Rick
Riddering
Director, The
Center for Career and Leadership Development
Purdue University Calumet
2200 169th Street
Hammond, IN 46323-2094
Telephone: (219)
989-2419
Email: ridderin@calumet.purdue.edu
Website: http://www.calumet.purdue.edu/ccld/
Education:
Ed. M
Human Resource Development/Adult Learning, University of Illinois
BA Public Relations Communication,
Purdue University Calumet
Biography
Rick has had an interesting career
to say the least. A member of the founding editorial
board of Purdue University Calumet’s student newspaper, The
Chronicle, Rick caught his first break in the work world while
finishing his Bachelor Degree requirements. That’s when
he landed a position with the Chicago White Sox baseball team
as a public relations intern and assistant. He spent
two years with the team assisting the Director of Public Relations
with game day duties, media relations for the players, and
writing game notes and articles for the game program.
After his stint in the “big
leagues,” Rick pursued job opportunities at two of the world’s
most respected public relations agencies, Golin/Harris Communications
and Edelman Public Relations Worldwide. His clients
included Gatorade and Cummins Engine Company.
Rick left the agency life in
1989 for a career in publishing. Richard D. Irwin, a
leader in business textbook publishing and now a division
of McGraw Hill, hired Rick to head up the marketing department
for its trade book division. His department was charged
with developing and implementing marketing and publicity campaigns
for some 100 titles per year. This included taking authors
on media tours in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington
DC, Boston and other major cities. In 1993, he was promoted
to Manager of Training and Communication at Irwin. This
is where Rick first determined that he was interested in helping
others learn and began to pursue his Master’s Degree.
In 1996, Rick left the publishing
world and entered yet another industry . . . banking!
He joined South Holland Trust and Savings Bank as Vice President
of Marketing Services and Professional Development.
During his tenure at the bank, he and his staff implemented
numerous new programs and services, including a Customer Service
Call Center and a new Professional Development Program based
on five key competency groups: Customer Service, Sales, Professionalism,
Technology and Compliance.
Then, in March of 2000, Rick
made the transition from corporate to higher education.
He joined Purdue University Calumet as Director of Career
Development and Placement. In September 2001, Rick became
Purdue Calumet's Director of The Center for Career and Leadership
Development, which oversees new student orientation, student
leadership development and activities, student employment
and career services.
So, there are many opportunities
for Communications Majors!
