Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

 

Governor McKee Nominates William Tsonos to the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Board
 

 

PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee announced today his nomination of William Tsonos to serve on the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation board.  

 

“William is a proven and seasoned leader in the banking field who brings a depth of knowledge in business development and management,” said Governor Dan McKee. “I look forward to working with him and the other members of the board to grow Rhode Island’s economy and open pathways to good-paying jobs throughout our state.” 

 

"With his extensive expertise in commercial banking, William will be an invaluable addition to the Commerce Corporation's Board of Directors," said Secretary of Commerce Liz Tanner. "His deep understanding of business operations and financial needs enhances our ability to support Rhode Island businesses and drive economic growth across the state."

 

Tsonos has more than three decades of experience in the banking industry. He is currently the president and CEO of BankRI and is responsible for managing a $3.5 billion bank and more than 200 employees. Tsonos was instrumental in pushing for community initiatives at the bank and was a catalyst in establishing the company's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Before this role, Tsonos was BankRI’s director of commercial banking and oversaw the bank’s commercial loan portfolio, commercial deposits, cash management department as well as the Business Banking sales and underwriting teams.   

 

Prior to his 18 years at BankRI, Tsonos was previously a senior vice president at Citizens Bank in the Middle Market Lending Group. 

 

He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryant University in 1989 and is an active member of the Woonsocket Investment Committee. Tsonos is also the treasurer of The Miriam Hospital Foundation. 

 

“I am honored to be nominated for a position on the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Board and look forward to working with the Governor and the members of the board to continue to have a positive impact on the State’s economy,” said Tsonos. “I take this public service commitment seriously and am happy to use my many years of banking experience for the betterment of the State.” 



Tsonos’ name will be submitted to the Rhode Island Senate for advice and consent.
 

 

The Supreme Court is getting rid of a Trump-era ban on "bump stocks." The court ruled Friday that the firearm accessory that allows semi-automatic rifles to fire more quickly can't be included in a 1934 law banning machine guns. The decision was 6-3 on ideological lines, striking down a regulation imposed during the Trump administration. Despite the ruling, bump stocks remain illegal in 18 states.       The Supreme Court is not yet ruling on Donald Trump's claims of presidential immunity. The court did not make a decision on the consequential case today, but may do so on June 20th when its next opinions are released. The case impacts some of Trump's pending cases, including his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Trump argues he is immune from prosecution because his actions fell under official conduct that should be protected, and was not a private act.       Floridians can expect even more rain today after days of severe weather and flooding. Non-stop rain has drenched parts of the southern half of the state for days now -- including Miami. Governor Ron DeSantis already declared a state of emergency. Thunderstorm activity in the region is expected to subside by the weekend, but forecasters say flash flooding and urban flooding will remain possible through Saturday.       Kate, Princess of Wales, says she is making "good progress" in her treatment for cancer. In a rare statement Friday, the British royal said she is still undergoing chemotherapy and that she has "a few more months" of treatment remaining. She also announced that she will be attending a military parade Saturday to mark King Charles the Third's birthday. This will be her first official public appearance since she revealed she has cancer.       Ukraine is rejecting Russia's demands to bring the war between the two countries to an end. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country would end the war if Ukraine agreed to certain conditions. Those include Kyiv [[ KEEV ]] dropping its ambitions to join NATO, pulling out troops from four Ukrainian provinces claimed by Moscow. The proposal from Russia came just a day after the U.S. and Ukraine agreed to a new ten-year security agreement.       The USA cricket team is continuing to make history. The team has advanced to the next stage of the men's T20 Cricket World Cup after its match against Ireland was rained out in Florida Friday. The point earned by the USA due to the game being called off meant the team qualified for the Super Eight stage of the tournament. The USA will now be placed in a group of four of the final eight teams, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semifinal round.       

Old News Archives