Rich grew up in Mali, West Africa and has lived in 5 different countries throughout his life. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois with his wife Gina. They have two grown children. 

Rich has been part of starting and managing social change organizations for the past 25 years, where he has successfully combined academic rigor with practical management for the creation of sustainable solutions to the challenges and opportunities found around the world today. Rich is a faculty member of The Fund Raising School at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, USA. 

He is also a faculty member of the Andrews University International Development Program, where he teaches NGO management to international Masters students at sites around the globe. 

Through his own consultancy, AVENIR Consulting, he focuses on fundraising, organizational startup, turnaround, management, as well as blended value structures ranging from nonprofit earned income programing to inclusive social business strategies. 

Rich is a graduate of Laval University, Québec City, Canada, and holds an earned PhD in Philanthropic Studies from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, USA.