Rick French

Rick opened French/West/Vaughan (FWV) in 1997 and today the firm is one of the country's 15 largest independently-held PR, advertising and digital media firms and an 22x National or Global Agency of the Year recipient. Rick has been named Agency Professional of the Year 4x (2021. 2019, 2017, 2014) by a panel of the nation's leading journalists; and he also has received the American Advertising Federation's Silver Medal, its highest individual honor. In addition to guiding FWV, Rick is co-owner of the Daytona Tortugas, the Single A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, and in the third act of his accomplished business career, he also provides development funding for, packages and produces independent and major motion pictures. He is a National Trustee of the famed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, and also serves on the board of trustees of The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, the Texas Heritage Songwriter's Association, Teen Cancer America and Virginia-based TowneBank. He is a 2018 inductee of the NC Media & Journalism Hall of Fame and has been named one of the world's most influential communicators and one of NC's most influential people.