Our Team

Making food our business since 2014

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 of Operations

Email Luca

Mike Mowry

Director of Member Success

Email Mike

Alison Mountford

Director of Marketing & Communications

Email Alison

Martha Perez-Barton

Director of Incubation

Email Martha

Waterman Brown

Business Development & Chief Taster

Email Waterman

Herman “Dutch” deKoe

Research & Special Projects

Meri Spicer

Entrepreneurship Program Manager

Email Meri

Gerry Furtado

Contract Manufacturing Manager

Email Gerry

Shelby Doggett

Food Systems Equity Coordinator

Email Shelby

Sydney Monstream-Quas

Advancement Officer

Email Sydney

Marilyn Mathison

Bookkeeping

Email Marilyn

Doris De Los Santos

Business Empowerment

Email Doris

Christopher Franciscus

Contract Manufacturing Supervisor

Email Chris

Paul Estrella

Facilities Director

Email Paul

Lisa Raiola, MPH
Founder & President
lisa@makefoodyourbusiness.org

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 Raiola, MPH | CHAIR
President & Founder, Hope & Main

Lisa Bergeron | SECRETARY
Founder and Co-Creator, Advancing Workplace Excellence

Ellen Almeida | TREASURER
Director of Finance, ReFocus Inc.

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

Melba Depena Affigne
Vice President, Skills for RI Future

Tony Fonseca
Co-owner/Operator, Packaging & More

Michael Goldberg, Esq., M.
Goldberg Law LLC

Rosamond Lu
Partner, First Cambridge Capital

Maureen Maloney
Founder, Sacred Cow Granola

Lori Pivarnik, Ph.D
Coordinator, NFS Food Safety Outreach/Research / Professor, URI

Inna Walker
Relationship Manager, Berkshire Bank

Consultants & Contributors

Amos House Culinary Training Program
Charles Gioglio | HACCP/Process Consulting
Conservation Law Foundation | Legal Food Hub
Discover Newport
Discover Warren
Farm Fresh Rhode Island
John Perez | Efficiencies Consulting
John Robitaille | Entrepreneurship & Marketing Coach
Newport Chamber of Commerce
ReFocus, Inc.
Relish Rhody
Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
Rhode Island Food Dealers Association
Rhode Island Foundation
Rhode Island Hospitality Association
Roger Williams University | Legal Clinic
State of Rhode Island Department of Health
The Compost Plant
Todd Blount | Blount Fine Foods
United States Department of Agriculture
University of Wisconsin
WhatsGood / Crave Food Services