About
Richard Emmons first business was selling candy bars to his elementary school classmates during the lunch hour when he was 12. Sadly, his thriving business got shut down by a government official, his teacher.
Today, Richard is the Publisher and Editor of the Oregon Eagle, which has subscribers in all 36 Oregon counties. The Oregon Eagle offers readers news and commentary on important community, Oregon and national news, health, finance and even puzzles and riddles.
For local businesses, the Eagle offers a way to make more sales and gain new customers. Now you can advertise your products and services to Eagle readers throughout the the state of Oregon. You'll also support the work of the Eagle. Together, we can make Oregon a better place to live for us today and for future generations.
Learn more at https://oregoneagle.com/.
Now let’s learn about what happened in the 50 years in between....
Richard attended the U.S. Naval Academy for two years, realized life as a naval officer would not float his boat, so he moved back to California to graduate from California State University Fullerton with a business/accounting degree.
Richard began his career in corporate finance and became the controller of a Weyerhaeuser subsidiary at age 28. Two years later he helped spinoff this company in a leveraged buy-out. As the Chief Financial Officer, he oversaw accounting, administration, and IT.
Richard has over 30 years of senior management experience in many industries including financial services, real estate, relocation services, banking, nonprofits, research and development, and light manufacturing. His sales experience includes business-to-business direct sales and door-to-door selling to homeowners and businesses.
Since 2006, Richard has helped local business owners and professionals grow and prosper through his books, coaching, and marketing consulting services.
Richard has been a member of his local chamber of commerce since 2006.
In 2014, Richard was named “Man of the Year” by the Grants Pass and Josephine County Chamber of Commerce for his community involvement and business activities.
In 2025, Richard launched GreatStart Academy to help high school students prepare for success after high school with courses on business, personal finance, and public speaking.
The GreatStart Business Journey transforms teens from business novices into confident young adults ready for real-world challenges with self-paced video-based lessons, hands-on projects, and weekly coaching calls.
Find out more at GreatStartAcademy.com.
In 2012, Richard served as founding president of Rogue Valley Networking Toastmasters. In June of 2020, Richard earned the Distinguished Toastmaster award. Richard has served as a board member of the Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission since 2000. Richard enjoys living in Southern Oregon with his wife and family.