Bob Richards - Evangineer - Program Lead

I’m Bob Richards, and I’ve spent my career helping business leaders unlock performance through one simple truth — teams outperform individuals every time.

As a Subject Matter Expert, both in SCRUM Teams and as a Certified Kauffman FastTrac teacher, we build a culture that grows around teaching people to lead, and to take responsible.

As a solopreneur I blend creativity, strategy, and heart…my moniker, “Evangineer.”

My engagement is on a contract basis. 

In today’s fast-moving markets, traditional team structures often fail. Meetings drag on. Priorities shift. People burn out. That’s why I want to talk with you about something that’s transforming how teams work — the SCRUM framework.

Now, when many people hear “SCRUM,” they think software or tech startups. But SCRUM wasn’t designed for programmers — it was designed for people. It’s a system for how teams work together — to set goals, make quick progress, and continuously improve.

Here’s the essence:

Small teams. 5–9 people, focused and empowered.

Short cycles. 2-week sprints with clear goals and accountability.

Daily connection. Everyone knows what’s getting done and what’s blocking progress.

Continuous improvement. Every sprint ends with reflection — what worked, what didn’t, what we’ll do better next time.

I’ve seen SCRUM transform manufacturing plants, finance departments, even hiring managers. Because it creates engagement and ownership — people start to feel like they’re part of something that’s moving.

The real magic isn’t the process. It’s the culture that grows around it.

SCRUM teams learn to communicate openly, celebrate small wins, and tackle challenges together. That’s where the team building happens — not on a ropes course, but in the real work of achieving goals together.

At RICHCO Venture Management, we help organizations install SCRUM as a team operating system — not as another management trend, but as a foundation for sustainable performance.

If you want to build teams that are adaptive, resilient, and truly accountable — SCRUM is your blueprint.

I'm an Evangineer. I evangelize breakthrough strategy frameworks while engineering sustainable business growth. 

My specialty is helping CEOs not to get stuck in indecision. I'm a transformation change facilitator.

As a Trello Subject Matter Expert I build workflows, optimize your automations, make Power-Up recommendations and customize the Trello SCRUM experience for your team. Here, we break down your options so that you can make FAST-CYCLE decisions.

Within a human capital framework, our portfolio support organization - Strategic Talent Connections - closes the loop on building high-skilled teams. We are Talent Acquisition Specialists.

These teams support open innovation in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, extended reality, and artificial intelligence.

Employer teams are engaged within a dedicated "Manufacturing Growth Chapter." A SCRUM team framework secures the talent pipeline, sourced to Company Goals and Outcomes.

THE BOB RICHARDS EVANGINEER FRAMEWORK

Bob Richards:  Evangineer 

Fee Structure:   

SCRUM Readiness Audit ($995 flat): 

• 2-hour call with CFO + Stakeholders
• Current workflow and backlog review
• Customized "Agile Readiness Scorecard" report

Pilot Engagement - 60 Days ($6,500)

• 4 onsite team "scope of work" sessions (1.5 hrs. each)
• 1-on-1 coaching for CFO (biweekly)
• Sprint planning + retrospective facilitation (2 sprints)
• Performance dashboard

Ongoing Quarterly Coaching ($2,000/month)

• Monthly team check-ins
• Quarterly SCRUM workshops
• Leadership coaching for CFO & department heads
• Continuous backlog grooming + optimization

Geographic Locations:    Florida / Ohio / NKY

Collaboration Environment: 

My career working with open innovation organizations has provided me with the tools to achieve success. 

Since 1998 RICHCO Venture Management has collaborated with communities to build a robust workforce development strategy that champions STEM and technology. Bob Richards led strategic initiatives in NKY to advance student engagement.  

https://youtu.be/e_CUaM0Wtx4  (see Richards TV Interview)

https://1drv.ms/p/s!AiGm44129GzquSkj_wfxW3ZZC3jB

As Director of Commercialization at Avetec provided an opportunity to advocate for open innovation. It also provided a platform to advance the benefit of STEM to students. 

Female Labor Force Participation...Will They Come Back?

 

According to a 2021 ManpowerGroup survey, talent shortages in the U.S. have more than tripled in the last ten years, with 69% of employers struggling to fill positions, up from just 14% in 2010. Globally, estimates show that by 2030, the talent shortage could reach 85.2 million people, resulting in the loss of trillions of dollars in economic opportunity for companies.

YouScience garnered the insights by analyzing student’s self-defined interest in top careers versus their aptitude for success in those careers, including STEM and other high-paying opportunities. The data includes the top 50 most frequent career matches from a selection of 500.

Key highlights from the report conclude that women have:

• More than 10x the aptitude than interest in careers in architecture and engineering
• Nearly 4x the aptitude for careers in computers and mathematics than interest
• 31x more aptitude than interest for careers in installation, maintenance, and repair across numerous industries such as computers, automotive, telecommunications, and more
• Nearly 13x more aptitude than interest for careers in production industries such as aviation, food processing, electrical, among others

Providing students early career exposure in key industries and providing insights as to where their natural talents lie can help reduce or eliminate the country’s talent shortage. Self-bias and traditional career exposure through family, friends and media often limit student’s, especially women’s, perception and knowledge of potential college and career pathways. (Source: YouScience)

In Volusia County, we are available to leverage employers with the Workforce Development Hub. Richards created the Metropolitan Workplace Trust as a "think tank" for communities to scale their workforce challenges. Research was collected from across the U.S. in a five year "Tour Across America" visiting 501 cities in search of best practices. 

Beginning 'Manufacturing Growth' Tour

Richards Motor Coach to 'Tour USA'

The target cities have been selected and a trial-run through Florida this winter has been completed. The "Manufacturing Growth Innovation Road Trip" is about to begin. For c-level manufacturing executives, visit linkedin.com/in/brichco and learn how knowledge management can change your organization and your workplace.

Confessions of a Serial Intrapreneur

Bob Richards became a 'serial intrapreneur' in 1975 with a contract to the Procter & Gamble Company and HBJ Publishing. His projects took him to Japan, Mexico, Canada, and across the U.S. In 1995 Richards sold his animation and video production studio and contracted with the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce to assist with workforce development for three counties. Now he's touring Florida discussing how to build an In-Migration Talent Pipeline to Florida.

BE AMONG THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE THE METROPOLITAN WORKPLACE TRUST

This Community of Practice (CoP) is your key to accessing the creative and collaborative space to develop the ability to 'smartly' distribute knowledge across the entire organization.

Get an overview of the SCRUM* methodologies and values of focus, courage, openness, commitment, and respect used to engage the community into a sustainable workplace.
*(a flexible, holistic product development strategy which now helps economic & workforce development)

Improve the authentic engagement of your community stakeholders as we share insights for leveraging four forms of capital (physical capital, economic capital, knowledge capital, and social capital).

Richards is offering a one-day 'Serial Intrapreneur Boot-Camp' to County Economic Development organizations.

Serial Intrapreneur Bob Richards will discuss participating in a two year project that brought a workforce development strategy to three Northern Kentucky counties. In addition, he'll provide a business case canvas for pulling new companies, and incumbent companies, into a county-wide plan of action.

Learn more about Bob Richards at www.linkedin.com/in/brichco.

What You Will Learn:

• The 'Intrapreneur DNA Test to build stakeholders
• Back-Pocket Metrics and a community Balanced Scorecard
• Internet access to the Metropolitan Workplace Trust Community of Practice 
• Business Case: "Capacity-to-Change: How Bob Richards Did It; Why Companies Worked with Him

Who Should Attend:

• Economic Development Leaders; Company CEOs, Education Leaders, and Social Capital Organizations

Libby Richards Joins Metropolitan Workplace Trust

Libby Richards - Special Project Coordinator

Libby Richards joins the Metropolitan Workplace Trust (MWT) as its Special Projects Coordinator. Richards will work with MWT members to advance the MWT community of practice. In addition, she will coordinate with the MWT partner Strategic Talent Connections in recruiting a talent-pipeline for manufacturing. Richards recently retired from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati as a Certified Payroll Specialist.

 

Richards To Speak On Sustainable Workplace & Serial Intrapreneur Strategies

The Business Technology Summit for Southwest Ohio has announced its speakers. Bob Richards, Managing Partner - Metropolitan Workplace Trust, will discuss the changing world of work and how companies need to build a 'sustainable workplace.'

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVwYtcouIiLOB73AvG72maulFKD4t0Byu

Advanced Manufacturing Campaign

Metropolitan Workplace Trust Launches National Campaign

On October 29 the Metropolitan Workplace Trust (MWT) will begin to advance the talent pipeline campaign to introduce Advanced Manufacturing as a career path. Working with its strategic partners, the Triune Group and Avetec, MWT will provide manufacturing CFOs the opportunity to access the MWT Community of Practice (CoP).

The Metropolitan Workplace Trust champions Advanced Manufacturing CFOs. We work, both through our MWT Community of Practice (CoP) and with our expert team, to balance four forms of capital. These include Physical Capital, Economic Capital, Knowledge Capital, and Social Capital. 

On October 29, CFOs can participate in a workplace survey that will help to set strategy and advance a sustainable workplace.

For additional information contact Bob Richards, Founder - Metropolitan Workplace Trust (brichco@gmail.com)

Avetec Research Associate

With over a year under my belt in retirement, I am returning to Avetec as a Research Associate. Through our collaboration, we will develop relationships with big data entreprenuers to advance open innovation principles. Visit www.avetec.org to review our scope of work.

2010 Regional Indicators Report

Produced in collaboration by Agenda 360 and Vision 2015, the Regional Indicators Report provides data to launch strategic conversations that will advance the Region. To learn more and to get involved go to their websites. www.agenda360.org and www.vision2015.org.

Adopt-A-Class to the Reds Game

Libby, Mya and Anastasia


Mrs. Linda Williams; Rockdale Academy Adopt-a-Class

Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati took their Adopt-a-Class students to see the Reds. The kids enjoyed the game (the Reds won); even through moments of rain.

Preparing For FMCA Albuquerque Fiesta

Libby and I are preparing for our next big adventure...Albuquerque, New Mexico.
We will be attending the FMCA 83rd International Convention. We will be meeting up with other Safari International members.

During this trip we will make a side trip to Arizona to see some friends. It looks to be a great adventure...stay turned for photos!

Adopt-A-Class Christmas

Libby coordinates Adopt-A-Class at Rockdale Academy in Avondale, Ohio. With her colleagues at Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati (FHLB), Christmas came early for these 4th grade students. Throughout the year FHLB volunteers work with the students and are pen pals to each of the students. They learn about banking, good study habits, and letter writing.


Mrs. Cheron Reid - Principal, Mrs Linda Williams-Teacher, & Bill Burwinkel-Founder of Adopt-A-Class

'Finding What Matters' Interviews

Our interview list begins. We have commitments from the following: a toy inventor, a music studio producer, the inventor of the Swifer mop, an aerospace design engineer, a graphic designer, a commercial photographer/videographer, the founders of CincinnatiWorks, an Air Force General, a business mogal, and a master craftsman woodwork artist. And this is just the beginning.

Better Than I Deserve

While some believe that the year 2012 will be the 'end of the world,' Libby and I see it as the beginning of our finest hour. Leaving behind all the challenges that have faced us, we will begin our journey to 'Find What Matters.'

Among our activities will be to provide action research projects for kids in school who will track our travels via the Internet. We will provide live Internet broadcast to classrooms where students will be able to participate in various team projects.

For the next 12 months I will be establishing contact with individuals in 24 U.S. cities who will act as our hosts as we swing across America.

Student Career Planning

In my continued focus on helping students remain in college, I provided a two-hour work-session with fifteen students to map out their strategy for successful college participation. Our friends at the Warren County Area Progress Council provided their boardroom and gave the students a 'business environoment' to work. I provided them with a seven-step process to align their expectations with the realities of the global marketplace. In Ohio the college drop-out rate is over 55%, hence the sense of urgency to engage these students in planning their college career with an outcome of a job upon graduation.

As a past High Schools That Works Advocate, I provided them with a fact book http://www.sreb.org/main/EdData/FactBook/factbookindex.asp that supports the trends in higher education in America.

Richards on Design Team of AveTec Appointed Director of Commercialization

https://youtu.be/yR-stTgJN0c

AveTec was a modeling and simulation research company that aims to reduce the cost and time it takes to design, develop and test new jet turbine engines for commerce and the military.

Avetec leads a number of science and educational outreach initiatives, including the following:

Avetec’s Modeling and Simulation Research team works to enhance and develop advanced modeling and simulation techniques to gain a deeper understanding of the physics within engine systems.

Avetec's DICE (Data Intensive Computing Environment) group helps vendor and data center customers optimize technology investments for High Performance Computing (HPC) and Information Technology (IT).

Avetec's Education team works with students from elementary school age through post-graduate school. The education programs they offer focus on the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). In education, Avetec is working to help create a future workforce that is knowledgeable in the STEM fields to address the critical need for the U.S. to have a creative, cohesive and comprehensive STEM education nationwide in order to remain competitive.^[1] Avetec’s approach uses the wisdom from the National Research by focusing on internships and other hands-on, project-based learning opportunities for students to gain experience in STEM fields.^[2]