Koi Japanese Restaurant plays host to Chamber’s Business After Hours event

BUSINESS COMMUNITY: Among the attendees at last Thursday’s Business After Hours are, from left, Chamber Executive Director Deborah Ramos, Robin Montecalvo of Scentsy, Tara Pislopoulos of OPI and Joanne Psilopoulos of Baccala Concrete.

Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine

NIGHT’S HOSTS: Sam Ou, left, owner of Koi Restaurant in Johnston, and chef Paul Li put on quite a display of Japanese food during last week’s Business After Hours.

NEW FACES: Andy Dion, center, the new manager at Anytime Fitness in Johnston, is flanked by Beverly Bradley and Richard Pacia of Multi-State Restoration Inc. during last week’s Business After Hours.

Posted Thursday, May 29, 2014 11:21 am

Pete Fontaine

Sam Ou, the owner of Koi Japanese Restaurant at 1369 Hartford Ave., didn’t have much time to network at last Thursday’s North Central Chamber of Commerce May Business After Hours.

That’s because Ou was helping chef Paul Li and other staffers serve a host of samples of what the restaurant has brought to Johnston since opening its doors last year.

The shrimp tempura was a particular hit among the 40 or more Chamber members who showed up last Thursday evening, but then there was a wide range of food being served.

“There’s plenty of good stuff here,” Robin Montecalvo, a consultant for Scentsy and longtime Chamber member, said while chatting with Deborah Ramos, the group’s executive director, as well as Tara Psilopoulos of OPI and Joanne Psilopoulos of Baccala Concrete. “It’s obvious Sam wanted to make tonight special.”

The networking-social event drew many “new faces,” said Ramos. One of them was Daniel P. Orovitz, assistant vice president and branch manager for Washington Trust’s newest branch at 1383 Atwood Ave. in the former Place for Ribs Restaurant.

Orovitz and Jeff Wright, who’s also a member of Washington Trust’s management team, spent time networking with prospective clients.

People like Beverly Bradley and Richard Pacia, of North Providence-based Multi-State Restoration Inc., were also among the “newer” faces who enjoyed a successful night of networking. Their company deals with fire, flood, mold and smoke damage, emergency restoration, construction and performance. It also includes Expo Realty LLC.

Andy Dion was another new addition to the Business After Hours. He is the new manager at longtime Chamber member Anytime Fitness, which is located at 1577 Atwood Ave. in Johnson and is owned and operated by Rob LoBianco and his aunt Janice DiRaimo.

The Northern Central Chamber, which serves the towns of Johnston, North Providence, Smithfield, Scituate, Foster and Glocester, is designed to help and promote small businesses within its footprint.

The Chamber is always accepting new members, and people interested should contact Ramos at 349-4674 or stop by the office at 255 Greenville Ave. in Johnston.