Rick Gardner
President
Term: 2021-2024
Rick Gardner, from Concord, North Carolina, is the NCPBL Conference Director and has served as the Professional Division-Foundation Board of Directors President since 2016. He retired in 2019 from Ahold Delhaize after a 34- year career. Rick attended Stanly Community College and continued his education at Catawba College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
Rick's FBLA-PBL career starting in 1979, as a freshman in high school, and continued his involvement through college. He served as chapter President, Vice-President, and Parliamentarian at Stanly Community College. He was the 1984-85 NCPBL State President and National Who's Who recipient. He has continued his involvement through the Professional Division-Foundation serving as a conference workshop speaker, competitive event judge and serving as the 2015-2016 NCPBL PD=F Board of Directors Vice President. At the 2018 NCPBL State Leadership Conference, Rick was selected as the 2018 Businessperson of the Year.
His goals are to continue working closely with the PD-F members to seek corporate and individual donations, increase membership, and bring more awareness to the goals and purpose of NCPBL to help support the college students. The student's success is why he loves being a Professional Division member and serving on the board.