The Complete List - 22 to Watch in RI in 2022

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Hilal Minda

Handmade bowls, plates, and other useful domestic objects once populated the tables of every household. While most now stock their homes with mass-produced items, the appeal of the handcrafted is enhanced in a contemporary world saturated with technology. Select artists are leading the charge to bring beautiful hand-formed pieces into households. One such individual is the talented Hilal Minda, who operates New Moon Ceramics at her studio in Pawtucket’s Hope Artiste Village. Minda’s ceramic works bring organic forms, lustrous surfaces, and vivid colors to the homes of her collectors, enlivening everyday lives in the process.

“When someone asks me ‘what do you do for a living’ I say “I am an artist”. However, it’s not that simple. I also take care of marketing, shipping, customer service, cleaning, accounting, photography, and probably a few more that I am missing. I love everything about it (except shipping),” posts Minda.

Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Minda showed an interest in art at an early age. Her mother encouraged her creative sensibilities and supported her pursuit of a degree in art. In Istanbul, Minda attended Marmara University of Fine Arts, where she was juried into a ceramics program within a rigorous studio art curriculum. Emigrating to the United States, Minda made her home in the Providence area and continued her education by studying Architecture and Engineering Technology at New England Tech.

Since 2001, she has operated her successful ceramics practice, making items as various as mugs, platters, and yarn bowls, all imbued with a beautiful sense of form and color that is all her own. In her studio, one can find an array of artful ceramics that were thrown by hand on a wheel in the center of the space and fired in Minda’s electric kiln in the back.

When asked about her work and process, Minda says, “I am fortunate to pursue my passion as a professional studio artist and to be able to call it a ‘job’. I am a detailed oriented creator and I care greatly about each piece that I design in my studio. I have to be completely satisfied with my own work before sharing with others. My primary focus has been to create both sculptural and functional ceramics collections inspired by natural elements and organic forms as well as the use of contrasting combinations of bold colors, textures, and patterns.”

Minda’s business moniker, New Moon Ceramics, takes its inspiration from her first name, which translates to “crescent moon”. Themes of nature wind their way through her work. Leveraging this vision and her unique set of skills, she creates objects that make fine ceramics available to a large audience.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Karen Lynch

Karen Lynch, the President and CEO of CVS, has not been at the helm for even a year, but oh, what a year it has been.

She has overseen the company's response to the pandemic -- this has required the hiring of tens of thousands of new employees, the transformation and upgrading of the company's delivery service, and the creation of a new strategy for their stores. CVS’s new "Health Hub" approach is an effort to reinvigorate the company’s relationship with their customer in their stores.

In May, CVS Health announced the investment of $100 million into CVS Health Ventures, a dedicated corporate venture capital fund that "will invest in and partner with high-potential, early-stage companies focused on making health care more accessible, affordable, and simpler."

Rhode Island is void of a venture capital fund until now. CVS confirmed the venture fund will be located in Woonsocket.

"Consumers deserve a better health experience, one that puts them at the center of cutting-edge, digitally enabled solutions," said Lynch. "Forming CVS Health Ventures will build on our successful track record of scaling innovation and driving change in health care."

The company, however, is facing some significant challenges.

Lynch and CVS face potentially hundreds of millions or even billions in liability due to the company’s role in the opioid epidemic.

And, the biggest threat may be to the company is the omnipresent Amazon, who during the pandemic became the retailer-of-choice for many of the products that CVS used to provide to consumers.

In response to the Amazon threat, Lynch announced the company would close 900 stores over the next three years.

Lynch's management of the multiple challenges and opportunities is critical to the future of CVS and Rhode Island.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Pedro Espinal

This year, the Providence City Council will see a mass exodus. At least two councilors are expected not to run for reelection — Nirva LaFortune who is running for mayor of Providence and Kat Kerwin who has told supporters she will not run again.

Add them to a handful of councilors who are term-limited out, including City Council President John Igliozzi — who may be a candidate for statewide office, and there is a significant opening for the councilor who can put together the votes to be the next City Council President. 

The political dynamics appear to be aligning for Ward 10 City Councilor Pedro Espinal.

On the council, he was been one of the most outspoken on environmental issues facing the city especially along the waterfront off Allen’s Avenue abutting the residents Espinal represents.

As a professional, he has spent much of his career investing in real estate.  Espinal has served as Chairman of the Southside Broad Street Steering Committee and as Chairman of the Providence Latino Business Association.

Providence will have a new mayor and a new council President by the beginning of 2023 — watch for lots of Providence elbowing in 2022 to see who leads the city in 2023.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Crystal Williams

The Rhode Island School of Design will have a new President in 2022. 

RISD’s Board of Trustees in December announced the appointment of Crystal Williams as the institution’s 18th president effective April 1.

She is the first Black President to lead RISD. And, she is the fourth RISD president in less than 15 years.

Currently Boston University’s vice president and associate provost for community and inclusion, Williams was selected after an international search for a leader with the capability and passion to educate artists, designers and scholars for a rapidly changing future, and one with the global vision to guide RISD’s role in helping to create a more just, fair and sustainable society, said the board in a statement.

The statement continued: 

"An accomplished leader, collaborator and community builder, Williams brings more than two decades of higher education experience to RISD, having served at Reed and Bates in addition to her current role at BU. Throughout her career Williams has been an institutional catalyst, helping to envision, define and achieve greater outcomes for students, faculty and staff. As a faculty member, Williams advanced artistic inquiry and engagement and, as a leader, she has focused on ensuring institutions are more effective, mission-aligned and diverse, equitable and inclusive. 
 
In addition to her roles in higher ed, Williams is an award-winning poet and essayist. She has published four collections of poems, and her work is part of MoMA’s Poetry Project, a tour of poems responding to pieces in the museum’s permanent collection."

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Joe Bruce

Emerging music star Joe Bruce joined GoLocal LIVE in 2021 to discuss the release of a tour de force music video. Bruce partnered with fellow Rhode Islander Andrew "Clarkwork" Clark to create an ensemble cast of musicians in one of his new production.

This is not your ordinary Rhode Island-made music video. It features a powerful array of rappers, a gritty backdrop, and frenetic energy. The genre is a combination of "old school" hip-hop and rhythm-driven rap.

For Bruce, who has been producing music -- high-quality music for years -- this new video has the look and feel of a bust-out moment.

About Bruce

He is a genre-bending recording artist from Providence and grandson of the legendary athlete and councilman, the late John Rollins.

Bruce's career has included working as a banker, investment advisor, deli clerk, and even an Uber driver before reuniting with his childhood friend Clark in 2017. The duo began working on their debut EP “Audiowater” which released in April 2018 and still remains one of their most popular projects.

He is has proven to be a versatile writer as Bruce has released over 50 songs on major streaming platforms in the last three years ranging from hip hop to reggae, to pop.

As Bruce says, "Underlying the stylistic differences is a playful and witty disposition, 'question everything' attitude, and a belief in humanity's ability to come together."

And, the man comes from a rich heritage of talent -- his grandfather was star La Salle and URI athlete and Providence City Councilman, the late John Rollins.

Bruce Could Be Big in 2022

But he looks to be bigger in 2022.  He finished the year with a flurry of music both as the producer and as a collaborator.

Look for much more in the Providence music scene from Bruce.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Sophia Gorriaran

Sophia Gorriaran is on her way to becoming one of the greatest athletes to ever come out of Rhode Island. 

At 16 years old, the Moses Brown junior has already established herself on the national track-and-field stage.

In 2020, she set the national record for freshman girls in the 800 meters indoors.

In 2021, she ran in the 800 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials in Oregon, where she was the youngest runner competing. 

Her time? 2:02.26 — good for the U.S. high school sophomore girls’ record, beating Mary Decker’s previous record of 2:02.29, which had stood since 1974.

Last year, she set Rhode Island state indoor track and field records in the 500 and 800 distances.

She won state titles in the 300 and 1500 meters, along with the 4x400 meter relay. 

But as evidenced by her Olympic trials performance, Gorriaran regularly competes with — and beats — collegiate and post-collegiate athletes on the oval. 

So far in 2022? Gorriaran this week ran the 11th all-time fastest 500 meters at the 757 Showdown, according to MileSplit (and you can watch the race here). 

Don’t just watch for big things from Gorriaran in 2022. 

Watch for more awe-inspiring, record-breaking performances from a high schooler — whose potential appears to be limitless.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Michael Rose

Michael Rose has emerged as the leading voice of Rhode Island’s art community.

He is omnipresent in every aspect. He is the gallery manager at the Providence Art Club and one of the most knowledgeable people in the arts in the state.

But, he is so much more.

He is a constant connector, a cheerleader, a critic and has emerged as the proverbial ringmaster.

Rose knows almost every artist.  He is a constant supporter of each gallery.

He trumpets not just the RISD museum, but also the new out-of-the-way gallery in Woonsocket.

Rose, an artist himself, and is an art historian, gallerist, and appraiser based in Southern New England.

He has become Rhode Island’s wildly diverse art community's biggest promoter.

He joined GoLocal as a weekly columnist in 2021. His weekly column has become a must-read.

"Galleries are simply spaces that hold art and in order for them to be successful, they need to be activated with visitors. Arts reporting and criticism is critical in sharing information about exciting exhibitions with a broad public in order to make everyone feel that galleries and museums are accessible to them,” said Rose who continues in his role as gallery manager at the iconic Providence Art Club.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Dr. Priya Banerjee

Dr. Priya Banerjee has become one of the top forensic experts in the country. Turn on CNN or HLN and you will see her giving top-tiered analysis on the biggest criminal cases.

Banerjee is nationally and internationally regarded with high-profile cases, from the wrongful death of Breonna Taylor, to various U.S. military cases and NSA clearance retention. 

She is president and founder of Anchor Forensic Pathology and is a board-certified expert forensic pathologist. She offers legal consulting, private autopsy, media appearances, and educational services. 

She was educated at the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Banerjee used to be full-time for the State of Rhode Island and continues to consult with state government. She also teaches at Boston University and at Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School.

Her work is not for the faint of heart. It includes more than a decade of practice, including the performance of over 2500 autopsies with 153 homicide cases.  

The Rhode Islander is establishing herself as the go-to forensic expert in the United States.

Turn on national cable news and watch Rhode Island's best.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Larry Connell

In June of 2020, Larry Connell was named to head the Veterans Hospital in Providence.

With Rhode Island’s hospitals in flux at best and chaos at worse, the VA Hospital may be the most stable.

In his short time in Providence, he has tried to add resources for veterans, including more focus on mental health services.

Connell, who grew up on Aquidneck Island, attended the University of Rhode Island and served more than 30 years as an Army medical service officer, including 15 years as a medical evacuation helicopter pilot.

Directly before returning he served as the Chief of Staff for the Veterans Health Administration in Washington, D.C.

He also served as the Acting Medical Center Director of the Washington, DC VA Medical Center.

He is a retired U.S. Army colonel, where he served as the Deputy Chief of Operations, Joint Cyber Center, United States Pacific Command.

His career has seen almost every aspect of combat, medical service, and efforts to improve health systems. His military awards include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster award and two Air Medals. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and he has a Master’s degree from Troy State.

Additionally, Connell served as the Chief Operating Officer, Pacific Regional Medical Command, Honolulu, Hawaii; the Chief Executive Officer of Stuttgart U.S. Army Medical Health Clinic; the Commander of the 43rd Area Support Medical Battalion; and other medical-related staff positions.

Look for much more from the VA in Providence under Connell's leadership.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Nicole Renzulli

The dynamic Cranston GOP City Councilor Nicole Renzulli is a throwback Rhode Island Republican.

She is more of a Claudine Schneider, Susan Farmer, or Arlene Violet type. All trailblazers who changed politics in Rhode Island for women.

At a time where progressive/moderate Republicans are hard to find, Renzulli is strong, consistent, and she is not afraid to call balls and strikes.

She recently called out fellow Republican Patricia Morgan for the State Rep.’s comments about her “Black friend.”

But that is not an aberration but an example of consistent leadership by Renzulli.

She has been a voice of science and smart thinking on the pandemic — calling for vaccinations, boosts, and other safety measures like remote meetings.

If the Republicans ever want to be a factor in Rhode Island politics it will be the type of smart politics that Renzulli advocates.

We will be watching her and her next political steps.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: David Bonenberger

This man is at the forefront of one of the biggest business deals in Rhode Island history. As Rhode Island and the rest of the world move to combat climate change, he will lead the takeover of National Grid in RI for PPL will become one of the most important people in the Rhode Island business community.

David J. Bonenberger, PPL vice president of Operations Integration, will serve as president of The Narragansett Electric Company upon PPL’s planned acquisition of the Rhode Island utility from National Grid.

PPL Corporation announced in March it is purchasing National Grid's Rhode Island utility business, The Narragansett Electric Company, for $5.3 billion including the assumption of $1.5 billion in debt. The mega-deal is expected to be approved in the next couple of months.

The customer experience is expected to dramatically increase for Rhode Islanders.

PPL Electric Utilities’ residential customers continue to give their power company’s performance high marks. J.D. Power recently announced that PPL won the residential customer satisfaction award for large electric utilities in the eastern United States for the ninth year in a row.

With the latest award, PPL has landed the top spot among large electric utilities in this region for 17 of the 22 years that J.D. Power has been conducting its electric utility residential customer satisfaction study.

Bonenberger, who has nearly four decades of energy industry experience, has played a leading role in driving PPL Electric Utilities’ operational excellence and grid modernization over the past decade. He will report directly to PPL Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Gregory N. Dudkin.

Bonenberger and his wife Francine will reside in Rhode Island. 

22 to Watch in Rhode Island in 2022: Nelson-Davies

For years, Rachel Flum served as the outspoken, effective policy voice of economic equity in Rhode Island as head of the Economic Policy Institute (EPI).

In December, the organization announced Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies as its new Executive Director

She will lead the Economic Progress Institute in the next phase of its work to provide research, education, and advocacy on policies that improve economic security and opportunity for Rhode Islanders.

Since its founding in 1999, The Economic Progress Institute has been a  trusted source of policy research and advocacy in Rhode Island. The Institute welcomes the opportunity to continue building its impact under Nelson-Davies’ leadership.

Nelson-Davies comes to the EPI with a deep resume. The issues of economic equality have never been more critical as COVID has further driven wealth stratification in the United States and, especially in RI.

In Rhode Island, the median price of a single-family home has jumped to $375,000 in 2021.

Rents too have skyrocketed.

Nelson-Davies comes to EPI from Community Legal Aid (CLA) in Central and  Western Massachusetts where she has served as the managing attorney of the Worcester County offices.  Additionally, she has overseen special projects, including the  Asian Outreach Project, the Medical-Legal Partnership pro bono project, the CORI/Reentry Project, and the Veterans  Legal Assistance Project. She has also served as the co-chair of CLA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

“I am excited to lead the Institute as it moves with intentionality to uplift community voices and center racial justice in its advocacy for economic policy changes that meet the needs of families and improve the lives of Rhode Islanders and the economic stability of the state. I am grateful for the vision and  legacy of Linda Katz and the late Nancy Gewirtz and the commitment and dedication of the Institute’s  staff, board, partners, and supporters.”

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Zachary Cunha

In December, the new U.S Attorney for the State of Rhode Island was announced — Zachary Cunha. 

Cunha joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island in 2014, earning a promotion to chief of the civil division in February 2018.  

He previously served as the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Coordinator in the office, where he was responsible for cases in which the United States, as plaintiff, sought to vindicate governmental interests, combat fraud, and recover funds under the Federal False Claims Act.

Rhode Island, like many states, faces a myriad of issues that affect everyday residents. 

In any given week, the office announces arrests and legal proceedings in such federal matters as drug smuggling, sex trafficking and pornography, government fraud, and more.

This past summer, a Providence man who allegedly executed a scheme to defraud local businesses of more than $831,000 in seafood, was charged and ordered detained in federal custody -- and in December, pled guilty. 

In September, more than a dozen individuals previously convicted on violent crime charges, including firearm, robbery, assault, assault with intent to commit murder, and domestic violence charges, were among seventeen individuals charged in federal court.

GoLocal investigations have helped lead to federal investigations -- including a guilty plea from a man who preyed on immigrants. 

A GoLocal series into contamination at the Rhode Island Department of Transportation 6/10 construction project has sparked both state and federal investigations, including a federal grand jury.

The U.S Attorney's office has the capacity to protect and defend Rhode Islanders against significant crimes — that often impact the most vulnerable. 

Cunha will officially now be at the helm heading up his first full year in the office.

Stay tuned. 

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Harrison Tuttle

In 2021 Harrison Tuttle burst onto the scene taking on the biggest issues as the head of the Rhode Island Black Lives Matter PAC -- and now, he is running for the RI General Assembly in 2022.

Tuttle is a Cranston guy, who played football and wrestled at Bishop Hendricken. Young, smart, and outspoken - Tuttle will be a factor in RI for decades to come.

Tuttle has been vocal in decrying U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s membership in private elitist clubs.

Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI)  tried to defend Whitehouse  — and Tuttle fired back. 

After Whitehouse came under fire from BLM leaders in the state for his ties to the historically white Bailey’s beach club in Newport, Cicilline Tweeted the following:

“Sheldon Whitehouse has been a fighter for racial and economic justice his whole life. Full stop,” Cicilline Tweeted. 

Tuttle — who had already called out Whitehouse earlier that day — doubled down. 

“If this is true, then why isn’t Sen. Whitehouse practicing in private what he preaches in public? Public rhetoric is one thing, but doing the right thing when no one is watching is the real measure of commitment to your values,” said Tuttle. 

In a follow-up statement to GoLocal, Tuttle said, "Private clubs and organizations like Bailey’s Beach Club have long been a tool of wealthy white people to maintain their power. The members of these clubs get special access to a U.S. Senator by virtue of their wealth, while the average Rhode Islander has to wait in lines, attend town hall meetings, or send emails, after any of which they may never really be heard." 

"Sen. Whitehouse has the power to make change just by using his platform, but has chosen instead to be passive, pretending as though he has no power to change anything. Senator: if you don’t have the courage to either improve or leave a beach club, why should we trust you with the responsibility of bettering the lives of Rhode Islanders?" said Tuttle.

On Memorial Day Tuttle criticized what he said is "patriotic white supremacy" in the United States military -- and told GoLocal he believes the U.S. has a "military problem."

"On today's Memorial Day, my thoughts are with the kids preyed on and placed in the military because the government refuses to still provide jobs," said Tuttle. "Thinking about the people still here who lost themselves fighting wars they had no interest in. Or the innocent people on the other side of these fights. 

"Patriotic white supremacists knowingly, happily, and willingly terrorizing domestically and globally oppressed people will never get love from me," he added. 

Tuttle spoke with GoLocalProv about his views on the matter.

"The U.S. has a military problem — this is something the U.S. always had a problem with [in terms of] imperialism and conquest," said Tuttle. "This is something in our history books, as we look at our ed curriculum — a lot of it is whitewashed, whether it be genocide or stealing land as the origins of this country that is settler colonialism."

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Terry Gray

For the past decade, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) has seen enforcement of its regulatory functions stripped to the bone under the previous director Janet Coit — now working for Gina Raimondo at the U.S. Commerce Department.

In 2020, a GoLocal expose unveiled the declining oversight under the Raimondo administration and during Coit’s leadership.

Now, long-time regulator Terry Gray is the acting director of RI DEM. Over the years, he helped to create the Brownfields program to reclaim hundreds of acres of contaminated urban lands.

He also worked closely with the office of criminal investigations which was dismantled under Coit.

In recent years, a number of high-profile cases have been emerging and citizens groups along with environmental groups have criticized RI DEM’s lack of vigilance in protecting the environment.

One of the high-profile environmental cases now under review is the contaminated soil dumped in a Providence neighborhood as part of the Rhode Island Department of Transporation's (RIDOT) 6/10 project --  a case which was brought to the attention of state officials -- including RI DEM -- in July 2020, but the charges levied by a whistleblower were only investigated after GoLocal report unveiled the issues.

From 2015 to 2019, RI DEM issued just $4,519,831 in penalties for illegal disposal of hazardous and solid waste, water pollution and/or pollution violations — but those penalties were whittled down to just $1,189,575 in collected fines.

Save the Bay, Rhode Island’s leading environmental organization, told GoLocal, “The absence of enforcement not only compromises the environment, but it also represents a breakdown in the effort to deter future violations. Delayed or weak enforcement also frequently results in settlements that, in the end, do not fully protect the resource that was degraded by the original violation. Protecting Narragansett Bay, the water we drink and the air we breathe requires vigorous, timely enforcement.”

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Evan Smith

For the past two years, tourism has been crushed in Rhode Island and even the global destination of Newport.

Prior to the pandemic, Newport was enjoying a tourism boom. It was piling up global award after global award from National Geographic to Conde Nast.

Prior to COVID, Evan Smith, the President & CEO of Discover Newport was enjoying the best of times.

But, as the pandemic swept through the Northeast in 2020, Newport was slammed.

By May of 2020, Smith told GoLocal, “We predict that regional travel will be the first one to come back — ie people aren’t going to take long vacations this summer, I think people are going to travel within 200-400 mile.  We’re thinking from a marketing and promotion standpoint is to market in our backyard and have everybody in Rhode Island enjoy their state."

“I think it’s going to take us a year or two years to recover from where we are now,” said Smith, but added that there was one advantage for Rhode Islanders.

“This is going to be a great time for Rhode Islanders to have Rhode Island for themselves,” said Smith. 

After the brutal summer of 2020, Newport saw a rebound in the summer of 2021 -- new hotels, the return of tourists, but now, Newport and the rest of the state's tourism industry must meander through the Delta and Omicron variants.

Smith now must help one of Rhode Island's most important industries rebound from yet another wave of the pandemic.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Javier Montañez

Dr. Javier Montañez was named by Governor Dan McKee in August as Providence schools' Acting Superintendent for the 2021-2022 school year. 

Montañez is an alum of Hope High School who has worked in Providence Public Schools for more than two decades, and was overseeing the district’s expanded summer learning programming and preparations for a return to full in-person learning in the fall of 2021. 

It was not surprising that during the pandemic, statewide, the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) in October announced the results of the state 2021 RICAS scores for grades 3-8, and across the board, student performance declined from 2019 levels.

In Providence, the results were beyond dismal — and this is after Johns Hopkins had called Providence school culture “broken” in a scathing report in 2019. 

85.6% of students tested are not meeting expectations in English Language Arts/Literacy; 93.2% of students are not meeting expectations in mathematics. 

Naturally, educators and officials pointed to the disruption of COVID-19, and pointed to decreases in testing scores not just in Rhode Island but across the country. 

But as everyone knows, students and Providence schools need solutions in order to improve performance and outcomes — not rationalizations. 

Under Montañez, the district launched a new website for enhanced student and family interaction; it also announced new teacher recruitment incentives including signing bonuses for classroom educators and pay increases for substitute positions. 

In addition, Providence schools offered specific incentives for hard-to-fill positions and supports for ESL certification. 

“Providence students deserve the best,” said Montañez at the recruitment announcement. “These new initiatives to recruit highly-qualified educators demonstrate our commitment to providing a world-class education for all students.” 

When he was selected as acting superintendent, City Council President John Igliozzi expressed his support for the former educator taking the helm. 

“Dr. Montañez's relationships and depth of understanding of Providence schools -- both as an educator and a former student -- make him uniquely suited to provide a steady and firm foundation, as well as to be an agent of change who can to lead our school district in a positive direction and give our students the excellent education they deserve,” he said. 

Someone needs to turn Providence’s schools around. 2022 will tell if Montañez helps put the beleaguered district on the right path -- and if Providence can, indeed, ever become world-class.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Governor’s Race

This year’s Rhode Island gubernatorial race is unprecedented.

There are four candidates who have won statewide office vying for the Democratic nomination.

Then, add in a former corporate CEO -- making five major candidates.

There is the potential that the nominee can win the race with about 30% of the Democratic primary vote. If all the candidates stay in the race it is likely that the Democrat will emerge with fewer than 100,000 votes.

With Republicans like Dave Darlington fading away, House Minority Leader Blake Filippi bowing out, and former two-time GOP nominee Allan Fung now looking to run for State Treasurer, the GOP cupboard is bare.

Thus, the next governor could de facto be determined by just a tiny fraction of the state.

The race between Governor Dan McKee, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, former Secretary of State Matt Brown, Treasurer Seth Magaziner, and former CVS executive Helena Foulkes is expected to set a new spending record.

Rhode Islanders who are likely Democratic primary voters will be bombarded by ads, mailers, and emails.

Get ready for the most aggressive campaign in Rhode Island history -- never before has there been a race with five viable candidates.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Jamie Buscher

Jamie Buscher is a well-known professional in the New England craft beer world. 

Now, she is working to help diversify the industry that regionally is predominantly male -- and white.

In 2021, Buscher unveiled what she had experienced working in the craft beer business as a woman, and what she plans on doing about it. 

As GoLocal reported in September:

There is news about a new brewery opening or launching a new location nearly every week.

Narragansett Beer recently opened their new brewery in Providence overlooking India Point Park and in Warren, the Guild launched their new location two weeks ago.

But simultaneously the craft beer industry is facing emerging charges of gender discrimination in Rhode Island.

As the industry continues to grow, it also continues to be a nearly all-white industry. It is overwhelmingly dominated by white men although a handful of women are brewery owners in Rhode Island.

And Buscher blew the lid off what she had experienced. 

"I should have been making more at Narragansett and believe that I was not moved up due to my gender," said Buscher who served as the point person in Marketing & Community Events for Narragansett Beer for more than five years.  Buscher was the face of the brand - she did media interviews, hosted events, and was the spokesperson for Narragansett. 

She said she has experienced sexual harassment firsthand at beer festivals and during events.

Buscher says that "we [the craft beer industry] need to change the culture in the industry."

"Too much of the industry's events are about people getting drunk," she said.

The CEO of Narragansett Beer Mark Hellendrung said in reaction to Buscher's claims that this was the first he has heard of Buscher’s complaints.

“Nothing has ever been brought to my attention. Nothing has ever come up. I have an open door,” said Hellendrung.

Buscher said, “I was making about 35-40K a year on salary … when I left the company after 5 years of working for them in various roles. It wasn't unusual for me to work 9-5 in the office and then run events on nights and weekends, so 50-60 hours was probably the norm.”

Thus, after five years, Buscher, a graduate of the University of Rhode Island was making about $12 to $13 an hour. She was the face of the brand and at nearly every event for the company.

Hellendrung did not dispute that Buscher claims about long hours. He said, “As it relates to pay — she managed the promotion teams and was squarely between the pay rates. She worked long hours and worked a ton of events."

He added, "I think it [the craft beer industry] is on par with all issues in America and there is baggage in the past. Regarding beer events, I know there are issues at beer events."

Buscher says she is trying to change the industry and has started a diversity, equity, and inclusion committee in an attempt to raise awareness and develop tools to diversify.

She said she is working with Johnson & Wales to develop a scholarship program to improve diversity and she hopes to hold a beer festival for women brewers.

Nationally, the craft beer industry is aware of the issue and has hired a diversity officer and built a dedicated website, but it is not clear if the group has worked in the minority communities to develop an incubation program.

Buscher, who is currently a brand manager for the Craft Collective, is a driving force in promoting equity — watch for more from her in 2022.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Christian McBride

It is now up to Christian McBride to create the next chapter in the history of the Newport Jazz Festival.

McBride had been doing much of the heavy lifting for the past few years while working in partnership with the legendary George Wein who passed in 2021.

Now, it is McBride — a seven-time Grammy winner — who is continuing the process of transforming the Jazz Festival.

By title, he is the artistic director — but is now, de facto, the face of the event.

The history of Newport Jazz goes back to the 1950s.

As the New York Times wrote in 2007, “Elaine Lorillard, a socialite who with her husband, Louis, lured jazz greats to their hometown in Rhode Island for a two-day concert series in the summer of 1954, starting the Newport Jazz Festival and creating the model for what became a worldwide circuit of outdoor jazz festivals, died on Monday near her home in Newport. She was 93.”

The Lorillards hired Wein to run the festival and from there the future was set.

In March of 2016, McBride was named creative director of the Festival to work with Wein.

The Newport Jazz Festival is now in the hands of McBride — we can’t wait to see and hear its future.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Katie Commodore

It’s not every day that an artist who has left Rhode Island for New York City decides to return. 

But Katie Commodore did just that — and she is firmly settling back in Providence. 

Commodore, a Rhode Island School of Design graduate, had moved to New York to pursue her career 15 years ago. Now, she is back in Rhode Island and is reinventing her art business. 

She said she originally thought she was going to look on the East Side, where she had lived while at RISD, but she is now the owner of a mixed-use Victorian on Broadway in the West End, where she lives with her husband, Rhode Island native Russell Pouliot.

“We moved into the third floor in June, and it's amazing,” Commodore told GoLocal. 

And Commodore has hit the ground running. 

Her artistic work is highly creative and sexual. She writes about her work, "Over the past few years, my artwork has concentrated on creating intimate portraits of my friends, often focusing on how they express their sexuality.   Not whether they prefer men or women, but sexuality in the broader sense -- what is it that makes them feel sexy, how do they express that physically, and how has it changed over the years?"

“And at the end of last year, I had artwork featured in the book NSFW, published by Paragon Press, that covered an annual exhibit at Spoke Art over the past 5 years of female artists working with erotic imagery,” Commodore told GoLocal. 

In 2022, Commodore already has a packed spring schedule so far. 

“I’m going to have some work in a show at Kent State next month for an exhibit of contemporary female printmakers, and am also working on some new prints that will be included at a print fair in Baltimore this spring,” she added. 

Much is often said about Providence and Rhode Island’s proximity to both New York and the rest of New England as being an advantage — and Commodore is proving why it’s true. 

“This spring semester I'll be teaching part-time at Clark University, so I'll also be included in their faculty show next month,” she said. 

Commodore’s return is Rhode Island’s gain — and we look forward to following her work on the local and national stage.

22 to Watch in RI in 2022: Mukesh Jain

Brown University announced in October that Dr. Mukesh Jain was being appointed Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences.

Make no mistake about it, Jain is here to be a part of the biggest mega-deal in Rhode Island history.

The appointment comes as Brown, Lifespan, and Care New England — Rhode Island’s two largest hospital groups— are working on a controversial merger.

CNE continues to struggle financially — it has been propped up by federal COVID monies over the past two years.

Lifespan is more financially stable, but has been unable to compete with Boston and New Haven hospital groups — Mass General Brigham and Yale-New Haven Health respectively. Yale-New Haven already has a toe into Rhode Island as it owns Westerly Hospital.

Presently, Lifespan is struggling to retain and attract employees — now suffering from more than 2,400 vacancies.

The mega-deal would create a hospital group that is bigger than Rhode Island state government. The deal faces a review by the Federal Trade Commission and if the federal government moves to block the deal, then they will need special legislation from the Rhode Island General Assembly to circumvent federal antitrust laws.

Jain was serving as the chief academic officer at University Hospitals health system in Cleveland and vice dean for medical sciences at Case Western Reserve University.

In joining Brown, he will lead the Division of Biology and Medicine, which encompasses the Warren Alpert Medical School, four biological science departments, 14 clinical departments and two-hybrid departments. He will also manage the medical school’s relationships with nine affiliated hospitals.

Brown President Christina Paxson cited Jain’s experience leading university-hospital partnerships in a first-rate health care system in her comments in naming Jain. 

“As we work both at Brown and with our affiliates toward improved health for all Rhode Islanders, we sought a leader with a clear and compelling vision for scientific discovery, excellence in biomedical education and world-class clinical care,”  Paxson said. “Mukesh Jain brings those attributes and more. He has the track record, skills and innovative approach to take academic medicine at Brown to the next level of excellence, and I look forward to years of collaborative partnership to come.”

He is scheduled to start on March 1. Welcome to Rhode Island.