Rick Richard's Email & Phone

Mr. Richard was Chairman, President and CEO of Columbia Energy Group until its acquisition on November 1, 2000. Richard served this $6 billion Fortune 500 company since joining Columbia Energy Group's predecessor, The Columbia Gas System Inc., in April 1995. Previously, Richard served as Chairman, CEO and President of New Jersey Resources; as President and CEO of Northern Natural Gas Pipeline; and as Vice President and General Counsel of Tennagasco. Richard was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed by the United States Senate to The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as a Commissioner in 1982. He served until 1985. He received the FERC Chairman's Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal from the U.S. Secretary of Energy for his efforts. Before joining FERC, he served as legislative assistant for energy issues to U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston (D-La) in Washington, D.C. from 1978-1981. Richard is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center and on the Board of Visitors of the Manship School of Mass Communications, both at Louisiana State University. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Riverstone Group Energy fund of the Caryle Group Washington, D.C. and Haddington Ventures in Houston, Texas. Richard is currently treasurer of Coastal Plains Conservancy. He has served as a member of the National Petroleum Council, an advisory body to the U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chairman of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, and on the Boards of Directors of the American Gas Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Richard earned a B.A. in Journalism from Louisiana State University, a Master of Law Taxation from Georgetown University and a Juris Doctorate in Law from Louisiana State University.