PBN honors region’s best CFOs

ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Jerome
ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Jerome "Jerry" Williams was the Career Achievement award winner Thursday at the PBN Chief Financial Officers Awards program event, held at Bryant University's Bello Center. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

SMITHFIELD – It was only fitting that Jerome “Jerry” Williams walked up to the stage in Bryant University’s Bello Center Thursday night to the sounds of applause and AC/DC’s hit song “Back In Black.”

He was being recognized for Career Achievement as a chief financial officer at the Providence Business News CFO Awards ceremony, and the night was filled with revels and jokes about the world of finance in business.

“As many people in the room know, CFOs are sometimes referred to as cheap,” Williams quipped, as he accepted his award. “I guess I would include myself in that definition, although I tend to think of being frugal, not cheap. As such, I would ask the wait staff if they could put together the leftovers I had to take home [with me].”

Williams, executive vice president for finance and administration at Roger Williams University, was one of nine chief financial officers to be recognized for his contribution to the financial health of his organization.

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Jokes aside, Williams told the crowd of 215 family members, friends, co-workers and a handful of bosses about why he loves his job in finance.

“I get energized by the challenge. If someone tells me something can’t be done, I’ve got to find a way to do it,” Williams said. “It takes drive, determination, planning and it takes a great team, and I’ve been blessed in having have great leaders with great vision and a great team of individuals.”

The other CEO award winners honored Thursday were:

  • Public Company: Deborah Thomas, Hasbro Inc.
  • Large Private Company: Marianne Caserta, Atrion Networking Corp.
  • Mid-Size Private Company: Donna Lantagne, Beta Group Inc.
  • Small Private Company: Trad Campbell, Freedom National Bank
  • Social Service Agency: Laurie Devlin, Crossroads Rhode Island
  • Nonprofit: Joseph Greene, Johnson & Wales University
  • Government: Zachary Saul, Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island
  • Quasi-government Agency: Kara Lachapelle, Rhode Island Housing

The presenting sponsor of the CFO Awards was KPMG, while the partner sponsors were Bryant University’s Graduate School of Business and Executive Development Center, and Gencorp Insurance Group.

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