Our "Fearless Leader" Richard E. Webber is President and CEO of Marrick Services, LLC, Marrick Design and Development Services, Inc., Stratford, NJ, and Assistant Professor at Drexel University's Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, where he teaches an introductory course in AutoCAD 2002 to undergraduate students.
Born in Seattle, Washington, "Rick" grew up in the Pacific Northwest, graduated from high school in Spokane, Washington, then served in the United States Coast Guard during the Vietnam War. He was trained in electronic communications and military GIS, and learned to enjoy traveling at sea aboard the Ice Breaker Eastwind and cutter Cactus, where he served in key rolls in Search And Rescue missions. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Engineering (Nuclear Option) and a Certificate in Nuclear Health Physics from Idaho State University in 1974, and began serious work as a Nuclear Safety Analyst for United Engineers and Constructors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His continuing education includes advanced studies at the University of Pennsylvania and he has both attended and taught numerous technical courses involving disaster preparedness and recovery.
After 13 years in the Nuclear Power Industry, Rick discovered the up-and-coming market in Computer Aided Design, and it's leader, Autodesk. An opportunity for formal training presented itself, and in 1988, after a year of experience with a consulting engineering firm in Newport, Delaware, he launched his own company, Marrick Design and Development Services. Incorporated in 1999, the firm provides AutoCAD consulting and other related services primarily in the Delaware Valley of southeastern Pennsylvania, but has been known to ship files via the Internet to clients world wide.
In 1992, a friend suggested that he might enjoy sharing his forward leaning AutoCAD techniques with the Philadelphia AutoCAD Users Group, and he's been doing so since, serving as President, and at one time or another in most of the balance of the executive positions. He currently serves as Secretary, Webmaster, and Newsletter Editor.
In the Fall of 2002, Mr. Webber was invited to Autodesk's premier of their Homeland Security Initiative in Washington, D.C., where he saw the convergence of his lifelong interest in life safety, GIS, the rapidly advancing capabilities of desktop CAD, and the secure high speed transmission capabilities of graphical data to emergency vehicles on-scene. Marrick Services, LLC, was born to facilitate the rapid deployment of this remarkable software to local governments and the critical first responders who need it every day.
Mr. Webber lives in Stratford, NJ with his
lovely wife of 35 years, MaryLee, who earned a Masters degree in Adult
Education from Widener University, and who is an instructor in Medical
Assisting and Medical Office Management at Burlington County Institute
of Technology in Medford, NJ. Their two children, Marshall and Leah, are
both happily married and live within a few minutes drive. Marshall is
Network Administrator at Burlington Coat Factory's international headquarters
and comments on World Wide Web issues at WebWrench.com
and Aircoolled VWs.
Leah is Office Manager for Brian Richards
Entertainment, and enjoys raising her two children, Gracie and Collin.