Former ACE CEO Richmond garners local award for directing massive grade crossing program

Former Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority (ACE) Chief Executive Officer Rick Richmond has been named the 2013 recipient of the Jack Phillips Award by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG).

The award recognizes Richmond — who retired on May 17 — for his "leadership and innovation" in helping develop and implement ACE's program of grade separations and crossing safety/mobility improvements in California's San Gabriel Valley, according to a press release. The award is named after former city of Industry Councilman Jack Phillips, who also served as a founding board member of ACE.

Under Richmond's leadership, ACE grew from a small agency mobilized with a skeleton staff and a startup loan from the city of Industry to an agency responsible for implementing a $1.7 billion program calling for the construction of 22 grade separations and improvements to 39 grade crossings, ACE officials said. He was hired as the authority's CEO shortly after ACE was established in 1998 by SGVCOG.

"Rick's integrity, forthrightness and good judgment were exemplary, and his expert focus on budgets, funding and schedule were essential to the successful implementation of the ACE program," said El Monte Mayor Pro Tem Norma Macias, who chairs ACE's board.