RWU Alumni Honored in PBN’s 2024 40 Under Forty Awards

BRISTOL, R.I. - Two Roger Williams University alumni have been selected as winners in this year's Providence Business News 40 Under Forty awards.

These young professionals - a graduate of the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business and an alum of the RWU School of Law - were recognized for their career success and community involvement. The honorees will receive their awards on July 18 at the Aldrich Mansion in Warwick.

The RWU alumni who made the 2024 40 Under Forty list include:

Katie Delehanty '07, Bachelor of Science in Business Management
Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Customer First Corporation

Delehanty co-owns Customer First Corporation, a U.S. federal contracting firm that predominantly serves the U.S. Navy and provides management consulting and engineering-adjacent services in emerging technologies. As co-founder and co-CEO, Delehanty oversees complex projects for the U.S. Navy, ensuring that all phases from planning to execution are meticulously managed. Project management is a critical aspect of her role as she defines objectives, organizes resources, and ensures the successful completion of projects on time and within budget, following best practices. The firm identifies program risks, opportunities, strengths and weaknesses, and engages with Navy leadership, government agency partners, industry, and engineering teams to implement solutions and execute strategies that accelerate team performance while ensuring stakeholder alignment.

"It is a privilege to be selected by Providence Business News for the 40 Under Forty program. PBN evaluates a person's professional and personal contributions to work and philanthropy, and I am grateful to be surrounded by esteemed fellow awardees. This award gives me a boost to keep on pursuing my goals and strive beyond them. As a student-athlete at RWU, I was immediately involved in the athletic community, which provided me with a strong foundation for leadership, communication, and a desire to succeed. The knowledge and support I received in the classroom and athletics laid the groundwork for me to enter the workforce with the resources, mindset, and confidence necessary to pursue my goals."

Michael Mineau L'09, Juris Doctor
Counsel, Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP

As counsel in Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP's Transactional and Litigation Practice Groups, Mineau specializes in commercial real estate transactions, land use and development, and real estate-related litigation. He represents real estate developers, landlords, tenants, and investors in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, handling all aspects of deals such as acquisitions, leasing, zoning, and title issues. Mineau has significant experience in real estate litigation, including boundary disputes, adverse possession, contract breaches, and zoning appeals. He has extensive first-chair trial experience in the Rhode Island Superior Court and Massachusetts Land Court and has handled appeals to the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Additionally, Mineau is active in the community, serving on the Portsmouth Economic Development Committee, the Roger Williams University Real Estate Advisory Board, and the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission. He is also involved with Portsmouth Little League, where he has been a board member and secretary since 2019.

"Receiving this award is a tremendous honor for me, and I am extremely thankful for all of the instruction, mentoring, and support of the RWU faculty, administration, and my fellow colleagues for helping to shape me into the attorney I am today. Despite the rigors and challenges of pursuing a law degree and starting out as a young attorney, the RWU Law program was an overwhelmingly positive experience, and I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend RWU. Some of my most memorable and impactful experiences at RWU Law were in the many course offerings taught by accomplished adjunct faculty, including numerous judges and practicing attorneys. Being able to join the university's Real Estate Advisory Board and contribute to the new multidisciplinary Real Estate program has been very rewarding."