Richard was born in Durham, North Carolina, but lived most of his life in Virginia. Growing up in Chesapeake, he majored in history with a minor in religion at Bluefield College and political science at the University of Richmond Graduate School. In 1983, Richard began his career in direct mail fundraising when he joined Vienna, Virginia, based Eberle & Associates. Richard personally managed the highly successful 1984 cycle prospecting program for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and supervised direct mail prospecting for the record-breaking 1984 re-election campaign of U.S. Senator Jesse Helms. Because of his successful efforts, in 1985, he was named President of Eberle & Associates. On August 15, 1987, Richard founded a direct mail creative agency, The Richard Norman Company and a list brokerage and management company, Robertson Mailing List Company. Richard has managed fundraising programs for dozens of well-known national organizations and candidates for President, U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and Governor. In 2001, Richard founded Patriot Data Services, a computer service bureau catering to the direct marketing community. In 2009 Richard founded ActiveEngagement, a digital communications and fundraising agency. Richard is a founding member of the Board of Advisors for the University of Virginia Center for Politics and the Board of Governors for the Virginia Institute for Public Policy.