Night
Trade Winds
FROM THE PUBLISHER
“ The pessimist complains about the wind ; the optimist expects it to change ; the realist adjusts the sails .” – William Arthur Ward
RI • MA • NH CARDIS . COM
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MEAGHAN SUSI
I have a wooden plaque with this quote hanging in my office . I bought it on a whim a few years ago , well before the pandemic and economic tsunami that came with it . At the time I thought it was an appropriate mantra for any small business owner , where the least little shift in prevailing winds can often produce seismic change .
Winds of change continue to be constant for Dale Venturini of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association , who is profiled in “ The Lion ’ s Share ,” in this issue .
Full disclosure , I have known Dale and her indefatigable work ethic for one of Rhode Island ’ s largest industries for decades . But I have never seen resolve , focus and a refusal to surrender to adversity , even during a global pandemic , as we have the past two years watching her lead an industry on the brink .
At this time last year , she was peddling blankets for consumers to use to dine outdoors , heading up an array of stimulus programs for outside tables , heaters , fleeces for waitstaff and curbside pickup of cocktails . At a time when vaccines were talked of only as a probability , there she was with her trademark smile leading the charge any way she could , in person and through social media , just by showing up .
Hurricane force winds could be described as the catalyst for change in the technology sector during the pandemic ’ s forceful entry into our way of life . Zoom , Microsoft Teams and Webex , once considered somewhat over the top as a means of communicating for business and family , have now become commonplace .
It is fitting that this month also has our annual reprisal of the industry ’ s best , our Tech TEN Awards , in collaboration with the Tech Collective . These awards bring you the names and faces of fellow Rhode Islanders leading the technology charge in the state .
Lastly , regular readers and subscribers may be familiar with our annual advertising section , “ Faces of Rhode Island .” The concept is to allow businesses large and small an opportunity to showcase the people who contribute to their success .
Hopefully another sign of economic recovery for our small business sector , the section has grown in size and number of profiles , prompting us to publish them in a supplement to this issue .
To the Rhode ahead . – J . J . P .
10 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l DECEMBER 2021