For over 25 years, Ric has held executive positions in several coffee and tea firms. He is an experienced professional with a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry. Most recently Ric served as the executive director of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) for over a decade.

Prior to joining the SCA, Ric was the chief operating officer of Groundwork Coffee Co, a specialty coffee roaster and tea purveyor based in Los Angeles, California. Before joining Groundwork in 2002, he was the president of R2 Consultants, a management consulting firm specializing in the coffee and tea industries. Ric also previously held the position of coffee & tea specialist at Cafe Au Lait and worked extensively for Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in the food and beverage departments.