Leadership at Rhode Island's top economic development agency is in limbo at a critical moment for the state's economy
The next leader of the powerful agency will help shape the
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On Tuesday, Bennett did not attend the Commerce Corporation's board meeting, which was chaired by McKee alongside chief of staff
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Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, left, seated next to Savage Law Partners attorney Christopher Fragomeni, right, as he chairs a Rhode Island Commerce Corporation board meeting on Aug. 5.
Alexa Gagosz
McKee has not said whether Bennett will be promoted to lead the agency permanently, or if he's considering bringing back Stefan I. Pryor, the agency's former secretary. If McKee were to appoint Pryor, the move would revive the political career of a longtime public official whose most recent stint in state government
Neither Pryor or Bennett responded to the Globe's requests for comment.
Pryor previously led the Commerce Corporation under former governor
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In an interview with the Globe on Tuesday evening, McKee would not discuss the future of Commerce's top leadership role.
'We have nothing finalized, but we are working on just continuing the progress that Commerce has made over the last few years since I've been governor, which is significant,' said McKee.
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When asked about Pryor's future specifically, McKee said, 'I'm not going to get into any particulars in terms of personnel right now.'
Karl Wadensten, a Commerce Corporation board member and the CEO of VIBCO Vibrators, said Pryor and Bennett working alongside one another with the rest of the Commerce staff would be a 'dream team.'
'But that team will need to have bold goals and move with urgency,' said Wadensten. 'The stakes are high.'
The secretary role isn't the only one left unfulfilled at the agency. Since Commerce's Chief Marketing Officer
As companies are evaluating their presence in Rhode Island, and other states are recruiting talent from the state, 'we can't afford to be complacent,' said Wadensten, who said Commerce's role cannot be limited to transactional programs.
Commerce 'must be a visible, vocal advocate, forging relationships on Smith Hill and throughout the state to ensure business retention and attraction remain top priorities,' said Wadensten.
While Commerce secretary, Pryor was credited with helping broker high-profile development deals, including the planned redevelopment of
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Pryor stepped down from his role as housing secretary in July 2024 to become a partner at Palm Venture Studios, a Texas-based venture capital and private equity firm. He was still
McKee appointed Bennett as president and chief operating officer of Rhode Island Commerce in April 2024. At the time, his appointment pulled the former businessman out of retirement.
While serving as president of Commerce, Bennett was credited with bringing Canton, Mass.-based
From 2011 to 2015, Bennett served as Providence's director of economic development. He also served on the board of directors of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority on and off from 1995 until he
When asked whether Bennett would return to his previous post as Commerce president, McKee said, 'We'll have that in order in terms of how we're going to proceed,' but never directly answered the question.
McKee said changes at Commerce could be announced by the end of the week.
Alexa Gagosz can be reached at
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