Rich started his career in law enforcement as a police officer, trainer, investigator and evidence technician. He has more than 20 years of human resources, education, and professional development experience. He previously served as the Vice President of Training and Professional Development for a national security company, the Director of Community Education for a community College in northern Illinois, an Internal Business Consultant with a high tech manufacturer, and as a Department Chair at a for-profit college. He has served clients in manufacturing, service, retail, hi-tech, higher education, finance, medical, and many other fields.

Rich earned his Masters Degree at Northern Illinois University in Continuing Adult Education, and his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University in Workforce Development and Training. He earned a certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and is credentialed through the State of Colorado as a College Instructor.

Rich is the President of the Pikes Peaks Chapter of The American Society for Training & Development, and a member of the national association. He is an active member of local and national associations of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).  Rich has also served as a board member on various other community groups and trade associations including the Chairman of the Lake County (IL) Gang Prevention Task Force, the chair of the Lake County (IL) "Stayin' Alive" Traffic Safety Task Force, and the Executive Director of the Human Resource Development Institute (HRDI), a program of the Chicagoland Chapter of ASTD.

In his spare time, Rich works as a certified, bi-lingual auctioneer with Success-Auctions in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is one of the first two Certified Benefit Auctioneer Specialists (BAS) in all of Colorado, and one of less than 75 in the nation. He is on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Auctioneers Association.