Rick Kellar is the President and CEO of Peg’s Foundation, a position he has held since 2005. Motivated by personal experience, Rick is a catalyst for change, challenging the status quo to advance access to behavioral health care, enhance student achievement, and foster appreciation for the creative arts. He believes Ohio serves as a template for the nation, inspiring others to “Think Bigger!”

Before joining the foundation, Rick spent 28 years in the U.S. Army including service in the Infantry and Special Forces (Green Beret). He held various leadership positions, notably serving at the Joint Special Operations Command and the Pentagon as the Director of Resourcing for the United States Army Operations and Readiness Initiative, overseeing an $8.6-billion annual program.

Rick holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the United States Military Academy, West Point, and a Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Rick dedicated 17 years to serving as a member and president of the Tallmadge School Board. Currently, he actively contributes to community initiatives through his role on the LeBron James Family Foundation Community Advisory Board, membership in the CEO Alliance for Mental Health, and as a founding board member of Mindful Philanthropy. Rick has a Doctor of Science, honoris causa, awarded by Northeast Ohio Medical University.