The Fort Adams Trust, located at 90 Fort Adams Drive Newport, RI announces the appointment of Joe Dias as Executive Director.
Dias’ responsibilities will include overseeing the general management and operations of the fort, site rentals for public, private and fort produced events, wedding ceremonies and receptions, increasing visitation, as well as interfacing with the fort’s board of directors and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) that has oversight on fort activities. Dias has over 35 years of experience working in various positions with RI DEM retiring in 2014 as Chief-Division of Planning & Development. Dias also worked as Logistics Manager on this past summer’s Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover. He will oversee a paid staff of 25, as well as many volunteers. Dias resides in Newport with his wife Beth and their three children.
“Joe brings a wealth of experience in management from his years with RI DEM and an intimate knowledge of the fort’s activities, goals and objectives. We are extremely confident in Joe’s ability to increase the use of the fort’s structure and campus, it’s preservation, while also improving the overall visitor experience,” stated Greg Hall, president of The Fort Adams Trust. The Search Committee did an exhaustive effort to make sure we found the right person to assume the Executive Director position and I applaud them on their efforts and results,” Hall added.
“Aside from Joe’s experience of working with local and state officials, he also brings extensive knowledge in coordinating the Volvo race stopover which will be invaluable in 2018,” stated Dave Martland, vice president, The Fort Adams Trust. “Although 2018 might seem a ways out, the planning for it starts way in advance and with Joe here it will make the event even more successful,” he added.
As Dias is semi-retired, he will start immediately as Executive Director.