The 2009 Rhode Island Business Plan Competition thanks the following organizations whose generosity has made this year’s competition possible.
 Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP
Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP is a full-service law firm with 150 lawyers and offices in Providence, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Hartford, Connecticut; and Concord, New Hampshire. Since 1906, the firm has been providing expert legal counsel to corporations, organizations, and individuals, and has earned a reputation for legal excellence delivered with a personal touch. The firm provides legal services to individuals and businesses, including many of the region's publicly held corporations and emerging business. Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP's practice is organized into the following principal practice areas: construction, corporate and business, employee benefits, environmental, health, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, labor and employment, personal financial planning, securities, and technology.
Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co., Ltd.
KLR is the largest accounting firm in Rhode Island and the 11th largest firm in New England. KLR was founded in 1975 and has grown to a 120-person firm with two offices, Providence and Newport. With a wide diversity of business experience, KLR's professional team prides itself on providing clients with workable, cost-effective solutions that meet their accounting, tax, and business needs. KLR is an established, technologically advanced firm that offers a full range of services. Through an energetic, experienced and talented staff, KLR serves the needs of closely-held businesses, individuals, and not-for-profit organizations. For more than 30 years, KLR has been committed to delivering personalized and responsive service.
 Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, with 520 attorneys across nine offices, is a full-service firm with roots in New England going back more than 100 years. The firm has been recognized by Chambers and Partners for its corporate/M&A, banking and finance, private equity, complex litigation, employment, real estate, and insurance and reinsurance practices. Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge's growth strategy has included the recent procurement of high-profile lateral partners, the 2005 merger with Palmer & Dodge, a major Boston law firm, and the 2000 merger with Dike Bronstein Roberts & Cushman, a leading intellectual property firm. The firm's attorneys have represented some of the early pioneers in venture capital as well as the cutting edge players of today.
 Embolden Design
Embolden Design is an award-winning web development and consulting firm located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, that offers distinctive web solutions to clients across the country. Established in 1998 by its president, Ann-Marie Harrington, Embolden Design has grown into one of the state’s high-tech leaders. Members of Embolden Design’s full-service staff not only execute the technical aspects of a website or web application, but also are experts at project management, graphic design, programming, user interface, web marketing, and content development.
 Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University, based in Providence, is a world class university, where students have an opportunity to pursue a career education in business, hospitality, culinary arts, or technology. Scores of majors and degree programs are offered at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to empower its diverse student body to succeed in today's dynamic world by integrating general education, professional skills, and career-focused education.
 Nortek, Inc.
Nortek, Inc., a subsidiary of Nortek Holdings, Inc., based in Providence, was established in 1967. With subsidiary companies throughout the U.S. and around the world, Nortek is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality, competitively-priced building products for residential, light commercial, and commercial applications. Nortek's mission is to improve the comfort, security, convenience, air quality, and value of homes and workplaces everywhere.
 Business Development Company of Rhode Island
The BDCRI is a non-bank lender, regulated by the state of Rhode Island, which provides gap and direct funding, in the form of debt or equity, to help promising but often undercapitalized companies in Rhode Island and nearby Connecticut and Massachusetts grow and expand employment. Since our founding in 1953, we have assisted hundreds of companies to become stronger competitors while helping to retain and create thousands of jobs in Rhode Island, as well as jobs in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
 Bryant University
Bryant University has a 144-year tradition of excellence in higher education. The depth and breadth of the academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business offer students the flexibility to explore courses that pique their individual interests. Bryant’s unique integration of the business and the liberal arts prepares students to apply their knowledge and skills upon graduation. Outstanding faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and technology, and a focus on the development of the individual transform and empower students. The goal is to help students to realize their personal best in life and their chosen professions.
 Cherrystone Angel Group
Cherrystone Angel Group, founded in 2004, is Rhode Island’s first organized angel investment group and today includes approximately 50 members. All members are experienced and qualified investors who have either built their own companies or have extensive experience launching new business ventures. Many have done both. Their backgrounds include creating or working with manufacturing, distribution, technology, and service companies. Many have been serial entrepreneurs. To help ensure the success of our investments, Cherrystone Angel Group actively works with the entrepreneurs in which it invests.
 CVS Caremark
CVS Caremark is the largest provider of prescriptions and related healthcare services in the nation. The Company fills or manages more than 1 billion prescriptions annually. Through its unmatched breadth of service offerings, CVS Caremark is transforming the delivery of healthcare services in the U.S. The Company is uniquely positioned to effectively manage costs and improve healthcare outcomes through its approximately 6,200 CVS/pharmacy stores; its pharmacy benefit management, mail order and specialty pharmacy division, Caremark Pharmacy Services; its retail-based health clinic subsidiary, MinuteClinic; and its online pharmacy, CVS.com. General information about CVS Caremark is available through the Investor Relations portion of the Company's website, at http://investor.cvs.com, as well as through the pressroom portion of the Company's website, at www.cvs.com/pressroom.
 Federal Electronics, Inc.
Founded in 1948, Federal Electronics, Inc. is one of the Northeast's leading electronics manufacturing services (EMS) providers. Based in Cranston, RI, we offer virtually all aspects of electronic manufacturing, from circuit boards and interconnect assemblies to functionally tested higher level/system level assemblies. Whether it's assisting start-ups in converting concepts into commercially viable products or strategically partnering with larger companies who chose to divest themselves of manufacturing resources not critical to their continued success, Federal Electronics delivers a custom solution that addresses each clients unique needs. We service the requirements of companies engaged in the homeland security, instrumentation, semiconductor capital equipment, telecommunications, test/measurement, medical, and military industries.
 Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan, private sector membership organization that fosters the development of a positive and productive business climate for our community through economic development, business-to-business relationship, building and effective public policies and government. The Chamber helps its 3,200+ member businesses and organizations of all sizes grow and prosper in Rhode Island. Through its members and with its partners, the Chamber provides the leadership, energy and resources to help address major community challenges.
 Point Judith Capital
Point Judith Capital, an early-stage private equity firm based in Providence, invests in high-growth companies in southern New England. We add value to businesses through our hands-on approach to investing and our experience as investors and business operators to assist portfolio companies as they deal with the challenges and opportunities of growth. These attributes also allow us to leverage our networks to assist portfolio companies in establishing customer relationships and strategic partnerships.
Providence Business News is the local publication serving southern New England business leaders. With concise reporting, timely interviews and trends, PBN is a weekly must read. The Web site, pbn.com, delivers breaking news to the business community daily. Annually, the Book of Lists is an essential resource guide. Awards and events round out Providence Business News’ commitment to the 30,000 readers each week.
 Rhode Island Commodores
The Rhode Island Commodores are 325 top business and civic leaders who play a key role in enhancing the state’s economy and quality of life. They actively support the state Economic Development Corporation’s strategic initiatives and undertake efforts aimed at promoting the benefits of living, locating a business, and vacationing in Rhode Island.Since it’s founding in 1968, members of this unique organization have also served as ambassadors of good will when traveling outside the state.
 Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation
The RIEDC seeks to strengthen the Rhode Island economy through policies, programs, and projects which enhance and enrich the business environment for public and private sectors in order to create prosperity for all Rhode Islanders. We provide support, advice, services, and programs efficiently and effectively. Our goal is to set the standard of excellence for fiscal integrity, technical knowledge, asset management, economic project development, and creation of substantial incremental revenue to the state.
 Slater Technology Fund
The Slater Technology Fund focuses on the support of entrepreneurs who have the vision, leadership and commitment to build substantial business enterprises, providing seed stage capital to companies committed to basing and building technology-based businesses in Rhode Island. Slater typically invests at the inception stage in the development of a new venture, often based upon ideas and technologies originating in academic institutions, government research laboratories or commercial enterprises located within the region. In most cases, investments are premised upon the possibility of raising substantial follow-on financing, be it from venture capital investors or from strategic partners, the rationale being that such external funding will accelerate the creation of a significant number of high value, high wage jobs over the intermediate to longer-term.
 Sovereign Bank
Sovereign Bank is a $58 billion financial institution with more than 650 community banking offices, more than 1,000 ATMs, and approximately 10,000 team members with principal markets in the northeast United States. Sovereign offers a broad array of financial services and products, including retail banking, business and corporate banking, cash management, capital markets, trust and wealth management, and insurance. Sovereign is the 19th largest banking institution in the United States.
 Brown University
Brown University, founded in 1764, is a leading Ivy League institution with a distinctive undergraduate academic program, a world class faculty, outstanding graduate and medical students, and a tradition of innovative and rigorous multidisciplinary study. The mission of Brown University is to serve the community, the nation, and the world by discovering, communicating, and preserving knowledge and understanding in a spirit of free inquiry, and by educating and preparing students to discharge the offices of life with usefulness and reputation.
 Citizens Bank of Rhode Island
Citizens Bank of Rhode Island, with $12 billion in assets, 78 branches and 146 ATMs, has the largest branch banking network in Rhode Island. It is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $148 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence. Citizens also has nine support facilities located in the metropolitan Providence area. Citizens has more than 1,600 branches, approximately 3,100 ATMs, and more than 27,000 employees in a 13-state retail branch network and non-branch offices in more than 30 states. Citizens is the eighth-largest commercial banking company in the United States ranked by deposits. Citizens is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc).
 Item Group
Item Group partners with companies to help them develop and sustain a competitive advantage, from concept to supply, through new product innovation and delivery. Founded in 1985, Item has helped bring hundreds of successful new products to market for global brand leaders and start-ups alike. Item Group recently formed three stand alone companies: Item New Product Development focusing on commercial and industrial products; Ximedica, an FDA medical device development and supply company; and Innovation Chain Partners, a company with expertise working with select consumer brands. Item is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island with offices in Hong Kong and China.
 InsureMyTrip.com
Established in 2000, InsureMyTrip.com is the leading, consumer-oriented online travel insurance aggregator worldwide. Featuring insurance comparisons from the top industry providers, InsureMyTrip.com is a unique, one-stop resource designed to meet consumers’ comprehensive travel insurance needs all in a secure environment. InsureMyTrip.com also specializes in providing integrated technology solutions for the travel insurance industry, with over 2,000 private-labeled and co-branded travel-related websites around the globe. InsureMyTrip.com is headquartered in Warwick, RI, with additional offices and data centers in Connecticut and Oregon.
 RDW Group
RDW Group was founded in 1986 and has grown to become New England's largest independent communications agency. With offices in Providence, RI; Boston and Worcester, MA, RDW Group is staffed by a diverse team of 140 communications professionals. We provide a full range of services, including market research, advertising, public relations, media buying, graphic design, direct marketing and interactive communications. iFactory, the agency's interactive division, was formed in 1992 with a mission to deliver the application of new media to complex data management problems. RDW Group works with local, regional and global clients such as GTECH, the Rhode Island Society of CPAs, The World Bank, Harvard University, and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.
 Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants
Serving its members for over 100 years as a fraternal and educational organization, the Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants currently has 1,600 members. Supporting members’ need to fulfill an ambitious continuing educational requirement of 40 credits annually, RISCPAs nationally recognized CPE program is distinguished as one of the top five program’s amongst its peers throughout the CPA society world nationwide. Members also proactively volunteer their time and energies serving on various committees, eighteen in all, covering topics such as federal and state taxation, electronic filing, educational cooperative matters and personal financial planning, to name a few. On select issues financially affecting the population as a whole, RISCPA has provided sound, unbiased and apolitical advice in an effort to serve the community as an analytical resource. RISCPA is proud to be a supporter of the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition and salutes all involved.
 Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage, Inc.
Starkweather & Shepley, established in 1879, partners with its corporate and individual clients to provide solutions for their insurance needs. The company provides a variety of insurance, risk management, financial and related services on a worldwide basis through our affiliations with financially sound, high quality insurance companies. Starkweather & Shepley is currently ranked the 86th largest Insurance Broker in the United States, with seven locations throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts employing over 150 dedicated professional individuals. Starkweather & Shepley is dedicated to being a highly professional, sales-oriented, and customer focused organization.
 Tech Collective
Tech Collective, formerly known as RITEC, is a not-for-profit association that fosters a prosperous and competitive environment for the Rhode Island technology industries. Tech Collective builds its programs on three pillars: Workforce Development for driving education and training programs, Entrepreneurship for creating business and networking opportunities for new technology companies, and Community for providing services for Tech Collective members to promote a community of success in Rhode Island.
 The Employers Association, Inc.
The Employers Association, founded more than 100 years ago, provides human resource services to a wide range of organizations throughout Southern New England and across the country. Services include compensation plans, employee relations programs, benefits packages, compliance risk management, surveys, and training.
 University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research and graduate institution in Rhode Island with responsibilities for expanding and transmitting knowledge, and for fostering its application. Its status as a land grant, sea grant, and urban grant institution highlights its traditions of natural resource, marine, and urban related research. The University is committed to providing strong undergraduate programs to promote students' ethical development and capabilities as critical and independent thinkers.
 Webster Bank
Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association. With $17.2 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, financial planning, trust and investment services through 181 banking offices, 484 ATMs, telephone banking and the Internet. Webster Bank owns the asset-based lending firm Webster Business Credit Corporation, the insurance premium finance company Budget Installment Corp., Center Capital Corporation, an equipment finance company headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut and provides health savings account trustee and administrative services through HSA Bank, Member FDIC and equal housing lender.
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