Richard has devoted his 30+ year career in nonprofits to promoting and supporting a greater understanding of equity, inclusion, social justice and community building

His professional life and commitment to social justice and public service started with a position at the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and a key volunteer role at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in Manhattan – both during the height of the AIDS crisis. After serving as the Director of Development and Finance at the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Richard went on to become the founding Executive Director of the William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia. There, he led the development and execution of its first strategic plan, created and implemented new programs and oversaw the renovation of the Center’s 26,000-square-foot building. Since that time, Richard’s work has primarily focused on child welfare with leadership and court-appointed roles advocating for children across New York State and the Hudson Valley. This included serving as the founding Executive Director of the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York.

Richard is a native of New Paltz and, after time away for college and early career opportunities, moved back to the area in 1999 with his husband Anthony to build their family and deepen their roots in the Hudson Valley. Richard currently serves as President of the Elting Memorial Library in New Paltz and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Child Welfare League of America, which is based in Washington DC.

Richard has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Strategic Design and Management from Parsons School of Design, which is in New York City. He is a native of New Paltz, where he continues to live with his husband, Anthony Ortiz and where they raised their son, John Paul.