Our Staff

With experienced staff, the support of our amazing board of directors and affiliations throughout the local business community, The Business Development Company can provide a depth and breadth of knowledge that is always available to our customers.

As diverse as our portfolio, our employees bring their unique personalities and experiences together to meet your company’s needs. We hope you’ll read more about our staff members and maybe learn some unique things as they answer the question, “What are 3 things people may not know about you?” by clicking ‘LEARN MORE’ below.

Peter C. Dorsey

President

Peter C. Dorsey

Three things you may not know about me:

One of my goals in aging is to be more patient. The biggest obstacle seems to be frustration that it’s taking so long.
Friends and a beer help reconcile enjoying an activity without being particularly good at it. My prime culprits are golf and fishing.
I attribute my aspirations to be handy to my father. He was a master at jury-rigging around the house, although it became politically incorrect to use that reference when he became a federal judge.

I’ve been working with small business owners for thirty years – ten in banking and twenty five at the Business Development Company. The variety of people and industries is stimulating; and I like the challenge of recognizing and adapting to each borrower’s unique circumstances. During my tenure I served as a Founder and Executive Director of the Cherrystone Angel Group, Rhode Island’s first angel investment group. My B.A. degree in economics is from Bucknell University, and my MBA from the University of Rhode Island.

Karen M. Sheil

Vice President

Karen M. Sheil

Three things you may not know about me:

In the early 90’s I actually worked with both Peter and Brenda on the same floor at RI Hospital Trust Bank…only in Rhode Island!
I always look forward to the flood of memories I experience when I return to BC’s campus.
An unusually large family means my children have over 40 first cousins, and 25 aunts and uncles, most of whom live in New England!

I joined the Business Development company in 2010 and have been responsible for underwriting and portfolio management. I have over thirty years’ experience in the banking industry and my background includes precious metals consignment lending, asset based lending, mutual fund accounting and trust operations. The creative loan structures that are common at The BDC are most appealing to me after working in the asset based, cookie cutter world. I hold a BS in Finance from Boston College, Carroll School of Management.

Brenda T. Starble

Vice President & Treasurer

Brenda T. Starble

Three things you may not know about me:

A favorite way to unwind is a getaway to my childhood cabin in Maine.
With three adult children, more time is available to once again explore my hobbies: quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, cooking and baking.
I’ve always been an animal lover and believe a house is not a home without fur. Thanks to the recent addition of a Great Pyrenees, our home, clothes and cars have lots of long fur.

Brenda has worked for The Business Development Company for over twenty-five years. She is responsible for the treasury function and loan operations. Recognizing every borrower is different, she also enjoys expanding her role to evaluate current and prospective borrowers. She finds supporting portfolio companies’ success to be very rewarding. Brenda received both her BA in Accounting and her MBA from Providence College.

Lisa B. Sullivan

Marketing & Administration

Lisa B. Sullivan

Three things you may not know about me:

Although she is a native Rhode Islander, she’s also lived and worked in Tampa, Manhattan, and Hoboken.
Lisa is an avid animal lover, and volunteers for Shiba Inu rescue, fosters dogs, and helps moderate a global Shiba Inu group of over 20,000 members.
Lisa owns and operates a company that provides professional face and body art to clients in RI, CT, and MA.

Lisa is the Marketing Manager at The Business Development Company, where she has introduced a more edgy and creative approach to marketing our lending services. Working closely with our President, our unique advertising is the result of their collaboration.

Lisa is also the owner and lead artist of RI Face and Body Art Co. which provides professionally trained and insured artists for family, community, and organizational events in Southern New England. In addition, her company regularly volunteers her services for The Meeting Street School telethon, The Hasbro Radiothon, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Maddie Potts Foundation, Camp Tomorrow, and other organizations.

Motivated by opportunities to inspire others in pursuit of creative careers, Lisa served on the Community Advisory Board of the Ponaganset High School Visual Arts Pathway, and also served as a member of the Advisory Council for the R.I.S.E. Women’s Leadership Conference.

Lisa resides in Greenville, RI with her husband, two college-aged children, and two Shiba Inus.

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