Meet Scott Richards, Board Member
Creating Solid Foundations through Education and Finance
Scott Richards grew up in Evergreen, Colorado. After receiving his undergraduate degree at Fort Lewis College, he completed graduate school at CSU and received a professional certificate from the CU Leeds School of Business. In his twenties, Scott was a mountain guide and outdoor educator and traveled all over the world. Eventually, he taught geography, art and reading at a public middle school in Colorado.
After teaching for a few years in Colorado, Scott moved to Gabon in Central Africa. He was a teacher and principal at the American International School there. “What I loved about being in Central Africa was that every day was different. I would have no idea what was going to happen,” Scott said. “40 to 50 percent of the school’s population spoke English at home. The rest was different African languages, French, Dutch and Chinese. Being surrounded by these people from all over the planet was incredible.” During his time in Africa, Scott also had the chance to travel all over the continent. When his wife was pregnant with their second child, they moved back to the United States and Scott started his career as a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual.
Scott became involved with Locally Haiti through a close friend and current board member, Jamie Kilcoyne. “I met Wynn at a fundraiser that Jamie Kilcoyne and his family put on. Jamie is on the board, and I got to know Wynn and started to go to events,” Scott said. “I wanted to be more involved so I started by joining the associate board and being the MC for Evening for Haiti twice. Recently, I was asked to join the board!”
Although Scott hasn’t been able to go to Haiti yet, he is really excited to go when the opportunity arises again. Regardless, Scott firmly believes in Locally Haiti. “I respect the fact the work they do is foundational. It’s health, education and agriculture. It’s these foundational things that everyone needs to have the best society possible and be as healthy as they can,” Scott said.
“I really feel like it’s Haitian led. There’s not this assumption that we, here in the wealthiest nation in the world, know what they need. It’s Haitian motivated. We want to help them with whatever it is they feel like they need. We are partnered with the Haitians in those communities.”
Fun Facts about Scott!
He is really into bird watching
He does Ultra runs
Skiing is his favorite sport