Title: Judicial Programs Administrator
Company: Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts
Location: Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, United States
Rick Pierce, judicial programs administrator at the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in government and the law.
Mr. Pierce has built a strong career of nearly 40 years out of a path he initially explored out of necessity. Upon graduating from college in 1987, he entered a job market where his journalism degree was not financially viable to pursue. Mr. Pierce took on a position in court administration, initially envisioning it as a temporary job while he found his footing. He ended up working in court administration for trial courts for almost 15 years.
Encouraged to commit to this career path and continue building on his existing relationships, Mr. Pierce stepped into the role of judicial programs administrator for the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts in 2001. Having served in that position since, his duties include reviewing and resolving concerns from trial court and collaborating with colleagues both within Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region generally. Mr. Pierce also offers his insight as an educator, providing training and consulting for other court administrators in the state. He additionally takes that training nationwide through various organizations and events.
Mr. Pierce’s performance in the field was born of his academic journey. He first obtained a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Washington and Lee University in 1987. After changing his professional direction, Mr. Pierce returned to school and earned a Master of Public Administration from Shippensburg University in 1995. He credits his accomplishments to the mentorship he has received throughout his journey, including from his first boss, who hired him out of college. Mr. Pierce recalls gaining important insights from his mentors, as well as from those with whom he had more challenging relationships in the workplace. He believes these connections have formed the foundation upon which he has built his career.
To remain aware of developments affecting his field, Mr. Pierce has maintained his professional affiliation with a number of pertinent organizations. He currently serves as the president of the National Association for Court Management, an organization devoted to improving court administration work across the nation through sharing training and improvements to the court management process. Mr. Pierce has also dedicated time to the board of directors of the National Center for State Courts. He has previously operated as the president of the Pennsylvania Association of Court Management and the Mid-Atlantic Association for Court Management. Among his many accolades, Mr. Pierce was recently honored by the Pennsylvania High School Football Coaches Association for his years of public service. He coaches football in his free time and has pointed to his own high school football coaches and major sources of support early in life.
Outside of his career, Mr. Pierce enjoys spending time with his family, attending sports events, volunteering at church, spending time outdoors, reading, traveling, listening to music and participating in community events. Looking ahead, he plans to continue educating incoming court administrators and supporting programs for professional education in the field. Mr. Pierce has aspirations to eventually teach college-level courses on how the courts and local and state government bodies are run. He is also exploring opportunities in the private sector, such as consulting work.
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