Richard Dowell Bio
Richard Dowell,
President, Best Managers on the Net®
| Summary |
Combat Aviator, Educator, Executive, Technology EntrepreneurRichard's primary business focus is helping companies and organizations use the Internet to improve results and grow local and global business. He is a Visiting Professor of Information Technology at the Citadel School of Business, one of the top 20 public business schools in the United States. His company specializes in using online and online-assisted facilitation to develop and maintain management and business skills. He believes that online learning technologies should support and enhance the role of managers and trainers in achieving an appropriate balance among the traditional, self-paced, just-in-time and any-time/any-place learning environments. His father was a 43 year career Army officer and he a 1956 graduate of West Point (classmate of Norm Schwarzkopf) and was commissioned in the Air Force. During his military career he was a doctoral candidate at the American and Stanford Universities, was graduated from the National Defense University, received training in information technology management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and was certified by the Air Force in Advanced Systems Acquisition Management. He was a faculty member at the United States Air Force Academy and the American University. During his three combat tours in Southeast Asia as a fighter and bomber pilot he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14 Air Medals, and the Bronze Star. Richard's private sector career includes technology management, government contracting, executive experience, technology company entrepreurship, management training and business consulting. He has held corporate responsibilities from Staff Member through Chairman, Board of Directors. |
| Professional experience | Since 1991 Richard has
concentrated on creating new jobs by promoting entrepreneurial business growth and other economic
development activities. In March 1993, he assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer
of the Software Valley Corporation, a state-wide organization created to promote
community and economic development in West Virginia. He was instrumental in
deploying the National Guard's
Distance Learning Training (DLN) demonstration project, a national
system of shared-used community information centers supporting the creation of high value
jobs, business growth and economic development. In July, 1997 he founded Technology Business Services, Inc., a
company dedicated to fostering
business growth using the Internet.
His other technology experience includes serving as a corporate CIO, managing a division developing advanced business software applications, directing a major information technology effort supporting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, contributing to developing a strategic planning system for the $6 billion IRS Tax System modernization effort, supporting the FAA modernization of the US airways system and developing recommendations for modernizing the World Wide Military Command and Control System. |
| Significant business milestones | November
1997-2002: Conducted management training programs to 44 companies
organizations in South Carolina as an authorized representative of Crestcom
International, Ltd, a worldwide leader in facilitated management training.
Clients included the Post and Courier newspaper, Shakespeare
Monofiliament Division and Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). March 2000: Established Best Managers on the Net* Division, developed and opened a www.BestManagers.Net learning portal, a website managed through a content management system. March 2002: Developed and deployed My Journal© self-development tool. It is a web based learning journal supported by a dynamic data base and information retrieval system. The tool is replicated from our template. Each user can tailor look and feel, and edit the database. February 2003: Partnered with DIAPLAN Designs, Inc., a leader in the distribution, administration and facilitation of online leadership and management development programs. February-June 2003: Invited to participate as member of Navy League of United States Information Technology Committee (ITC) charged with the responsibility to develop a uniform design for Navy League Councils worldwide. Identified as one of candidate application service providers from which Navy League Councils may choose for website development and support of local Chapter activities. In June, 2003 announced to be one of four companies to provide internet and web applications services to Navy League Councils, worldwide. 2003 - Present: Selected to be the First Certified Webmaster for Site Build It!, a leading web business support services provider (find more information here). Since then has concentrated on helping small businesses and start up entrepreneurs use the Internet to increase profitability. His own sites include www.Best-Managers-Business-Online.com, www.Best-Managers-Training.com, www.Best-Managers-Web-Services.com and www.Best-Fitness-Program.com. Most recently he was selected by Site Build It! to be a certified Site Sell Education Instructor. In the Fall he will be offering the course "Building a Successful Business Using the Internet" as an elective in the Citadel MBA program. Representative client sites (with any special features highlighted) include:
www.Free-Enterprise-Foundation.org (goal is to achieve wide
dissemination of the Foundation's programs) www.NavyLeagueCharleston.org Past webmaster for 5 years. Developed template used by 7 other Councils. Site designed so that client can update content using data base editor (e.g., see www.NavyLeagueSanFrancisco.org). January 2007: Visiting Professor, Citadel School of Business Administration, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in Information Technology. *Trademark awarded March 2003 |
| Professional memberships, activities | Richard is the webmaster for a number of Navy League of the United States websites, Crestcom International, Ltd. franchisee websites and the Charleston Contractors Association. He accepted the responsibility to evolve and improve the information technology operations for the Association of Corporate Contributions Professionls. He has authored a number of articles and publications. He is a past Foundation Committee Chair* of the Charleston Rotary Club (a charter member of the Paul Harris Society and a Bequest Society member). He is a board member of the Free Enterprise Foundation. He is listed in Who's Who in America. |
What others have said:
"During his ANSER years, Mr. Dowell demonstrated that he was a master of many skills. He was a successful leader, recruiter, motivator, communicator and manager."
John Fabian, former Astronaut and past President/CEO of ANSER Inc.
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"I am pleased to commend Mr. Richard P. Dowell's achievements of behalf of West Virginia's technology initiative . . . The results of Mr. Dowell's efforts have been most impressive."
Cecil Underwood, past Governor of West Virginia
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"Mr. Dowell is one of the most gifted executives with whom I have worked."
Thomas Pressman, former Chairman of the Board, Software Valley Corporation