Bob Richards, Founding Principle

Climbing has been part of my life since the 1970’s and has provided me with a lot of fun experiences. It has been a pleasure to help other people join the climbing community and share in the fun and rewards of this great sport.

• 30 years of climbing gym operating and consulting experience
• Founding board member of the Climbing Wall Association
• Founding board member of the Climbing Gym Association
• 20 years of expert witness consulting in climbing wall litigation

As founding principle of Climbing Wall Advisors, Bob Richards has provided strategic planning and development services to the climbing wall industry since 2004, assisting gym owners in planning, developing, operating and opening new climbing gyms.

As an expert witness in climbing wall accident litigation, Mr. Richards has provided services to legal counsel in many cases and complaints representing both plaintiffs and defendants.

Mr. Richards founded Rockreation Sport Climbing Centers in 1991 and managed the expansion of the company operations in Utah, California, and Nevada. In 2004 he sold his interest in Rockreation.

In 2003 Mr. Richards founded the Climbing Wall Association and served as a board member through 2011. He is a regular presenter at CWA conferences. He was also one of the founding board members of the Climbing Gym Association in 1994 and served as a committee member of the CGA Accreditation program, co-drafting the original Industry Practices, consensus-based practice guidelines for the climbing wall industry.

Prior to his experience in the climbing wall industry, Mr. Richards was an executive with international and national consumer packaged goods companies, including Nestle Foods and Valley Grain Products.  He also worked as a CPA with Ernst & Whinney, an international accounting and consulting firm. He also holds a Certified Global Management Accountant designation and held real estate and insurance licenses in the state of California.

We also work with other industry veterans, like Chris Ryan Studios, to provide design and construction consulting services.