Prior to starting his own business, Rick led international consulting and training organizations for Omega Performance Corporation, Digital Equipment Corporation and the University of Maryland.
He received his Ph.D. in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation from Syracuse University in 1980. Rick's current research focuses on improved techniques for involving the whole system to achieve sustainable, ongoing improvement. His most recent presentation of this work was to the Learning Company Conference (March, 1999) at the University of Warwick (UK) on "Whole System transformation through Learning in Action." His most recent publication is "Future search, follow-up and the cycle of organizational learning and change," in Future Searching (16), Summer 1999.

Rick has led successful initiatives to change performance in retail, manufacturing and professional service organizations of all sizes. Among his recent clients are Halifax plc (UK), McDonald's, SmithKline Beecham (UK/US), Johnson and Johnson, and National Starch.

His work in organizational change for the Halifax, plc won international recognition as the winner of the Learning Organization Award from UNISYS and Management Today. He is an associate of the Center for Organizational Fitness and a member of the international Future Search Network.