After earning a B.S. in Civil Engineering at Swarthmore College and an M.B.A. at Cornell University, Rich served for 50 years with the U.S. Public Health Service, assigned to the Indian Health Service.   In several assignments throughout the country, he worked with Indian Tribes and communities to plan, design, and construct water and sewage systems and healthcare facilities.  To assist with his work along the way, he earned graduate certificates in dispute resolution from Willamette University’s College of Law and executive leadership from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.  Rich maintains his license as a Professional Engineer in Oregon and Alaska.

Rich’s previous volunteer experience includes serving as a Big Brother; boys’ and girls’ basketball coach; advisor in setting up bookkeeping system for tenant farmers’ cooperative; English tutor for Laotian immigrants; boards of 3 churches; member of Development Review Board in Wilsonville; member of West Linn/Wilsonville School District Budget Committee; and Board Chair for Wilsonville Community Sharing (food bank and social services).   He and his wife also participated in two previous builds for NWVHFH.  Rich and his wife Toni Avery, live in Wilsonville, where they enjoy spending time with their four daughters and four grandsons.