Connecticut Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor. Photo courtesy of the Connecticut Department of Education
By Sam Wroblewski 630wpro.com
Governor-elect Gina Raimondo announced Tuesday she has selected another out-of-state talent to become Rhode Island’s first Secretary of Commerce.
In a statement, Raimondo said she will submit Stefan Pryor’s name for consideration to fill the state’s new commerce and economic development job. Most recently, Pryor had worked as the Connecticut’s Education Commissioner, but has an extensive history of helping with economics development in both New Jersey and New York.
From 2006 to 2011 Pryor worked as the Director of Economic and Housing Development in Newark City under Mayor Cory Booker where he worked to bring in new commercial tenants to the city. Before that, Pryor headed up the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation which coordinated the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan and the design of the 9/11 memorial.
“Stefan’s economic development successes in Newark and in Lower Manhattan are a testament to his ability to lead the Department of Commerce in Rhode Island,” Raimondo said in a statement.
Pryor is the second out-of-stater to be tapped for a position in the new Raimondo administration. The Governor-elect has also nominated Maryland’s Director of Public Affairs Stephen Neuman to be her Chief of Staff.
