User:Brichards2014

Bret A Richards, Ph.D.

Profile My career through military service, private ventures, boards of directors, and other leadership positions have given me a broad spectrum of experiences. These life experiences combined with my diverse educational background have provided me exceptional leadership abilities in implementing strategies for increased performance, analytics, and team building. I am a self- starter with a strong work ethic who consistently achieves goals.

Academic Preparation Ph.D. Human Capital Management, Bellevue University, Bellevue NE, November, 2014 Dissertation: A Qualitative Analysis of Knowledge Sharing: A Grounded Theory Study Examination of Knowledge Sharing. Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Moss Breen

M.A. Leadership, Bellevue University, Bellevue, NE, January, 2008

B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, May, 1995

Research Interests Knowledge Sharing, Knowledge Management, Intellectual Capital and Company Performance, Leadership, Senior Management and Board of Director Relationships, Human Capital Management, and Human Capital Analytics

Professional Experience Richards Enterprises 1999 to Present

Chief Operations Officer P&L responsibility for 15 companies with revenues over 50 million, responsible for strategic planning and operations for three divisions and other minor business units. •	Retail Division Retail Division of 12 Convenience Stores employs over 200 people. This division markets daily to 8500 customers. •	Wholesale Division Wholesale division markets to petroleum dealers in southwest Iowa. •	Transportation Division Successfully developed business model for this division. Ensure the safe and profitable ongoing operations. General and specific responsibilities for Training and Development of all employees •	Developed Leadership Academy for company managers. •	Oversee ongoing training and deployment of all company personnel to ensure compliance with state and local laws and alignment of the companies’ strategic

Develop and implemented strategic business creation strategies. •	Implemented a new Foodservice operation, which increased sales 200%. •	Created behavior based interviewing protocol that resulted in years of turnover significantly below industry levels •	Responsible for all vendor negotiations •	Responsible for environmental issues and coordination with governmental entities and contractors.

United States Army 1995 to 1999

Combat Engineer Officer Logistics and Transportation Officer •	Coordinate and supervised all logistical and service requirements for a battalion forward deployed in Germany. •	Property book officer accountable for over $48 million of property •	Facility manager for over 25 buildings totaling over 220,000 square feet. •	Budget Controller managing a one million dollar budget Platoon Leader •	Assault and Obstacle Platoon in a corps mechanized combat engineer company forward deployed in the Federal Republic of Germany. •	Responsible for the training of a 29 soldier platoon •	Provide support to national and multi-national forces Assistant Operations Officer •	Provide coordination and synchronization for all Battalion (500 soldiers) operations •	Formulate, staff, and implement operations plans, orders, and programs of instructions to execute training exercises •	Responsible for the Battalions Tactical Operations Center

Academic Activity and Professional Publications Reviewer Western Academy of Management Conference Papers 2014 Richards, B., & Moss-Breen, J. (2014). The truth about knowledge sharing – how do our motivations impact the knowledge sharing event? Paper presented at the Western Academy of Management 2014 Conference, Napa, California. Richards, B. (2010a). Revised renewable fuel standard (RFS2), new RIN reporting requirements (EMTS), and new fuel supplier demands stress renewable fuel blenders. Georgia Petroleum Marketer, 64(14), 22-30. Richards, B. (2010b). Revised renewable fuel standard (RFS2), new RIN reporting requirements (EMTS), and new fuel supplier demands stress renewable fuel blenders. Iowa Oil Spout, 84(1), 14-17.

Professional Affiliations Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC), Board of Directors 2011 to Present As a trustee of a MRHC, I provide strategic leadership and governance for 17-bed Critical Access Hospital, 56-bed long-term care facility, 13-bed Recovery Center, and Physicians Clinic.

Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa (PMCI), Board of Directors 2007 to Present As a member of the Board of directors for PMCI I provide a voice for my peers in the state of Iowa on the shaping of the direction of the industry. Served on numerous committees and responsibilities for coordinating with peers and other policymakers.

Petroleum Marketers Association of America, Board of Directors (PMAA) 2008 to 2011 I was chosen by the leaders of the petroleum and convenience store industry in Iowa to represent Iowans on the national level. I provided leadership and strategic vision that helped shape the industry for decades. While serving on the PMAA board I convinced the 48-person board that represents over 60,000 retail and industry members to create an Alternative Fuels taskforce. The taskforce’s goal was and is to help create legislation and regulations to proactively address the new issues that alternative and renewable fuels are creating in our nation. I became the first PMAA Alternative fuels taskforce chairman, providing leadership to a diverse group of marketers from across the nation. The taskforce has become an integral part of PMAA’s efforts to drive national policy.

Volunteer Activities I enjoy participating in the community and working with volunteer and charity organizations. Examples of such volunteer work are as follows: •	Mayor and Councilmember of the City of Irwin. •	Chair of Irwin Quasquicentennial Celebration •	Co-chair of Irwin Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) Committee •	School Improvement Advisory Committee – Provide direction to School Board and School Administrators on academic standards, etc.