Holmes Named Board President of Tri-Cities Nonprofit

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Rick Holmes, a Bechtel Principal Vice President, has been appointed board president for the Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia (CRFMC). Holmes officially assumed this role in July and will serve in this capacity for a one-year term.

Leanne Luehrs-Purcell, the CRFMC executive director, said, “I am thrilled to have Rick as our board president this year. He has shown strong commitment to our organization, passion for our mission, and is an esteemed leader in our community. I look forward to a successful year with Rick helping to lead the organization."

Bechtel National Inc. is lead contractor for the Department of Energy’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant at the Hanford Site. Holmes is general manager for the Waste Treatment Completion Company, the main subcontractor to Bechtel at the plant. Holmes’ 30-year professional journey includes his entry into Bechtel in 1999, following a distinguished decade-long service as an officer in the U.S. Army. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Florida Southern College and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Holmes also serves as a  member of the board of directors for the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties.

“I am deeply honored to have been chosen as board president,” said Rick Holmes. “Literacy is the foundation of learning. It’s important that we invest and empower all children, parents, and schools in preparing our children to be successful and establish a lifetime love of learning.”

Founded in 1996, the CRFMC remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering parental engagement as a child’s primary educator. The foundation is dedicated to ensuring that each child attains proficient reading skills early on, thereby unlocking their full potential in both academics and life.