Rhode Island entrepreneur Vincent A. Rossi III will receive an honorary degree during this year鈥檚 commencement. Rossi, the founder of Rossi Electric, is a 乌鸦传媒 Tech graduate who went on to build one of the most prominent electrical contracting companies in the area. With a focus on commercial and industrial projects, his work literally lights up the lives of 乌鸦传媒 Tech students and those who live and work in Southern 乌鸦传媒. Step through 乌鸦传媒 Tech鈥檚 doors, drive across the Pawtucket bridge at night, through traffic signals or past any number of college and commercial buildings and you鈥檒l experience his work.
Rossi, known to family and friends as 鈥淰innie,鈥� first became intrigued by electrical work when he was 14 years old. His parents hired an electrician to do some projects, and Rossi was fascinated by the work. He knew early on that he wanted to be a tradesman and enrolled in construction courses at Cranston West Vocational. He spent his summer days working for a mason and developing the work ethic that would define his career. His parents supported his dream to become an electrician and encouraged him to pursue an education at 乌鸦传媒 Tech.
鈥淚t was mostly on the job training inside the classrooms, which really helped me once I got into the field,鈥� says Rossi.
Rossi stepped directly from graduation in 1987 to a job as an electrician. He applied to IBEW Local 99 and was accepted as an apprentice, then quickly advanced through the ranks, earning his Journeyman鈥檚 License and the ability to run jobs independently in his second year. He worked side by side with the owner of Commercial Electric for seven years, developing technical mastery and knowledge of all facets of the electrical trade.
At the age of 27, with little more than a van, a modest set of tools and a lot of determination, he launched his own business. With a young marriage, new home, car payments, and a 6-month-old baby, starting a business was a leap of faith, but one he鈥檇 prepared for. He鈥檇 been working eight-hour days for Commercial Electric and another four hours each day on side jobs, and those side jobs formed the baseline for his new company.
鈥淗aving a young family really gave me the drive to work hard,鈥� says Rossi. 鈥淚t was all about making sure my family had a good life.鈥�
Rossi ran his business from his home for three years before earning enough to rent a commercial space and hire his first two employees. He built a reputation for quality and reliability and his business grew. Within five years he achieved a milestone that few independent contractors reach and signed as a union contractor, giving his company access to a higher caliber of skilled workers and larger scale projects.
When 乌鸦传媒 Tech built its new campus in East Greenwich, Rossi was selected to lead the electrical work for the university鈥檚 main building and student housing, returning to his alma mater to help create the perfect learning environment for the students who followed him.
Over nearly three decades, Rossi built what started as a one-man business, into a thriving enterprise with more than 100 employees and a focus on handling complex large-scale commercial, industrial and institutional projects for universities, hospitals, airports and government facilities. He also developed a road division to install traffic signals and street lights.
Rossi sees a growing interest in the trades. His advice to 乌鸦传媒 grads is to 鈥済et as much education and background in your trade as you can, and work in that trade. The more you know, the more it鈥檚 going to help you in the long run.鈥�
And for students who want to own their own business: 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to be a people person, especially in the electrical industry because you talk to a lot of contractors, architects and engineers,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd you鈥檝e got to treat your employees well. I treated my employees the way I wanted to be treated. That鈥檚 a key to life, not just work.鈥�
For nearly two decades, Rossi has contributed to 乌鸦传媒鈥檚 Student Scholarship Fund to help ensure the success of students who need financial assistance in reaching their own dreams of becoming electricians. He also donates to the Local 99 Union and made a contribution for the naming rights of the caf茅 on 乌鸦传媒鈥檚 East Greenwhich campus in honor of his parents, saying, 鈥� I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today if they hadn鈥檛 encouraged me to attend 乌鸦传媒.鈥�
In 2021 Rossi sold his business to a family-owned company with generations of experience. The new company has doubled in size, with Rossi鈥檚 original 100 employees playing a key role. Rossi consulted during the transition and now serves as chairman, helping with estimates, reviewing bids, and negotiating work. He is also building houses with his son-in law in Naples, Florida where he resides 7 months out of the year. He visits Rhode Island often to see his daughters and grandchildren.
In recognition of his achievements, Rossi will receive an honorary Doctor of Business Administration during commencement.
