Rick McPherson

Rick McPherson started teaching in the UW Foster School of Business in 2006 following a 25-year career in business that included serving as a vice president at T-Mobile and at AT&T Broadband and as a partner in a small consulting firm. He has been a leader of various aspects of seven different mergers, acquisitions and divestiture projects, ranging in scope from $2.5 billion to $60 billion in value. He has started four different business units within large corporations and has also been involved with small business and nonprofit strategic planning, business development and operations improvement. McPherson teaches courses in management, strategy and business planning. Students in his classes have developed over 200 different business plans in various industries and for nonprofit organizations. McPherson has been recognized for his excellence in teaching with various awards from the Foster School of Business and from UW Professional & Continuing Education.

Education

• MBA University of Denver (1997)
• BA Arizona State University (1979)

Positions Held

• At the University of Washington since 2005
• Adjunct Professor, Seattle University, 2005-2012
• Adjunct Professor, Communications, Leadership Masters Program, University of Washington
• Board of Directors Member, Alpine Evergreen, 2004-present
• Vice President , T-Mobile USA, 2003-2005
• Partner, Cresa Partners, 2003-2004
• Vice President, AT&T Broadband, 2000-2002
• Executive Director, MediaOne Group, 1997-2000
• Director, US West, Inc., 1991-1997
• Area Manager, US West, Inc., 1985-1991
• District Manager, (Youngest District Manager in AT&T), Mountain Bell And AT&T Information Systems, 1983-1985
• Various Management Positions, Mountain Bell And AT&T Information Systems, 1979-1983

Consulting

Strategic planning, business feasibility, business planning, outsourcing/insourcing, operations improvements, succession planning and organizational design

Honors and Awards

• UW Professional and Continuing Education Teaching Excellence Award, 2014
• M&O Faculty of the Quarter Awards, 2014, 2015

Academic Service

• New Instructor Orientation Committee
• Faculty Advisor for MBA Consulting Projects
• Faculty Advisor for China MBA Tour
• Faculty Director for India Exploration Seminar
• Faculty Advisor for Montlake Consulting Group
• Faculty Advior for Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity
• Delta Sigma Pi Faculty Advisor of the Year - Western Province
• M & O Faculty of the Year, 2012-2013
• Faculty Director for India, Southern Africa and Brazil Exploration Seminars, Southern Africa & Brazil Study Tours