Rick Richardson Joins CEC as New Chief Financial Officer

Rick Richardson
Chief Financial Officer
412.249.1590
rrichardson@cecinc.com

CEC is pleased to welcome Rick Richardson as our new Chief Financial Officer. For the vast majority of his 30-year career, Rick has worked for professional services organizations, including seven years as a client-facing consultant. He has extensive experience in budgeting, financial analysis, risk management, and strategic planning, and he has worked closely with accountants, business leaders, and project managers to review operational performance and ensure proper revenue recognition.

Rick’s experience with accounting functions, financial reporting, and information technology will help ensure CEC is optimizing its resources, and he will be instrumental in ensuring CEC’s seamless transition into an upgraded version of its project management and accounting software beginning later this year.

Among his daily functions, Rick also will work closely with CEC’s senior leadership as the firm explores ways to increase growth and become increasingly successful. He assumes the role of longtime CFO Harry Soose, Jr., who is retiring after 14 years of service to CEC.

“It’s important for the CFO to act as a business partner to all of the operating groups. I am eager to continue fortifying CEC’s strong balance sheet and to share our financial story in a clear way with our employee shareholders,” Rick says. “I intend to work closely with all of CEC’s business units to make sure that the next 14 years are as successful as the past 14 years were under Harry’s leadership. I’m looking forward to fostering continued success for the company.”

Rick has an MBA from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business. A Chicago native, Rick also recently served on the board of directors of FamilyCore, including the prior two years as board president. The organization serves Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties in Central Illinois, working with schools, the court system, and other support services for those in need.

Rick will be relocating to Pittsburgh, where he will work out of CEC’s corporate headquarters.