MEet our Principals

 

Phillip Kydd - Owner

Phillip Kydd is the Principal and Founder of The Gemini Group, a former Senior Executive in the Transportation industry with a distinguished public-service career at the University of Rhode Island (URI) and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT). Successfully directed creation and implementation of URI’s Transportation Improvement Program, including the recent completion of a $2.9 million bike spur, connecting the University’s main campus to Rhode Island’s 60+-mile bike path network. At RIDOT, directed more than $2 billion in new contracts; oversaw the delivery of the state’s largest construction projects on record; and led executive teams through complex organizational change and unprecedented growth. A longstanding commitment to mentorship and small-business development resulted in the launch of several strategic initiatives, such as the nation’s first lending program for minority-owned small businesses in the transportation industry and the Transportation Center at the University of Rhode Island (URITC). In addition to Mr. Kydd’s executive experience, he has extensive industry knowledge and operational board oversight experience. He has served on the board of directors for Lifespan, New England Institute of Technology, the Urban League of Rhode Island and Coastway Community Bank Corp. Additionally, he has investment and philanthropy expertise having served on the foundation boards of the University of Rhode Island, the Miriam Hospital and HarborOne Bank.

Career Highlights

  • Subject matter expert and state government representative for a international twinning and technology transfer initiative for the Federal Highway/ USDOT that was focused on information and technology sharing and research partnership with Eastern European countries. Direct engagement with Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. 

  • Leadership team member for the University of Rhode Island in the engagement and inclusion of the University of Pamplona, Spain into the highly acclaimed University of Rhode Island International Engineering Program. Duel enrollment and international work study program for participating students. 

  • Member of Federal Highway (FHWA) national training team for Minority and Disadvantaged Businesses and Small Business development. 

  • Development of an international student and faculty exchange program for the purpose of research and advance degree study with the University of Mayagüez in Puerto Rico. This initiative lead to shared research submission for funding to the National Science Foundation and increased enrollment of bilingual students into master and PHD programs. 

 

Boards & Memberships

  • Member, Lifespan Board of Directors

  • Vice Chairman, HarborOne RI Foundation

  • Vice Chairman, Coastway Bank Corp. Board of Directors

  • Trustee & Executive Board Member, URI Foundation

  • Life Trustee, Miriam Hospital Foundation.

  • Trustee, New England Institute of Technology

  • Chairman, Neighborhood & Community Relations Committee, Miriam Hospital

  • President, URI Alumni Association

  • Member, College of Engineering Executive Advisory Board, URI

  • Member, College of Business Administration Executive Advisory Board, URI

  • Member, Standing Committee on Civil Rights, AASHTO

  • Graduate, Leadership Rhode Island

 

Honors & Awards

  • Professional Achievement Award, Oasis International

  • Distinguished Achievement Award, URI

  • Inductee, URI Athletic Hall of Fame

  • District Director’s Award, U.S. Small Business Administration

  • Alumni Service Award, URI

  • Partnership Award, Federal Highway Administration

  • Showcase Award, U.S. Department of Transportation

Audrey E. Kydd - Partner

Building on more than 30 years of experience as a Senior Administrator, Audrey provides our clients with strategy, planning, operational insight, hiring/staff development and creative approaches to employee retention. Audrey has a knack for understanding and bringing unique solutions to the most difficult and challenging problems. She is an analytical thinker who effectively assesses opportunities, facilitates strategic decisions, and drives successful implementations. She is highly adaptable and particularly skilled at problem-solving, group facilitation and thoroughly enjoys forging consensus among diverging ideas and opinions. Leveraging her experiences and perspectives, Audrey uses her extensive background in planning and managing cross-functional business operations to create sustainable success for our clients.

Prior to consulting, Audrey was The Director of Administration for the Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research in the School of Public Health at Brown University where she led a successful research center with increasing impact; strengthening programming and deepening strategic organizational partnerships. Leading a highly respected team, she provided senior-level oversight for operations, fiscal management, research administration and human resources, while managing $17 million+ in federally and non-federally funded grants and contract research projects. She was the key advisor for communicating regulatory compliance to faculty and staff, as well as implementing center policies and initiatives. A key collaborator with officials across the university, NIH, industry, and foundation sponsors. She served on the Center Executive Committee, Leadership Committee, and several university advisory roles and focus groups.

Her professional skillsets include:

  • Leadership and Supervision

  • Budgets and Finance

  • Spend Plans and Projections

  • Grant Submissions

  • HR and Professional Development

  • Space, Technology, Communications, and special projects

  • Strategy, Planning and Assessment