Rick founded CEA in 1973 to provide financial expertise for a select group of cable industry clients. He led the company into a full-service international brokerage and financial services firm, which has included establishing and growing numerous affiliate companies and funds to expand the group’s ability to serve new market opportunities with a focused approach.
In 2000, for example, he co-founded Atlantic American Partners (AAP) (atlanticamericanpartners.com) to manage EB-5 and private investment funds in focused U.S. real estate.
Today, Rick interfaces with Company clients and supports colleagues on specialized transactions that require his expertise. Having visited 110 countries and worked in 60 countries, Rick still spends a considerable amount of time traveling to meet with clients developing and growing new business within the Group.
He also provides oversight and strategic advice to CEA portfolio companies – not only specific investment prospects, but strategic structures and vehicles for CEA’s participation. For the most part, however, Rick focuses on creating and growing alternative asset management opportunities.
Prior to founding CEA, Rick was one of the original employees, and later, Vice President of TM Communications, the cable subsidiary of Times Mirror Company.
He was Vice President of the Cable Funding Corporation, a firm specializing in cable television financing and investments; Assistant Manager as well as On-Air Personality for Radio City, an offshore radio station featured in the 2010 movie “Pirate Radio,” also known as “The Boat That Rocked,” about Rock-n-Roll era of 1960’s.
Rick earned his BA from Tulane University graduating Magna Cum Laude. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a Tulane Scholar and a Tulane Fellow.
He studied at the London School of Economics and later earned his Master's degree from the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania.
Rick holds an Honorary Master’s degree from St. Leo University, currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Center of Entrepreneurship at the University of South Florida and the North American Advisory Board of the London School of Economics. He is also a member of the Florida Advisory Committee of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.
Rick is a former Advisory Board member of the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the former Vice Chairman of the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Naval Academy. Rick also founded the Republican National Committee Regents in 1999, served as Co-Chairman for the Regents through 2008, and was a Host Committee member for the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa.
He is also co-founder of the National Cyber Partnership, a non-profit dedicated to training military veterans for jobs in the Cybersecurity industry.
Rick is the co-founder and Chairman of CyberStratos, LLC which is a company formed to provide advisory services and to acquire cybersecurity companies.
Industry Distinctions, Awards:
Rick is also a proud member of the:
Rick is highly regarded as a speaker and has been a presenter or moderator at industry gatherings around the world including Canada, the UK, Spain, Germany, UAE, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Poland, and Australia.
Rick resides in Tampa and is an avid fox hunter and ex-Master of South Creek Foxhounds.
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