Chris Semonelli
Vice President of Sales & Marketing at ESquared, and is the President of Coated Technical Solutions
Chris holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University and MBA from Pepperdine University. He has been involved with Technical Textiles for over 40 years also, holding previous positions at Cooley Incorporated and Intertape Polymer group.
He is currently the chair of the IFAI Advanced Textiles Products (ATP) group, a member of the Rhode Island Textiles Innovation Network (RITIN), and on the board of education program, FabNewport in Newport Rhode Island.
He was a member of the ambassador design team, developed by Rhode Island Education Council on Elementary and Secondary Education which developed and wrote the next strategic plan for elementary and secondary education in Rhode Island. He has been involved in various volunteer activities for many years to enhance the educational and career opportunities available to middle and high students in the Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math ( STEAM) environment.
Recently he has changed course and directed his efforts to help those in the disabled community, and as a result, today he is the Vice-Chair of the Rhode Island disability Council, Chair of the Rhode Island Force advocacy group for the disabled, and Director of the Newport County Parents Disabled Advocacy Group.
Christopher Semonelli was the 2019 recipient of The Newport Daily News Community Service Award for Educational Outreach.
Joanna Scocchi
State Office Director The Arc Rhode Island
Founder & Executive Director Rhode Island Advocacy for Children
Joanna Scocchi began the nonprofit Rhode Island Advocacy for Children in late 2014. With drive and passion, Joanna vowed that no family would go through what she had to endure in trying to get help for her son. She has been advocating for her child, as well as many other children and families in public and private schools in Rhode Island. Joanna’s life experience, her determination, and her knowledge that all children could be successful with a fair and appropriate education have led her to where she is today. Her career has ranged from working as a Paralegal, a State-Certified Arbitrator, and at age 26, she launched her first of two successful companies. Former President of Middlesex Chapter of New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, a Board Member of the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Hospital Foundation, a Vice President of the Regional Business Chamber of Commerce, and many other charitable organizations that she assisted in accomplishing their missions.
Joanna was Past President of Decoding Dyslexia Rhode Island and worked closely with Legislators in 2016 to enact the new Dyslexia law in RI, requiring screening, identification, remediation, and teacher training. She is a Member of the RI Special Legislative Commission to Assess & Make Recommendations on the Educational Needs of Children with Dyslexia and/or other Reading Disabilities, and a Board Member of East Bay Communication Action Program (EBCAP) in the East Bay of Rhode Island. Joanna attended William and Mary Law School’s Special Education Advocacy Program in 2015. She continues to work vigorously to bring awareness to the many struggles parents of children with special needs/profound disabilities face in our schools and in the community at large.
Ken Renaud
State Office Associate Director The Arc Rhode Island
Ken is a passionate advocate who dedicates his personal goals and professional career to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and families. He has over 45 years of experience in Human Service, Advocacy and Policy Administration. For the past 18 years, he established a consulting company, IN2U Relationships LLC, providing expertise in Person-Centered Planning, Building Healthy Relationships, Sexuality Education, Anti-Bullying Awareness, Professional Development, and Strategic Planning to schools, non-profits, and community organizations. As a certified Sexuality Educator through Planned Parenthood and the state of Massachusetts Ken has increased the capacity of students with disabilities, school staff, families, and administrators to lead the way for person-centered service delivery and to create more inclusive futures. He was Project Director for the ACT Collaboration through the U.S. Department Of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women with Disabilities, and established one of the 5 initial national Rainbow Groups in Rhode Island for individuals with disabilities who identify as LGBTQ+. Ken is now Associate Director of The Arc Rhode Island, a leader in culture change for disability rights.