An Exclusive Consortium of CEOs Building a Stronger Rhode Island
The Rhode Island CEO Council is where Rhode Island CEOs build high-value relationships, safely engage in candid off-the-record conversations with top decision makers, gain new leadership ideas directly from renowned experts, receive unbiased decision support from their peer CEOs, hone critically important leadership skills and have ongoing opportunities to impact the future of Rhode Island.
— Membership is by Invitation Only —
Qualified Chief Executives Only
• Our members are the top executive in their organization: President, CEO, Executive Director, Managing Director, Managing Partner, or General Manager (who leads of a sizable Rhode Island workforce that is part of an out-of-state company).
• Members primarily meet and interact with their equals — true peers — chief executives who lead similar-sized, non-competing organizations — CEOs who can best relate to each other's leadership challenges.
• Our members believe in ethically achieving results that positively impact all stake holders including employees, customers, Rhode Island communities, our nation, and the global environment.
• Membership is limited to top decision makers because the strategic buck-stops-here leadership challenges and potential solutions discussed in our meetings are unique to those at the top of their organization and responsible for a Rhode Island workforce.
• Member organizations may be public, private, family-owned, non-profit, or government entities.
• Member organizations may have a workforce of thousands of employees to a minimum of ten full-time Rhode Island employees.
• Our members value learning and honing their leadership skills and are willing to help their peers do the same.
AstroNova
Hope Global
Cyber Communications
Deloitte
Brown/Fox Point Early Childhood
Women & Infants Hospital
Amgen
KLR - Kahn, Litwin, Renza
Meeting Street
Nautic Partners
Ximedica
Atomic Catering
Full Channel TV
CAP3
Embolden Design
Hue Brand Group
Mercury Print & Mail
Prudential Gammons Realty
Rhode Island Public Radio
Blount Fine Foods
Nixon Peabody
United Way of Rhode Island
Envision Technology Advisors
Potter League for Animals
Amica Insurance
Rhode Island College
Alex and Ani
Newport Harbor Corporation
Mereco Technologies
LFI Inc.
Cosco
AlphaGraphics
Capstone Visual
Diet Center
Ewaste Technology Management
Interiors Etc.
Meridien Benefits Group
RI Kitchen and Bath
Brown Medicine
Navigant Credit Union
WaterFire
WD & Associates
Cookson Electronics
Cooley/Group
Bliss Manufacturing
Stanley Bostitch
Atrion Networking
Stand Corporation
Reetz Engineering and Machine
Lighthouse Computer Services
Fielding Manufacturing
Apple Valley Agency,
Chamberland & Company, Ltd
Dominion Diagnostics
FastSigns
Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems
Nail Communications
Narragansett Bay Commission
The Town Dock
UBS - The Hilton Group
Insperity
Hexagon Metrology
Johnson & Wales
Swarovski NA
Bradford Soap Works
Dartex Coatings
Mahr Federal
Batchelor, Frechette, McCrory
The Signature Group
The Chemical Company
Partridge Snow & Hahn
Duffy & Sweeney
Baxter's Fine Jewelry
Horton Interpreting Service
Leisure Rooms New England
Newberry PR
Alumni of the Chief Executives Club of Rhode Island includes menbers of it's sister organization E-Club RI
Robert Fiske
Founder &
Chief Executive Officer
Robert Fiske is the Founder & CEO of the Rhode Island CEO Council.
Since 1994, Robert's professional passion has been bringing chief executives together for substantive, strategic, off-the-record conversations that expand leadership thinking and build supportive connections which result in increased leadership performance, engaged workforces, thriving businesses, healthy communities and strong local economies.
Robert's professional experience includes serving as a CEO, president, managing partner, Fortune 500 executive, certified executive coach, and confidant to CEOs.
Amy Ames
CEO Peer Board
Director & Facilitator
Amy Ames has over 19 years of professional experience in coaching, consulting, training, and non-profit leadership.
She has served as the Head of Brown University's global Presidential Introductions program, the Executive Director of the nonprofit Heartworks, and an Assistant Vice President at Lehman Brothers.
Amy earned her BA at Saint Michael's College, ACC coaching certificate from ICF, and Co-Active Coaching Certificate from the Coaches Training Institute.
Her consulting and coaching clients range from top corporate executives to individuals who are re-entering the workforce.
Cheryl Haynes
CEO Peer Board
Director & Facilitator
Cheryl Haynes has over 25 years of HR leadership with a focus on talent development, strategic alignment, and cultural initiatives.
She has served as Sr. VP of HR at Blue Hills Bank, VP, Head of HR at RBS Citizens' Business Services Operations America, and held HR leadership positions at Metropolitan Life, CVS/Caremark, and State Street Bank.
Cheryl earned an MS at Northeastern, BS at Bryant, SPHR & SHRM-SCP certification at HRCI, and Executive Coaching certification at the Center for Executive Coaching.
She currently serves as an executive coach, HR consultant, and trusted advisor to emerging and high-impact leadership talent.
Aimée DuVall Phelps
CEO Peer Board
Director & Facilitator
Aimée DuVall Phelps, Ph.D. has over 20 years of experience providing coaching and consulting services to business leaders and their teams—building capacity, agility, and resilience.
Aimée is a nationally recognized expert in human resources and people strategies.
She earned a PhD in Education from the University of Rhode Island, an MBA from Cornell University, a BA from Miami University and is a Senior Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resource Management.
In addition to her coaching & consulting practice, Aimée is a Learning Facilitator at the Questrom School of Business, Boston University.
Mark Strozik
CEO Peer Board
Director & Facilitator
Mark Strozik has over 20 years of executive leadership experience in the C-suite & board rooms of public and private businesses in multiple industries.
He has served as Senior VP at Summer Infant, Head of Global HR at The Rockport Shoe Company, and in HR leadership roles at The First Years, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Health New England, and the Springfield Institution for Savings.
Mark earned a BS in Business & Psychology from Clarkson and earned his Coaching Certification at IPEC.
Mark currently serves as an executive coach and is on the Board of Directors at Ti-Sales, Inc.
Heather Wilkerson
CEO Peer Board
Director & Facilitator
Heather Wilkerson has over 20-years of experience providing professional development and coaching services to hundreds of clients in different industries.
At Brown University she served as Asst. Director of Alumni Leadership & Career Programs.
Heather earned her MS in Communications from Georgia State, BA from Emory, Coaching Certification from CTI, and a Professional Certified Coach Credential from ICF.
Heather currently serves as an executive coach—helping her clients overcome roadblocks, improve leadership skills, manage change, and achieve their goals.
Joe Pinsonneault
CEO Peer Board
Director & Facilitator
Joe Pinsonneault has many years of C-suite leadership experience of private, nonprofit, and government organizations in the field of education.
He has served as executive director, administrator, and director in a wide variety of organizations including private, non-profit, college, as well as government funded education programs.
Joe earned an MBA from Endicott College and a BS in Management & Leadership from Fisher College.
Joe currently services as a coach and consultant specializing in early childhood through adult educational leadership, non-profit management, fund development and related areas.
Tony Martignetti
CEO Peer Board
Director & Facilitator
Tony has over 25 years of business and leadership experience in multiple industries.
He has served as a finance and strategy executive in life sciences companies, led a financial consulting firm, and managed small businesses.
Tony earned an MBA in International Business and a BS in Technology from Northeastern University; he also earned certification as a Professional Certified Coach from ICF.
Tony is the founder & CEO of Inspired Purpose Coaching, he hosts The Virtual Campfire podcast, and is the author of “Climbing the Right Mountain: Navigating the Journey to an Inspired Life” and co-author of “Secrets of Next Level Entrepreneurs.”
Position Open
Administrative Manager
Executive Assistant to CEO
We are currently searching for the right person to become a member of our team.
This is a part-time position—about 35-40 hours/month—mostly remote but also in-person at all of our events (see our calendar).
Key skills include experience as an Executive Assistant & Event Manager, plus the maturity and business experience to be able to work comfortably with a team of C-level executives. Learn more, see the Position Description.
On August 24, 2006 we were founded as the Chief Executives Club of Rhode Island (CEC-RI).
On September 21, 2006, with the support of Gov. Donald Carcieri and the leadership of several RI Chambers of Commerce, over 75 CEOs of medium and large RI employers participated in our inaugural meeting. Our guest speakers included Gov. Donald Carcieri and Justin Menkes, a renowned leadership expert and author of the book "Executive Intelligence."
In 2012 CEC-RI operations were transferred to Rhode Island College (RIC) and continued to operate successfully under the leadership of RIC's president, Dr. Nancy Carriuolo and her team.
In 2016, after a new president was appointed to lead RIC, a decision was made to no longer operate CEC-RI.
The last CEC-RI meeting hosted by Rhode Island College was held in December 2016.
In challenging times like these, where uncertainty and change abound, Rhode Island's CEOs need better access to their most valuable resource, peer CEOs.
With the support and advice of former Chief Executives Club members, we completely redesigned the organization to deliver the most valued services provided by today's most successful CEO organizations.
And to better represent our new design, focus and the high-value member experience, CEC-RI is now The Rode Island CEO Council.
The Rhode Island CEO Council officially restarted with our inaugural event, the 2022 CEO Summit.
This and all future events are for Chief Executives Only (with no substitutes or alternates).
See what we offer our members.
Check out our event calendar for dates, topics, and guests.
Please contact us if you would like to receive an invitation to any of our events.
Don’t panic: R.I. business leaders advise caution, planning
(05/09/23)
Where CEOs aren’t alone
(05/09/23)
Revived CEO Council Wants to Build Connections Between Business Leaders in Upcoming Summit
(02/27/23)
Rhode Island CEO Council is a Leader Amongst Leaders
(09/30/22)
Rhode Island CEO Council to Reconvene After 5-year Hiatus (03/21/22)
Charting the path forward for RI business, RI policy, and the RI Economy
— Established in 2006 —
(originally founded as the Chief Executives Club of Rhode Island)
— An exclusive and powerful consortium of chief executives who help each other take their business and Rhode Island to the next level —
— Our Sponsors —
