Gina Raimondo

On January 6, 2015, Gina M. Raimondo became the 75th Governor of Rhode Island and its first woman governor.Gina grew up in Smithfield in a tight-knit Italian-American family, the youngest of Joseph and Josephine Raimondo's three children. Gina's family history and her childhood experiences shaped her core beliefs in hard work, opportunity for all, and the importance of financial security.After arriving from Italy at age 14, her grandfather learned English studying in the Providence Public Library, and later lived with Gina's family. Her father is a World War II Navy veteran from a family of butchers who was first in his family to attend college on the GI Bill. After working for 26 years at Bulova watch factory in Providence, her father lost his job, along with hundreds of others, when the factory moved overseas, and her family lost their sense of financial security.As a teenager, Gina rode a RIPTA bus to LaSalle Academy in Providence, where she was valedictorian of her graduating class. Gina went on to graduate with honors from Harvard, where she was recognized as the top economics student in her class. She won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University where she earned a doctorate and met her husband Andy Moffit, and later graduated from Yale Law School. Gina clerked for US District Judge Kimba Wood, and served as founding employee and senior vice president at Village Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Williamstown, Massachusetts, that invested in high-growth start-up companies in at least 10 emerging cities across the country.Yearning to be back in Rhode Island and closer to family, Gina co-founded Point Judith Capital and was involved in dozens of successful start-up companies.Gina and Andy reside in Providence with their two children, Ceci and Tommy. Gina has been deeply involved in a number of local non-profits. She was Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Crossroads Rhode Island, where she played a key role in launching a new homeless shelter for women. She was also a trustee at Women and Infants Hospital and Chair of its Quality Committee, and board member of Family Service of Rhode Island and LaSalle Academy.After reading a news article in late 2009 about further cuts to public libraries due to state budget difficulties, Gina decided to run for public office for the first time. In November 2010, Gina was elected to serve as General Treasurer of Rhode Island, receiving the largest number of votes of any statewide candidate.When Gina took office as General Treasurer, she tackled the state's $7 billion unfunded pension liability and shepherded passage of the Rhode Island Retirement Security Act of 2011, which passed with overwhelming bi-partisan support in both chambers of the General Assembly, has been hailed as national model. Because of pension reform, Rhode Island now is poised to make investments in its future - in its economy, education and infrastructure, which are key to the state's success.