Richard (Rick) Smith is senior director, product training, at JLG Industries, Inc. He is responsible for all aspects of JLG® product training globally, including service, sales, and Train-the-Trainer programs. He oversees curricula design, program development, and program implementation. In addition, he manages training at several JLG facilities and partner locations in the United States. Rick joined JLG in 2011 and led the effort to create and launch JLG University, an online learning environment for JLG product training that now includes more than 50,000 registered users across the globe. Rick also developed the AccessReady operator training system that addresses all aspects of MEWP operator training from classroom to the AccessReadyXR Virtual Reality Boom Lift simulator that allows boom lift operators to train in a realistic environment without ever leaving the ground. Rick brought nearly 25 years of experience as a training manager to JLG, having worked for Anheuser-Busch, Carpenter Technology, and General Physics Corp. Rick holds a master’s degree in instructional technology from Boise State University (Boise, Idaho) and a bachelor of science in industrial psychology from Albright College (Reading, Pennsylvania.). In addition, he served in the U.S. Navy as an electronics technician.
