Richard spent the first 17 years of his career in the engineering business developing business markets in the chemical industry application of process modeling software. It was here that he learned about the art of negotiation, strategy, and managing people. In 2002 Richard decided to leave the engineering business and pursue what had been a part time passion of restoring homes in Mt Pleasant, South Carolina by moving to Darien, Georgia and purchasing two historic homes and restoring them for resale at substantial gain. Both home sales set record price levels in Darien. And the rest of Darien took notice.

At the same time he was restoring his historic homes Richard was building a new home for him and his wife, Laurel, on a small back barrier island, Hird Island. Hird Island is accessible by boat or plane only, so the challenges of building are unique and force hands on work without the luxury of subcontractors. After completing his own home he helped his neighbors build weekend homes on the same island, after which he proceeded to build his wife an art studio which has become renown in the art world along the East coast. “If you can build on this island, you can build anywhere” became a mantra of Richard’s which established him as the private island authority along the central coast of Georgia.

With success in selling his historic homes quickly and at a premium price as well as an intimate knowledge of new construction and restoration, in 2003 Richard decided to pursue a license in real estate and actively market homes for others in the Darien area. Success came quickly both in Darien and on the islands where getting things done was a critical component of any sale. After two years as a newly licensed agent he joined the newly formed Coastal Real Estate Group (CRG) in Savannah in December of 2004 to handle the marketing of property south of Bryan County to the Florida Border.

With McIntosh County seen by the investment community as the greatest opportunity for gain in coastal Georgia, Richard started working with developers in acquiring tracts of land for development. Satisfied with his performance and knowledge in the property acquisition the same developers are now marketing their completed communities through Richard and CRG today. At the beginning of 2005 CRG was a one man operation in McIntosh County. Two years later CRG, with Richard as the managing broker, became the dominant force in the Darien area growing at the fastest, yet intentionally controlled, pace of any brokerage in McIntosh County. In February of 2008 CRG merged with Harry Norman Realtors where he continues his role as Managing Broker.