Rick Terrien
Rick is a lifelong entrepreneur. For the last decade he has focused on developing innovative and sustainable regional food business networks.
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Rick was awarded the United States Small Business New Product of the Year 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.”
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He was recognized by Fast Company Magazine as one of their Fast 50, now called the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies. "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."
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As an innovator, inventor, and business developer with nine U.S. and foreign patents in industrial fluid recycling, his designs have recovered tens of millions of gallons of oil world-wide that were previously lost as wastewater.
Rick builds new markets with sustainability as the goal. His first startup was still going strong at 40 years. His award-winning fluid recycling startup just passed the 20 year mark. With 10 years of successful business development serving the artisan foods market, this tradition continues with Food21.