Raised in North Philadelphia, Richard attended vocational high school and studied auto body repair. He found that he enjoyed troubleshooting and working with tools. So when Richard wanted to try something different, he became interested in Orleans Technical Institute after his brother went here and graduated with solid technical skills.

Richard enrolled at Orleans to gain training in air conditioning, heating and refrigeration. He attended school full-time during the day, and worked as a bellmen in the evenings at a Radisson hotel. He came to every class, attentive and soaking up all that he could learn. Richard's training increased his marketability, and eventually he moved on to work in the engineering department.

When Richard graduated, he decided to make a career move and become a refrigeration mechanic at the Marriott hotel in Center City, Philadelphia. Now, he's enjoying success, a good-paying job and doing what he wants to do—working with tools.