Peter V. Lacouture, environmental and utilities partner at Robinson and Cole LLP, was recently named the Rhode Island Bar Association’s 2012 recipient of the Ralph P. Semonoff Award for Professionalism. The award honors the bar’s late president and the importance he placed on justice and public service. Lacouture, who has practiced law in Providence since 1972, represents clients in siting and permitting large infrastructure projects, negotiating related cultural-resource agreements and developing standard contracts for distributed generation facilities in Rhode Island. Lacouture holds an LL.B. degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. degree from Yale University. more

It took Andrew Yang, a Brown University alumnus and self-starter, a while to get where he wanted. more

When Taco Inc. of Cranston celebrated the opening of its new Innovation & Development Center on June 18, the official ceremony felt more like a family get-together. Dignitaries mingled with employees, touring the new state-of-the-art facility. John H. White Jr., president of Taco, and his staff, wouldn’t want it any other way. more

Everyone needs sales and personal-development training. Even you. The challenge is how much and what kind. more

Retired as president and CEO of the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, David E. Nash is still doing his best to promote business development. He’s the founder of the Rhode Island Small Business Recovery Program, which he began in January 2011. The free program is designed to move the unemployed to self-employment and last year trained 2,400 people. more

Worcester, Mass.-based Veterans Inc. was awarded $225,000 to help homeless veterans in Southeastern Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island find work, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced Tuesday. more

Technology and a changing workforce have reshaped the traditional office in many ways, but they haven’t gotten rid of it. more

Outsourcing human resource functions may just be the wave of the future. more

Ever wish you could pick up your dry cleaning, deposit a check, or grab last-minute dinner ingredients while at work – errands you often struggle to find time for during the daily grind? more

Textron’s Marie Carlino is a true businesswoman, not just a woman in business. more