He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a major in accounting and marketing. He began his career in the accounting department with 3M Company. After three years with 3M, interrupted with one year of active duty in the Army (followed by five years of reserve duty), he joined a regional accounting firm in the Twin Cities for two years. After this, he began accepting clients and formally organized the firm in 1976.

Rich is an Eagle Scout and was a Scoutmaster for six years. He has been on the Board of Directors of the YMCA in White Bear Lake and held positions there as treasurer, president, and major fundraising campaign chairman, and also received the YMCA Distinguished Leader Award. Rich has served as the White Bear Lake Winterfest treasurer and fundraising chairman and on the Board of Directors of the White Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce as well as treasurer. He is currently a member of the Rotary Club of White Bear Lake, where he has been on the board and served as treasurer, international service director, youth exchange officer, president, foundation director, and invocation contributor. He is on the board of directors for Rotary District 5960 as treasurer and has been involved in the grants vision project and community service director. He is also active in his church and is a member of the Minnesota Society of CPAs and the American Society of CPAs.

Rich is married to Mary and has three sons and six grandchildren. His hobbies include skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, kayaking, gardening, biking, travelling and tending to his Koi pond.