Avi Nevel is an entrepreneurial senior executive with more than 25 years of broad international business experience. He is skilled in strategic planning, business origination, management and expansion; and international sales and marketing.  Mr. Nevel currently serves as President and CEO of Nevel International, a Providence-based international consulting firm, which he founded in 2006. He is also the President and CEO of the Rhode Island Israel Collaborative, RIIC, a non for profit Chamber of Commerce, which he founded in 2016.   
 
Prior to founding Nevel International, Mr. Nevel served as Co-owner, CEO, and President of Lawson-Hemphill, a manufacturer of precision instruments and quality control laboratory equipment for the textiles industry.  His company’s products were sold worldwide.
 
Mr. Nevel has received 12 U.S. and foreign patents, several awards for excellence in business, personal achievement, and exportation, and numerous prestigious board and committee appointments here and abroad. Among the accolades he has received are the Presidential “E” Award, in 1987, and the Presidential “E-STAR” Award in 1991, both from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the “Exporter of the Year” Award from the RI Small Business Administration in 2000 and  the “Honor Award” in 2010 from the Consulate General of Israel to New England, for his remarkable work in supporting stronger economic collaboration between Israel & New England. 
 
Mr. Nevel served on the board of  Shenkar College of Design and Engineering in Israel, was Chair of the Israel Task Force Committee at the Jewish Alliance of Rhode Island, and is on the Executive Board of the New England Israel Business Council (NEIBC) and Rhode Island World Trade Day Committee and in 1997, was appointed member of the Connecticut/Rhode Island District Export Council.  In 2012. Mr. Nevel was appointed as Vice Chair of the Rhode Island District Export Council, (RI DEC) and was an Executive Board Member of the Providence Chamber of Commerce.  

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In  2024 Mr. NeveL received the   John Hazen White, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award during the 38th World Trade Day event at Bryant University in Smithfield ,Rhode Island. This award recognizes exceptional individual contribution to international trade, as well outstanding dedication and leadership fostering global connections and advancing international trade.

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In 2023, at the Go Global 2023 Awards ceremony November 7th which was, attended by 500 people from 83 countries, in Providence, RI, the Rhode Island Israel Collaborative (RIIC) was the recipient of the coveted Bilateral Trade Association of the Year Award .

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In 2020, Mr. Nevel was recognized by Providence Business News as one of the top 25 leaders & achievers in Rhode Island.

In 2019, was awarded Honorary Rhode Island Economic Ambassador by Lt. Governor, Dan McKee. In 2020 was appointed to the Advisory Board of the RIHub, the organization was his brainchild.

In 2021, Governor Dan McKee awarded Certificate of Special Recognition to Mr. Nevel on the behalf of the Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative (RIIC).

Mr. Nevel assists the Rhode Island International Trade Director and Rhode Island Commerce in international matters and  works closely with U.S. Commerce posts around the world.
 
In 2011, Mr Nevel co-organized the first Rhode Island economic mission to Israel which was followed by the first Rhode Island Health Care and Life Science mission to Israel in 2013 , 2016 and organized a virtual misson in 2021.
 
Further, Mr. Nevel was the key organizer and coordinator for the 2013 state of Connecticut business mission led by Commissioner Catherine Smith.

In 2019,  assisted and joined Rhode Island Governor, Gina Raimondo on the first-ever visit to Rhode Island of a seated Rhode Island govenor.
 
Mr. Nevel received his bachelor degree from Shenkar College of Design and Engineering in Israel.
 
Mr. Nevel was born in Israel and has lived in Providence, Rhode Island, for over 30 years with his wife Dr. Laura Nevel.   
 
 
Contact Info:
Email: anevel@theriic.org