Thank You, Scott: Reflecting on 27 Years of Smart Growth Leadership
Scott Wolf to Step Down as Executive Director of Grow Smart RI at the End of 2026
For more than 27 years, Scott Wolf has been the heart of Grow Smart RI — a tireless advocate, a trusted voice, and a friend to everyone who cares about building a better Rhode Island. It is with mixed emotions that we share Scott’s plans to step down as Executive Director at the end of December 2026.
Scott leaves behind a legacy that has genuinely changed the shape of Rhode Island. Under his leadership, GSRI has successfully worked to enhance Rhode Islanders’ economic mobility and neighborhoods, as well as their access to affordable housing and transportation. He leaves with plans to keep building on this work in the next chapter of his career.
“I’m proud of the impact Grow Smart RI has made during my tenure,” Scott said. “We’ve helped Rhode Island capitalize on our outstanding physical and natural assets. Our efforts have substantially improved the quality of daily life in our State.”
Among his proudest achievements is GSRI’s decades-long role promoting the State Historic Tax Credit, which Scott calls “the most powerful economic and community development tool for RI during the last quarter century.” He’s also particularly proud of the work done alongside transportation policy leader John Flaherty to develop the Transit Master Plan, and the impact of our Main Street RI program growing under the skilled leadership of Deputy Director Jillian Finkle.
Scott has been and continues to be a connector in the deepest sense — serving on the State Planning Council, the State House of Representatives’ Commission on Housing Affordability, the Housing Works RI Advisory Board, and Smart Growth America’s Board for 18 years, consistently bringing national best practices home to Rhode Island.
Scott is confident in the future of Grow Smart RI as it enters into this new chapter and is committed to helping find strong new leadership. He is actively supporting the search.
The GSRI Board has established a five-member Executive Director Search Committee and prepared a comprehensive job description. If you know someone who would be a wonderful steward of this organization and its mission, we’d be grateful if you’d pass it along.
“Under Scott’s leadership, Grow Smart RI has been a leading voice for revitalization of urban and town centers, strong transportation systems, thoughtful land use, and protection of the state’s many assets. Scott has been an instrumental player in advancing smart growth principles in the State. There is no doubt he is and will continue to be an inspiring force of good for RI communities.”
— Nick Roach, Chair of GSRI Board of Directors
Interested Executive Director candidates can apply by sending both a resume and cover letter to the GSRI Search Committee, gsri.search@gmail.com.