Discover Newport Board of Directors Announces New Board Chair and Six New Appointees
Newport (R.I.) December 9, 2025 – Discover Newport has named Matthew Gray, President of Gray Matter Marketing and Owner of Ragged Island Brewing Co., as Chair of the Board. Gray has represented Portsmouth since 2019 and previously served as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. A Newport native and long-time champion of the region’s small business community, he brings deep experience in tourism, events, and community leadership.
Discover Newport also announces six new board appointees:
Joanna Arrighie, Director of Sales & Marketing, Newport Marriott Hotel & Spa (Hotels 100+ rooms)
Rebecca Bertrand, Executive Director, Newport Historical Society (City of Newport)
Kajsa Kempenaar, Vice President, Kempenaar Real Estate, Inc. (Middletown)
Kevin O’Leary, Director of Marketing, Preservation Society of Newport County (Middletown)
Molly McGlew, Strategy Director, Code and Theory (Little Compton)
Andrew Ross, Managing Director, The Brenton Hotel (Hotels <100 rooms)
“These appointees bring significant leadership and industry expertise that will strengthen our board and advance our mission,” said Discover Newport President & CEO Victoria Cimino.
Arrighie brings two decades of hospitality sales and marketing experience and will serve as Chairwoman of the Tourism Improvement District (TID) Committee. Bertrand leads the Newport Historical Society and is an active voice in cultural preservation statewide. Kempenaar has spent 25 years managing her family’s hotel portfolio in Newport and Middletown. McGlew is a senior digital strategist with a decade of experience across leading global media brands. O’Leary brings deep marketing and business development expertise from both nonprofit and national agency roles. Ross is a seasoned luxury hospitality leader currently overseeing Newport’s Brenton Hotel.
The Discover Newport Board of Directors includes 18 members with representation from the nine municipalities within Newport and Bristol Counties and five specific industry appointments.
###
ABOUT DISCOVER NEWPORT
Discover Newport is the official destination management organization (DMO) dedicated to promoting the City of Newport and the eight surrounding coastal townships in Newport and Bristol counties, Rhode Island. These include Barrington, Bristol, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Warren. As a non-profit organization, Discover Newport partners with stakeholders throughout our tourism and hospitality industry to market the region as a premier destination for business and leisure travel.
