Rich Kennedy, Class of 2017, has taken on a new challenge as the Senior Operations Manager for WD4D Corporation. Kennedy spends his days supervising the Ottumwa foot and Ankle Clinic and All Ages Pediatrics. Additionally, he runs the building that houses Pella Regional Health Center, Farm Bureau Insurance, two massage therapists, and a Medicare Seminar Group.

When reflecting on his time in the Ottumwa Leadership Academy, Kennedy said, “O.L.A. showed me to look holistically at leadership. Understanding how to lead is an ever-changing environment. O.L.A. helped sharpen these skills to become a meaningful leader.” He continued, “The Academy is great for showing you how the city works, with all its interconnected dynamics, struggles, and areas for opportunity. O.L.A. not only guides you through exposure, but they also place you in a position for impact! If you are serious about your community, OLA is a vehicle to invoke the necessary change you need.”

Kennedy is a 12-year combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient and holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an M.B.A. from St. Ambrose University. When he’s not busy leading operations for WD4D, you can find Rich spending time with family and friends, traveling, and trying to keep up with whichever sports season his children are currently in.