Meet our Staff

The Economic Progress Institute team is a group of dedicated individuals with extensive experience and expertise in public policy, advocacy, communications and research.

KATE BREWSTER, M.S.W.
Executive Director
Kate became the Executive Director of The Institute in September 2004, having served as Assistant Director to Nancy Gewirtz from September 1999 through the spring of 2001. Kate is responsible for the overall management of the organization, including fund development, planning and evaluation, fiscal management, and public policy analysis and advocacy. Kate has taught social policy and case management at the Rhode Island College School of Social Work. Prior to this, Kate worked for the state’s Medicaid programs RIte Share and RIte Care. Kate received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Social Work degree from Rhode Island College. Email Kate

LINDA KATZ, J.D.
Co-Founder and Policy Director
Linda Katz, Esq. is the Policy Director and, along with Nancy Gewirtz, co-founded The Institute. Linda is responsible for legislative and policy analysis and advocacy on a range of public benefits and programs, including: welfare, health care, child care, and employment and training. Linda is chair of the statewide RI Works Advisory Committee, RIte Care Consumer Advisory Council, and was one of nine public members appointed to the state’s Health Insurance Exchange. Before joining The Economic Progress Institute full-time in 2001, Linda worked for the RI Health Center Association, RI Disability Law Center and RI Legal Services. Linda received her Juris Doctorate from Boston College and undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester. Email Linda

AMY BLACK, PhD
Project Director, RI Health Coverage Project
Amy is responsible for leading the RI Health Coverage Project, a joint initiative of The Institute and Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. The project will work to ensure that the perspectives of consumers are considered as Rhode Island sets the state policies that are needed to implement the federal Affordable Care Act in Rhode Island. Before joining The Institute, Amy was the Director of HealthRIght, a coalition of diverse stakeholders dedicated to the implementation of comprehensive health care reform in Rhode Island. In 2008, Amy returned to Rhode Island from Maine where she was a Research Associate and Lead Evaluator at the Maine Center for Public Health (MCPH). Her work in social justice and health promotion started over 15 years ago when she served as a community organizer on issues related to reproductive health, civil rights and health care reform. Amy earned her doctorate in Behavioral Science at the University of Rhode Island. Email Amy

LAURA FAULKNER, MPA
Policy Analyst
Laura joined The Economic Progress Institute in December 2011 as a full-time fiscal policy analyst. She is primarily responsible for economic and fiscal policy analysis with a specific focus on state expenditures, tax policy, and economic development. Laura previously served as an analyst for the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) where she performed analyses and produced reports on public/private compensation, pension legislation, and state revenues and expenditures. Laura received a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Clark University in Massachusetts. During her graduate studies she traveled to Bangladesh to research economic development networks for women in the region. Laura is on the Board of Directors for HeadsUp, Inc., a health and human services organization that provides support and programming for at-risk individuals in Providence. Email Laura

RACHEL FLUM, JD
Policy Analyst
Rachel joined The Institute in 2004 to conduct policy analysis and advocacy on a range of anti-poverty policies including cash assistance, child care, unemployment insurance and child support. She is one of the primary authors of the Rhode Island Standard of Need and is responsible for updating the Guide to Assistance. Rachel is the Chair of the Child Support Advisory Committee and serves on the Permanent Legislative Commission on Child Care. In addition, Chief Judge Haiganush Bedrosian appointed her to serve on the 2011 Child Support Guideline Task Force.

Prior to joining The Institute Rachel worked on TANF legislation on behalf of Catholic Charities USA and on children's issues for Senator Kennedy's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College and a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center. Email Rachel

KERRI FRATTARELLI
Office Manager
Kerri joined The Institute in the fall of 2005 to assist with development efforts, financial accounting and communications. Kerri is a graduate of Rhode Island College and has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Prior to becoming the office manager for The Institute, Kerri was a project manager at New England Medical Billing, Inc. in Providence. Email Kerri

JUDY JONES
Policy Associate
Judy joined The Institute in 2008 to help manage The RI Workforce Alliance, a coalition that focuses on workforce development policy in order to increase the skills and economic opportunities of low-skilled Rhode Islanders. Prior to joining the Institute, Judy was Government Affairs Liaison for Rhode Island Housing from 1991-2007, advocating for the development of affordable housing at the state General Assembly. Previous to holding that position, she was a policy aide in the Offices of the General Treasurer and Lieutenant Governor and managed government relations for the United Way of Rhode Island. Judy has extensive background working with coalitions, networks and partnerships on a variety of social policy issues. She is also Board Chair of the Newport County Community Mental Health Center. Judy received a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Muhlenberg College.

JENNIFER LEIGH
Communications Director
Jennifer is responsible for press relations and communications strategy at The Institute. She also manages all components of web communications, including website development, social media and e-news outreach. Most recently, Jennifer was a marketing consultant for several nonprofits throughout the region, including affordable housing, healthcare and homeless advocacy organizations. Prior to her consulting work, she was part of the team at The Link Agency, a full service integrated marketing firm in Providence. Her marketing and communications experience ranges from strategic planning and public relations to broadcast production and consumer research. Jennifer received her undergraduate degree in Communications from Muhlenberg College. Email Jennifer

Additional Contact Information for Economic Progress Institute Staff