Rick Ferris started his professional career as a United States Marine and was honorably discharged from active duty as a non-commissioned officer after completing his years of service. While in the Marine Corps Rick worked in the information technology field and gained much international experience having spent time in several southeast Asian countries setting up and maintaining proprietary military networks. Rick’s next role was as an information technology manager for a large non-profit organization in Dayton Ohio where he worked for almost 10 years.  During this time Rick earned his associate and bachelor’s degrees in management and started consulting on projects with other organizations.  For the next decade or so Rick spent his time working in sales of information technology products and services, teaching at the local community college, and going to school for his MBA. During this time Rick worked hundreds of consulting projects in information technology, operations, and employee training and development.

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In 2009 Rick returned to education full-time to earn his PhD.  Rick has worked in higher education since, currently serving as an Associate Professor of Business and Digital Marketing Program Director at the University of Charleston. Rick also serves on several community Boards and helps out in the community in other ways on a regular basis.  He currently serves on the executive committee of the Elk River Trail Foundation and is a UC Builders board member.  During this time Rick has expanded his international experience traveling to Europe, South America, the middle east, and back to southeast Asia on business. Rick suggests that his single greatest professional accomplishment occurred during a business trip to Vietnam. Ask him about it! 

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During the 2000s Rick has worked with hundreds of businesses to solve complex computer and operational problems while in the information technology field and has since worked with many more businesses on organizational assessment, employee development and training, and on business forecasting and strategic planning. Rick says about this venture at Charleston Management Consultants, “I look forward to spending more time in the field helping my business friends and making new ones”. During his free time Rick likes outdoor recreation including hiking, fishing, and pickleball.

 

To learn more about Rick please visit: www.linkedin.com/in/rickferris