Rick Nichols, Chief Executive Officer, and Principal of Agate Construction is an accomplished industry professional with more than 30 years of experience in the international business, mergers, and acquisitions, change management and customer sales industries. Since the beginning of his career, Nichols has been at the forefront of building, growing, and transforming businesses across diverse commercial and industrial sectors.

Nichols has demonstrated a deep understanding of international markets and cross-cultural astuteness from his experience leading businesses with operations in over 100 countries. His ability to identify key issues and develop targeted solutions to return businesses to profitability has earned him a reputation as a dynamic and results-oriented leader.

Notably, Nichols served as President and CEO of Goss International Corp. from 2012 to 2015, where he was tasked with turning around its $245 million loss in revenue from the previous three years. During this time, Nichols showcased his leadership prowess by delivering positive earnings in 2013 and breaking even in 2014 despite a challenging 50% downturn in the industry. Through aggressive restructuring, operational consolidations, and new product introductions, he successfully set the company on a path to sustainable growth.

Nichols’s proficiency in complex, multi-cultural business, legal and commercial negotiations was also evident during his 11-year tenure at Terex Corporation. As President of Terex Cranes, he demonstrated his M&A and integration experience by acquiring a distressed €550 million port equipment business and orchestrated a successful turnaround strategy to restore profitability. Under his leadership, Terex Cranes re-established itself as an industry disruptor and generated substantial revenues through cross-border global engineering collaborations.

In addition to his leadership qualities, Nichols excels in organizational and talent development. His aptitude for engaging and aligning teams with strategic objectives allows him to foster a culture of excellence and teamwork in the projects he oversees. Throughout his career, Nichols has used his position on the board of directors and in the investor relations department to present strategic plans and build support for transformative initiatives. He is known for his passion and adaptability, traits that have enabled him to overcome challenges and deliver exceptional results in the multitude of leadership roles he’s held.

Nichols’s professional journey has been marked by an unwavering commitment to excellence and an innate ability to drive business growth. With his unique combination of visionary leadership, strategic acumen and talent development capabilities, Nichols continues to make a profound impact on the global business landscape. As Agate Construction’s CEO, he remains at the forefront of shaping the future of commercial and industrial enterprises.