2020 Trusted Advisers Technology Professional: Richard Reding

As technology continues to evolve at a dizzying pace, businesses are increasingly dependent on the expertise of others.

For the last five years, TierOne Managing Partner Richard Reding has made it his mission to guide clients through all of the digital voice, data and cloud solutions to find those that best suit their needs.

“I am a change agent that understands the technology trends in the industry and helps my clients understand how those may or may not fit within their nuanced environments,” he says.

Reding says with more than 200 vendors in his company’s portfolio, he can search for the technology that suits each client’s unique needs.

“I work side by side with my clients and their respective teams to design, procure, implement and support even the most complex voice, data and cloud solutions,” Reding says.

Reding says that because of the variety of products, services and suppliers within the portfolio of TierOne, the impact he’s made for clients varies.

But, he says, “I have a track record of delivering significant bottom-line cost savings as well as ‘soft-cost’ savings by reducing time and workload for my clients via the procurement, implementation and support mechanisms and enhancements I deliver.”

His commitment to being available to clients at any time is a source of personal pride.

“From a holiday weekend to the middle of the night, I prioritize their business operations above all else,” Reding says. “I have been dubbed a vampire and a workaholic, but it is just a true passion for my clients.”

He says he contractually protects his clients by seeking the most favorable pricing and terms in the market.

Reding says he’s also a fierce advocate for his clients with carriers and suppliers.

“I ensure and relentlessly represent and lobby for my clients’ best interests with the carriers and suppliers,” he says, offering an example: “At the onset of COVID-19, payment deferments were common under the FCC’s guidance; however, I worked tirelessly to help many highly impacted clients not just defer payments but to receive waived or reduced costs so that when they rebounded, they didn’t have as deep a hole to climb out.”

Reding also is active in industry associations.

He has been on the board of directors for the Association of Information Technology Professionals-Ozarks Chapter for five years, four of which he has served as program director.

He also has served on advisory boards and executive steering committees for established telecommunications providers, such as Chicago-based Nitel and Dallas-based Hypercore Networks.

Reding shows his commitment to the Springfield community through volunteer efforts in helping to organize fundraisers for nonprofit organizations such as Harmony House, Ozarks Regional YMCA and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.