Our History

Rite-Solutions, Inc. an employee-centric, service-disabled veteran-owned business was founded in 2000 and has grown today into an award-winning, nationally-acclaimed business innovation leader providing high-end quality products and high-value services.  Rite-Solutions had its genesis with three long-time colleagues, Jim Lavoie, Joe Marino, and Linda Edwards.  Working side by side for 20 years, they grew their previous company to more than 1700 people.   Jim and Joe focused on business growth and line management, while Linda supported the company’s contracts and finance components.  In 1999, the company was acquired by a larger defense company.  Shortly thereafter, the three friends discovered they missed the small business environment and decided to embark on a second career.  Having spent the majority of their careers in a typical highly-structured, hierarchical command and control organization, they sought to create a new business paradigm – an environment where all employees are free to express their ideas whatever their position and where innovation is the rule of the day.

With a small cadre of employees, one customer (the Oneida Indian Nation) and no contracts, Rite-Solutions was born in Middletown, RI.  As word of the new company spread, it attracted the attention of some very innovative and talented engineers who had previously worked with this trio.  The company quickly grew to more than 30 people in the first year.  Not only did the fledgling company attract personnel who had a particular affinity for the type of organization being created, the company also began to attract the attention of nationally-renowned undersea warfare experts, who having completed successful careers, still had a desire to actively contribute to that domain.   The following year the company was awarded a GSA contract and gained substantial subcontract work with other local defense contractors while continuing to grow their commercial projects.  In 2004, Rite-Solutions was awarded a Seaport Enhanced contract by NAVSEA and won several Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards.  It was at this time that Rite-Solutions began to gain the attention of some of the top leaders in innovative thought.   Jim was invited to be a featured storyteller at the first Business Innovation Factory (BIF) conference in 2005, and the following year he and Joe were again invited to present. Their presentation included a duet of a bureaucracy parody called “In A Box, There’s No Room For Two.”

In 2006, Rite-Solutions began receiving a string of awards and recognition for the business including the Rhode Island Excellence in Technology Application, Excellence in Business Award, New England Veteran-Owned Small Business Award, Rhode Island Veteran-Owned Small Business Award, the Pro Patria Award, and the Newport County Chamber of Commerce Large Business of the Year Award.

Rite-Solutions’ accomplishments have evolved into a strong, balanced business base in Navy Undersea Warfare programs, commercial entertainment contracts and child safety programs.  In 2010, Rite-Solutions was awarded a $73 million Phase III SBIR contract for work on the Combat Systems of the Future.  The company’s customers include the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Naval Sea Systems Command, Office of Naval Research, Raytheon, Oneida Indian Nation, Hasbro, and General Dynamics.  

Today the company employs more than 150 individuals, the majority of whom are software engineers, advanced degree scientists, systems engineers, and naval warfare experts.

All companies are on a journey. Most companies are on a path that has been defined by others – well worn, safe, and predictable.  Rite-Solutions chooses to forge its own road towards a destination that it creates.