Providence Business News: White, Machtley top honorees at PBN’s 2019 Business Excellence Awards

Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce President Laurie White and Bryant University President Ronald K. Machtley were the top honorees at Providence Business News’ 19th annual Business Excellence Awards.

President of the state’s largest Chamber since October 2005, White was recognized for Business Leadership. She’s the first female president of the Chamber in its nearly 150-year history and has served as an inspiration to other women aspiring to become business and community leaders.

“The landscape is constantly shifting,” White told PBN. “The Chamber has a front-row seat at everything happening in Rhode Island.” To be an effective advocate, she said, it’s necessary “to understand both sides of the story … and the counter arguments.”

Providence Business News: Under Laurie White’s guidance, Providence Chamber on right path

Consistent, forward-thinking, strategically targeted planning, followed by action.

Those qualities are central to the economic-development work of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and also are embodied in its president, Laurie White.

Leadership means knowing the subject matter well, perceiving the next new issue, advocating for goals and thanking people, said White, who has been Chamber president for 14 years.


Providence Business News: Publisher's Letter

Successful companies tend to share common traits, including strong leadership, committed employees and strong services and products.

But keeping the success going, year after year, requires a strategy that keeps you connected to the clients, customers and mission in both good economic times and bad. For this year’s PBN Business Excellence Awards winners, a common theme in their approach is the view of themselves and those they serve or sell to as partners, all working toward the same goal.

It is a powerful concept, put into practice regularly by leaders such as Laurie White, president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.