The Commission

Marc Crisafulli is an experienced executive in legal, compliance and regulatory governance, having served in multiple C-suite roles over the course of his 30-year career. Mr. Crisafulli currently serves as an attorney at Nixon Peabody and as Chairman of the Bally’s RI board of directors.  He recently retired from Bally’s, where he served as the Executive Vice President, Government Relations, Legal and Regulatory and President of Bally’s RI.  During his tenure, he forged a powerful, three-way partnership between Bally’s, IGT and the State of Rhode Island, a deal requiring legislative approval which resulted in The Marc A. Crisafulli Economic Development Act of 2021 being signed into law. Mr. Crisafulli also serves as a director for Priority Technology Holdings (NASDAQ: PRTH) and Pavilion Payments.  In addition, he serves on a number of local non-profit boards, including the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, the Partnership for Rhode Island, the Providence Foundation, and Always Learning.  Before joining Bally’s, Mr. Crisafulli had executive roles at Brightstar Corporation, a wireless services company owned by SoftBank; Suffolk Construction; Hinckley Allen; and GTECH Holdings Corporation. Mr. Crisafulli received his BA from Boston University in Economics and Political Science, and his JD from Georgetown University School of Law.

Barrett Bready, M.D., is Founder and CEO at Nabsys. Dr. Bready is an adjunct professor at Brown University were he teaches Biotechnology Management. He serves as a commissioner of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, a large land redevelopment project in downtown Providence with a focus on life sciences and other high technology sectors. He has received numerous awards including, in 2011, Rhode Island Innovator of the year from Providence Business News. Dr. Bready received an MD and an ScB in physics from Brown University, both as part of Brown's Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME).

Sandra Smith is the Associate Dean of Executive Education at Brown University's School of Professional Studies. She brings 25 years of experience in strategy consulting and business management from her work at the Boston Consulting Group, Charles Schwab, Catalyst Strategies, and Recon Strategy.  She holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and a BASc in Industrial Engineering with honors and a MASc of Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto. Sandra is a member of the Executive Committee and Treasurer for the Wheeler School Board of Trustees.

Bob McCann retired after over 30 years in the insurance industry. He was the founder and president of Group Benefit Advisors, a company that specialized in corporate benefits. He received both RFC and CMFC designations. As he retired, he also sold his real estate investment company, The 02908 Club, which owned a significant real estate portfolio in the city of Providence, Rhode Island. 

In 1991, Mr. McCann founded “The Make a Difference Foundation,” that helps provide turkeys to over 3,000 families throughout Rhode Island every Thanksgiving. He is also a member of the Providence College National Board of Overseers. Mr. McCann holds a BS in Finance and Economics from the University of Rhode Island. He is currently living in Newport, Rhode Island and Delray Beach, Florida with his wife Ann and has four adult children. 

Vincent Masino concluded his 45 year tenure with the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) in 2022.  Before his retirement, Mr. Masino served as International Vice President and Assistant New England Regional Manager.  Mr. Masino began his career as an International Field Auditor, progressing to the position of International Representative in 1993, followed by his appointment as Assistant Regional Manager in 1997.  In 2001 he was elected an International Vice President.  

Mr. Masino also served as Secretary-Treasurer and Recording Secretary of Public Service Employees Local Union 1033 in Providence, Rhode Island.  He was also a Trustee for both the Laborers’ National Pension Fund and the Laborers’ National Health & Welfare Fund.  Additionally, he served as Chairman of the Laborers’ New England Region Organizing Fund and Trustee of the New England Laborers’ Tri Funds.

A lifelong resident of Rhode Island, Mr. Masino was raised in Providence and received his education from the city school system.  He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bryant University.  

Melinda (Mindy) Penney is the Founder and CEO of Lindon Group Inc., a woman-owned business based in Rumford, RI. With 30 years of corporate leadership experience and 20 years guiding Lindon Group, she has successfully led the company to become a major distributor of construction materials throughout New England. Under her leadership, Lindon Group has expanded its operations, now boasting a 50,000 sq. ft. warehouse and rebar fabrication facility.

Mindy holds a Bachelor's Degree from Providence College and majored in Social Work. She is deeply committed to community service, currently serving as the Board President of Harmony Women's Care. Over the years, she has held several board positions locally and nationally, including Providence College National Board of Overseers, Meeting Street School, Tech Collective, and the Food Allergy Network.

Mindy is an avid Providence College Basketball Friar Fan, a trait she shares with her husband and 4 children! GO FRIARS!

Elizabeth (“Liz”) Tanner is Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce, overseeing the Executive Office of Commerce.

In her role, Secretary Tanner oversees multiple state departments and quasi-governmental agencies. Among those, the Department of Business Regulation, and the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, a quasi-state agency which collaborates with public, private, and nonprofit partners to offer consulting and funding assistance to businesses.

A graduate of the University of Rhode Island and Western New England University Law School, Liz has also received training from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Joe Mulligan is the City of Providence’s Director of Planning and Development and Executive Director of the Providence Redevelopment Agency. He is a planning, design, and construction professional with over thirty years of broad experience in the built environment. Mr. Mulligan’s experience includes positions with the City of Boston’s Planning & Development Authority and Capital Construction Dept., the Commonwealth of Massachusetts General Court staff, MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative, Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, as well as work in private sector design and development firms. His work encompasses a variety of project types ranging from intimate placemaking strategies to complex municipal scale initiatives that transform communities.

Mr. Mulligan holds a BA from The College of the Holy Cross, a B. Arch from Boston Architectural College and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School. He is a resident of the Jewelry District in Providence.