Meet the Team
Message from the Executive Director
Southern Rhode Island Volunteers has been a part of my life since I was in elementary school. My first experience with SRIV was to help my grandmother prepare meals for delivery through the Meals on Wheels service. Gram would report to the South Kingstown Senior Center to prepare 6 delivery routes in the South Kingstown and Narragansett communities. I would help her count the meals to make sure everything had been delivered for SRIV’s volunteers to then deliver the food to our senior neighbors in need. Little did I know the impact this would have on my life at that moment in time—I was just hanging out with my gram!
A few years later, in 2002 as a teenager, I trained with my mom, Deb Tanner, who by then had become SRIV’s Executive Director and my grandfather, her dad, to become members of the SRIV Disaster Preparedness Team supporting RI’s Red Cross office. It was that year, that Nick Logothets, RI Red Cross Director of Emergency Services presented me with an award for being the youngest volunteer to step forward in service for the Red Cross. I remember he said that what I did opened the door for others, many other teens began to train in the years after that. That again was a moment that would later impact my thoughts on community service and how people become involved.
When my mom had a short-term health crisis in later years and was on a medical leave for a few months, the only other staff member at SRIV decided they were going to leave and move out of state. The Board of Directors approached me because I had been volunteering for years at SRIV with gram, grandpa and mom. I knew SRIV inside and out and I was a college student looking for a job. I accepted the job as a program director for the volunteer program. Mom finished her recovery and returned to SRIV after a few months. From that point forward, it has been mom’s leadership, my work, the work of our volunteers and the support of our donors that has helped us to become the community asset we are today.
SRIV has not been without its struggles as all have endured banking crises, ups and downs of philanthropy, dissemination of information to educate communities about who and what we are—many if not all small grassroots nonprofits face the same challenges to get the word out and have the community receive information they need to understand what work takes place, and of course in recent years, the pandemic created challenges that I am sure none of us could have ever imagined.
Through it all, challenges turned into opportunities and we have worked tirelessly to support our senior neighbors, our Veterans, our citizen volunteers and heroes, and our communities to do our part to make our South County a great place to live, grow, work and age in. I am inspired and excited to continue this journey and work as the next Executive Director for SRIV. I am also humbled by the great work put forth by not only the wonderful volunteers of this agency, but also by my mom’s dedication to SRIV. I hope to meet the challenges and opportunities that come before me with the same dedication, humility and determination as mom and all who led SRIV before me. Let’s keep this great opportunity called SRIV thriving, an amazing community asset for today, tomorrow and the future! Join me please!
Lindsay
Lindsay Bush - Executive Director
Lindsay graduated from South Kingstown High School in 2009. She attended CCRI, majoring in hospitality. After a brief career in hospitality, Lindsay decided that she wanted to be involved with a career that was more aligned with service to seniors, children and families in need. Lindsay interviewed with the Board of Directors when SRIV found itself in need of a new RSVP Director and having been a volunteer at this agency from the age of 11 years with a broad knowledge of SRIV, the services here and a family history of service, Lindsay joined the team in 2013. Lindsay's volunteer service began when she accompanied her grandmother Tanner to perform Meals on Wheels duties through SRIV. She also became the youngest Red Cross volunteer in 2002, when she joined the Disaster Team with her grandfather, Arthur Fox, Jr. Together, they trained and began to serve the community in times of crisis. SRIV's Board Chair, Dennis Chandler interviewed Lindsay and stated, "She knows who and what SRIV is and does and has grown up in the community she serves. She's a natural choice for SRIV's next RSVP & Programs Director." Lindsay served SRIV well and was promoted by the Board of Directors to Assistant Director a few years into her tenure. Lindsay has continued her education toward a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a nonprofit concentration, she expects to graduate in 2025. She enjoys assisting individuals in meeting their volunteer goals as well as volunteering her own time. She is a member of the Richmond and Pomona Granges. Lindsay's personal interests are varied but definitely include time with her family and her rescue dogs, Shooter and Briar.
Email Lindsay Bush - lbush@southernrivol.org
Debra Tanner - Development Director
A graduate of Chariho High School and Gibbs College, Deb grew up in Charlestown, RI. Deb and her husband lived on the west coast for a short time during his Navy years. Returning home from Washington State, the Tanners settled back into life in RI. They reside in West Kingston in the home where Deb’s father-in-law was born. Deb's career began as a legal secretary in firms in Providence. She moved into the medical field as an administrative assistant to a hospital CEO. As her family grew, Deb took time to devote to and focus on raising her three children. Returning to the workforce in the late 1990s, Deb knew she wanted to follow in her parents’ footsteps of community service work. Deb’s first position upon returning was as the Development Director for a local nonprofit. Then in 2000, after three years of successful event planning, public outreach and fundraising, Deb was approached to take on the role of Executive Director at Southern Rhode Island Volunteers. SRIV was then known as Seniors Helping Others. On October 1, 2000 Deb began her tenure with SHO as only its third Executive Director. Deb was strategic in leading SRIV through many changes, challenges and opportunities over the years. She continues to be passionate, inclusive, collaborative and forward-thinking in the work to be done around aging-in-place and senior needs, in volunteer growth and engagement, providing active opportunities for an aging population and more. Deb credits her dad in teaching her to make her work count, to make a difference and to leave things and people better than you found them. Deb believes deeply in volunteering and making a difference. She’s not just a part-time staff member at SRIV as the past ED, she is also an RSVP volunteer, she is a volunteer for her church and other causes she is passionate about. For many years, she served as a shelter manager for SRIV's team supporting local EMA and RI Red Cross in disasters, she led RI’s team on the ground when we welcomed Hurricane Katrina survivors. Deb finds deep meaning in helping someone through adversity, especially seniors and Veterans. Deb’s deepest hope is that she has done her parents legacy proud and taught her children well. She is extremely proud of her children and they way they each touch other lives to make a difference. She’s over the moon that the Board of Directors chose to promote Lindsay Tanner Bush to Executive Director when she stepped down from that position, heading toward retirement. She continues to contribute to SRIV, time and financial support, as part-time staff and as a volunteer as well as volunteering for other causes. Her greatest joy is anytime she gets to spend with her four grandsons and family, quiet vacations, and peaceful time in the gardens at home with her husband Buz and their horses Rip and Rain!
Email Deb Tanner - dtanner@southernrivol.org
Megan Corey - RSVP Director
Megan at Scarecrows for SK 300th Anniversay event
Megan went to The East Bay Met School in Newport, RI, graduating with certifications, college credits and experience in child care, holistic science and food pantry work. In her senior year she decided to begin studying low income effects on health and families. Since she chose to dig deeper into this topic for her senior project, this led to her getting an internship with The North Kingstown Food Pantry. Stephen Souls mentored her throughout the year and taught her many aspects of food insecurity and how anyone can help towards the cause. Being able to intern at the pantry really opened her eyes to how big of an issue this is worldwide.
Alongside her work with the pantry, she began going to school at CCRI to study nursing. This gave her the opportunity to begin training to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Not only did she learn how to properly care for someone through her classes at Aquidneck Island Learning Center but was able to experience hands on work at The Veterans Home in Bristol and at Heatherwood Care Center in Newport.
Helping people is what Megan is passionate about so being offered a great opportunity at SRIV was a job she knew she couldn’t pass up. Through this work she is able to continue her path to learn and provide proper care to those in need. Megan has been promoted to the Washington County RSVP Director and as such provides coordination of care and support to seniors receiving services through SRIV’s Independent Aging Program or Healthy Futures project of the Washington County RSVP. Megan also recruits, interviews and provides the vetting process for all volunteers at SRIV. If you are looking for service or a volunteer opportunity, you will definitely work with Megan.
In her down time, Megan volunteers assisting seniors in need, spends time with her family, her boyfriend and her beloved kitty, Maisie. Megan is a lifelong resident of South County.
Email Megan Corey - mcorey@southernrivol.org
Board of Directors Profiles (2023-2024)
Mike Gianfrancesco, Chair
Mike describes himself as a hyper-energetic, sensitive businessperson with 50 years of sales and marketing experience in the printing industry. Mike’s experience in the industry includes operating a press, binding books and leading to a Senior VP position in charge of sales, projections, marketing, training and special events. Mike was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for S & A Paramount for 12 years. Mike is the President and owner of Foursight Graphics, LLC. He has extensive experience in fund-raising, nonprofit Board service, and community engagement. Mike continues to serve the community on the Boards of the Academic Decathlon, a passion project for him as well as Southern Rhode Island Volunteers. Mike also is a member of the Association of Fund-Raising Professionals of RI.
In addition to Mike’s successful business career, he is proud of his work for the Meals on Wheels of RI 35th Anniversary Black-Tie Gala, a first for the organization, the 30th birthday celebration for the Women’s Center of RI, his work on many golf tournaments that supported the RI Blood Center, Literacy Volunteers of RI, Meals on Wheels of RI and more. Mike was honored as Philanthropist of the Year in 1994 by Landmark Medical Center, in 2004 by Meals on Wheels of RI, in 2009 by Education Exchange, and in 2019 by The Women’s Fund of RI. Mike brings his experience, expertise, and enthusiasm to Southern Rhode Island Volunteers to make a difference in the lives of seniors and volunteers served by this organization.
Elizabeth Rochin, Vice Chair
Liz is no stranger to service; she is the current President/CEO of a healthcare data analytics non-profit and responsible for the development and execution of strategic planning with the Board of Directors for that organization. She has extensive experience in Board governance, strategic planning, and development. Liz brings to SRIV the perspective of healthcare, which can offer unique insight for the physical, emotional, and social needs for seniors and vulnerable elders. She is passionate about service work including Obstetric and Neonatal Health advocacy. Liz believes in working to make your community a vibrant place to live, work and thrive in.
Liz holds a Ph.D. in Nursing Administration with a research focus on patient engagement and activation within rural communities. She and has been a nurse for 30 years and is an expert in maternal/neonatal data analysis, outcomes, and social determinants of health. In addition, Liz is the Administrative Director for the newly launched Perinatal Neonatal Quality Collaborative of Rhode Island. Liz makes her home in Charlestown with her family and enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons.
Layni Bellavia, Secretary
Layni has been a member of SRIV’s development team for 4 years. She joined SRIV as a high school student eager to make a difference in her community. She is a recent graduate of Narragansett High School. She is enrolled in the pharmacy program at the University of Rhode Island. Her past volunteer experiences including working with special needs children among other causes. Layni enjoys experiencing new opportunities of service, of growth and of education. Layni makes her home in Narragansett with her family while she attends the University.
Arthur Fox, III
Arthur comes to Southern Rhode Island Volunteers with a lifelong history of service to his community. He spent over 45 years serving his community through the Charlestown Rescue Services. He served as an EMT, he helped many during moments of crisis in their lives. He also served in leadership capacities for the organization. He is currently the Facilities Manager for St. Elizabeth’s Home in East Greenwich.
Art makes his home in Charlestown with his wife Melissa. They are the parents of four children and 4 grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with those he loves and occasionally fishing as well.
Gerry Reynolds
Gerry began his volunteer journey at SRIV back in 2002. He came to SRIV to work with kids as a mentor. He has volunteered in our school systems as a mentor, with the Disaster Preparedness Team as a crisis volunteer and with SRIV events team. Gerry spent his career as a Manufacturing Operations Director after earning his Master’s Degree. Gerry and his wife Claudia vacationed in our beautiful Narragansett and soon decided to purchase a condo so their family could enjoy families here in Rhode Island. After retirement, Gerry and Claudia decided to sell their Connecticut home and move to Narragansett full time. They have been in their beloved condo ever since. Gerry enjoys helping out by sitting on the Condo Association Board, he has volunteered with many different causes over the years. His history with SRIV is extremely valuable. During his down time, he and Claudia enjoy their home, their family and their peaceful retirement.
Victoria Vona, Honorary Member
Victoria Vona moved to Richmond with her husband, Michael, in 2000. She is the mother of 4 boys and grandmother of 4 boys. Victoria is the Tax Collector Clerk for the Town of Richmond. She was crowned Mrs. Rhode Island International 2000. Victoria has volunteered her time to diverse community groups and causes over the years. Victoria chairs SRIV’s advisory group.
Jim Transue, Honorary Member
Jim Transue was a reporter and editor for Travel Weekly, a publication for travel agents and travel industry professionals, for many years. He is also a former political reporter and congressional aide. He is a long time volunteer for SRIV and the South County Museum, where he sits on the Board of Directors. He and his cat now live in Saunderstown.
Adam Coutu, Honorary Member
Adam received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Rhode Island in 2002. Adam, a licensed pharmacist now works with the Dept. of Food & Drug Administration. His volunteer efforts have been many over the years. Adam loves his RI community, service to those in need, family and the opportunity to be a voice those in need. Adam was a life-long Rhode Island resident until moving to Washington, DC in 2020. Adam is still active in advising SRIV.
