On January 5, 2007, an Economic Summit was held to engage business and civic leaders in clarifying issues and recommending solutions regarding taxes and budget, health care, regulations, and education and workforce development.

RI Governor Carcieri spoke as well as the new Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts. Ms. Roberts has a great history of working with women in small business. She is a former member of the Board of the Providence Center for Women and Enterprise.

John Cronin, Executive Director of the RI Small Business Development Center was instrumental in making this happen with great support from Mark Hayward at SBA.

Personally---there were far “too many suits” in the room and not enough women represented. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith aka Dr. Day Care, Patty Laniere from Golf Hers and Carol Malysz from CWE were some of the sassy ladies that were in attendance!