About Breaking Bread

Meet the team

Akanksha Aga,
Founder

Akanksha was born and raised in India and moved to the USA to pursue her master’s and the “American Dream”. 

She has worked at Loews Hotels & Co, Compass Group- FLIK Hospitality, Taj Group of Hotels and Johnson & Wales University. She has 25+ years of experience in hospitality, food service, and higher education including operations, training, leadership development, diversity, and inclusion. 

Akanksha is an Adjunct Professor at Johnson & Wales University. She serves as Board Vice President of FirstWorks Providence and Co-advisor for National Society of Minorities in Hospitality. 

Akanksha believes that hospitality has the power to bring people together for positive impact. 

Brittanny Taylor,
Brand Marketing Advisor

Brittanny Taylor is a seasoned photographer, content creator, and visual storyteller with over 15 years of experience in capturing authentic moments and crafting compelling stories through online visual content.

As the owner of a successful photography business, she has collaborated with numerous local small business owners, providing them with stunning imagery and helping them strategically market their brands to achieve business success. 

Meet the board

  • President and CEO, Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau

    Kristen Adamo is the president and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB) - a non-profit organization responsible for promoting the cities of Providence and Warwick to meeting and convention planners, as well as the city of Providence as a top leisure destination - and its subsidiary the Rhode Island Sports Commission. She oversees all day-to-day operations at the PWCVB, leading a staff of dedicated destination sales and marketing professionals. 

    Adamo joined the PWCVB in 2005 as Director of Communications, became the Vice President of Marketing and Communications in 2007 and assumed her current role in 2019. During her tenure with the PWCVB, the organization developed a cohesive destination brand, and launched such successful marketing initiatives as Providence Restaurant Weeks and Three Nights of Lights. Her work has led to Providence being named “America’s Favorite City” in Travel + Leisure magazine and “Best CVB in the Northeast” by Northstar Media. She successfully helmed the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic and has become a passionate advocate for the support of the Providence area’s tourism community and arts organizations, as well as the city’s downtown. 

    Prior to joining the PWCVB, Adamo served as the Director of Advancement Marketing and Communications at Johnson & Wales University, where she received national awards for her work with corporations such as SYSCO, Coors Brewing Company, and Marriott International to promote major gifts to the University and other partnerships.

    Adamo was one of two destination marketing executives named to Meetings Today’s list of the “20 Trendsetters in 2022.” In 2023, she was selected as one of the “45 Most Powerful People” in the state by Rhode Island Monthly. She was also tapped by Providence Business News’ as one of the “10 Most Influential People” for 2022 and is an alumna of its “40 Under 40” list of Rhode Island’s most successful young businesspeople. GoLocal Prov also named Adamo one of its “21 People to Watch in 2021.” She was honored as Hospitality Ambassador of the Year by the RI Hospitality Association in 2014 and has received the Producer’s Golden Circle Award from the RI Film Festival and the Morris J.W. Gaebe Profile in Excellence Award from Junior Achievement of Rhode Island. 

    Adamo is an accredited public relations practitioner and a former president of the Southeastern New England Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She currently serves on the Governor’s Workforce Board, the Air Service Development Council, and the State Planning Commission, as well as the boards of the Providence Performing Arts Center, WaterFire Providence, the Downtown Parks Network and StyleWeek Northeast. She is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and studied for a Master of Arts in the humanities at Salve Regina University.

    She resides in Warwick, Rhode Island. 

  • State Director, Clean Water Action

    In her role, Emily works with state legislators to keep Rhode Island at the forefront of positive environmental change. She believes that the next generation deserves a strong plan to fight plastic pollution and waste. Emily got her start in environmental advocacy as a Clean Water Action community organizer in 2007 and also has a wealth of political and campaign experience. Her past political campaigns include Congressman David Cicilline, and Rhode Islanders for Marriage Equality. 

    Emily Howe was born and raised in Rhode Island, and lives in Warwick with her husband and 3 young kids.

    Emily loves her daily iced coffee (even in the winter) and prides herself on always having snacks on hand which she will share with friends. In her spare time, you can find her volunteering with one of the many nonprofits she believes in, such as The Izzy Foundation or the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence, taking walks in her neighborhood with her kids, or enjoying an ice cream down at the beach. 

  • Head of Corporate Citizenship at Collette

    With nearly three decades of leadership experience at Collette, Melissa has honed her expertise in strategy, team building, sustainability, and community impact. Her passion for driving positive change, supporting local communities, and mentoring people to unlock their best potential, make her a powerful addition to our board.

    As head of Collette’s corporate citizenship, Melissa’s team brings to life the mantra, “Travel isn’t just about exploring the world — it’s about making a positive impact.”  Every journey at Collette is designed responsibly, using values as a guiding light. Melissa’s team works diligently to put purpose into practice — turning values into real-world change through impact initiatives, week of service, sourcing sustainably, conscious contracting, and several programs with powerful global impact.

    With 28 years of experience at Collette, Melissa has developed a deep understanding of strategic leadership, sustainability, and community engagement. She is committed to creating opportunities for growth and driving meaningful impact. These experiences have shaped her belief in the power of equipping others with the tools to succeed.

    Melissa and her team have made incredible global impact including 200+

    Responsible Travel Highlights & Impact Moments across 110 tours, $4M+ in annual revenue generated for responsible partners through purpose-driven tourism, 100,000+ trees planted to support global reforestation and 100% Carbon-neutral Explorations tours.

  • Associate Professor & Dept. Chair, Food & Beverage + Travel & Tourism Studies Johnson & Wales University

    Michael Sabitoni's insight and vigorous attentiveness to industry innovation make him a popular resource within the trade circuit, both locally and nationally. A frequent speaker at national and international conferences, as well as a consultant for major hospitality industry organizations, currently, Sabitoni is the department chairperson for both the International Travel/Tourism Studies and the Food & Beverage Management departments at Johnson & Wales University’s Providence campus. Prior to entering the field of education, Sabitoni worked in both of these fields, primarily in managerial capacities, for nearly 30 years. At last count, he had visited every country except Antarctica. Michael resides in Cranston, RI with his wife, Dr. Karen Silva-Sabitoni and their rescue puppy, Casside.