Following his graduation from Purdue in 1980, with a degree in Chemical Engineering, Richard took a job with Phillips 66 Company in Pasadena, Texas. His 26-year career with Phillips, now ConocoPhillips has taken him around the world and placed him in charge of several billion-dollar projects. As a vice president he is currently heading the future capital projects program in Australia and the Timor. The venture centers on liquefied natural gas, which is an alternative to using gas pipelines and has been a new focus for the energy giant ConocoPhillips. From 1999-2004 he was the project and construction manager for a $1.3 billion dollar contract executed in Venezuela that employed a labor workforce of over 7000 people. While in Venezuela, he served as president of the school board at an international school in Puerto La Cruz. Despite his travels, Richard has remained active, including holding the positions of deacon at his church and president of his community association in Houston. While in Chagrin, he lettered in cross-country and track, and was awarded the Bausch & Lomb Science Award. Richard fondly remembers Skip Riegel his scoutmaster and former Sands Elementary principal. Under Mr. Riegel’s leadership he went on to earn his Eagle Scout rank and then work as a scout camp counselor for five summers in high school and college. Richard also enjoyed the time he spent in four years of high school musicals working under Harold Loesch and Molly Macknin. He credits the Chagrin Falls School System and Purdue University for providing him with a solid educational foundation. Richard relies upon his faith to persevere through the difficult times. He is grateful to his wife Paula of 23 years and their three great kids; Ben, Sarah and Jordan for their support. In his free time Richard enjoys golf, although not a golfer, travel, hunting, fishing and reading.