Focused on Supporting Housing That Is Affordable For Members of the Community
Our Mission
The Commons Foundation provides funding and educational programs to significantly expand housing options for those integral to the town's vibrancy- focusing on attainable homeownership and rental opportunities for low to moderate-income residents, seniors, and the local workforce. We accelerate progress by supporting homeowners, foundation-led initiatives to create housing and community development, while providing essential education on the financial path to long-term housing and economic stability.
Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of The Commons Foundation not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, ancestry, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical disability, veteran’s status, political affiliation, color, religion, or national origin. Conflict of Interest Policy
Board of Directors
Peter Aldrich
Director
Peter Aldrich lives in Little Compton with his wife of fifty-two years, Widgie. Together they have built a family of four children through international adoptions. They have five grandchildren. Read more
Peter Aldrich
Director
Peter Aldrich lives in Little Compton with his wife of fifty-two years, Widgie. Together they have built a family of four children through international adoptions. They have five grandchildren.
Peter has been a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines teaching and doing community development. Back home, has volunteered to steer a college out of bankruptcy, and helped numerous arts and civic organizations. He was a long time Director or Trustee of many educational and art institutions, among others the Pro Arte Orchestra, the National Bureau of Economic Research, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Bard College.
Peter is a life-long entrepreneur and educator, particularly in real estate investment. Mr. Aldrich was a founder and former head of Aldrich, Eastman & Waltch (now AEW Capital Management), and was an early and instrumental investor in Zipcar, TaskRabbit, and a host of other start-ups. Early in his career, he founded the Pension Real Estate Association, and also The Research Group of The Conference Board. He had many interesting investment and political experiences internationally, particularly in Russia and its former satellites.
Mr. Aldrich was graduated from the Phillips Exeter Academy (1962), Harvard College (‘66) and its business school (’70) where he taught for several years.
Joe Azrack
Director
Azrack has been a member of the Little Compton community since he met his spouse, Abigail Congdon, over 45 years ago. In 2015, Joe was appointed by Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo as the Chairman of the Providence, Rhode Island I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, in which capacity he served until 2019. Read more
Joe Azrack
Director
Joe Azrack has been a member of the Little Compton community since he met his spouse, Abigail Congdon, over 45 years ago. In 2015, Joe was appointed by Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo as the Chairman of the Providence, Rhode Island I-195 Redevelopment District Commission, in which capacity he served until 2019. Joe is a member and past Chairman of the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA), and a member and former Trustee, Officer, and Director of the Urban Land Institute. Joe has served on the not-for-profit boards of I Have a Dream Foundation, NY Live Arts, the De Cordova Museum and Sculpture Park, and Forest Trends, among other organizations.
Joe has over 30 years’ experience in real estate investment, management, and development. He is the principal owner of Azrack & Company, a real estate investment and advisory firm. Previously, he was the Chairman and Managing Partner of Apollo Global Real Estate Management (NYSE: “APO”). At that time, he was also Chairman and CEO of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (NYSE: “ARI”). Prior to Apollo, he was Chief Executive and Chairman of AEW Capital Management, as well as serving as the lead investment partner for numerous investments in public and private real estate operating companies and partnerships.
Joe is Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business where he created the curriculum for and taught Real Estate Entrepreneurship. He is a member of, and for many years chaired, the Columbia Business School’s Millstein Center Real Estate Advisory Board.
He holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University and a B.S. from Villanova University. He is also a graduate of the Harvard University Advanced Leadership Initiative.
Edward Burnett
Director
Ed Burnett is a dedicated community leader and life-long Rhode Islander who has called Little Compton home since 2009. A devoted father of three daughters—students at Portsmouth High School and Wilbur McMahon—Ed is deeply invested in the future of his community. Read more
Edward Burnett
Director
Ed Burnett is a dedicated community leader and life-long Rhode Islander who has called Little Compton home since 2009. A devoted father of three daughters—students at Portsmouth High School and Wilbur McMahon—Ed is deeply invested in the future of his community.
Professionally, Ed is a Financial Advisor and Partner at RiverRise Financial, a local advisory practice that works closely with individuals, families, and small businesses to achieve financial well-being. In addition to his career in finance, Ed brings a rich background in higher education, having served as both an instructor and administrator. His dual experience equips him with a unique perspective on organizational leadership and education.
Ed actively supports several community-focused nonprofit organizations. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Little Compton Community Center, and sits on the boards of the Little Compton Village Improvement Society and Scholarship Little Compton. He also directs the Caitlin Fennessey Burnett Memorial Organization, which honors the memory of his late wife, Caitlin, by supporting scholarship initiatives that reflect her spirit and commitment to education. Caitlin passed away from breast cancer in 2016, and Ed’s continued advocacy ensures her legacy lives on.
Ed holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and a Master’s degree in Education from Villanova University.
Tim Griffin
Director
A 3rd generation native of Little Compton, while moving away for school and career, Tim has remained closely connected to the community, and is excited to have roots here once again. Having experienced firsthand the opportunities that come from growing up in Little Compton, he believes the town’s future depends on remaining a community where each generation has the opportunity not only to grow up, but also to build a life of their own. Read more
Tim Griffin
Director
A 3rd generation native of Little Compton, while moving away for school and career, Tim has remained closely connected to the community, and is excited to have roots here once again. Having experienced firsthand the opportunities that come from growing up in Little Compton, he believes the town’s future depends on remaining a community where each generation has the opportunity not only to grow up, but also to build a life of their own.
Tim Griffin is a Partner and Wealth Advisor at Corient, where he advises athletes, entrepreneurs, entertainers, business owners, multigenerational families, and other accomplished individuals on wealth management, investment strategy, estate planning, and multigenerational financial planning. Tim brings an entrepreneurial mindset to his work and enjoys helping clients navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and purpose. Prior to joining Corient, Tim was a partner at HM Payson & Co, in Portland, ME, for 20 years.
Tim has been actively involved in nonprofit leadership throughout his career, serving as Chair of the Board of the Dempsey Center and as Treasurer of the University of Southern Maine Foundation Board. These experiences reflect his longstanding commitment to organizations dedicated to strengthening communities and expanding opportunity.
He earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Southern Maine.
Ty Howe
Chairman
He is a resident of Little Compton, where he delivers meals to the elderly and teaches paddle tennis clinics at the Sakonnet Paddle Tennis Club. He is a volunteer on the Samaritans of Rhode Island Crisis Hotline. He and his wife Abby are parents to four boys and grandparents to two granddaughters. Read more
Ty Howe
Chairman
He is a resident of Little Compton, where he delivers meals to the elderly and occasionally teaches paddle tennis clinics at the Sakonnet Paddle Tennis Club. He is a volunteer on the Samaritans of Rhode Island Crisis Hotline. He and his wife Abby are parents to four boys and grandparents to two granddaughters.
Retired after a 40+ year career in commercial insurance, primarily with Marsh & McLennan. His primary work was advising clients on their insurable business risks.
He is a past director of the Boston Biomedical Research Institute, where he was a Vice President and chair of the Finance Committee and Patent & Tech Transfer Committee. He was active in the Dover Sherborn Soccer Club, coaching for 17 years, and led one team to a state championship. He served on multiple committees for the town of Dover, Massachusetts and was a sports broadcaster for the local cable station. In addition, he was a mentor coach at SquashBusters in Boston.
Ty graduated from Middlebury College with a degree in Political Science.
James Lock
President
He is a resident of Little Compton, where he led the initiative to install solar panels on town owned buildings. Jim was a director of Nitinol Medical Corporation (NASDAQ), the Finance Board and Governing Body of Boston Children’s Hospital, and Chair of Boston Children’s Heart Foundation. Read more
James Lock
President
He is a resident of Little Compton, where he led the initiative to install solar panels on town owned buildings.
Jim was a director of Nitinol Medical Corporation (NASDAQ), the Finance Board and Governing Body of Boston Children’s Hospital, and Chair of Boston Children’s Heart Foundation.
Jim retired from interventional cardiology after 46 years of practicing medicine. During his years of practice, Jim held multiple leadership positions including:
· Chair, Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, 1993-2016
· Physician-in-Chief, Boston Children’s Hospital, 2001-2007
He was also a member of a teaching faculty in the following roles:
· Assistant/Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Univ. of Minnesota, 1979-1983
· Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 1983-1993
· Nadas Endowed Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 1993-2019
His work resulted in 275 peer reviewed research papers; 15 editorials, 6 book chapters, and 3 textbooks.
Jim holds twelve patents for medical devices, including the first device approved by FDA to close holes inside human heart without surgery and the first transcatheter helical occlusion coil.
Jim graduated from Case Western Reserve University (A.B.) and Stanford Medical School, (MD).
Mark Reichin
Director
Mark and his wife Judy have lived in Little Compton since 2020. Mark serves on both corporate and non-profit boards. He joined The Commons Foundation board in the fall of 2024. Read more
Mark Reichin
Director
Mark and his wife Judy have lived in Little Compton since 2020. Mark serves on both corporate and non-profit boards. He joined The Commons Foundation board in the fall of 2024.
A licensed pilot since the age of 17 with IFR and multi-engine ratings, he has accumulated more than 12,000 hours of flight time. He is also an active member of National Business Aircraft Association, The Wings Club, National Air Transportation Association and the Aero Clubs of New England, Washington and Atlanta.
Mr. Reichin joined Propeller Investments in 2009 as Chief Commercial Officer after co-founding and acting as CEO of Alerion, a family office focused on aircraft management. Prior to assuming the senior leadership role at Alerion, Mark served as Senior Vice President of PrivatAir, one of the world's leading aviation services companies. Earlier he was a member of a private equity firm that focused on M&A transactions in the airline, aviation and aerospace industry sectors. As Chief Executive Officer of Internet.com, Mark led the pioneering Internet software and services company that was responsible for bringing fortune 500 companies, that included national print media, the international healthcare information industry and the launch of Comdex to the internet.
Mark's business expertise has focused on international business development and global M&A transactions. He brings substantial experience in international marketing as well as expertise in commercial real estate development. His Global aviation management experience includes Director of Operations for the establishment of air carrier operations in both FAA and EASA regulatory environments.
Mark attended the University of Massachusetts and Northeastern University.
Susan Taylor
Treasurer
Susan and her husband, Glenn Lewman, have lived in Little Compton since 2008 and in Rhode Island since 1990. Read more
Susan Taylor
Treasurer
Susan and her husband, Glenn Lewman, have lived in Little Compton since 2008 and in Rhode Island since 1990.
Susan recently retired from a career in leadership positions in the technology sector focused on healthcare solutions, leading the healthcare business at Pegasystems for over a decade. In her first healthcare solution, launched in the mid-1990s, Susan participated in bringing remote and underserved communities local access to specialty healthcare services. Her early career included innovation and research at AT&T Bell Labs, Stanford University, NASA, and Harvard University.
Prior to Little Compton, Susan volunteered in Barrington, RI’s school system. Currently, Susan volunteers with Ballet Vero Beach, Indian River Science Fair, and the Sakonnet Point Club nominations and governance committee.
Susan is fortunate to have two adult children and a large family who inspire her daily. Susan brings a blend of technological expertise, collaborative leadership, and a passion for community building to The Commons Foundation.
Susan is a graduate of Columbia University, UC Santa Cruz, and SUNY, Geneseo.
Deborah E. Wiley
Director
Deborah Wiley lives in New York City and Little Compton, RI where she has served on the board of The Friends of the Sakonnet Lighthouse and is president of the Bailey & Ledge Association. Read more
Deborah E. Wiley
Director
Deborah Wiley lives in New York City and Little Compton, RI where she has served on the board of The Friends of the Sakonnet Lighthouse and is president of the Bailey’s Ledge Association. In addition, Deborah with a few others spearheaded three major fundraisers to increase the endowment of the Little Compton Community Center. She is a former board member of the Sakonnet Golf Club. Deborah is the past chair of the RI Chapter of Nature Conservancy and remains a Board member.
Deborah retired after forty years with the family business, John Wiley & Sons, having served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications. She is currently Chair of The Wiley Foundation. While in the business she served on several industry boards, including chairing the board of the National Book Foundation. For many years Deborah chaired the International Intellectual Anti-Piracy Committee of the Association of American Publishers.
In the field of education, she was on the board of Colgate University, served as past chair of the board of Southern Vermont College, and was on the board of Kent Place School in NJ. In 2014 Deborah joined the board of Island Press.
Deborah is a graduate of Boston University.