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Richard Potter
Principal Consultant, RP Corporate Relations
Richard Potter’s corporate relations experience spans three decades, four universities, and two national nonprofit organizations. As a consultant to universities, corporations, and nonprofits, he works with clients to make connections, develop partnerships, and focus on mutual benefits. Richard thrives on building consensus between faculty and administrators, accountants and marketers, and business and the arts. He is highly skilled at convening experts and cultivating win-win solutions.
In June 2024 Richard completed a two-year appointment as Director of Business Engagement and Research Collaborations for the University of Georgia (UGA), creating innovative programs to align faculty interests with the business community and helping faculty foster industry partnerships.
He served as Executive Director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation from 2016-2022, where he provided leadership to achieve the Foundation’s corporate and foundation relations goals. Prior roles included Director of Corporate Engagement at Kansas State University (K-State), Vice President for Development with the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, and Director of Development for the University of Dubuque. He is currently under contract with the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC).
Accomplishments Include
Accomplishments Include
Facilitating internal and external focus groups to support and advance the UMKC Trustees’ New Paradigms in Corporate Relations task force.
Developing a Strategic Corporate Partner Profile for UMKC and UGA, to help focus university resources on corporate partnerships with the greatest potential return on investment.
Conducting a corporate engagement benchmarking study of peer and aspirational institutions for UGA.
Developing the concept and content for UGA’s Business Engagement Toolkit for Faculty.
Providing leadership to create the Industry Collaboration Pathways web page, a resource to help industry navigate the University’s most common research and service pathways.
Leading the administrative team responsible for K-State’s Working With Industry workshops and Research Showcase, to assist faculty in creating and enhancing corporate partnerships.
Convening and coordinating corporate, academic, and economic development leaders to establish the K-State Bulk Solids Innovation Center, a $3.5 million public-private partnership.
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