Ted Carr
economicdevelopment@providenceri.gov
Ted has more than 25 years of experience in government relations, economic development, policy, and business development strategy. Most recently, he served as an independent consultant and Senior Vice President for Energyzt Development Partners, a global business advisory firm. In that role he led the firm’s economic development and global client activity, advising domestic and international governments, as well as major global companies. Previously Ted served as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of International Trade & Investment and Chief of Staff for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, where he played a key role in managing agencies responsible for housing and economic development, driving growth and prosperity at the state level. Ted has worked to drive both large-scale business development along with effective MWBE and small-business development programs.
Ted holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, a certificate in International Relations from the University of Salamanca, Spain, and a BA in Political Science with a concentration in Spanish from Cornell College in Iowa.
Jessie Ernster
Jessie Ernster serves as the Small Business Coordinator. As an advocate for the local cornerstones of Providence business, she is dedicated to lifting up small business voices, cultivating accessible community connections, and ensuring Providence’s small businesses are provided with the tools and resources for capacity-driven equitable development and growth. Jessie earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Urban Studies and Bachelor’s of Science in Business for Marketing from the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining the City, Jessie was involved in community engagement as an intern for the City of Brainerd and as the Marketing Assistant for the Lakes Area United Way.
Grace Diaz
Representative Grace Diaz is the MBE/WBE Outreach Director for the Office of Economic Opportunity at the City of Providence. Diaz has represented the people of District 11 in Providence since first being elected in November 2004. She was named the Democratic Caucus Chair in January 2015, which makes her a member of the House Leadership Team. She is a member of both the House Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Rules. She is the chairwoman of the Legislative Commission on Child Care in Rhode Island.Representative Diaz holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Springfield College, which she earned in 2008 and 2010. A native of the Dominican Republic, she graduated from Los Angeles Custodios High School in 1977.
Representative Diaz is also a member of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), Women in Government, National Hispanic State Legislators and the Rhode Island Black and Latino Caucus.
Rep. Diaz has five children: Maria, Gisselle, Ruben, Felix and Cristian, and six grandchildren: Nehemiah, Kariana, Xavier, Anelle, Zoe and Amaih Gracemarie.
Dana Gillson
Dana Gillson (she/her/hers) serves as the Business Research Analyst. Born and raised in Cranston, Rhode Island, Dana is passionate about community development and urban planning in her home state. Dana received her master’s in City and Regional Planning at the University of Oklahoma with a focus in physical planning and historic preservation. She is also a graduate of Mount Holyoke College where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Geology with a focus in Environmental Science.
Address
444 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Contact
Phone: +1 (401) 316-7690
Email: economicdevelopment@providenceri.gov