Profile of conference speaker Rico Stein
Rico Stein is the co-ordinator for the Kerry Adult Guidance Service covering the County of Kerry in Ireland, working with the Kerry Education Service (the VEC in County Kerry). This service is one of 41 such programmes in the Republic of Ireland. Rico is also a guest lecturer for the National University of Ireland Maynooth, where he has lectured on professional ethics for the MA Ed. in Adult and Community Education, as well as the National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) Certificate Course in Educational Management of Adult Guidance, with a focus on professional ethics in adult guidance. Additionally, Rico has presented workshops and training on the topic of professional ethics for several professional organisations throughout in Ireland.
Before working as an adult guidance counsellor, Rico worked with an employment service focused in assisting the most disadvantaged and long term unemployed; and the County Kerry Diocesan Youth Service as a youth mentor and youth programme co-ordinator, focused on assisting young people who left school early.
Prior to coming to Ireland, Rico worked for a short period of time as a career transition counsellor assisting US Department of Defence employees that were retiring or leaving their government work, to make a smooth employment transition into the corporate sector. Rico himself served as an army officer with the US military for 17 years. During his military service he served in both combat troop and staff assignments. Some of his assignments include: executive officer for a forwardly deployed artillery unit; commander for a forwardly deployed peace keeping force; university assistant professor of military science lecturing in leadership, ethics and other related subjects; manager for Military Community Alcohol and Drug Addiction Prevention and Control Programme which included an addiction counselling centre; and staff officer/advisor for the US Army Command Headquarters in Germany. Rico has an MA Ed (Occupational and Training Management), Higher Diploma in Strategic Planning and Leadership Studies, a Higher Diploma in Adult Guidance and a BA in History.
What motivates Rico to work in the adult guidance field is his own life experience in university, where he changed degree programmes five times, dropped out twice and received two semesters of straight "F"s. It was with the help of two university professors at that time, who took it upon themselves to give Rico their time, listening ear and support that made all the difference. They became Rico's mentors. Rico attributes their personal support as being responsible for a great change in his life, and his own commitment to the helping professions.
In his spare time Rico enjoys working with the local youth choir, co-ordinating the delivery of a county youth faith development programme, and giving time to the local community alert programme.
He has received several awards and recognitions, such as being selected for Outstanding Young Men of America, selected for the Phi Kappa Phi National Honour Society, and receiving the Meritorious Service Medal from the US Department of Defence. Rico lives in Tralee, Ireland with his wife Geraldine and five children.