Rick Hutcheson for Palm Springs City Council

About Rick » RICK HUTCHESON BIOGRAPHY

Current Activities

Rick HutchesonPalm Springs resident and businessman Rick Hutcheson is deeply committed to building a prosperous future for Palm Springs, while preserving the unique village quality of life and natural beauty that attracts and retains Palm Springs visitors and residents.

Appointed by the City Council, Rick serves as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Palm Springs. The seven member Commission hears public testimony and acts upon applications for all City development, zoning regulations and environmental matters.

Rick co-owns several successful Palm Springs real estate and tourism-related companies with his partner of eight years, Rob Kincaid. The businesses focus on real estate sales, lodging for tourists, and investments. Vacation Palm Springs Real Estate, Inc. has provided accommodations for thousands of persons from all walks of life who have visited Palm Springs over the past several years.

Professional Experience

Over the past 30 years, Rick has gained a wide breadth of experience in government and as a senior Business Development executive, both at Fortune 500 and at entrepreneurial companies. Rick worked in the West Wing of the White House for four years as a member of President Jimmy Carter's senior staff, in a pivotal role as gatekeeper for all policy material that Cabinet or staff desired to give to the President.

Thereafter, Rick served as a senior Business Development executive for several companies. At Time Warner, he dealt with projects ranging from environmental audits of all Time Warner businesses to branding for national theme parks and attractions. Rick also negotiated strategic alliances with companies such as Ford, Chase and GE for entrepreneurial ventures such as Internet Finance Corporation and for J.D. Power Clubs.

Community Service

Rick has provided leadership in community and charitable affairs throughout his career. In Palm Springs, he serves on the Police Advisory Board and on the founding board of his neighborhood organization in addition to the Planning Commission. Rick represents his company on the Palm Springs Economic Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce.

He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Desert Business Association and on the Citizens Advisory Committee for Community Development Block Grants in Palm Springs. He previously served on the Board of Directors for The New Festival and for GLAAD/NY. Most recently, he was part of the international delegation observing the 2006 elections in Nicaragua, as part of President Carter's Carter Center Democracy Project.

Education

Rick graduated with Highest Honors from Swarthmore College, near Philadelphia, in 1973. While pursuing graduate studies in Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, he was recruited to manage delegate selection and convention activities for the Jimmy Carter presidential campaign, as Deputy Campaign Manager. Rick returned to Swarthmore College as a Visiting Fellow in 1981 to lecture on government and politics.

Worthwhile Organizations

These are some of many fine organizations serving our community:

  • AIDS Assistance Program
  • California Desert Association of Realtors
  • College of the Desert Foundation
  • Desert AIDS Project Partners for Life
  • Desert AIDS Walk
  • Desert Business Association
  • Desert Pride Center
  • Desert Rainbow Foundation
  • Desert Women for Equality
  • Equality California
  • Foundation for the Retarded of the Desert
  • Friends of Palm Springs Library
  • Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination (GLAAD)
  • Gay and Lesbian Community Center
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • Jewish Federation of the Desert
  • Lambda Legal Defense Fund
  • Mizell Senior Center
  • National Organization for Women
  • Palm Springs African American Chamber of Commerce
  • Palm Springs Art Museum
  • Palm Springs Board of Realtors
  • Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce
  • Palm Springs Economic Development Corporation
  • Palm Springs Historical Society
  • Palm Springs International Film Festival
  • Palm Springs Police Officers Association
  • Palm Springs Sunup Rotary
  • Rick Weiss Humanitarian Awards
  • Shelter From the Storm
  • The Carter Center
  • The Point Foundation
  • The Victory Fund
  • Well in the Desert

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