Rick Sense

About Rick Sense

I believe for people to be motivated to do their best work, it is important that they know that what they do matters and that they make a difference. Think of difference makers that you know. How many of them strive only to be good enough, acceptable, mediocre? Setting a vision that aims low produces a mindset that becomes comfortable with mediocrity, lacks inspiration, demotivates, and breaks self-confidence. Worst of all, it promotes a status-quo lifestyle, and leads people to be just good enough. In this worst case, people are more concerned about protecting the future instead of projecting it in thoughts and actions. I do not accept status quo in myself or from others. The cautious status quo may provide stability in some ways, but its cost is enormous. I strive to be different and strive to develop difference makers on the teams that I lead. As a servant leader driven to collaborate with partners, team members, and clients to achieve success and collective goals, I have delivered in many ways. As a branch manager at the flagship of a large financial institution, I motivated a team of thirty people to go from worst to first in performance in a year’s time. As the board chair of the area\'s largest consumer credit counseling service, I was able to take an important and needed, but faltering and failing non-profit organization, and through re-organization, planning and merger, turn it into a thriving entity. While working for a large charitable not-for-profit, I led efforts to pass legislation necessary to help in the delivery of its mission; raised the necessary funds that allowed a community health clinic to create a new space allowing it to go from serving to people a year; and created a nationally award-winning alternative financial services model to combat predatory lending. Finally, working in government, I developed high performing and highly efficient teams that have helped serve the needs of more than constituents and delivered on the high expectations of two uniquely different members of Congress.

Experience

1. Economic Development & Tourism Specialist

   Calumet County, Wisconsin Government

   Jun 2023 — Present · US

Education

• University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh

  B.A., International Studies, Political Science, International Business

  1983 — 1988