The distinguished alumni awards honor extraordinary and inspirational recipients for their outstanding dedication and commitment to the university. This year Rick Isaacson, a College of Business and Economics alum was recognized during the ceremony.
Rick Isaacson studied marketing and economics at Boise State University. He led a successful sales operation for Mutual of Omaha before joining his family’s business, SERVPRO, which he spent the majority of his career building into a national leader in the cleaning, restoration and construction industries.
Joining the company as the assistant marketing manager in 1985, Rick was promoted to vice president of marketing in 1987. He implemented the National Training Center in 1992 and the National Advertising Program in 2003.
In 2019, Rick led the sale of a majority stake of the more than 50-year-old, family-owned company with 2,100 franchise licenses to private equity firm Blackstone, and was appointed chief executive officer. In 2023, he retired from SERVPRO headquarters after nearly 40 years of service to the company. He remains active on its Board of Managers.
Over the course of his career, Rick has served in many consulting capacities. He was appointed by the Governor of Tennessee to the Workforce Development Board. He has been active on non-profit boards such as Pope John Paul II Preparatory School and Court Appointed Special Advocates as well as for-profit boards including Insight Genetics, Tennessee Grasslands Country Club and Highpoint Hospital.
Rick is currently establishing his family’s foundation, which focuses on Christian causes.