MEET OUR TEAM
Board of Commissioners
RIHousing is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners. RIHousing’s Board provides overall policy direction in governing business activities, as well as providing oversight, strong fiscal management and setting long-term goals for meeting Rhode Island’s housing needs. The Board’s commitment of time and energy contributes to an improved quality of life for thousands of Rhode Islanders.
Chairwoman
Deborah J. Goddard
Secretary, Department of Housing (ex officio)
Jonathan Womer
Director, Department of Administration (ex officio)
Elizabeth Dwyer
Director, Department of Business Regulation (ex officio)
James A. Diossa
General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island (ex officio)
Stephen McAllister
Vice President, Eastern Region US Chamber of Commerce
Kevin Orth
Manager, Atlantic American Partners
Maria Barry
Community Development Banking National Executive, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Executive Director
Carol Ventura
Carol Ventura was named Executive Director of RIHousing in September 2019. She has 30 years of experience in expanding access to housing, building livable communities and leading economic development efforts.
Learn more about our Executive Director
Carol led the finance group to successfully initiate and complete more than $284M in multi and single-family bonding with social and sustainable designations for the agency and led the agency 5-year strategic plan process, resulting in the creation of innovative programs targeted at controlling costs, increasing production and access, and improving agency and program performance.
Carol is a part of the LISC LAC Board, Commissioner for the Housing Resources Commission (HRC) and she serves on the NCSHA Homeownership Task Force, as well as a Trustee on the Providence Foundation Board. Carol received a Master of Business Administration from Bryant University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Bryant College.
Deputy Executive Director
James Comer
Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer
Christine Hunsinger
Chief Financial Officer
Kara Lachapelle
Chief Administrative Officer
Brett Pelletier
President of Proactive Development
Benjamin Frost
General Counsel
Corinne Myers
Assistant Deputy Director
of Loan Servicing
Leslie McKnight
Director of Homeownership
Peter Pagonis
Director of Real
Estate Development
Anne Berman
Director of Leased Housing
& Rental Services
Michael DiChiaro
Director of Gov. Relations & Policy
Amy Rainone
Director of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships
Elizabeth Bioteau
Director of Finance
Bernadette MacArthur
Director of Accounting
Nelia Kruger
Director of Human Resources
Whitley Werts
JOIN OUR TEAM!
As a leading employer in our state, RIHousing offers competitive compensation and benefits package designed to support the health, wellness and financial security of our employees and their families.
