Rich is a Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, as well as a Energy and Housing Specialist. Rich has been the Cooperative Extension Service "Energy guy” at UAF in Fairbanks for 27 years.
He has a Bachelor's degree in Physics from West Chester State University in Pennsylvania, and a Master's Degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Alaska. He has lived in Fairbanks 39 years, save for one year (1985-86) when he was a Fulbright Scholar at the Technical University of Norway, in Trondheim Norway.
Recently he has focused much scholarship and interest in Sustainable Communities and the looming prospect of peak world oil production (“Peak Oil”) and how it will affect our lives.
His skill set relevant to the Fairbanks Community Cooperative Market includes:
- Service on several statewide non-profit boards with budgets of up to one million dollars.
- Long and deep experience in public education and outreach, a necessary aspect of Cooperative management and oversight.
- A lifelong interest and commitment to cooperatives and their style of operation.
- A deep concern for Fairbanks Community food security and ties with the Cooperative Extension Service that addresses these important issues with information and education.
- Connections to possible funding and investment options for capitalizing the cooperative.