Levin and Company, Inc.
I-195 Redevelopment District Commission
Executive Director
Position Profile Page 1
I-195
REDEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT
COMMISSION
Executive Director
Position Profile
THE COMMISSION
The Rhode Island I-195 Redevelopment District Commission was created for the purpose of acquisition, management and administration of the 40-acres (22 developable acres) created by the relocation of Interstate 195 located in the middle of Providence’s historic downtown, East Side and Jewelry Districts. Unlike many publicly created redevelopment authorities, the Commission is the fee owner, as well as the penultimate permitting authority, for the property tasked with realizing highest and best use and spurring economic development.
The Commission itself is subject to public meeting requirements, and consists of 7 appointees approved by the RI Senate. Specific roles of the Commission include:
· Maintain and operate:
o the land for resale
o surrounding public spaces such as sidewalks
o Public parks
· Undertake due diligence and permitting by utilizing hired professional services consultants (nearly complete)
· Establish a regulatory framework for marketing and sale of the land:
o Covenants
o Planning
o Zoning
o Historic
o Disposition decision-making process
· Receive and expend public and private funds
THE OPPORTUNITY
The land opened up by the I-195 relocation includes waterfront parcels located on the Providence River with views of Narragansett Bay, large commercial sites adjacent to Interstate 95 North/South, and smaller, neighborhood-scaled parcels located on the tony East Side. The parcels are currently anchored by a thriving downtown, as well as Brown University’s Medical School, Johnson and Wales University Downtown Campus. The Jewelry District is also home to an active artist and design community, as well as research buildings utilized by the state’s leading hospitals. The 22-acres are zoned to support approximately 2.5 million square feet of new construction, and flexible enough to allow for all types of uses, including office, hotel, restaurant, research, institutional, and residential.
Current View Possible Future View
Parcel Breakdown
COMMISSION MEMBERS
Colin P. Kane
Chairman
Colin Kane is Principal of Peregrine Group LLC. Kane is Peregrine’s lead partner for project transactional activities, including structured workouts, payment settlements, deal origination, project planning, asset acquisition and sales, leasing, financial analysis, workout analysis, and debt/equity capitalization. Prior to helping found Peregrine in 2001, Kane worked as a Development Manager for Gilbane Properties and as a naval officer serving as a Flag Lieutenant and division officer stationed aboard the guided missile destroyer USS KIDD. Kane has broad experience in real estate development, including successful projects in Rhode Island, North Carolina, California, Maine, Nevada, Vermont, Virginia, Maryland, and Florida over the past 12 years. Projects include mixed-use campuses, historic rehabilitations, multi-family housing, hospitality venues, planned residential communities, large-scale corporate and institutional build-to-suits (including medical facilities), and brownfield redevelopment. Kane is a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm, a graduate of Harvard Business School (MBA), Georgetown University (MA), and the US Naval Academy (BS, with distinction), and serves on the Executive Committee of the RI Builder's Association. He was named Admiral of the Rhode Island Commodores by Governor Chafee in January, and is a resident of Wickford. [Nominated by Governor Chafee]
Barrett Bready, M.D.
Barrett Bready, M.D., is President and CEO of NABsys, Inc., a start-up and an advanced DNA sequencing technology company located in the heart of the Knowledge District. Bready has headed NABsys since 2005, and has led the company’s acquisition of GeneSpectrum as well as the execution of its licensing deal with Brown University. Bready has been named one of the top "30 under 30" in New England by Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology and one of 25 “movers and shakers” in Rhode Island by Rhode Island Monthly. Bready teaches “Biotechnology Management” at Brown, where he holds the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biotechnology. He received his M.D. from Brown Medical School and his Sc.B. in Physics from Brown, both as part of the University’s eight-year Program in Liberal Medical Education. He co-chairs BioGroup, Rhode Island’s biotechnology industry organization, serves on the Board of Directors of the Brown Medical Alumni Association, and is a Trustee of the Providence Preservation Society and WaterFire. [Nominated by Governor Chafee]
Barbara A. Hunger
Barbara Hunger has been a registered nurse in the Labor and Delivery Unit at Women and Infants Hospital for 25 years. Prior to joining Women and Infants, Hunger worked as a nurse in hospitals throughout New England. She earned a BS from Southern Connecticut State University. Her civic involvement includes volunteerism with CityArts, Elmwood Neighborhood Housing, Community Music Works, and the Steel Yard. Hunger has been a resident of and homeowner in Providence’s Elmwood neighborhood for 25 years and raised two children who attended Providence Public Schools. [Recommended by Mayor Taveras]
Diana L. Johnson
Diana Johnson is a self-employed art consultant. She served as Director of Brown University’s David Winton Bell Gallery and as Curator of Prints, Drawings and Photographs, Chief Curator, and Acting Director of the RISD Museum of Art.
Additionally, Johnson’s diverse career has included stints as: Senior Vice President and City Executive with the Private Clients Group at Fleet National Bank-Bank of America; Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager with the Providence Group Investment Advisory Company; and Vice President with the Trust and Investment Division of Fleet National Bank. Johnson has served on the Boards of the Rhode Island Committee for the Humanities, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, and Trinity Repertory Company, and as Board Chairman of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, Travelers Aid Society of Rhode Island, and Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island. She received a BA in government from Radcliffe College (Harvard University) and an MA in art history from Brown University. She is a resident of Providence. [Nominated by Governor Chafee]
John M. Kelly
John Kelly has been the President and CEO of Meeting Street School for the last 14 years. Meeting Street serves over 3,000 Rhode Island children and families each year. During his tenure, Kelly has overseen the development of Meeting Street’s $25 million South Providence campus which resulted in over 180 jobs moving to South Providence (with an additional 40 jobs added since its relocation). An attorney by training, Kelly previously focused his law practice in corporate and real estate law as a partner at Tillinghast, Collins & Graham. Kelly subsequently held a leadership position in a non-profit organization, the Coalition for Community Development, which was created to revitalize downtown Providence. Kelly has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Genesis Center and the Providence Revolving Fund and has chaired four city boards and commissions: the Port Commission, the Zoning Board of Review, Ad hoc Permitting Review and the Salary Review Commission. As Chairman of the Ad hoc Permitting Review group, he was tasked with streamlining Providence’s permitting process. To date, the city has implemented electronic plan review, concurrent plan review and launched of an expedited review process. He is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and earned a law degree from Boston College. Kelly is a resident of the city’s South Side. [Recommended by Mayor Taveras and Speaker Fox]
Mark T. Ryan
Mark Ryan is a principal at Moses and Afonso, Ltd. where he concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate and business law. He is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and New England School of Law. Ryan has extensive business and business law experience. Prior to joining Moses and Alfonso, he was with the Providence Journal Company for nearly 25 years, where he served as Executive Vice President and General Manager, Senior Vice President – Legal and Administration, and Vice President – Legal and Administration. From 1992 to 1996, Ryan served as the Providence Journal Company’s Assistant General Counsel and Senior Corporate Attorney, representing the newspaper as well as the company’s cable television division and the Food Network. Ryan was also responsible for litigation management, environmental issues and labor and employment matters country wide, and oversaw digital operations. He has broad legal experience, including labor negotiations. Ryan is active in the community, serving as a Director and Member of the Nominating and Legislative Committees of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce; First Vice Chairman and Trustee of the Providence Performing Arts Center; a Member of the Rhode Island Commodores; and a Member of the Rhode Island Bar Association. [Recommended by Mayor Taveras]
Michael S. Van Leesten
Michael Van Leesten is CEO of OIC of Rhode Island, a nonprofit community development organization that provides training, employment, and minority business development services. He also heads Van Leesten Group, LLC, a community development consulting firm. Van Leesten has over 40 years of community and business development experience, including: executive director of the Providence Planning and Development Department; director of Fleet National Bank; chairman of the Rhode Island Home Mortgage & Finance Corporation; executive director of the OIC of Rhode Island; public affairs management with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation; and, currently, chairman of the Providence Black Repertory Company. He has directly managed and developed various types of commercial and residential real estate projects in Rhode Island and Connecticut. Van Leesten is a member of the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame and has received honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Rhode Island, Roger Williams University and Rhode Island College, from which he earned his undergraduate degree in Education. He has also completed the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Management program and did course work in Community Planning at the University of Rhode Island.
[Nominated by Governor Chafee]
POSITION
The Executive Director of the Commission will be responsible for working with Commission members to develop a strategic plan for and oversee all day to day operations involved in the sale of the I-195 surplus land.
This will first involve crafting a vision for the right mix of industries and companies that will provide a sustainable economic boost for the State by providing high-wage, knowledge based jobs, with the residential supply and amenities to support this growth. The Executive Director will then need to build consensus around this vision with a number of state and local players – e.g. government, academic institutions, and community organizations.
In executing on this strategy, the Executive Director will need to do more than simply divesting the parcels on current market terms, but rather the successful person in this post will have to actively work to build and take advantage of synergies between buyers and to secure various tax, permitting, and economic advantages to add value to this development land.
As the Commission has been given ultimate zoning and development authority over the parcels, the Executive Director will continue to have involvement and monitoring responsibilities with the properties even after private development has commenced.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
· Possess significant experience influencing state and / or local policy direction, ideally in regard to high growth industries. This would include significant interaction with legislative and executive branches of state-level government and interaction with the general business community. This experience could come from within the Federal or State Government, a Community or Trade Association, University, or a related company.
· Experience leading the development and implementation of an organization’s vision and strategic direction.
· While previous experience working with high growth, knowledge based industries is not required, it would be extremely beneficial.
· Prior experience in Economic Development, especially from the ground up, is a major plus.
· Prior experience in real estate development and planning could be helpful.
· Familiarity with issues such as business development, regulatory compliance, taxes, international business relations.
· Experience operating in a high visibility atmosphere and dealing with the news media will be critical.
· Possess experience managing and/or consulting with high-powered Business Boards preparing him/her to harness the Commission as a major strategic asset.
PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS
· A hands-on, independent operator capable of accomplishing the task at hand with little formal support
· Strong visionary skills and the ability to think outside the box.
· Someone who is thinking about the next big “idea” to support Economic Development yet also possessing the Operational skills to implement a vision.
· Strong communication and articulation skills with all audiences are required.
· A Statesperson’s “gravitas” would provide strong positioning and create a perceived presence.
· Sufficient credibility to become the “Voice of Economic Development in Rhode Island.”
· Have a flexible management style that successfully interfaces with a wide variety of personality styles.
· Possess a service–oriented style. An executive that can play a supportive role on the stage, not requiring a front-and-center role to impact change and policy. A facilitator of Community discussion.
· Possess Political and/or Business Development skills that allow win-win outcomes in Business, Academic and Governmental communications, i.e., a Rainmaker.
This report is a private document and contains information that is privileged or confidential. It is to be used only in conjunction with the recruiting activities being conducted by Levin and Company for the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission.