Rich is a Founding Partner of GTB Partners. He enjoys a distinguished career in politics and international affairs spanning four decades where he worked at the highest levels of the Federal and New Jesey State governments. At GTB, Rich directs our executive branch efforts for the firm. In addition, Rich conducts comprehensive business development efforts on behalf of GTB’s clients seeking to do business with all levels of government in New Jersey.
In 2017, Rich served as a Policy Advisor to the Murphy for Governor campaign. He was later named to the Governor-elect’s Transition Team. Rich also served as a Policy Advisor on President-elect Joe Biden’s Transition Team for energy and environmental matters.
Prior to founding GTB, Rich was the Managing Partner of Winning Strategies/Global. He served as Senior Advisor for Trade Development for the late-Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown. There he led the US Government’s commercial diplomacy efforts in the Middle East and Africa. Before joining the Commerce Department, Rich served as Assistant Counsel to the President in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel and Assistant Counsel to the Presidential Transition. He previously was Director of External Affairs for New Jersey Governor Jim Florio. In 1992, Rich was appointed to serve as the New Jersey State Director for the Clinton/Gore presidential election campaign. For the first time since 1964, the Democratic Presidential candidate carried the state. His political experience also includes serving on the staffs of U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Bill Bradley and as an advisor to Senator Bob Torricelli. Early in his career, Rich was Chief of Staff to New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak. He also served a term as Councilman in his hometown of Spring Lake Heights.
Rich earned his LL.M. in International and Comparative Law at Georgetown University Law Center, received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and his B.A. in Political Science from Fordham University. At Fordham, he pitched for the Fordham Rams baseball team. He was invited to join Omicron Delta Epsilon, the honor society in economics. Rich currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Advisors for Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy and International Relations.