Pullman Faculty

Rick Cherf
assistant professor

Rick W. Cherf is a visiting professor in the College of Architecture and Engineering at Washington State University , Pullman Campus, and principal of Total Construction Services Incorporated. Mr. Cherf was selected for the construction industry sponsored A. Don Poe faculty position in the Department of Construction Management. He also provides consulting services to owners, architects, engineers and contractors in the industry. His area of expertise is in pre-construction services, project management, program management and strategic planning. Mr. Cherf has more than 28 years of experience in the design, construction, maintenance, and commissioning phases of major facilities throughout North and South America . From pipe-layer to carpenter; heavy equipment operator to project manager; and program manager to executive vice-president of a publicly-held service company, Rick has extensive experience in the development, management and construction of major public and private projects in the commercial, residential, industrial, infrastructure and heavy/civil arenas. Mr. Cherf received his Bachelor of Science in Construction Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Business/Labor Relations at the University of Washington in Seattle . Just a few of the highlights of his project experience and background has included:

Working on the team in 1981 providing the first computerized project forecast system in North America .
Construction of the most expensive cost per room five-star hotel in the world.
The development of major expansion projects and infrastructure for the business, education and arts throughout the Western Hemisphere .
Working on the design team for the “Bill Gates Cyber Residence” schematic proposal.
The creation of destination resorts perched upon a cliff in Southeastern Alaska and the pristine beaches of the Big Island of Hawaii.
Working on the transformation of an existing medical/research campus to a new state-of-the-art hospital and emergency care facility for the Hawaiian Islands .
Building the largest offshore arctic oil production facility in the world.
“Red Adair” style around the clock turnaround/shutdown maintenance and repair of the largest oil production and refining facilities in the Northern Hemisphere.
Developing an international division for an industrial service company throughout South America .
The completion of a high purity polycrystalline silicon manufacturing research and development facility to meet the needs of the computer chip industry in North America .
The program management of billion-dollar corporate expansion projects.
Drafting and implementing business plans for several start-up entities and three major merger/acquisitions.

Mr. Cherf has broad experience in directing major construction programs, projects and project teams. Following an extensive career in construction, Mr. Cherf teaches at the College of Architecture and Engineering, subjects in construction management including topics such as planning, scheduling, project management, construction methods, construction productivity, project controls, specifications, contracts, leadership and organizational management.