the point of needing to expand.… Continue Reading
New England Tumble Force - Women owned and operated is the motto here at New England Tumble Force, a brand-new, state of the art All-Star cheerleading and family fitness center run by Amy Wahlberg. Amy has a natural entrepreneurial spirit, and when she discovered a lack of cheerleading gyms in Rhode Island, she took it upon herself to open a… Continue Reading
Henri’s Auto Repair, LLC - After 10 years of friendship, formed and fortified while Dave Lambert worked on Bill Gately’s car over time, the two men decided to embark on a business venture together. One day Dave, with more than 36 years’ experience in the automotive repair industry, mentioned to Bill that he was thinking about buying an auto repair… Continue Reading
RI Mushroom Co - It turns out that growing mushrooms can be good business. With a business model that is a unique combination of both growing mushrooms and sourcing the best mushrooms from growers around the country, the RI Mushroom Company has been making a name for itself since 2013. In just four years’ time Mike Hallock, CEO, and… Continue Reading
TLC Coffee Roasters Success Story - TLC Coffee Roasters, a unique coffee house and specialty bean roaster located in West Kingston, was looking to increase online sales of their distinctive products. TLC already had a great recipe down: start with organic, sustainably sourced beans from small estate farms worldwide; roast impeccably using a unique on-site process that accentuates both the lighter… Continue Reading
Artistic Melodies Success Story - Melanie Morrissey knew all along that her dream was to open her own studio. With 27 years experience in theater, dance, acting, musical theater, voice, and film, Morrissey dreamed of providing the perfect creative environment to encourage students to grow to their fullest potential and gain confidence in the performing arts. When she was ready… Continue Reading
Schastea (formerly The Elephant Room) - Schastea tearoom and creperie started with a vision of having an exotic and magical experience, just around the corner. Entrepreneurs Tony and Olga Lopez have created a minimalist zen-space where guests feel transported while enjoying a wide variety of teas, beers, wines, and cocktails. There is also an ample selection of savory and sweet crepes,… Continue Reading
Kendall Reiss - With a geology degree in hand, Kendall Reiss started her career by taking a deep dive into the poetry of rocks. Her fascination with the endurance and splendor of the natural world formed the foundation for an artistic practice grounded in quality craftsmanship of fine jewelry. With support from the RISBDC, Reiss recently celebrated the… Continue Reading
Smoke and Squeal BBQ - Owning his own business in the food service industry has always been Adam Batchelder’s dream. Culinary Arts has been his passion and now he is the proud owner of Smoke & Squeal BBQ LLC, a new food truck based out of Pawtucket RI. Smoke & Squeal delivers an authentic smoked BBQ experience where the customer… Continue Reading
HeARTspot Art Center and Gallery - Making art, teaching art, creating community: the HeARTspot Art Center and Gallery is the culmination of years of professional and personal interests for 20-year public school teaching veteran Jennifer Gillooly Cahoon. In the classroom, she split time teaching both art and special education, and for a time ran the art department at East Providence High.… Continue Reading
Blanch Auto Repair - Owning an automotive repair and maintenance shop has been a life-long dream of David Blanch. Love for automotives runs in the Blanch family. His father is a mechanic and would occasionally take him to work when he was a child. Since then, he always knew he wanted to work on cars. It is more than… Continue Reading
Lincoln Tax Services of RI - Going to work every day is what most of us do. But if you love what you do, like Sharon (Raheb) DeSimone, it’s not work at all! With more than 12 years of experience as a tax professional, DeSimone had found her niche and was thriving in a role that allowed her to meet new… Continue Reading
Orbit Motion - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPI3FeVkFAo Orbit Motion A good formula for success includes strong academics combined with years of experience in a field with opportunity. Josh Holt, founder and CEO of Orbit Motion, has methodically built his company on this foundation. With a computer engineering degree (URI ’07) in hand Josh opted to work for a small technical company… Continue Reading
ProjectEngin - ProjectEngin Timing is everything, they say. For ProjectEngin, it couldn’t be more true. Riding a growing tide of STEM awareness, the company has seen a rapid increase in demand for its professional development services and its curriculum that supports inclusion of engineering in K-12 classes. With a passion for bringing more creative and innovative students… Continue Reading
Whalers Brewing Co. - Whaler's Brewing Company South Kingstown, RI It’s no secret that craft brewing is a booming industry, and Whaler’s Brewing is poised to be the next big player on that stage here in the smallest state. What began as a hobby for its founders has grown with passion into a unique and highly regarded microbrewery start-up.… Continue Reading
Sentinel Group - Public service comes in many forms but John Tassoni, Jr. has cornered the market on helping his community. After serving Rhode Island as a State Senator from Smithfield for 12 years John is building the Sentinel Group. The Sentinel Group is an integrated marketing services, media relations, labor relations, government relations and community action organization.… Continue Reading
Bucktown - A New Yorker by background, Adam Mir has fallen for his new home of Providence. Having worked in the restaurant industry for years, he always dreamed of opening his own neighborhood joint, and made that dream a reality on the West Side with Chef Ashley Faulkner. Adam was introduced to the RISBDC through Hope &… Continue Reading
Dexter Training Concepts - For Dexter Training Concepts, business success reflects their line of work: hard work, sweat, and no shortcuts. Since 2004, Paul and Laura Dexter’s eponymous business in North Providence, RI, has used their customized and personalized approach to health and wellness to help clients achieve their fitness goals. With help from RISBDC business counselor Dennis McCarthy,… Continue Reading
Essentially Coconut - The buzz is building for Essentially Coconut, a growing company that is producing high-quality coconut butters at Hope & Main, a Rhode Island food business incubator. Owner Sophia Gartland attended a workshop at Hope & Main on business modelling and alternative start-up financing options conducted by the RISBDC and Accion, a small business lending program. … Continue Reading
Reymond’s Brother Tailor Shop & Laundromat - Cranston entrepreneurs Ruben Ogando & Alba Baez grew their business with support from the RISBDC. They arrived in Rhode Island over 10 years ago in pursuit of the American Dream; he from the Dominican Republic and she from Puerto Rico. Ruben and his brother started Reymond’s Brother Tailor Shop in 1990. After his… Continue Reading
School of Rock - Bono, the leader of one of the world’s greatest rock bands said, “Music can change the world because it can change people.” Dave LaSalle of the School of Rock has taken that quote to heart. With music kids learn life’s lessons with every note, practice and performance. Dave’s commitment to music, since age 6,… Continue Reading
East Providence Auto Body - East Providence Entrepreneur Overcomes Challenges, Expands with Support from Commerce RI and the RI Small Business Development Center at URI. Continue Reading
The Hopscotch Room - Successful business owners seem to have an innate ability to persevere in the face of adversity. When two entrepreneurs are married to one another there’s bound to be great things to follow. Continue Reading
