Stefan Pryor was appointed Rhode Island’s first Secretary of Commerce by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo (D) and confirmed unanimously by the state Senate in 2015. In his role he manages state agencies and offices responsible for economic development, business regulation, housing and workforce development. Pryor and his team have created the first state-backed small business loan program and have launched SupplyRI, which links local suppliers to larger Rhode Island institutions. He served for about five years from 2006 to 2011 as deputy mayor and director of economic housing and development in the City of Newark, N.J.
This interview was edited and slightly condensed in places.