Providence State of the Market

Christine M. West, AIA is a strong believer that architecture is at its best when it creates great spaces for people. She deploys this design approach as principal and co-owner of KITE Architects and as Chair of the Providence City Plan Commission. As an active participant in Providence’s creative community, she is currently President of the non-profit Providence Revolving Fund which finances and develops historic properties. Christine is a Past President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and was the architect member of the Providence Downtown Design Review Committee. She presented at the inaugural TEDxProvidence event in 2012 and was the class speaker for the Zeta II Leadership RI class. At the national level, she serves as a team chair and AIA representative on visiting NAAB accreditation teams for professional schools of architecture. Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Master in Design Studies Carnegie Mellon University, Bachelor of Architecture LEED Accredited Professional, US Green Building Council Registered Architect (RI, MD, MA), NCARB Certified

Bonnie is the Director of the Department of Planning and Development for the City of Providence. In her role she leads a great team of professionals who oversee the City’s efforts related to planning, design, development and community development in Providence. The Department’s work is a partnership with many stakeholders and in her role as Director, Bonnie coordinates planning efforts with local, state and federal planning partners. She is passionate about where smart planning and place-making come together to make lasting impacts on communities and quality of life. Bonnie sits on the I-195 Redevelopment Commission, is a trustee of the Providence Foundation, serves on the Board of the Port of Providence and also serves as the Executive Director of the Providence Redevelopment Agency. Bonnie has a Master of Community Planning from the University of Rhode Island and BA in Urban Studies from Mount Holyoke College.

Stefan Pryor serves as Rhode Island’s first Secretary of Commerce. Appointed by Governor Gina M. Raimondo and confirmed unanimously by the Rhode Island State Senate in 2015, Secretary Pryor oversees and coordinates the State agencies and offices responsible for economic development, business regulation, housing, and workforce development. Pryor served for approximately five years (2006-2011) as Deputy Mayor and Director of Economic and Housing Development in the City of Newark, NJ. Pryor and his team played a key role in orchestrating plans for Newark’s first new downtown hotel in 40 years and first new office tower in 20 years. They also helped recruit new commercial tenants to Newark including Panasonic (North American headquarters), Manischewitz (world headquarters), Pitney Bowes, Standard Chartered Bank, and Bartlett Dairy. Before his work in Newark, Pryor was President of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC). The LMDC was created in the aftermath of September 11th by the State and City of New York to plan and help coordinate the physical rebuilding and economic revitalization of Lower Manhattan including the World Trade Center site. From 2002-2006, Pryor served in a number of leadership capacities at the agency, culminating in his service as the LMDC’s President. Pryor previously served as a Vice President at the Partnership for New York City, where he led the organization’s public education initiatives including a program which worked in collaboration with two low-performing, high-poverty NYC school districts. Pryor served as the Commissioner of Education for the State of Connecticut (2011-2015). During his tenure, Connecticut passed landmark legislation aimed at closing achievement gaps, improving chronically underperforming schools and districts, enhancing educator effectiveness, and increasing rigor and raising expectations for all students. Pryor received his undergraduate and law degrees from Yale University.

Alden joined CBRE/New England in 1994 and since then has primarily focused on the sales and leasing of office space and on the sale of investment property. Alden’s unrivalled analytical ability affords him an expertise in market analysis as well. He has a highly personal, hands-on approach with which he serves his clients in all real estate capacities. His extensive community involvement provides him strong relationships in the business community.

As Providence’s 38 th Mayor, Jorge O. Elorza has strived to build a Providence that works for all of its residents. Since taking office in January 2015, Mayor Elorza has prioritized education, ensuring transparency in city government, improving city services and providing a sound financial future for the capital city. Driven by the belief that all children should have the opportunity to thrive in a supportive environment, Mayor Elorza is confident there is no better investment Providence can make than investing in the future of its youth. In addition to hosting the first ever All In: Providence Education Summit, Mayor Elorza has prioritized preparing youth for success by increasing summer education and employment opportunities, improving access-to- technology by introducing 8,000 new computers in schools and continued support for Providence Talks, a nationally recognized program aimed at addressing the word gap. These pro-growth and progressive polices are putting Providence on the path to becoming the top urban school district in New England. Under Mayor Elorza’s leadership, the city has practiced responsible budgeting practices and streamlined services across city departments resulting in the largest operating surplus realized in over 20 years ($10.3M). In November 2016, Fitch Ratings cited the city’s surplus, structural changes to the FY17 budget, and the elimination of risk of one-time revenues as rational to upgrade the city’s credit rating by two grades, from a BBB- to an A-. Mayor Elorza believes that city services should be innovative, efficient, transparent and accessible for all residents and visitors. In March 2016, under his leadership the Mayor’s Center for City Services launched the PVD311 system for 24/7 access to constituent services. By streamlining processes, providing customer service training and continuously encouraging city staff to look for efficiency in all transactions, City Hall has taken strides in providing high quality city services. As a member of the United States Conferences of Mayors, Mayor Elorza serves as Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Community Development and Housing, co-chairs the Committee for Immigration Reform, and is a member of the Conference’s Advisory Board. The Mayor has been an outspoken national voice on issues such as immigration reform, healthcare, and environmental protection, placing an emphasis on the work done at the local level. Born and raised in Providence, Mayor Elorza is a graduate of Classical High school, the University of Rhode Island, and Harvard Law School. Prior to being elected Mayor, he served as a Providence Housing Court Judge and co-founded the Latino Policy Institute while he served as a professor at Roger Williams Law School. As an avid cyclist Mayor Elorza frequently commutes by bicycle from his home in Silver Lake to City Hall.

Arnold B. Chace, Jr. has over 30 years’ experience as an investor, financial advisor, urban planner, and real estate developer. He is the Managing General Partner of Cornish Associates, Westminster Street Lofts, and Mashpee Commons, L.P. Buff is currently the chair of the board of the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy as well as serving as a board member emeritus of Grow Smart RI and Trinity Repertory Theater, an officer and member of the Executive Committee of the Providence Foundation, and an inaugural member of the Congress for New Urbanism. Practicing what he believes, Buff lives in Providence’s vibrant downtown neighborhood.

Rick Shaffer, the founder and owner of Vision Properties, was born and raised in West Conshohocken, PA. As a young man, Rick watched and learned valuable craftsmanship skills from his grandfather, a well-established Master Builder. Rick started in business as a sole proprietor specializing in building rehabilitation. Eventually, he transitioned into Shaffer Builders as a full service development company. Using his on-the-job education, and his hard work and dedication, Rick established Shaffer Builders with a solid reputation for excellence. Rick’s strategic partnerships have been instrumental in propelling his firm into new product types and geographies. After the Recession, he decided to launch Vision Properties to more adequately reflect his firm’s expanded capabilities. Even with the growth of his projects, Rick still meticulously oversees every detail of construction, with on-site supervision of contractors and sub-contractors. He also maintains control over budgets and staffing.

Eric is the founding Principal of ZDS and a lead contributor to the firm’s continuing success. He carries over two decades of project management experience in the hospitality industry. Eric’s keen ability to direct his staff of talented architects and designers through the successful completion of all of the firm’s projects produces outstanding results for the assignments in which the firm is engaged. Eric is impassioned with providing stellar design solutions that are lucrative for the entire project team. His hands-on, learned and enthusiastic approach from the onset of a project instills a perpetual forward motion, affording immediate results. Eric has led the design and project management of numerous luxury hotels and mixed use properties through the United States, Middle East, China, and Southeast Asia. Some of his greatest works include luxury hotels for clients and major operators in India, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh. His veteran work experience in both the domestic and international markets equip him with the ability to foresee a myriad of practical and innovative design and business solutions. A strong business sense paired with his innate design talent makes certain for solid project success. After 15 years as a Principal, Director of Operations, and Lead Project Manager at his previous firm, Eric pivoted his focus to building his firm that threads those international experiences into the more regionalized fabric of the United States. Eric’s daily quest for a successful balance between creative thinking, exceptional design, and efficient execution, reinforces his passion for the design industry and his persistent desire to provide his clients with profitable and successful properties. Eric is a mentor for young architects and designers in the industry. Eric frequents universities offering his skillful knowledge in portfolio reviews and is a champion of ensuring an optimistic future for the next generation of architects and designers. He received his B.Arch from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. He is licensed to practice architecture in multiple states, is NCARB certified, and is LEED accredited. Eric also served as Past President on the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Rhode Island Board of Directors in 2018/19. He was born and still a proud resident of the State of Rhode Island.

Daniel Kerner is a Vice President and Managing Director of Agency Production for M&T Realty Capital Corporation—a wholly-owned commercial mortgage banking subsidiary of M&T Bank—in the New England region. Dan has been involved in more than $4 billion of transactions throughout his 30+ year career in commercial real estate financing. Prior to joining M&T in 2014, Dan originated debt and equity transactions in the real estate departments of several life insurance companies and two CMBS shops, and managed his own mortgage brokerage firm. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in real estate finance from the University of Connecticut, and a Master’s Degree in the Economics of Finance from Trinity College. Dan is an active member of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

James “Bo” Koloski is Director of Client Services for the BOND Brothers, Inc. Providence Rhode Island office. He leads BOND’s business development efforts for Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and Connecticut, the Southern New England Region (SNE). He served a valuable role in the opening of BOND’s Providence office in 2016 and recently contributed to the local small business construction com -munity via an outreach learning program, BOND-PLX. A Rhode Island resident, Bo has a strong industry network and has collaborated closely with the BOND Providence Team to cultivate many client relationships including Providence College, AMICA and the Providence Public Library. In addition, his civic contributions and volunteer efforts inform BOND’s Rhode Island/SNE projects due to his close ties to the community. He is President of the VETS Memorial Auditorium Foundation in Providence, Member of The New England Institute of Technology’s Masters in Innovation Advisory Committee, The Providence Foundation and an Advisor to DownCity Design. In addition, he received the 2011 Exemplary Service Provider award from the Boston Chapter of the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA). Bo lives in Lincoln, RI with his wife and two sons.