Raimondo names commerce secretary

STEFAN PRYOR, Connecticut's education commissioner, has been named to the newly created position of secretary of commerce by Gov.-elect Gina M. Raimondo, pending Senate confirmation. / COURTESY CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
STEFAN PRYOR, Connecticut's education commissioner, has been named to the newly created position of secretary of commerce by Gov.-elect Gina M. Raimondo, pending Senate confirmation. / COURTESY CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

PROVIDENCE – Gov.-elect Gina M. Raimondo said that she will nominate Stefan Pryor to the newly created post of Secretary of Commerce.
Pryor’s name will be submitted to the state Senate for confirmation.
“Stefan Pryor has the depth of experience and the drive to help me lead Rhode Island’s comeback,” Raimondo said in a statement. “Stefan’s economic-development successes in Newark and in lower Manhattan are a testament to his ability to lead the Department of Commerce in Rhode Island. Our focus from day one will be on creating opportunities for everyone by making Rhode Island a place where companies want to invest and grow.”
Pryor will oversee activities related to commerce and economic development.
Most recently, Pryor served as commissioner of education in Connecticut, overseeing the state Department of Education. During Pryor’s tenure, Connecticut’s graduation rates increased each year and Connecticut achieved the highest score in reading among participating states on the 12th grade National Assessment of Educational Progress in 2013, which also showed a significant narrowing of the black-white achievement gap in reading.
Pryor served as deputy mayor and director of economic and housing development for the city of Newark under Mayor Cory Booker from 2006-2011. In that capacity, he and his team recruited new commercial tenants to Newark including Panasonic (North American headquarters), Manischewitz (world headquarters), Pitney Bowes, Mimeo.com, Bartlett Dairy and Standard Chartered Bank. Pryor played a key role in orchestrating plans for Newark’s first new downtown hotel in 40 years and first new office tower in 20 years.
Pryor also was president of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, created after the Sept. 11 attacks to coordinate the economic revitalization of lower Manhattan. The LMDC coordinated the development of the master plan for the World Trade Center and the design for the Sept. 11 memorial.
“I am looking forward to joining the Raimondo administration,” Pryor said. “Gov. elect Raimondo is focused on attracting and growing businesses in Rhode Island with the goal of making this state stronger for everyone. I will work every day with that goal in mind and will aim to deliver results for Rhode Island.”
Pryor received his undergraduate and law degrees from Yale University.

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