New to politics, dynamic in business
The upstate New York native has lived in West Knoxville’s Gettysvue neighborhood with his wife and high school sweetheart, Brooke, for the last three and a half years, capping several decades working for multi-million dollar high-profile companies all over the world.
Armed with an engineering degree and an MBA, Jacobs worked for General Electric right out of college, then was employed by Honeywell and the Eaton Corporation, where he served as chief procurement officer, managing an $8 billion budget with spend across 87 countries.
The couple spent five years in Europe, but when Rick’s father fell ill, it brought a new perspective.
“My dad had open heart surgery, and I realized I was going to be missing out on what time he had left,” Jacobs said. “It also occurred to me that I didn’t want someone to write on my tombstone that I was a good employee.”
While his parents lived in Atlanta, Georgia, a location Rick and Brooke decided “wasn’t for us,” he said, they established “a list of criteria to help us decide where we wanted to live, and Knoxville checked off all the boxes,” Jacobs said.
Among the requirements, “We were looking for a place that was more conservative, warmer rather than colder, was near water, had low taxes, was within three to four hours of family.”
Since moving to Knoxville, Jacobs has worked locally for Dura-Line, run a consulting business and also serves on the Make a Wish Foundation board. He and Brooke have three grown children.
“We are and have been really happy here,” he added. “We are very blessed.”
Part of realizing their good fortune is Jacobs’ desire to go to work for Knox County taxpayers.
“I really want to give back to this wonderful community we live in, and one way to give back is to find something you are good at and offer that service. I have experience overseeing large budgets, and believe my education and experience more than qualifies me for this position.
“The Trustee’s office is the least political job,” he continued. “You don’t make policy, but it requires you have good business acumen.
“I am encouraging voters to do their own research and comparison between me and my opponent,” added Jacobs, who is campaigning as a conservative Republican. “But my main message is ‘Go Vote.’”
For more information, visit www.jacobs4trustee.com.
