PUBLISHERS LETTER

If there is a theme common to this year’s Business Excellence Awards winners it is the power of one; one individual, business or nonprofit to make a difference and, in many cases, inspire others to do the same.

The winner for business leadership, Washington Trust Chief Financial Officer David V. Devault, is lauded by colleagues for leading by example, rather than simply telling others what to do. “He sets high standards for himself and leads those around him to aspire to achieve those same standards,” said Washington Trust Treasurer Mark K. W. Gim.

Our winner for corporate citizenship, Rhode Island Foundation President and CEO Neil D. Steinberg, sets the tone for an organization that has focused public attention on statewide issues in public education, the economy and health care.

CVS Health Corp., the winner for community involvement, walked away from billions of dollars in annual cigarette sales. In so doing, it put community health ahead of the potential health of its own bottom line. And instead of a sales decline, as some predicted, CVS saw net revenue increase 9.6 percent for the first nine months of 2015, compared with the same period the year before, to $112.1 billion.

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Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic, has made its own powerful impact, albeit on a much smaller scale, in health care. Begun in the basement of a church eight years ago, the walk-in Providence health clinic today serves more than 2,500 patients facing economic hardships each year.

They and other winners recognized this year are potent reminders of the power of commitment and leadership in the face of even the most daunting challenges.

As always, we need to thank our sponsors for their support in recognizing this year’s winners. Presenting sponsor once again is Bank Rhode Island. Partner sponsors are: Bryant University’s Executive Development Center; Cox Business; Cornerstone Gencorp, The Hilb Group; LGC&D; Fish Advertising and Tufts Health Plan. The media sponsor is AM790 Talk Business.

Roger C. Bergenheim

President & Publisher

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