The RI State Labor Relations Board

Thomas A. Hanley, Administrator

Walter J. Lanni (Representing Management), Chairman

Walter J. Lanni was appointed to the Board as a member representing Management, by Governor Lincoln C. Almond, effective January 24, 2000. On March 20, 2000, Mr. Lanni was appointed by Governor Almond to serve as the Board’s Chairman, a position which he continues to occupy.

Mr. Lanni began his career in the public sector as a Cranston Fire Fighter in 1971, starting as a Hoseman and working his way through the ranks of the Fire Department to become Chief in 1997; a position he held until his retirement in 2000. Mr. Lanni served on several Boards throughout his career, beginning in 1973 as an Executive Board Member of Local 1363, a position that Mr. Lanni held for 23 years. Mr. Lanni also served on the Safety Services Committee for the City of Cranston from 1996-1999 and on the City of Cranston’s Site Planning Review Committee from 1996-1999.

Scott G. Duhamel (Representing Labor)

Scott G. Duhamel was appointed to the Board as a member representing Labor, by Governor Lincoln D. Chafee, effective May 8, 2013.

Mr. Duhamel joined the International Union of Painter’s and Allied Trades, District Council 11, Local 195, in 1985. In 2003, Mr. Duhamel was appointed as an Organizer in the International Union of Painter’s and Allied Trades, as well as becoming the Union’s Business Representative in 2006. Most recently, Mr. Duhamel was appointed to the position of Political Director of the Eastern Region for the International Union of Painter’s and Allied Trades, effective April 2015. Mr. Duhamel currently holds the positions of: Vice-President of the District Council; Trustee on the Local 195 Health Fund and the District Council Labor Management

Cooperative Fund; serves as the  Secretary-Treasurer of the RI Building and Construction Trades Council since 2009; member of the AFL-CIO Executive Board since 2007, member of the Building Futures Advisory Council since 2007; Fund-raising Chair of RI Jobs with Justice since 2008; Board member of RI Blue Cross Blue Shield since 2011; Board member on the RI State Council on the Arts since 2013; as well as a member of the Build RI Executive Committee since 2008. 

Mr. Duhamel graduated from Rhode Island College in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.

Aronda R. Kirby (Representing the Public Generally)

Aronda R. Kirby was appointed to the Board as a member representing the Public Generally by Governor Gina M. Raimondo, effective May 28, 2015.

Ms. Kirby comes to the LRB with an extensive background in Business and Information Technology, having thirty (30) years experience working for and consulting with companies to design, develop and deliver computer systems to meet a variety of business needs. In addition, Aronda has been active in the community, including recently serving on several of Mayor Elorza’s transition committees, fund-raising event committees for the Women’s Fund of RI, a 2013 Fellow of The Women’s Fund Policy Institute, co-founder and board member of The Play It Forward Sport Foundation, Inc., member of the North Smithfield Budget Committee and NS Youth Soccer Board, Vice President of the PCD Parent Council and Athletic Boosters.

Aronda has also spent fifteen (15) years in hockey operations and for the last three (3) years served as the General Manager and Director of hockey operations for the Boston Blades, the only women’s pro hockey team in the US, garnering two (2) Clarkson Cup championships for the franchise in that time.

Kenneth B. Chiavarini (Representing Management - Local Government)

Kenneth B. Chiavarini was appointed to the Board as a member representing Management/Local Government, by Governor Gina M. Raimondo, effective June 15, 2017. 

Attorney Chiavarini has been with the City of Providence Solicitor’s Office since 1999, and is the City’s primary legal counsel for labor and employment matters. Attorney Chiavarini has extensive experience in drafting and reviewing collective bargaining agreements, and has represented the City of Providence in countless labor arbitrations and employment matters. While his primary agency focuses are the City of Providence Retirement and Worker’s Compensation Boards, he provides the benefit of his expertise to many City entities, including the City of Providence Departments of Public Safety, Human Resources, and School Department. Attorney Chiavarini also advises the City of Providence Board of Canvassers and oversees municipal elections, responding to inquiries concerning possible improprieties.

Attorney Chiavarini attended the University of Rhode Island and New England School of Law. 

Lawrence E. Purtill (Representing Labor)

Lawrence E. Purtill was appointed to the Board as a member representing Labor, by Governor Daniel McKee, effective May 4, 2023.

Mr. Purtill began his career in 1977 as an educator with the Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District, where he remained until 1999. In 1986, Mr. Purtill became the Vice-President of the National Education Association Rhode Island, a position he held through 1999 when he was elected to the position of President National Education Association Rhode Island. Mr. Purtill held the position of President until his retirement in January 2023.

Mr. Purtill is an Executive Committee member of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, a member of the Rhode Island Board of Education, Postsecondary Council, President of the NEARI Children's Fund, a member of the Providence Performing Arts Center Board of Directors, and is also a member of the NEARI Retired Executive Board. He is also a past member of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO Executive Committee, he held the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the Rhode Island Institute of Labor Studies and Research, and was a member of the Clean Water Action Political Action Committee. Mr. Purtill was inducted as a Member of the Rhode Island Labor History Hall of Fame, and received the Rhode Island Institute of Labor Studies and Research Eagle Award.  

Mr. Purtill attended Fitchburg State University, where he received his Bachelor's Degree, and attended Providence College for additional Graduate Level Courses.

Harry F. Winthrop (Representing Management)

Harry Winthrop was appointed to the Board as a member representing Management, by Governor Gina Raimondo, effective June 3, 2020.

Mr. Winthrop began his career in 1974 with Electric Boat – General Dynamics Corporation, eventually becoming the Director of Planning in 1999. In 2007 Mr. Winthrop went to work for Apollo Professional Solutions as a Defense Industry Consultant responsible for the development of a 20 years facilities master plan for the Electric Boat Manufacturing Facility at Quonset Point, RI. In the early 1990’s Mr. Winthrop decided to become active in local politics and was elected to the Newport City Council for several terms, eventually becoming Mayor of Newport, RI from 2012 to 2014 and again from 2017 to 2018.

Mr. Winthrop is a Member and past President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Member of the Newport Rugby Club, sits on the Board of Directors for the Newport Museum of Irish History and St. Clares Home in Newport, and is a past Board Member for New Visions for Newport County from 1990-1994. Additionally, Mr. Winthrop previously sat as a confirmed Board Member on the RI State Labor Relations Board, as the Member Representing Management – Local Government until his resignation in 2017 after being elected Mayor of Newport, RI.

Mr. Winthrop graduated from Rhode Island College in 1985 with a Bachelor of General Studies with a concentration in Industrial Technology.  

Stan Israel (Representing Labor)

Stan Israel was appointed to the Board as a member representing Labor, by Governor Gina M. Raimondo, effective June 3, 2020.

Mr. Israel began his career in the Labor movement in 1974, as an Organizer of hospital workers, with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 1199 in the State of New York. Following numerous successful organizing drives, Stan began negotiating contracts, handling grievances, and conducting Union business for bargaining units in hospitals and nursing homes throughout the Queens and Long Island areas. In 1982, Mr. Israel left New York and went to work for the New England Health Care Employees Union (NEHCEU) in Hartford, Connecticut, as an elected Organizer, servicing hospital and nursing home contracts. In 1984, Stan relocated to Rhode Island to manage the NEHCEU in Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts; holding the positions of Area Director and Vice President. In 2005, Mr. Israel was elected Executive Vice President of the New England Health Care Employees Union, Local 1199 S.E.I.U; and has also held the positions of President of the SEIU State Council in Rhode Island, Executive Board member of the R.I. AFL-CIO in Rhode Island, and Trustee of the New England Health Care Employees Pension Fund and Welfare Fund.

Upon retirement from the Union in 2011, Mr. Israel was appointed to the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority Board and remains a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Board.

Mr. Israel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from S.U.N.Y., Wesbury, New York,, in American Studies and Labor History. Stan is a Vietnam Veteran serving from 1965 through 1967. Stan is married with two (2) children and three (3) grandchildren.