Experience

Rick is a partner in the Labor Practice Group. He focuses his practice on representing management in collective bargaining, grievance arbitrations and union avoidance strategies. He advises employers on matters related to employment law, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and other federal and state employment discrimination laws. Rick has extensive experience with the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) and regularly represents educational and other public sector employers in such matters as well as matters such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meetings Act.

Education

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School
  Lansing, Michigan
  J.D., 1981
• University of Dayton
  Dayton, Ohio
  M.B.A., 1977
• Kalamazoo College
  Kalamazoo, Michigan
  B.A., 1975

Professional Activities

• Michigan Negotiators Association
• State Bar of Michigan: Labor and Employment Section; Public Corporations Section; Labor Relations Section
• State Bar of Texas: Labor and Employment Section; School Law Section
• State Bar of Wisconsin: Labor and Employment Law Section
• Kalamazoo County Bar Association
• MASB Council of School Attorneys (past President, 2002)
• NASB Council of School Attorneys

Rick is an active speaker on labor law topics. Recently, he has presented seminars for the American Bar Association in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and to the Carl Warns Labor Symposium in Louisville, Kentucky.

Community Activities

Rick is committed to community involvement. He has served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Kalamazoo Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Board of Directors of the Safety Council of West Michigan. Rick has also served in a number of leadership roles for his church.