We’re so lucky at NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley to have a staff of hardworking, committed team-players who work tirelessly at our mission of building affordable housing and enriching community life.
In this series, you’ll get to know the people behind the work.
Tell us about yourself.
I’m usually quiet and generally not one to talk about myself. That’s why a job like this, where I can keep my head down and get the work done, suits me. I grew up in southern RI working in my Dad’s nursery. After high school I served in the Army, and then enlisted in the Guard in 2001 where I was deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Using the mechanical skills I gained in the Army and college, I’ve worked as a mechanic on everything from lawn mowers to boats and airplanes in Washington, Ohio, Alaska, Italy, Kuwait and back to RI again.
I live in Cranston with my family (wife and two children). In my spare time I enjoy making music, whether on a ukulele or piano and spending as much time as possible outdoors.
What do you do at NWBRV?
That’s a great question! A little bit of everything? In my time here I’ve worn several different hats. Currently, my title is Facilities Site Manager. I work with Stan on building inspections and repairs, provide some support to the Millrace Facilities space and maintain involvement with the Levitt Summer Concert Series, which is what brought me to NWBRV.
How long have you been working with NWBRV, and how did you start working with the organization?
I’ve been working with NWBRV since 2019 when I started making pizzas! In the spring of 2019, the pizza oven was installed and I was hired to make pizzas for that year’s concert series and other community events. When the season ended, I found other ways to be helpful, and they asked me to stay on to assist with odd jobs. I really like the company and everybody that works here and I’ve been lucky enough to stay and grow in my roles in the agency.
What inspires you to do this work?
Community inspires me. There is a certain feel to growing up in a small family business. Lines are blurred sometimes between work time and free time. In the Army, there isn’t the same family-feeling, but there is certainly a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. In my many jobs since then, they were just jobs. Just before starting at NWBRV I had been a stay at home dad for three years. Returning to the workforce after spending that time with my family, I wanted to be able to utilize my skills but in an environment that wasn’t “just work”. The community of NWBRV and the community they are building in Woonsocket inspires what I do here every day.
What is your proudest accomplishment working with NWBRV?
Working for NeighborWorks is my proudest accomplishment. Every hour that I spend working at NeighborWorks, is an hour spent supporting an entire community. NeighborWorks gives everything it can to support the most vulnerable of folks throughout the neighborhood and provides a safe and secure environment for them to raise their families. It’s the most basic of fundamentals that most of us take for granted, but it can mean a world of difference for the future and success of generations of Rhode Islanders. I’ve learned throughout life that when you contribute to the success of others, the investment is returned ten-fold. NeighborWorks takes this philosophy to the next level. I couldn’t have asked for a better workplace.
