Richard graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1988 with a BA in Administrative and Commercial Studies then went on to obtain a professional Certified Management Accounting designation after four intensive years of combining work and school in 1992. His career experience includes Transport Canada, Peterbilt, Golden Mill Bakery, Velcro Canada and Trophy Foods, as well as the Regional Municipality of Niagara for almost 16 years. Personal interests include writing, listening to music, watching movies and playing hockey.  Also, in 2012, he self-published the most comprehensive book ever done about the 1972 Canada-USSR Summit Series that took 10 years to research and write. He works with the Geospatial Niagara board as Treasurer, and is happy to help contribute its success.