Join Rhode Island’s HR community for an evening designed to inspire, connect, and empower the next generation of leaders. The RI SHRM Emerging Leaders Event brings together HR professionals, students, and community partners to explore career pathways, share lived experiences, and strengthen the bridge between academic preparation and professional success.
This year’s program features a moderated panel discussion highlighting HR professionals at different stages in their careers—each offering valuable insights into leadership, growth, and navigating today’s evolving workplace. Participants will also learn about RI SHRM’s Mentorship Program and gain practical tools to build effective mentor–mentee relationships rooted in intentional goal setting and continuous learning.
Whether you’re a student preparing to launch your career or an HR professional looking to give back through mentorship, this event offers meaningful conversation, actionable advice, and connections that last well beyond the evening.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this program, participants will be able to:
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Identify key competencies and career pathways within the HR profession by learning from practitioners at multiple career stages.
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Apply mentorship best practices—including goal setting, communication, and accountability—to foster productive mentor–mentee relationships.
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Develop at least one SMART professional development goal aligned with personal career aspirations or leadership growth.
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Recognize the value of mentorship in career advancement and the role it plays in building inclusive, supportive professional networks.
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Connect with RI SHRM’s Mentoring Program and other opportunities for ongoing engagement, volunteerism, and professional development.
MEET OUR MODERATOR:
Aldrec Viera Dones, SHRM-CP, CLMS
Leave Benefit Coordinator | Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Aldrec Viera Dones is a Leave Benefit Coordinator at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where he counsels and administers leave of absences for the Executive Branch’s 47,000 employees. This includes interpreting and applying collective bargaining agreements, Executive Department policies, federal/state regulations and laws, and partnering with agency-level HR service teams to ensure employees receive assistance with matters adjacent to leave of absence requests.
Prior to entering the public sector, Aldrec supported a multi-state workforce at Environmental Systems, Inc. (ESI) as the Human Resources Coordinator. At ESI, he managed end-to-end leave administration, ADA accommodations, and group benefit operations while strengthening data processes during a major HRIS transition. He also served as a First Notice of Loss Representative at Amica Mutual Insurance Company, where he specialized in property and casualty insurance claim intake and handling.
Aldrec holds a SHRM-CP certification, CLMS certification, multi-state Property and Casualty Insurance License, and a Bachelor’s in Human Resource Management from Bryant University.
MEET OUR PANELISTS:
Santino Famiglietti
Human Resources Business Partner | Centreville Bank
Santino Famiglietti is a Human Resources Business Partner at Centreville Bank in West Warwick, RI where he oversees the employee lifecycle of 250+ employees across Rhode Island and Connecticut. He has been in a Human Resources role at organizations of varying sizes for nearly 10 years. In addition to his career, he is also a graduate professor at the University of Rhode Island where he instructs Strategic Human Resources courses to students pursuing post-graduate degrees. Additionally, Santino sits on the Board of Directors of Amenity Aid where he serve as the Head of the Human Resources committee. He holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management from the University of Rhode Island and is a SHRM-CP.
Kate McDonald
HR 360 Rotational Program | Brown Brothers Harriman
Kate McDonald graduated from Providence College in May 2025 with a degree in Management, where she was an active member of Beta Gamma Sigma and the International Business Club. Throughout her time at PC, Kate developed interests in leadership, organizational culture, and employee development.
Between her junior and senior year, Kate held an internship at Brown Brothers Harriman, an international financial institution, on their Compensation team. Through this internship, she supported the firm’s Global Human Resource division using an analytical, data-driven approach to employee remuneration. After graduation, she returned to Brown Brothers Harriman to begin a two-year rotational program across Human Resources. She is currently finishing her first rotation in Total Rewards/Compensation and looks forward to gaining experience in HR Operations, Talent Acquisition, and Employee Relations.
During her senior year, Kate explored deferred MBA programs and was admitted to several business schools. Upon completing her rotational program at Brown Brothers Harriman, she will attend the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business to pursue her MBA full-time.
Kate looks forward to sharing her experiences as a junior HR professional in the financial services industry, offering advice on the MBA application process, and reflecting on how her time at Providence College shaped her career path.
Milagro Sique
Interim Executive Director
Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island
Milagro Sique is the Interim Executive Director at Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, She is an energetic C-Suite executive, with a heart for educating bilingual communities and is dedicated to achieving organizational goals through optimizing effective cost structures. She is a multi-faceted bilingual professional with over two decades of experience in non-profit leadership and several years of experience in human resources.
Krista Williams
Vice President, Global Talent Acquisition | First Advantage
Krista Williams is an accomplished Global Talent Acquisition and People leader with over 25 years of experience building high-performing teams across diverse industries, including retail, financial services, technology, and healthcare. She has successfully led large-scale transformation initiatives, implemented data-driven hiring strategies, and designed innovative talent programs for organizations such as CVS Health, FM Global, First Advantage, and Primark.
Throughout her career, Krista has been recognized for fostering inclusive, high-trust cultures where people and business growth align seamlessly. Deeply committed to developing others, she is passionate about mentoring emerging professionals and inspiring the next generation of HR leaders to lead with purpose, agility, and authenticity.
Krista earned her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Providence College.
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Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Stef Nelson at rishrmsponsorship@gmail.com..
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