Richard serves as Chief of Staff at the Center for Collaborative Democracy, where he advances the organization’s mission to strengthen civic engagement and foster more inclusive, participatory systems of governance. A seasoned strategist and executive with more than three decades of experience, Richard brings deep expertise in strategic planning, organizational transformation, operational excellence, board development, and growth consulting across the nonprofit, civic, and corporate sectors.
Richard has advised and guided growth initiatives for organizations including the ACLU of Minnesota, Legal Rights Center, YWCA of Minneapolis, Children’s Defense Fund, Indian Child Welfare Act Law Center, Bridging, and Books for Africa. Recently, he led client and business development initiatives for Spark-Y: Youth Action Labs, building philanthropic and institutional partnerships to empower youth through sustainability education and workforce training.
Earlier in his career, Richard founded The Launch Crew LLC, a consultancy providing fractional CMO/CRO and marketing innovation services to nonprofits, start-ups, and Fortune 500 companies such as Learning Outfitters, Motorious, AARP, General Mills, UnitedHealth Group, and Target. Prior to founding The Launch Crew, Richard served in executive leadership roles at several global branding and marketing agencies including divisions of Young & Rubicam/WPP.
Equally committed to community leadership, Richard is Vice Chair of the Center for Purposeful Leadership board and has served on boards and committees for Rainbow Health, Zenon Dance Company, Project Diva, House of Charity, and Harlem Dowling in New York City. His work is consistently guided by a passion for equity, belonging, and purpose-driven leadership.
Richard studied Social Psychology and Journalism at the University of Minnesota and has completed graduate certificates in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and digital strategy at the University of St. Thomas and recently completed graduate coursework at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs.