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Program Organizers
Who We Are
Erin Donovan-Boyle
Executive Director
Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce
Erin Donovan-Boyle has been the Executive Director of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce since 2015. There, she has led the re-positioning of the organization to encompass a robust organization providing quality programming and events for members and regular advocacy for the broader business community, as well as the development of a regional economic development division focusing on business outreach, retention and attraction strategies for the region, and an entrepreneurship and innovation arm leading projects to further develop the regional ecosystem.
Mollie Frazer Williams
Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce
As Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Mollie supports the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region by creating strategic partnerships and dynamic and innovative programming. Mollie oversees entrepreneurship programming implementation, community engagement, and networking opportunities at Innovate Newport, a coworking space in downtown Newport, RI.
Mollie is also developing an International Innovation series, which will focus on relationships and shared experiences of entrepreneurs and startups in our partner cities. The goal of the series is to broaden local entrepreneurs’ horizons through international business opportunities by creating networks of potential international partners, customers, mentors, funding sources, and key government contacts in these areas.
Avi Nevel
Founder, President and CEO Founder
Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative (RIIC)
Avi Nevel is an entrepreneurial senior executive with more than 25 years of broad international business experience. He is skilled in strategic planning, business origination, management and expansion; and international sales and marketing. Mr. Nevel currently serves as President and CEO of Nevel International, a Providence-based international consulting firm, which he founded in 2006. He is also the President and CEO of the Rhode Island Israel Collaborative, RIIC, a non for profit Chamber of Commerce, which he founded in 2016.
Prior to founding Nevel International, Mr. Nevel served as Co-owner, CEO, and President of Lawson-Hemphill, a manufacturer of precision instruments and quality control laboratory equipment for the textiles industry. His company’s products were sold worldwide.
Hai Vahnish
Head of HUBASHDOD
Hai Vahnish is the director and founder of HUBASHDOD which is the open space for technological entrepreneurship of the Ashdod Youth Center. The place was established to promote the ecosystem in the city and to be a significant part of the ecosystem by providing work space, and by running programs to support local startups.
As part of the activity in the city of Hai takes part in the board responsible for planning the future layout of the city by 2040. In addition he takes part in the steering committee of the mayor's vision. In recent years, Hai has served as head of IDF conscription in the education system in Ashdod, and has promoted the issue of military service in combat units and high-tech units in cooperation with the army, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Education. Hai holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and economics, and a master’s degree in organizational analysis
