Richard A. Greenawalt '66
Principal, RMK Associates
 Like it is for so many others, Drexel's co-op program was the key to success for Richard Greenawalt '66-though not in the orthodox manner. While Greenawalt was trying to decide if he wanted to pursue a Ph.D., he spent a co-op as a research assistant. "I had a good time; there was a lot of camaraderie. But the experience also gave me an indication that it wasn't how I wanted to spend my whole life. It helped me decide I really wanted to go into business."
So instead, Greenawalt earned an M.B.A. in '68 from Carnegie Mellon University and began working for Texas Instruments. And then he got a call about a new opportunity at Citibank, which was seeking people with both technical and business backgrounds. Greenawalt was not too anxious to move to Manhattan, but he quickly realized getting in at the early stage of a major push from Citibank's consumer business was an opportunity he could not pass up.
Greenawalt spent sixteen years with the banking giant, including a position as president of Citicorp Retail Services. He then moved to Los Angeles as president of Transamerica Financial Corporation before being returning to Philadelphia as president and C.O.O. of the multi-billion-dollar Advanta Corp. After thirty-three years in the corporate world, in 2000, Greenawalt formed the private investment partnership RMK Associates.
Greenawalt is in fact a pillar of the community, serving as Vice Chair for Drexel University's and the College of Medicine's Board of Trustees. Greenawalt also chaired this year's Drexel's capital campaign committee, which raised above and beyond its $200 million goal ahead of schedule. A member of the Franklin Institute's Board and that of the Free Library of Philadelphia, Greenawalt is also a member of the Drexel 100 and was responsible for bringing the commuter lounge's Student Activity Center to life. He is also a recipient of the Anthony J. Drexel Paul Award, Drexel's highest alumni honor. |
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