The CEO Council of Rhode Island
An Exclusive Consortium of CEOs Driving Economic Success & Quality of Life in Rhode Island
Team | History | News | Videos
| Members | Rhode Island-based Chief Executives: CEOs, Presidents, Executive Directors, and Managing Partners; members are seated with and engage in roundtable discussions with their peers—those leading similar-sized workforces |
| Purpose | Empower chief executives to grow, evolve, and lead with clarity in a world of complexity and constant change |
| Mission | Provide the resources each member needs to make better decisions, achieve greater impact, and live a more fulfilling live, both professionally and personally |
| Goal | Be the best place for CEOs to have candid conversations with peers about the core leadership issues that shape the future of business, the economy and quality of life in Rhode Island and beyond |
Robert Fiske
Founder
Chief Executive Officer
RI CEO Council President
Robert Fiske is the Founder & CEO of The 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 .
Click the "BIO" icon below for Robert's full leadership bio.
Cheryl Haynes
Accel Advisory Board Chair
CEO Roundtable Moderator
Certified Executive Coach
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.
Mark Strozik
Accel Advisory Board Chair
CEO Roundtable Moderator
Certified Executive Coach
Mark Strozik has over 20 years of executive leadership experience in the C-suite & boardrooms of public and private businesses in multiple industries.
He has served on the Board of Directors for Ti-Sales, as Senior VP at Summer Infant, Head of Global HR at The Rockport Shoe Company (Adidas), VP of HR at The First Years, and in HR leadership roles at Ocean Spray Cranberries, Health New England, and the Springfield Institution for Savings.
Mark earned a BS in Business & Psychology from Clarkson University and earned Coaching Certifications from IPEC as well as ICF.
Mark currently serves as an executive coach focused on helping high-performing leaders unlock their full potential. .
Kam Unninayar
Accel Advisory Board Chair
CEO Roundtable Moderator
Certified Executive Coach
Kam Unninayar is a certified executive coach with over 25 years corporate leadership and business transformation experience in Healthcare, BioTech and Consumer Goods.
She has served in leadership roles in Thermo Fisher Scientific, Colgate-Pamolive, PepsiCo and Citibank.
Kam specializes in empowering leaders with tools for success in complex, diverse, and inclusive workplaces—helping her clients develop increased awareness, influence, and resilience.
She earned a MS from Harvard University and a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching from William James College. She is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
Kam currently serves as an Executive and Leadership Coach.
Jason Mundy
Accel Advisory Board Chair
CEO Roundtable Moderator
Certified Executive Coach
Jason Mundy is a FocalPoint and Trust Edge Leadership Institute certified executive and business coach, operating advisor, and business consultant with over 25 years of B2B technology marketing leadership experience in high-growth startups and Fortune 100 companies including EMC and Dell.
Jason specializes in helping leaders of small & medium-sized technology, manufacturing and professional services firms grow revenue through innovative sales, marketing and leadership strategies, and executive coaching services.
Jason earned an MBA from Boston University and a BS in Engineering from URI.
He currently serves as an business leadership coach and consultant.
Dwight Clarke
Accel Advisory Board Chair
CEO Roundtable Moderator
Certified Executive Coach
Dwight is an industry agnostic coach who possesses over 30-years of corporate experience in finance, marketing, and HR.
He has served in leadership positions in JPMorgan Chase, MasterCard, Takeda, TJX and Fidelity Investments.
Dwight was born in the UK, raised in Jamaica, and called NYC home for many decades; this diversity of experience enhances Dwight’s ability to work with people of all backgrounds and perspectives.
Dwight holds a graduate degree from Columbia University and received his coaching certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC).
He currently serves as an executive coach and HR consultant.
Anne Mulhall
Event Registration &
Administration
Anne Mulhall has over 23 years experience as a small business owner.
She is a veteran of the NYC and LA entertainment industry with experience in acting, producing, and casting.
In 2001, Anne founded LDI Pro—a casting company based in RI—which has cast for notable figures like Woody Allen and Wes Anderson, with projects including "Moonrise Kingdom" and "Brotherhood."
Anne's community involvement includes roles with the RI PBS Community Advisory Board, Senior Agenda Coalition, Charter Revision Advisory Committee, Phoenix Rising Equine Rescue, and hospice volunteering.
Paul Stavrand
CEO Roundtable Moderator
Business Advisory & Coach
Paul Stavrand is a business leader, advisor, coach and trainer with more than 25 years of experience as a consultant or leader at Gap, Merck, BD, United, The Princeton Review, and other companies.
He now partners with senior leaders to clarify bold objectives and design actionable, milestone-driven plans that deliver significant outcomes.
Paul leverages a proprietary framework to analyze organizational strengths and pinpoint critical gaps across strategy, culture, and operations—then orchestrates solutions that align teams, empower leaders, and propel targeted growth.
Paul earned a BS from Cornell University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Jane Fontaine
CEO Roundtable Moderator
Certified Executive Coach
Jane Fontaine is an accomplished HR executive and executive coach with more than 25 years of experience driving organizational growth through people strategy and authentic leadership.
She has served as Senior Vice President of People & Culture and Vice President of Human Resources across financial services, healthcare, and consulting industries, guiding organizations through mergers, integrations, and cultural transformation.
Jane holds an MBA in Organizational Development, an MHA in Healthcare Administration, and an M.S. in Management.
She is SPHR-certified and an ICF certified executive coach, partnering with leaders to create engaged, high-performing teams.
On August 24, 2006, The CEO Council was founded, originally named 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 2013 a Pacific Northwest chapter was launched in Portland, Oregon, as the Chief Executives Guild.
In 2016, the new president of Rhode Island College chose to no longer operate CEC-RI.
The last meeting hosted by Rhode Island College was held in December 2016.
DUring the "Covid" years, where uncertainty and change abounded, CEOs needed better access to their most valuable resource, their peer CEOs.
With the recommendations, support, and advice of CEO who were members of CEC-RI, we reaquired control and redesigned the organization to better support the CEO community in southeastern New England.
And to better represent our new design, focus and the high-value member experience, the Chief Executives Club of Rhode Island (CEC-RI) was renamed The CEO Council.
The CEO Council launched The CEO Council of Rhode Island in March 2022 with the first annual Rhode Island CEO Summit.
Check out the event calendar for CEO Wisdom Exchange & CEO Summit topics, FireSide Chat guest CEOs and experts.
The CEO Council is launching The CEO Council of Massachusetts (a greater-Boston area chapter of The CEO Council).
If you are the chief executive of your organizations and would like to receive an invitation to one of our CEO-Only events, please contact us and request an invitation.
Citizens’ Van Saun upbeat about 2025 at R.I. CEO Council gathering
(01/13/25)
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)
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