Rich is a Process Improvement Manager. Based in Las Vegas, he has been with the company since 2025.
How he got his start: Before joining Shepard, his background was rooted in sales operations, business analytics, and process improvement—making this his first experience in the exhibitor services world. “You know, we’ve all been to events, but you don’t really think about the people who put it all together,” he shared. “It really opened my eyes.” After connecting with a few team members during the hiring process, he felt energized about the opportunity and knew he wanted to contribute to the work happening here at Shepard.
What he loves about his line of work: For him, process improvement is far from repetitive. “The inconsistent consistencies,” he laughs. “The excitement of having to come up with new ways of doing business—it’s really exciting to be on the ground level. I love how different it is every day.” The constantly shifting nature of the industry keeps his skills sharp. “I never know what’s going to come across my desk—in a really good way.”
His most memorable moments working at Shepard: He describes his first weeks as “drinking from a firehose,” but in a way that fueled his learning curve. “You just wake up one day and someone says something, and it clicks.” The fast-paced introduction to the events world left a lasting impact, as did the long hours onsite. Seeing what the team can accomplish—even under pressure—has been monumental. “It’s amazing to know you’re part of the solution.”
Why he loves working at Shepard: Without hesitation: “The people. I get to work with some of the smartest, most pleasant people,” he said. He shared that one of the standout qualities of Shepard’s culture is the willingness to help—no ego, no ‘that’s not my job.’ “That all-hands-on-deck mentality is what I love most.”
His path into process improvement and what continues to motivate him in this work: What drew him to process improvement is the limitless nature of the work. “The possibilities are endless. The way you build on it is incremental—improvements on top of improvements. It’s like we’re becoming super people,” he jokes. The role gives him a deep, end-to-end understanding of the business, which continues to motivate him.
What his day-to-day looks like: “It depends on what minute it is in the day,” he jokes. His work ranges from developing solutions, to gathering insights, to collaborating across departments to evolve capabilities. Maintaining excitement and curiosity, no matter the task, is what keeps everything moving.
Something people might be surprised to learn about his role: Something people may not know is that I’m touching processes end to end—from marketing to sales all the way through accounting.” Process improvement at Shepard requires a holistic view of how every department connects.
Looking ahead: what he’s excited to develop this year: He’s looking forward to continuing to refine collections activity and building a strong, successful process around it—one that supports teams across the business.
How he spends his free time: “I love to read—I’m always asking people for good book recommendations.” Outside of work, he enjoys walking his dogs to clear his mind and taking advantage of everything Las Vegas has to offer.
The advice he would give his younger self: “Take pride in the work you do, get involved, and give it your all—it pays off.” He believes that when you do right by the company and the people you work alongside, it always comes back around. “If you send out good, you get good back.”
