Foundation Staff

Our staff is passionate about Providence's success and seeks smart, creative solutions to our city's broadest challenges. 

The Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy (DPPC) is a program of The Providence Foundation, and leads many of its public space initiatives.

As Executive Director of The Providence Foundation, Cliff Wood manages the Foundation's work and advocates on its behalf. He is a former City Council member, with a long history of working with public and private entities to activate Downtown Providence and help rebuild its historic urban core.

Cliff Wood
Executive Director

Linda Pascoa has been with The Providence Foundation for many years, overseeing all administrative functions. Through her years working in Downtown Providence, she has enjoyed seeing its transformation to a more vibrant and colorful space.

Linda Pascoa
Executive Assistant

As our Project Coordinator, Kat Boots researches and coordinates different projects and programs for the DPPC. She is dedicated to preserving, sharing, and integrating the history of our beautiful city into the work we do in Greater Kennedy Plaza.
As Assistant Director, Nick assists in building upon the Foundation’s key projects, implementing the annual strategic plan, and managing the efforts of the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy. He is a lifelong Providence resident with a passion for downtown who brings a background in policy analysis, public finance, and nonprofit management.

Nick Freeman
Assistant Director

As Digital Marketing Specialist, Kristin Crane is responsible for communications and marketing for The Providence Foundation and the DPPC, and is the voice of our social media accounts. Kristin has been a part of the downtown community since 2009, working with businesses such as Craftland and Cornish Associates.

Kristin Crane
Digital Marketing Specialist

Joelle Kanter, AICP, manages the Downcity Fund program for The Providence Foundation. Her projects include the development of a vehicular wayfinding system, creation of downtown maps & guides, and the organization of downtown living tours. As a volunteer, she has coordinated the Jane’s Walk festival in Providence for several years, and has been involved in several other local organizations.

Joelle Kanter
Program Manager

As Program Director for DPPC, Jen Smith brings high quality arts, cultural, educational, and recreational programming to public audiences. She builds partnerships and fosters positive uses of community space. She has been involved in efforts to revitalize Greater Kennedy Plaza and downtown Providence since 2010.

Jen Smith
Program Director, DPPC

Kat Boots
Project Manager, DPPC

 

Executive Committee

Russell Carey
Executive VP for Planning & Policy, Brown University
Chair

Kristin Fraser
Managing Partner, KPMG
Vice-chair

Chris Marsella
President, Marsella Development Corporation
Treasurer

Jennifer Bramley
VP Government & Public Affairs at Cox Communications
Secretary

Roman Bejger
Providence Equity

Frederick Butler
Former Foundation Chair

Arnold Chace, Jr.
Cornish Associates

Ethan Colaiace
GTECH Corporation

Angus Davis
Upserve

Brad Dimeo
Dimeo Construction Company

Stephen Durkee
Cornish Associates, LP

Joseph Greene
Johnson & Wales University

Janet Hasson
Providence Journal

William F. Hatfield
Bank of America

Richard Lappin
Regency Plaza/Chestnut Hill Realty

Charles Meyers
MetroPark, Ltd.

Joseph R. Paolino, Jr
Paolino Properties

Todd Turcotte
Turcotte Consulting

Melvin Veasley
CNA