FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2004

Contact: Frank Lennon
      (401) 831-8696

"We are thrilled that Laura and Joe have come aboard, and look forward to their active participation and guidance," said Frank Lennon, Chairman and CEO. "The caliber of these individuals reflects the growing strength of our organization and its status in the community. Their willingness to join in our effort to overcome the obstacles still in our path augurs well for our future."

Founding Board Member Bill Sheridan suggested that DiSano's and White's professional expertise and recognized commitment to community service will help the Saratoga board extend its outreach, accelerate fundraising and strengthen its long-term strategic planning abilities. "Until now, we felt it was important to have a streamlined board so we could move quickly and make key decisions without delay. As our organization has matured, it is now more important to increase our outreach and broaden our constituencies. We look to expand our board by at least four more members over the next few months," he added. "Laura's and Joe's involvement will make that expansion easier." Laura DiSano, a Warwick resident, is a highly skilled executive with twenty-one years of experience in financial services, and twelve years in higher education administration.

"I am excited about becoming a board member and helping to preserve the rich history of the USS Saratoga," said DiSano, a senior vice president of Fleet Bank. "Working to preserve an icon of one of the greatest generations, to teach and inspire future generations in the Ocean State, is thrilling."

In her current capacity as Fleet Bank senior vice president and team leader for Commercial Financial Services in Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts, she works directly with businesses with up to $25MM in revenues. "One of the many things that appeals to me about the Saratoga project is that it is a grass roots effort which started with nothing, and effectively harnessed volunteer enthusiasm and expertise to bring it to the brink of fruition. With a little push, we hope to realize the dream of mooring the Saratoga at Quonset," said DiSano.

DiSano holds a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Rhode Island. Active in the community, she was recently appointed by Mayor David Cicilline to the Providence Economic Development Corporation Board. She also serves as a director of Providence's Black Repertory Theatre, and was a member of the Board of Governors for Higher Education from 1995-2002. During that same period she was a member of the Executive Board of the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority. She is a past president of the URI Alumni Association and is a trustee of the URI Foundation board.

DiSano has also been active supporting other organizations and initiatives such as Providence Business Expo, the Center for Women and Enterprise, Bryant University's Women's Summit, and the Small Business Expo. She also chairs the Fleet RI Political Action Committee.

"Laura DiSano is an expert in helping businesses grow, and that's the kind of help we need right now'' Lennon said. "Like most non-profits, we have a very narrow margin of error when it comes to financial decisions. Laura bootstrapped her own way from backroom to front office, and we hope she can help us make the same transition in a project sense.

Board member Brad Senter of Texas, President of the USS Saratoga veterans group, added: "She offers the knowledge and experience to help us make sound choices, and she has many contacts within the financial, educational and business communities to whom we can reach out for assistance. She also adds a fresh perspective on our various challenges, and her communication and consensus-building skills will be invaluable. We are very fortunate to have her as a member of the Saratoga team."

Joseph White, who resides in North Kingstown, concentrates his legal practice in the area of general corporate law. He specializes in formation, acquisition, sale, merger, recapitalization and private equity financing of businesses and partnerships. A frequent speaker on venture capital financing, estate planning and tax law issues, his clients include property & casualty companies, financial institutions, manufacturing companies, high technology developers and municipalities.

"I've been supportive of this project for a number of years, but I became a real believer when Saratoga leadership was able to position the Foundation to acquire the Russian submarine now on display in Providence," he said. "This small, relatively unknown non-profit in Rhode Island outmaneuvered a number of much stronger and wealthier groups to lock up the deal, and that showed me a lot," he added.

White is a graduate of Providence College and the Syracuse University College of Law. He is admitted to the Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York State Bar. He currently presides as North Kingstown's municipal probate judge, and is a member of the North Kingstown Juvenile Hearing Board. He also serves the Town as Asset Management Commission legal counsel. Active in Rhode Island politics, he has served as chairman of the North Kingstown Republican Town Committee and as a delegate to the State Central Committee.

"Governor Carcieri, a long-time supporter of the Saratoga vision, has given us a window in which to demonstrate the financial viability of this project," White said. "I hope my active involvement in that effort will contribute to the Foundation's success."

White also serves on the boards of the West Bay YMCA, Beechwood House Senior Center, Sail Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Emergency Preparedness Education Center. He is a former director of the Western Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Scott-Fanton Museum & Historical Society.

"Joe White is a long-time supporter whose knowledge and legal expertise has been an enormous asset,'' Lennon said. "He has helped in myriad legal matters, including the complex negotiations that led our timely acquisition of the Russian submarine. His help will be invaluable as we work to reach an agreement to moor the Saratoga at Quonset, and raise the capital necessary to trigger the Navy's donation of the carrier to the Saratoga project."

About the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation

USS Saratoga Museum Foundation, Inc. -- an all-volunteer group -- created a vision of a major non-profit museum/memorial, educational center and family attraction at Quonset Point, and has worked for five years to turn that vision into reality.

Labor unions, environmentalists, educators, businessmen, and veterans joined a bi-partisan, grass roots efforts to see this project through. In host community North Kingstown the Planning and Harbor Management Commissions, as well as the Town Council, strongly endorsed this vision. Fourteen other City/Town Councils from Smithfield to New Shoreham, from Providence to Coventry echoed these endorsements. So did the RI General Assembly and all state officers other than then-Governor Lincoln Almond, who wanted to build a container port at Quonset. The Providence Journal endorsed the project in its lead editorial on September 16, 1999 entitled, "Move Saratoga to Quonset".

The effort was slowed when Saratoga fell victim to former Governor Almond's container port project. In December 2001 Governor Almond and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation board of directors slammed the door on Saratoga by failing to endorse an extension recommended by the Quonset board for the project's Carrier Pier access agreement.

As a result, the Foundation was forced to diversify in order to survive. Re-energized by the setback, and encouraged by then-candidate Don Carcieri and others, the Foundation was able to take delivery of a multi-million dollar asset: the Soviet cruise missile submarine Juliett 484, used in the making of the Harrison Ford movie "K-19: The Widowmaker".

The Russian sub's last mission was not without irony. Throughout 2002, Juliett 484 worked to help save the American supercarrier she once targeted, awaiting the arrival of a new administration that would understand the benefits the Saratoga vision offers to Rhode Island.

The sub is now open to the public at Collier Point Park in Providence, and is proving to be one of the East Coast's most popular new naval tourist attractions. Juliett 484 has already hosted more than 20,000 residents, visitors, veterans and school children from more than 35 states and a number of foreign countries. It has generated cash flow and very favorable media coverage while proving the ability of the Foundation to manage and run an historic naval vessel as a museum.

The recent decision to expand the operation in North Kingstown is the latest in a series of events that mark the Foundation's growing vitality.

Last summer, Governor Don Carcieri made good on a campaign promise and held a Saratoga fundraising event at his Saunderstown home. He has since directed his staff to coordinate the negotiations between the EDC and Saratoga leadership in an effort to develop a win/win situation for everyone at Quonset/Davisville.

"We have promised the Governor to update our studies and provide a new plan for the Davisville location by June 1," said Lennon. "Hopefully, that new information will provide him the ammunition he needs to move forward with the project."

Last Updated:
2/3/04