Title President Company Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce Bio Laurie White is President of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce -- Rhode Island’s largest private sector business advocacy and economic development organization. She has been President since October 2005. The mission of the Chamber is to be the advocate for growing and protecting the business community in Rhode Island. A significant portion of the Chamber’s work is devoted to developing the state’s Innovation Economy by driving advanced industry formation, entrepreneurship, medical, academic and industry collaboration, technology transfer, talent retention and competitive tax policy. She also is chief executive of the Greater Providence Chamber Foundation which serves the private sector in generating new business investment in Rhode Island. Laurie is an honors graduate of the University of Rhode Island where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in 1981. She was the recipient of the University Dean’s Distinguished Achievement Award in October of 2010 and the President’s Distinguished Achievement Award in October of 2016. She received an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from Johnson & Wales University in May of 2010. In recognition of her advocacy work in support of public higher education, she was inducted into the Community College of Rhode Island Hall of Fame in April of 2010. She was inducted into The Prout School’s Hall of Fame in October of 2008. In 2002, she earned the designation Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) from the American Chamber of Commerce Executives and is the only Chamber professional in Rhode Island to hold that national distinction. In 2006, she completed the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business “Directors Consortium” which focused on best practices in corporate governance. She is also a 1995 graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, North Carolina. Laurie is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Aquila Municipal Trust – municipal bond fund complex with offerings in Rhode Island, Kentucky, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah; a member of the Executive Board of the University of Rhode Island Foundation; a member of the Board of Trustees of Johnson and Wales University; a member of the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Quality Institute; a member of the Board of Director of Skills for Rhode Island’s Future; a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Providence YMCA; a member of the Board of Governors of the Rhode Island Commodores; and a member of the Board of Directors and an Officer of the John F. White & Company, Inc. From January 2003 to July 2004, Laurie served as Executive Counselor to the Governor of the State of Rhode Island for Policy and Communications. She returned to the Chamber as Executive Vice President in October 2004. Prior to her 18 months of service in the Executive Branch, Laurie was Senior Vice President of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining the Chamber in 1989, Laurie was Public Information Officer at the Rhode Island Department of Economic Development and Assignment Editor at ABC-6 Television in Providence. She and her husband, Jim Taricani, reside in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.