New Program for Diverse Businesses Kicks Off at School of Continuing Studies

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – National Grid Rhode Island and CVS Caremark are each sponsoring three organizations for participation in Roger Williams University’s CEO Master Series, a unique program that trains diverse supply chain participants on essential skills for small business success. The program was created in partnership with the Professional Education Center at the University’s School of Continuing Studies to help diverse suppliers gain critical management skills and industry knowledge that better position them to secure contracts with companies like National Grid and CVS Caremark.

CVS Caremark will sponsor the following suppliers: Capital City Construction Inc., a commercial general contractor; Peachtree Supplies, an office and business product dealer; and Heroica’s Painting, Inc., a professional painting company. Raul Suarez-Rodriguez, CVS Caremark manager of supplier diversity shares his enthusiasm for selecting the awarded organizations. “We’re thrilled to help our supplier partners take part in RWU’s specialized training courses so that they are able to expand their skills and incorporate new knowledge and best practices into their long-term business goals.”

National Grid Rhode Island has selected the following suppliers for the sponsored program: SAK Environmental, an environmental consulting and engineering services firm; Minuteman Trucks, Inc., a commercial truck dealership; and Evelyn Audet Lighting Company, lightening design for residential, commercial, and exterior areas. Carla Hunter Ramsey, National Grid director of supplier diversity commented on the value of sending the organizations through the CEO Master Series program. “It is so important that companies’ like National Grid and CVS Caremark take an active role in developing a diverse pool of business leaders so that both organizations can create new opportunities for jobs growth and economic expansion.”

The collaboration between RWU, CVS Caremark and National Grid to create the CEO Master Series program was announced at the "Power of Connections" event in April. Alongside CVS Caremark and National Grid, the University’s Outreach and Engagement division played an instrumental role in identifying the gap in professional development for diverse suppliers that partner with large organizations like CVS Caremark and National Grid. Through the School of Continuing Studies, RWU customized a specific professional development program that’s uniquely suited to meet the specific needs of diverse supply chain participants.

The program will send a representative from each diverse business (primarily women-, minority- or veteran-owned) organization – all of whom are vendors or potential vendors in the supply chains of National Grid or CVS Caremark – to the two-part “CEO Master Series” curriculum designed and offered by the Professional Education Center.

The CEO Master Series will focus on the essential skills that position executives for success and will be comprised of two modules: (1) “Maximizing Employee Performance and Learning the Secrets to Submit a Successful Proposal,” which will include sessions on purchasing and contracts, team building and performance management; and (2) “Critical Development Areas to be Competitive,” which will include sessions on sustainability training, safety plans, HIPAA requirements and social media marketing.