While a deputy director at the EDC, Kaplan helped found the Business Innovation Factory, an independent nonprofit geared toward testing new ideas and business models in the state. Now Gov. Donald L. Carcieri has tapped the former EDC deputy director to lead the agency, succeeding Executive Director Michael McMahon

PBN: Do you have experience working with the General Assembly?
KAPLAN: I have relationships; I will be working to build upon them. This past year, I was active in the Science and Technology Advisory Council effort to produce a focused set of recommendations to create an innovation economy here in Rhode Island.

...Innovative companies are stronger companies. They will be around longer; they will create higher-wage jobs. We need to create an environment for companies here in Rhode Island to innovate...

PBN: You’ve tried to turn Rhode Island’s size into an advantage. How does that work?
KAPLAN: The recent award of the [Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research] grant from the National Science Foundation of $6.75 million is a great example of our size playing to our advantage. All 11 colleges and universities [in the state] played a part in that process.