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Professional Experience

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In 1960, when I was a student at Providence College, I was given the opportunity to serve as a Page in the Rhode Island Senate. I served in that chamber for 4 years.

Upon graduation from Providence College, I worked in the field of mental health for three years. I spent the 1965-66 academic year at the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work with a field placement at the Brockton VA Psychiatric Hospital in Brockton, MA.

The following year, I worked at Providence’s community action program, Progress for Providence, where I was asked to design the client contact data collection systems.

That assignment lead me to return to Providence College for evening classes in computer programming.

The following year I was hired by a software development company as a computer programmer. This shift in careers lead me to Engineering and Marketing positions at Honeywell, Raytheon, and a few smaller information technology consulting companies.

During my early information technology career, I attended Bryant University Graduate School of Business evening classes and received an MBA in 1977.

For over 30 years, I worked on consulting assignments in 40 states and 11 countries. I lived in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, California, and North Carolina during my professional career.

I retired to my hometown, Newport, in 2000. I served on the City of Newport Planning Board for 6 years and became the Chairman of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission.

In November 2008, I was elected to the District 75 seat of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. I returned to the State House after an absence of 44 years.  I was re-elected in November of 2010. I currently serve on the House Committees on the Judiciary, Municipal Government and Veterans Affairs.  I am also the Rhode Island Legislative Commissioner on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

This year I was invited to serve as a member of the Advisory Board of Community Leaders of the Rhode Island College Institution of Addiction Recovery. 

I have recently been appointed to the Board of Directors at the Newport County Community Mental Health Center, where I am thankfully able to put to good use my earlier education and experience.