Scott Aceto, John Willette, Ronnie Papa | Founding Partners of Smith & Oak Real Estate Co.
Smith & Oak Real Estate Co. was built through the work itself: difficult transactions, high-stakes client decisions, evolving markets, and a shared belief that real estate representation should be more strategic, more accountable, and more useful to the people it serves.
The company’s Rhode Island foundation began in Providence with Scott Aceto, who founded RIISE Realty as a locally focused real estate company serving the Providence market. Scott built the original platform through relationships, local market knowledge, and a commitment to helping clients navigate real estate decisions with greater confidence and clarity.
As the company’s ambitions, capabilities, and market reach expanded, Scott joined forces with John Willette and Ronnie Papa to build something larger: Smith & Oak Real Estate Co.
The transition from RIISE Realty to Smith & Oak was not simply a rebrand. It represented the evolution of a local brokerage into a multi-market real estate platform built around disciplined strategy, elevated service, stronger systems, and a long-term vision for clients, advisors, and communities.
John Willette, Ronnie Papa, and Scott Aceto bring distinct strengths to the same mission: create better outcomes for clients while building a company where ambitious people can develop meaningful careers and lasting opportunities.
John Willette leads Smith & Oak Greater Boston and specializes in luxury residential real estate, new construction, strategic seller representation, multifamily properties, buyer advisory, and the repositioning of properties that require more than conventional market exposure.
Ronnie Papa specializes in commercial real estate, investment properties, complex residential transactions, income-producing assets, strategic financing considerations, and value-creation strategies that protect clients in complicated transactions.
Scott Aceto brings the Providence-market foundation that helped establish the company’s first operating base. His experience, relationships, and commitment to Rhode Island real estate created the platform from which Smith & Oak Rhode Island continues to grow.
Together, the partners are building a company that treats every important real estate decision as a strategic assignment—not a commodity transaction.
Smith & Oak Rhode Island was built from the foundation Scott Aceto established in Providence through RIISE Realty.
Today, the Rhode Island operation serves buyers, sellers, investors, builders, and business owners throughout the state, with experience spanning residential real estate, luxury homes, multifamily properties, commercial assets, investment opportunities, and strategic seller representation.
The objective was never to create another brokerage office.
The objective was to build a company with a recognizable standard—one where clients understand what they are receiving, advisors understand what is expected, and every transaction is handled with preparation, accountability, and purpose.
Smith & Oak is actively expanding across Massachusetts while establishing the relationships, systems, and market infrastructure necessary for future growth into Connecticut and Florida.
That expansion will be deliberate.
The company will not enter markets simply to place its name on a map. Each new location must be supported by the right people, local expertise, operating standards, client demand, and systems capable of delivering a consistent Smith & Oak experience.
The ambition is significant: to become one of the most respected real estate companies in the world.
The path is practical.
One client served correctly.
One advisor developed properly.
One system documented.
One market entered with intention.
One reputation earned at a time.
Smith & Oak is built on high standards without ego.
We believe in preparation before performance.
We believe in strategy before exposure.
We believe in direct communication and honest feedback.
We believe in protecting the client’s position, especially when the transaction becomes difficult.
We believe in challenging our people while giving them the structure and support to succeed.
And we believe lasting success requires humility, accountability, and a commitment to doing the right thing when no one is watching.
Smith & Oak is not here to be another real estate company.
It is here to build better outcomes, better careers, better systems, and lasting value for the people who trust us.
For those who expect more than a sign in the yard.
