Richard Gustafson

Richard became the president and CEO of PowerLight in 2013, two years after he started with the company as an independent consultant. His role has included a focus on technology, operations, capital structure, market assessment, and business development for military and commercial operations. When it comes to his work, Richard most enjoys solving complex challenges with great teams to make a difference for customers while elevating the team’s capabilities to create value. “I like working and developing relationships with people who share my passion for building and doing well by doing good,” he says. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Richard is energized by a sport that reflects his motivators at work—McLaren Mercedes Formula 1, for its combination of technology, speed, teamwork, strategy, and propensity to push human limits. In the community, Richard provides advisory and support for university business/entrepreneurship programs. He, himself, graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor of science in Business Management.