Rick’s search experience is grounded in more than two decades of corporate HR leadership. As Vice President of Human Resources at Restaurant Technologies, there he led the Human Resources and Risk Management functions for 850 employees across 26 states and 41 facilities, and helped grow the company’s revenue from $150 million to $580 million, with a 225% improvement in EBITDA. At G&K Services, Rick was promoted to Corporate Director of Human Resources, Field HR Operations, where he saved $540,000 annually by reducing the company’s executive search firm roster from 56 to 5 strategic partners, and designed a shared services model that saved $2.2 million in labor cost and recruiting expense. Earlier, as Regional Director of Human Resources at G&K, he drove a leadership business review and performance management turnaround to an $11 million revenue growth and directly led the HR integration of five acquisitions.
Earlier in his career, Rick worked at organizations including Broadriver Communications, a technology start-up, and held senior HR leadership roles at Honeywell, Sunbeam-Oster, Lucas Industries, and Tenneco.
Most recently, Mr. Copeland joins Carpe Diem after founding a retained search firm in 2024, where he served as President, partnering with C-suite executives, boards, and private equity sponsors to build leadership teams that accelerate business performance and create long-term enterprise value. Rick advised organizations such as Diversified Distributors, Lube Tech, QualiTru Sampling Systems, Osmose Utlities, Restaurant Technologies and Consolidated Plastics on executive search, leadership assessment, succession planning, executive coaching, and career transition, with significant experience supporting private equity-backed companies in making high-impact talent decisions that strengthen executive teams and reduce leadership risk. He also founded a high potential Leadership Group, an annual developmental cohort program for early-career and high-potential employees, and serves as a Career Transition Coach..
Before that, he founded c6 Consulting Services, providing fractional HR support and business development for small business owners across healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and professional services, with clients including Binswanger Glass, Culligan Water, Choice Hotels, eyebobs, Wingman Uniform, and Digi International.
Having served as both a corporate HR executive and an executive recruiter, Rick now brings a rare, dual-sided view of talent decisions — understanding what clients need from both the inside and the outside of the search process. His deep HR credentials bring new depth to Carpe Diem’s leadership development and organizational advisory capabilities.
Mr. Copeland holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Development from Villanova University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Christopher Newport University. He is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and a Six Sigma Green Belt. He is based in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and maintains a broad network of executives and private equity sponsors across multiple industries, which he will leverage to support Carpe Diem clients with their most critical leadership needs.
Carpe Diem Global Partners is a disruptive innovator helping organizations build stronger leadership for growth, transformation, and succession – integrating executive search, leadership development, and organizational advisory in one corporate partnership. We are experienced operators who have sat in the chair for decades – we assess and develop leaders and boards, the way our clients actually need them to perform.