Rick Rowland
William & Mary graduate, 33-year veteran of the heavy construction materials industry, and Hampton Roads native — returned home after retirement to give back to the region that shaped him.
Born into a military family, I moved frequently, including stints overseas, before our family settled in Hampton Roads when I was 10 years old. After earning degrees from The College of William and Mary, I worked for six years in service industries before making a very conscious decision to move into a manufacturing industry, specifically, heavy construction materials. I worked in this field for 33 years (including 13 with multinational firms), holding roles in general, sales, marketing, and project management, as well as business development.
I first became knowledgeable of, and passionate about, regionalism while participating in the inaugural class of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Hampton Roads program. After retiring in 2022, my wife and I moved back to Hampton Roads (having also lived in Northern Virginia, Chapel Hill, and Richmond), where I've been an active volunteer in several organizations. Susan and I have been married for 45 years; we have two children and two grandchildren.