Staff + Leadership
We are Rhode Island’s premier culinary incubator, ranking in the top 10% in the country. Since firing up the kitchens for the first time in October 2014, our team has helped launch over 400 food and beverage-related businesses, with numerous graduates now operating out of their own spaces.
Our staff, Board, consultants and contributors are a comprehensive resource to our members, offering a wealth of industry, entrepreneurial and technical expertise, allowing us to meet individual needs for each business work with.
The People Helping to Make Food Your Business
Luca Carnevale
Executive Director
Mike Mowry
Director for Member Success
Alison Mountford
Director of Marketing & Communications
Martha Perez-Barton
Director of Incubation
Waterman Brown
Business Development & Chief Taster
Herman “Dutch” deKoe
Research & Special Projects
Meri Spicer
Entrepreneurship Program Manager
Gerry Furtado
Contract Manufacturing Manager
Shelby Doggett
Director of Food Systems Equity
Sydney Monstream-Quas
Advancement Officer
Paul Estrella
Facilities Director
Jebeth Rubio
Event & Membership Coordinator
Christopher Franciscus
Contract Manufacturing Supervisor
Benny Barber
Executive Incubation Chef
John Domaleski
Director of Finance
Melanie Espaillat
MBE/ WBE Certification & Business Support Specialist
Jealani Laughlin
Merchandizing Manager & Catering Coordinator
Lisa Raiola, MPH | CHAIR
President & Founder, Hope & Main
Lisa has more than has more than 30 years of experience in program development and advancement at non-profit organizations in healthcare and higher education with a special focus on distributive justice, social responsibility and economic development. Recently retired as the VP for Advancement at Roger Williams University. Previously, Lisa was a Clinical Assistant Professor for Community Health and Medical Ethics at the Brown University School of Medicine where she developed and instructed courses in public health research; health promotion and disease prevention; food security and food justice; healthcare financing and system reform; and health disparity and the burden of disease.
Board of Directors
Lisa J. Raiola, MPH | PRESIDENT
Founder and President, Hope & Main
Lisa Bergeron | SECRETARY
Founder and Co-Creator, Advancing Workplace Excellence
Inna Walker | TREASURER
Treasurer, Relationship Manager, Berkshire Bank
Kyle Adamonis, SHRM-CP PHR
Executive Director of Human Resources, State of Rhode Island
Lanre Ajakaiye
Founder, 25 Bough Street, Chief Advancement Office, United Way of RI
Kenneth Banalewicz
Specialty Food/Produce Buyer, Dave’s Marketplace
William Bigelow
Chief Growth Officer, Blount Fine Foods
Tino Chow
President & Founder, Giant Shoulders
Michael Goldberg, Esq., M.
Goldberg Law LLC
Rosamond Lu
Partner, First Cambridge Capital
Maureen Maloney
Founder, Sacred Cow Granola
Hope & Main Providence Board of Directors
Lisa J. Raiola, MPH | PRESIDENT
Founder and President, Hope & Main
Luca Carnevale | SECRETARY
President & CEO, RI Food Dealers Association
Scott Bromberg
President & CEO, RI Food Dealers Association
Chef Sanjiv Dhar
President, India House Inc
Neil Veloso
Executive Director, Brown Technology Innovations
Juan Wilson, Jr.
Founder/ Executive Director, The MUSE Foundation of Rhode Island
Doris De Los Santos
Supplier Diversity Program Manager, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI