Candid. Realistic. Authentic.
Rick is a Richmond, VA based Website Optimization & Analytics Professional specializing in:
- Upgrading from GA3 to GA4
- Web Analytics / Tag Management
- Technical SEO
- Conversion Rate Optimization
- WordPress Development
I’m currently employed by Allianz Partners where I work as their Senior Product Owner, Web Analytics.
Professional Experience
I began my web development career back in 1997 using Microsoft FrontPage 97. Raise your hand if you remember static web pages and icons at the bottom of websites that said ‘Best if viewed with…’
Career Milestones
Several milestones in my IT / Marketing career include:
August 1999
It was August of 1999 that I was hired by Whitlock eBusiness Solutions to create a new website for carmax.com. Back then it was ASP 1.0 and COM objects. The internet was still in its infancy.
February 2006
Along came 2006 and an introduction to Shawn Boyer the CEO of Snagajob.com. He hired me as a Senior Software Engineer to work specifically with the lead generation team.
While working for Snagajob.com as a Senior Software Engineer I discovered SEO and Affiliate Marketing. As I wanted to shift my focus from Website Development to SEO, I created a business case for SEO and was given the green light to switch rolls and begin an SEO program for Snagajob.com that would help take them to the next level.
From 2007 to 2011 my SEO strategies took Snagajob.com from 100k monthly organic visits to over 2 million. While there, Shawn Boyer gave me the nickname The SEO Guy.
September 2011
In 2011 I created RVA Media, a Richmond based Digital Marketing company that specialized in SEO and WordPress Development. For three years I worked with some of the largest companies in the Richmond area which included Snagajob, Elephant Auto Insurance, Compare.com and Allianz Partners.
May 2014 – Present Day
In late 2013 I began offering SEO Consulting Services to Allianz Gloabal Assistance for their B2C website allianztravelinsurance.com. In May 2014 I switched from being a freelance SEO Consultant to working as their full-time Digital Marketing Manager, SEO. It was time to prove to myself that I could take another website to the next level by applying my effective and ethical SEO tactics.
In total, SEO visits under my leadership grew +400% from 2014 to 2018.
Full Work History
I keep an updated resume here on my website and also maintain a LinkedIn profile. Feel free to have a look and contact me. I’m always open to hearing about new opportunities with agile companies that make data-driven decisions. Especially in the field of Digital Analytics utilizing Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager and Google Data Studio.
Before Computers…
Most people are surprised to learn that I once piloted an 18-wheeler.
For 10 years I was fortunate enough to work for a small OTR trucking company and get to see this great country of ours. My favorite route was hauling plastic shopping carts from Rehrig in Richmond, VA to California.
Unfortunately the dress code at Allianz Partners doesn’t allow acid wash jeans like the pair I’m wearing in my trucking photo.
Work Life Balance
When the workday is over, I turn to cycling.
My passion is gravel grinders and bikepacking.
My current bikepacking rig is a 2021 Kona Unit X.