2019-2020 State Society of Rhode Island Board of Directors and Executive Team

Washington, D.C. – The State Society of Rhode Island (SSRI), a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization, announces the election of a new executive team, as well as the full slate of board of directors for 2019-2020. Lauren Broccoli will once again lead the executive team for 2019-2020 as Chairwoman, with Vice Chair Nicole Henry, Treasurer Michael Giblin, and Secretary Francesca D’Andrea.

Lauren Broccoli was born and raised in Rhode Island, where she attended St. Mary’s Academy-Bay View in East Providence. After earning her undergraduate degree at Boston University, Lauren returned to Rhode Island to attend Roger Williams University School of Law, where she earned her J.D. in 2012. After working for Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's 2014 Senate campaign, Lauren relocated to DC and worked for Congressman Jim Langevin.  

Currently, Lauren is a lobbyist at Lewis-Burke Associates LLC, a full-service government relations firm based in D.C. specializing in higher education and research policy. Lauren is extremely passionate about preserving the unique traditions of Rhode Island in Washington, DC. and has previously served as SSRI Treasurer for the past 4 years.

Nicole Henry was born and raised in Newport and Middletown, Rhode Island. Upon graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Nicole became involved in Rhode Island Politics where she interned with the Rhode Island Democratic Party and worked for Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s 2014 Senate campaign. 

Currently, Nicole works as a legislative correspondent to Senator Gary Peters.  Prior to her role, she supported the executive team at CTIA, a trade association representing the wireless industry.

Michael Giblin was born and raised in Rhode Island. Michael is a graduate of Portsmouth High School and the University of Rhode Island, where he earned his B.A. in History and M.A. in Political Science.

Michael has been actively involved in Rhode Island politics, having interned with Senator Jack Reed, worked on numerous campaigns, and served as Treasurer of the Young Democrats of Rhode Island. He moved to DC in 2013 to work in the Political Law Group at Perkins Coie, LLP. He now works in Political Affairs for the American Academy of Dermatology.

Michael has been a state society board member since 2014. He is passionate about Rhode Island's history, culture, food, and the Rhode Island Rams basketball team.

Francesca D’Andrea, a native of Cranston, spent the last three years living on the West End and East sides of Providence before moving to Washington, D.C. to complete a graduate degree in Public Administration. 

Prior to moving to D.C., Francesca served her community as an educator through the AmeriCorps program in the International Charter School and at Save The Bay. Continuing her focus on community service, she spent the last three years working as a Case Manager for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities before moving to DC. Currently, she works as a Grant Writer for a national nonprofit consulting firm.

Joining SSRI in 2018, Francesca is excited to foster a sense of community for Rhode Islanders in Washington D.C. in her second term as Secretary of the SSRI Board of Directors.

The 2019-2020 Board of Directors includes:

Andrew Odgren, U.S. Senate

Andrew Cutler, ASIS International 

Andrew DiIorio, Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

Alexandra Kemp, Raytheon 

Rachel Marie Paquin, American University. Rachel serves as Director of SSRI Communications

Amy Pellegrino, U.S. Senate

Michael Rogers, Greenberg Traurig, LLC. 

Chris Simeone, BGR Group

Jason Soules, Leidos

Kristen Helmstetter, Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO

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The State Society of Rhode Island (SSRI) is a 501(c)(3), nonpartisan organization in Washington, D.C., serving as the premier resource for Rhode Islanders who live, work, or study in the nation’s capital.  Our active Board of Directors provides social, community service, cultural, and educational events to our membership, creating networking opportunities and a strong Ocean State community in Washington.

State Society of Rhode Island Announces 2019 Cherry Blossom Princess

The State Society of Rhode Island (SSRI) is pleased to announce that East Providence native, Margaret E. Rogers, will represent the Ocean State as the 2019 Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Princess. The Cherry Blossom Princess Program is a multicultural, educational and professional development program for young women held during the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.

Rogers was selected through the 2019 SSRI Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Princess application process based on her leadership skills, academic achievements, interest in civic and world affairs and commitment to the Ocean State. Rogers attended La Salle Academy and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Boston College. She works as a digital media specialist for the National Public Pension Coalition, a non-profit with a national network of state and local coalition efforts. In her spare time, Margaret volunteers for the Friends of the Soldiers Home, a non-profit that connects citizens with veterans at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in D.C.

"The State Society of Rhode Island is pleased that Margaret Rogers will be our 2019 Cherry Blossom Princess, representing the Ocean State in Washington, D.C. for the National Cherry Blossom Festival,” said Lauren Broccoli, the Chairwoman of the State Society of Rhode Island. “Through her leadership skills, academic achievements and interest in civic and world affairs, specifically her volunteer work with veterans and her professional endeavors at a non-profit, Margaret embodies the core qualities that the program seeks to advance.  "

As the R.I. Cherry Blossom Princess, Rogers will represent the Ocean State throughout the week-long program, which features public and private events that engage with Japanese dignitaries, U.S. lawmakers, government officials and representatives from the international and arts communities. Blackstone Valley Tourism Council will host a crowning ceremony at the R.I. State House on March 29th to honor Margaret.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Rhode Island based businesses interested in helping SSRI support this leadership opportunity at any level through tax deductible corporate sponsorship should also contact SSRI Chairwoman Lauren Broccoli at ristatesociety@gmail.com.  Contributions of any amount are valued and appreciated.  

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The State Society of Rhode Island (SSRI) is a 501(c)(3), nonpartisan organization in Washington, D.C., serving as the premier resource for Rhode Islanders who live, work or study in the nation’s capital.  Our active Board of Directors provides social, community service, cultural and educational events to our membership, creating networking opportunities and a strong Ocean State community in Washington.

SSRI Announces Leadership Opportunity in DC for RI Women: 2019 Cherry Blossom

Are you an ambitious young Rhode Island leader between the ages of 19 and 24 (as of April 1, 2019)? Would you like to represent Rhode Island in Washington in spring 2019 at a leadership and networking program sponsored in part by the Embassy of Japan and several internationally oriented corporations?  Would you like to develop valuable professional relationships and new friendships in a program that has produced two alumnae who are now United States Senators?  Would you like to have a 1 in 55 opportunity to win an all expenses paid trip to Japan for an even more extensive international leadership development experience? If so, we encourage you to apply for selection by the State Society of Rhode Island as the 2019 Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Princess!

The Cherry Blossom Princess Program is a week-long program that offers cultural, educational, and professional development opportunities for young women leaders, ages 19 through 24, from across the United States and around the world. The program takes place each year during the National Cherry Blossom Festival© in Washington, DC and is proudly managed by the National Conference of State Societies.

Young women leaders are selected by a State/Territorial Society or International Embassy to be Cherry Blossom Princesses based on their leadership and academic achievements along with their interest in social, civic, community, and world affairs. As Cherry Blossom Princesses, you will represent your respective state, territory or country in both public and private events held each day across the Washington, DC area and engage with top government, business, arts, and media leaders.

Interested candidates should contact SSRI through our email (RIStateSociety@gmail.com) to receive an application.  All applications should include a current resume.  Students at Rhode Island colleges and graduate schools, young women entrepreneurs across Rhode Island and Rhode Islander women living in Washington, D.C. who satisfy the eligibility criteria are especially encouraged to apply. 

Please help us spread the word at Brown University, Bryant University, Johnson & Wales, Rhode Island College, RISD, Roger Williams University, Salve Regina and the University of Rhode Island, along with the alumni communities for each.  

More information about the National Council on State Societies Cherry Blossom Princess Program is available here!

Sponsorship Opportunities

Rhode Island based businesses interested in helping us support this leadership opportunity at any level through tax deductible corporate sponsorship should also contact us.  Contributions of any amount are valued and appreciated.