Rick Terrien. CV

Hi. I'm Rick Terrien. I love working in economic development and entrepreneurship. I believe this is the renaissance age of entrepreneurship and it's just beginning.

I am currently working in the most beautiful County in Wisconsin as Executive Director of their first Economic Development Corporation. Iowa County, WI is immediately west of the Madison area. It is an amazing place with diverse, liveable communities, and a world class collection of resources for enjoying yourself. Iowa County is in the middle of a growing economic region and a great place to start or grow your own enterprise. Iowa County, Wisconsin. Come grow with us! Send me an eMail

My last start up is now over 10 years old. That enterprise is recycling more than 10 million gallons of oil every year that used to be lost as wastewater. We won some serious innovation and new product awards along the way.

We started and grew that enterprise with very limited resources. We soon had wildly enthusiastic customers in all 50 states and on 6 continents. We did it all this with a small group of committed friends, great ideas, and diligence.

I funded my first start up with money from the loose change jar. It grew and prospered for 25 years. This enterprise also had customers in all 50 states and 6 continents. Our customers included over 75% of the Fortune 500, most major Universities and many of the world’s best known non profit and development organizations. That enterprise was a family affair, with my wife and I and a few employees over the years. We successfully mixed family and enterprise for two and a half decades. And we're still married...

I am the co-inventor of the Vertical Fluid Recycling System, shown above. This invention has been awarded two of our nine US and foreign patents, and is now recycling tens of millions of gallons of oil and critical industrial fluids every year on six continents.

• Media links. Articles and interviews

• Presentations and writing.

• Executive Director, Iowa County (WI) Area Economic Development Corporation. Beautiful Iowa County, WI. Come grow with us!

• United States Small Business New Product Of The Year Award for 2005. Presented to Rick by The National Society Of Professional Engineers. “This prestigious award honors American companies and their contributions to society. Winning products were chosen for their exceptional engineering research, design, and overall impact on our national economy.”
  Thank you NSPE!

• Fast 50 Award. Rick awarded the 2004 Fast 50 Award by Fast Company Magazine. “The Fast 50 are the idea elite of business, individuals with the vision and personal commitment to propel their companies and industries into the future.”

• Wisconsin New Product Of The Year Award. 2 time winner from the Professional Engineers of Wisconsin.

• Nine US and foreign patents in industrial fluid recycling. (most recent June, 2008)

• Co-Founder. Wisconsin Food Business Incubator Network (Food BIN), 2009

• Designed, wrote and taught curriculum on Micro Enterprise for the Small Business Center at Waukesha County Technical College. Taught courses online to entrepreneurs statewide and nationally, including hands-on mentorship and startup assistance.

• Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network (WEN) certified resource provider. Opens in a new window.

• Small Business Center Advisory Council, Waukesha County Technical College, the Micro Entrepreneurship Center for Wisconsin.

• Chrysler Corporation’s global award, Significant Contributor to Environmental Excellence

• The wonderful 25 year history of Banner Graphics. My first startup. A sustainable enterprise long before it was cool!

• Rick’s blog site, Sustainable Work. Encouraging entrepreneurship, innovation, and new economic development models.

• Sustainable Work added to Tom Peter’s site (In Search Of Excellence) blog roll. Thanks Tom and friends!

• Education. Graduated with honors from St. Mary’s University, Winona, MN 1975. Major in Business Organizational Policy, with an emphasis in Philosophy.