Class of 2006
Richard E. Beaupre was born and raised in Providence and attended the University of Rhode Island where he earned a graduate degree in Chemistry. He holds a number of patents in the field of photopolymers, which are used in the manufacture of printed circuit boards worldwide.
In 1976, Richard founded ChemArt in a small facility in East Providence. By the late 1970s the company had outgrown its plant and thus purchased land and constructed a larger facility in Lincoln. An adjacent manufacturing and processing building was added in 1997.
ChemArt is now the world’s largest and only vertically integrated manufacturer of photoetched decorative brass collectibles. Last year, the company was featured on John Ratzenberger’s Made in America program on the Travel Channel.
In 1981, ChemArt began to manufacture the official White House Christmas ornament sponsored by the White House Historical Association. Ornaments for the Association are based on a presidential administration starting with George Washington and following with each successive President. This program has grown to be the largest selling single ornament in the country.
Beaupre is directly involved in the White House ornament program. His love for art and passion for history fuel his desire each year to produce a concept based on historical research. Together with his art director, they develop ideas, themes, and finally a number of designs that are submitted to the executive committee, who select the final design. ChemArt also manufactures ornament programs for colleges, universities, and various fundraising groups such as churches, charities and schools.
ChemArt has 100 full time employees and that number doubles during the peak seasons. Beaupre’s success and leadership was recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration in 1998 when he was named the Small Business Person of the Year for Rhode Island and the New England region.
Richard Beaupre is a strong believer in giving back to the community. In response to the challenges he faced while attending the University of Rhode Island and raising a family, he has established the Beaupre Family Scholarship at URI to assist married students with children. He also established and endowed the Hope and Heritage Fund at the university to assist students in pursuing off campus activities in the furtherance of their education. For his generosity and commitment to education, the University of Rhode Island awarded Richard an honorary Doctor of Arts in 2003.
Beaupre serves as president of the Photochemical Machining Institute and has been a member of the board of directors for the past 25 years. He is a trustee of the William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School, a member of the board of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, and serves on the Arts and Sciences Advisory Board for the University of Rhode Island.
