The following bio is that of an event speaker or guest author. This person is not directly affiliated with the John Locke Foundation.

Will Rikard is the Executive Director for StepUp Wilmington, a leader in workforce development in the Cape Fear region of NC. During his seven-year tenure, the organization has grown to place over 200 jobs and serve over 400 individuals annually. Will is a graduate of Wake Forest University, and played on the1998 ACC championship baseball team. After college Will played 5 seasons of professional baseball in Europe and earned his MBA from American University. Will worked in the financial recruitment industry for 6 years in Washington, DC and Stockholm, Sweden before returning to his home state of NC in 2012.