Carol Malysz is a leader in the Rhode Island community as the Director of the Center for Women & Enterprise and has a proven track record that reflects her entrepreneurial spirit. She led the start up of the Rhode Island Center for Women & Enterprise six years ago, started the Business Expansion Division at the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation to provide account management services to 25,000 Rhode Island businesses prior to CWE, and just last year, started and is the current President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA). She received her MBA in Entrepreneurship from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Carol has displayed vision, initiative, and resourcefulness in overcoming obstacles throughout her professional career. She was responsible for all aspects of the CWE start- up effort in Rhode Island. This challenge included everything from selecting the site, managing the construction build-out, developing the technology infrastructure, securing donations for computer and telephone equipment, and hiring the staff. Within just 6 months, Carol had the Center up and running.

When Carol started up the CWE Rhode Island office in 2000, her vision was to establish the Center as a national Center of Excellence and model for training, counseling, business assistance, and; particularly, innovative approaches in small business finance. In fact, through this vision, CWE Rhode Island became one of the model Women’s Business Centers in the country for loan packaging assistance for women entrepreneurs.

Through CWE, Carol was determined to help women overcome the stereotypes and barriers that they face in accessing financing. She currently helps her clients obtain capital, spanning the range from micro-loans to larger 7A and 504 loans, to equity capital. Her efforts have paid off for Rhode Island women. Since Carol started CWE Rhode Island, she has helped her clients secure more than $16 million in financing and trained and counseled more than 5,500 women.

Carol has been recognized time and time again for her work on behalf of women in the minority community. She has an established track record of efforts that have increased the public’s understanding of the importance to the local economy of women in business as owners or employees. In 2004, Carol received the Outstanding Contributor Award for the Rhode Island Coalition for Minority Investment. This award recognizes the number of minority women who have received financing to start or grow their businesses. In 2003, she was appointed to the Rhode Island Commodores by Governor Donald Carcieri. In a traditionally white male dominated arena, Carol gained access to leadership and was selected to represent diversity and build networks for women. In 2002, she was awarded, through a competitive process, the Rhode Island Foundation Fellowship for leadership in the nonprofit community. As part of her fellowship, Carol received a full scholarship to the Center for Creative Leadership, a nationally recognized leadership training center. Her focus was women in business, training, and leadership skills. In 2001, Carol was recognized by the US Small Business Administration (SBA) as the Rhode Island “Women in Business” Advocate of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes efforts to raise the voice of women in business, politics, and government.

Carol has demonstrated outstanding commitment and support of the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) vision and mission. Recognizing the need for a Rhode Island EWGA Chapter, Carol volunteered to lead this effort. In existence for almost a year, this Chapter has 80 members, far exceeding its first year membership goal of 50. Just recently, the Rhode Island Chapter was the local host for the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open and the national EWGA reception and golf tournament. Carol was responsible for organizing volunteers from the 115 U.S. and Canadian EWGA Chapters for this week long event. In addition, Carol was recently asked to serve on the national EWGA Finance sub-committee of the EWGA Board.

Carol is a rising star in EWGA and in the Rhode Island community. She is smart, energetic, and a savvy marketer. Her leadership and passion inspire others to join her in her mission of empowering women through business and through golf. In 2006, Carol was named the national Canon Businesswoman of the Year by the Executive Women’s Golf Association in recognition of her exemplary business leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and expert business acumen by utilizing innovative skills and technology in achieving success both on and off the golf course.

For more information about the Center for Women & Enterprise, click here.

For more information about the EWGA Rhode Island Chapter, click here.