PROVIDENCE, RI – The following individuals will be special guests of Governor Dan McKee for tonight's State of the State Address:

Melrose Elementary School Principal Beth Roman and students Paul Smith and Opal Donalson: Principal Roman is in her fourth year as the principal of Melrose Elementary School in Jamestown. She will be accompanied tonight by fourth-grade students, Paul Smith and Opal Donalson. Paul and Opal prioritize attending school every day and love to learn. Last year, Paul and Opal’s third-grade class achieved 100 percent proficiency in math on the RICAS test. Melrose Elementary also had the lowest chronic absenteeism rate of any school in the state.

As principal, Beth's mission is to partner with educational professionals, community partners, and Jamestown families to build an engaging and positive community where students feel supported to grow and reach new academic challenges every year. Some say it takes a village, but in Jamestown, they say, “it takes an island.”

Asa Messer Elementary School Principal Cassandra Henderson and student Ruth Borchers: Principal Henderson has been a driving force behind Asa Messer Elementary School’s remarkable academic progress, leading the school to increase from a one-star to a three-star rating and improving RICAS test scores by 7.6% in both Math and ELA. Since becoming principal, she has fostered a culture of collaboration, high expectations, and student-centered learning. Under her leadership, the school has focused on academic growth, equity, and building strong family partnerships. Her dedication to creating a supportive and engaging environment for both students and staff has been instrumental in the school’s success. Principal Henderson’s commitment to excellence continues to inspire the Asa Messer community. She will be joined tonight by fourth-grade student Ruth Borchers, who has perfect attendance this year and exceeded expectations on her RICAS Math and English Language Arts scores.

Miguel Hoyos, Rhode Island College (RIC) Hope Scholarship Recipient: Miguel is a junior studying Economics and Global Studies at Rhode Island College. He’s a RIC ambassador, RA, and class treasurer. The Hope scholarship is now covering the cost of Miguel's last two years of tuition, greatly reducing the debt he will have upon graduation. After graduation, Miguel hopes to attend graduate school to perform economic research and analysis. He hopes to use these experiences to make a positive impact on the world through advocacy and policy implementation.

Stacy Carrion, RI Reconnect client: A mother of three, Stacy is a student at CCRI, working on her nursing degree with the goal of becoming an RN. She is a participant in the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner’s Rhode Island Reconnect program, which helps Rhode Islanders return to school or get the job training they need. She will be joined by her daughter, Iyleena, at tonight’s State of the State.

Cathy Schultz, Executive Director of the Governor’s Overdose Task Force: Cathy is the first Executive Director of the Governor’s Overdose Task Force. She previously served as a Project Manager in the Drug Overdose Prevention Program with the Rhode Island Department of Health. Schultz has also served as the Project Manager and Overdose Prevention Specialist at the West Warwick and Woonsocket Health Equity Zones, a mobile outreach worker for Anchor Recovery Community Center, a Crisis Intervention Counselor at AdCare, and a Housing Stabilization Case Manager at the House of Hope. In addition, Cathy has several years of experience as a certified peer recovery specialist and statewide Narcan trainer and distributor.

Michelle Wilcox, Executive Director and CEO of Crossroads Rhode Island; Laura Jaworski, Executive Director of House of Hope; and Russ Partridge, Executive Director of the WARM Center: Michelle, Laura, and Russ are three Rhode Island leaders in the effort to shelter and support persons experiencing homelessness in the Ocean State. Crossroads is currently constructing permanent, supportive apartments at 94 Summer Street in Providence which will house 176 formerly homeless Rhode Islanders. House of Hope is the State’s partner on the Providence-based pallet shelter pilot, which will add 45 beds to Rhode Island’s available year-round shelter. The WARM Center not only serves individuals in the Westerly area but also serves as a pop-up hub when winter temperatures present dangerous outdoor conditions.

Christian Belden, Executive Director of the Church Community Housing Corporation: Christian serves as the Executive Director of Church Community Housing Corporation, a nonprofit real estate development organization based in Newport. Since its founding in 1969, the corporation has developed more than 1,000 affordable housing units across Newport County. Christian's work spans both real estate and community development, with a focus on properties that prioritize environmental sustainability and social responsibility. In response to the ongoing housing crisis, Christian's team has delivered 59 affordable housing units in the past 18 months, with 54 additional units currently under construction and over 300 more in the development pipeline. Christian is the developer behind the Ade Bethune House in Portsmouth.

Jim Fleming, University of Rhode Island (URI) Football Coach: Coach Fleming led the URI football team to its first CAA football title. He also led the Rams to a program-record 11 wins this year, the most in 129 seasons of URI football. Coach Fleming was named the New England Football Writers' Association Division I Coach of the Year after his team reached the second round of the FCS Playoffs, the school’s first postseason appearance in 39 years. Under his leadership, the state university’s football team has recorded five straight winning seasons for the first time in school history.  

Khano Smith, Rhode Island FC (RIFC) Head Coach: Khano Smith is the Head Coach and General Manager of Rhode Island Football Club. Coach Smith guided RIFC to the USL Championship Final after winning the Eastern Conference Championship in the club’s inaugural season. This year, RIFC will host their home matches at the brand-new stadium at Tidewater Landing in Pawtucket. Coach Smith is a former professional soccer player, having played for the New England Revolution (MLS) and earned 33 international caps while representing his home country of Bermuda. 

Coach Lalo Marcano and members of the Cranston Western Little League Softball Team: Gerardo “Lalo” Marcano has been volunteering as a youth softball coach since 2017, when his daughter, Isabella, began playing in Cranston. Over the years, Lalo has guided several talented athletes to multiple state championships. Most recently, he coached the Cranston Western Little League Softball Team that won the state championship, claimed the regional title, and advanced to the World Series in Greenville, North Carolina last summer. Lalo resides in Cranston with his wife Michelle and will be joined tonight by his daughter Isabella Marcano, an 8th grader at Western Hills Middle School in Cranston, and Laila Murphy, a 6th grader at Hope Highlands School in Cranston. Laila, the youngest player on the 2024 Cranston West World Series team, is the daughter of Joseph and Laurel Murphy of Cranston. 

Erik D. Smith, President & CEO of Saab: Erik is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Saab, Inc., a leading defense and security company that delivers cutting-edge technology and mission-critical solutions, including world-class autonomous and unmanned underwater vehicles and anti-submarine warfare training targets, to the U.S. Armed Forces. Under Erik’s leadership, Saab, Inc. established its Autonomous and Undersea Systems division in Cranston in 2022 and recently announced a new production facility in Bristol, creating more than 40 new jobs in the area. Erik is a proud Roger Williams University graduate, and his wife Leslie is a native Rhode Islander and graduate of Portsmouth High School. 

Billy Thalheimer, Co-Founder/CEO of REGENT: Billy is the co-founder and CEO of REGENT, the developer and manufacturer of all-electric seagliders. Since establishing REGENT's headquarters in Rhode Island in 2022, Billy has overseen the largest venture capital raise for a startup in state history, created more than 100 well-paying jobs, and accumulated a commercial backlog of seaglider orders worth more than $9 billion. Billy is passionate about bringing jobs and innovation to Rhode Island and making the Ocean State the epicenter of the Blue Economy.

Joseph Brito, Jr., President/CEO of C.B. Utility Co., Inc. & C. Brito Construction Co., Inc.: Entrepreneur, philanthropist, mentor, and lifelong Bristol resident, Joseph M. Brito, Jr. is the President and CEO of C.B. Utility Co., Inc. & C. Brito Construction Co., Inc. He is also engaged in in the commercial real estate sector as President and CEO of Tupelo Realty Co. and Unity Park, LLC. As a recipient of Preserve Rhode Island’s Rhody Award in 2023, he was recognized for turning around an industrial site in the heart of Bristol into a vibrant mixed-use commercial center, now known as Unity Park. The project represents a marriage of historic preservation and economic development. What was once a problem for the town is now a destination-filled with restaurants and bars, “Blue Economy” businesses, offices, and manufacturing.

Lee Peyser, Founder/CEO of Peyser Real Estate Group: Lee Peyser is an accomplished executive with over 35 years of experience. In 2007 he created a private real estate fund and eventually moved into community-oriented real estate development. In 2019, Lee founded Peyser Real Estate Group and is the co-sponsor and developer of Dexter Street Commons, which recently broke ground in the City of Pawtucket. This project is a mixed-use, transit-oriented, residential, and retail development.