RISBJ Staff's Featured Content
Restivo Monacelli LLP Announces Vicki L. Goetter as Firm Administrator
PROVIDENCE, R.I., August 6, 2020 – Restivo Monacelli LLP today announced the appointment of Vicki L. Goetter as Firm Administrator. As a key member of the Leadership Team, Vicki oversees the day-to-day operations and internal affairs of a talented, industry-leading team of 50 professionals that service clients nationwide.
Vicki has 25 years of executive administration, human resources, and management experience, predominately in the public accounting and consulting industry. In addition, she has 10 years’ experience in private business in the U.S. and U.K. Prior to joining Restivo Monacelli, she was Chief Operating Officer at the largest accounting firm on the western slope of Colorado with four offices.
“This is an important role for our firm as we continue our growth trajectory and we are pleased to have attracted Vicki from across the country,” said Kevin Hundley, Managing Partner. “She is a hands-on leader with deep experience and a dynamic personality who brings to the table innovative ideas and strategies that will help our firm achieve a high-performance culture focused on superior client service, continuous improvement, and new growth and development opportunities.”
Commenting on her new role, Vicki said: “I am excited about this tremendous opportunity to join an industry-leading firm that values a strong culture where employees feel engaged and inspired. I look forward to collaborating with our entire team to advance our goals through effective planning and communication in the key areas of human resources, marketing, and technology and position Restivo Monacelli for continued success.”
Vicki is the past president and vice president of the New Jersey Chapter of the CPA FMA and is a return speaker at the CCH Connections conference, a tax and accounting software solutions provider. She attended Richard Stockton University and holds an accreditation of Public Accounting Firm Manager (PAFM). In addition to her affiliation with the CPA FMA, she is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Attorneys Ralph B. Gillis and Stephanie F. Friedel Expand Duffy & Sweeney Team
PROVIDENCE, RI (July 22, 2020) – The law firm of Duffy & Sweeney is pleased to announce the addition of Ralph Gillis and
Stephanie F. Friedel to its attorney team.
As a senior associate, Ralph Gillis continues his practice in the banking-finance, business law and real estate areas,
representing banks and business clients. He has handled all types of commercial finance and general business
transactions for companies, large and small, including real estate and renewable energy developers, among others. He
has represented banks in numerous commercial loan closings and loan modifications throughout Rhode Island and
Massachusetts, including financing for multi-million dollar land developments.
Gillis was recognized by Rhode Island Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2018 and 2019.
A resident of Lincoln, Rhode Island, Gillis is a 2012 graduate of Northeastern University School of Law and a 2006
graduate of Villanova University. He is admitted to practice law in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
As an associate, Stephanie Friedel guides a wide range of clients from global businesses to shareholders to
individuals through many stages of litigation. She routinely appears in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island Courts
advocating for her clients in discovery disputes, mediation and arbitration, obtaining injunctive relief, and engaging in
dispositive motion practice.
Since joining the firm earlier this year, Friedel successfully barred a claim for half a million dollars against an estate
in a Rhode Island Probate Court. Most recently, she defeated a motion for summary judgment in Providence Superior
Court concerning a dispute between a local business and a contractor.
A resident of Providence’s East Side, Friedel is a 2015 graduate of Boston University School of Law and a 2011
summa cum laude graduate of Northeastern University. She is admitted to practice law in Rhode Island,
Massachusetts and New York.
ABOUT DUFFY & SWEENEY
Headquartered in Providence, Duffy & Sweeney, LTD. was founded in 1996 by Michael Sweeney and Robert Duffy.
The firm provides strategic legal counsel to U.S. and international businesses and individuals ranging from start-ups
and emerging growth entities to established, private and public companies. ###
321 South Main Street, Suite 400 | Providence, RI 02903 | DuffySweeney.com | 401.455.0700
Maximizing Your Technology and IT Relationship During COVID Times by Brad Mirza
With many businesses and organizations now required to switch to working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the spotlight on technology has been beyond-expectations for some and less-than-ideal for others. The spotlight is on some epic-fails … especially for those businesses and IT gurus who were unprepared to support remote work environments. In fact, under the current circumstance, a reliable and professional IT set-up and support team may be the most important component for workplace (and work-from-home) success.
If you have an established relationship with an outsourced IT service provider to manage or assist in the management of the IT aspect of your business, you are probably up-and-running by now with remote work environments. While your immediate demands for reliable and sustainable IT might be met, you may be asking yourself: is the tech part of my business functioning at its best?
Below are the top five ways in which a managed service provider can help your company put its best foot forward when it comes to IT:
- Staff capacity matters. If your business’ IT team is small in comparison to the rest of the staff, unexpected tech challenges—like establishing remote work environments quickly and efficiently—can turn into huge problems. Be sure your internal or outsourced team has a deep bench of hands on deck to find immediate and tactful solutions in the wake of challenges to keep your business running smoothly.
- Cyberthreats are preventable and manageable. A strong defense against cyber-attacks is critically important to all businesses and organizations. With an uptick in hackers leveraging work-at-home technology, be sure your IT team can not only aid in the prevention and manage the aftermath, but take all precautionary measures so it does not happen in the first place.
- Access perks and deals through vendor partnerships. Your IT providers may have specialized vendor relationships with access to unique programs, incentives, and perks such as specific products and cloud technologies. Ask about ways to save money and take advantage of these best-in-class resources.
- IT services should be tailor-made to fit your business. While every company is different in terms of IT essentials, your IT vendors must understand the needs and nuances of your specific organization or business, both for custom solutions and related pricing. Whether your business has less than 10 or over 100 employees, seek highly personalized pricing and services so you are getting exactly what you need at a price you can afford.
- Look for professional IT support 24/7. Now more than ever, we are juggling families and tasks and working outside of normal business hours; accordingly, your IT support professionals should be available outside of normal business hours, too. Be sure your managed service provider has a live support team that is available 24/7 for our round-the-clock work life.
Brad Mirza is the Executive Vice President of Secured Network Services in Providence. SNS specializes in tailor-made IT solutions and works with a broad array of businesses and organizations including healthcare organizations, municipalities, financial institutions, nonprofits, and many more. For more information on how Secured Network Services can assist in taking care of your company’s IT needs, visit www.sns.com or email brad@sns.com.
Devereux honors direct care supervisors with 2020 Supervisory Excellence Award
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health recently presented its 2020 Supervisory Excellence Award to direct care supervisors across the organization who lead by example.
The annual award recognizes supervisors who demonstrate a commitment to Devereux’s core values, instill pride, and foster personal and professional growth and development.
“I want to thank and congratulate this year’s Supervisory Excellence Award recipients for their unwavering dedication and commitment to our organization, and for helping to create a work environment that is respectful, flexible and supportive,” said Devereux President and CEO Carl E. Clark II. “These individuals exemplify Servant Leadership in their everyday actions, by applauding the efforts of others, and putting the needs of their colleagues – and the individuals and families in our care – first.”
Learn more about the 2020 award recipients.
About the Supervisory Excellence Award …
Each year, direct care employees across Devereux nominate supervisors who demonstrate a commitment to the organization’s mission and Servant Leadership principles through the following behaviors and actions:
- Consistently treat others with respect; listen to others’ opinions/recommendations
- Create an adaptive and supportive environment
- Offer sincere praise and recognition
- Provide fair and timely performance feedback, both positive and constructive
- Actively engage in, and encourage, personal and professional growth
- Lead by example in all actions
- Communicate effectively by listening and sharing important information
- Hold himself/herself, and others, accountable for meeting Devereux’s standards of excellence
Clark noted, “At Devereux, we always strive to reward and honor team members who exceed our goals. The recipients of this award do just that by helping their colleagues achieve both their personal and professional best.”
Learn more about Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.
