Business Education

FTCC welcomes new Director of Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Small Business

By Staff Report, posted 3 years ago
Ricardo “Rico” Murphy - Photo provided by FTCC

Fayetteville Technical Community College welcomes Ricardo “Rico” Murphy as Director of the College’s Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Small Business (CIESB).

Murphy holds a Master of Business Administration from Capella University and a Bachelor of Arts in General Music from Fayetteville State University, reflecting his diverse skill set, passion for business and creativity, and continuous personal growth.

Murphy has personal experience with the transformative power of education and entrepreneurship. After completing FTCC's auto dealers course, he opened his own used car dealership. He owns an ice cream truck business, Cooler Than Cold, LLC, that began with the vision of focusing on investing in the youth and the community. 

As a small business owner with a diverse portfolio and over a decade of experience, Murphy has hands-on expertise in startups, management, human resources, marketing, grants and funding, profit and loss analysis, and other critical aspects of business operations. Coupled with his customer service skills, ability to build strong relationships and unwavering commitment to the community, he will be an asset for entrepreneurs in Cumberland county who need support in turning their concepts into reality.

The Greater Fayetteville Business Journal included a feature story about FTCC’s CIESB in its recent issue focused on education and entrepreneurship. To read that article click here.

For information about the CIESB, visit https://www.faytechcc.edu/center-innovation-entrepreneurship/

Join The Discussion

Similar Stories

Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
united-way-of-cumberland-county scott-embry headshott

Gratitude: Honoring the generosity of a community by maximizing impact

Scott Embry - Executive Director & CEO, United Way of Cumberland County
cape-fear-valley-health emily-cribb-mba-msn-rn-cen headshott

Cape Fear Valley Health expands emergency department capacity

Emily Cribb, MBA, MSN, RN, CEN - Corporate Service Line Director of Emergency Services, Cape Fear Valley Health
cape-fear-eye-associates cory-worrell headshott

Cape Fear Eye Associates: Setting a Higher Standard in Vision Care

Cory Worrell - Director of Marketing, Cape Fear Eye Associates

In The Current Issue

Editor's note: Traditions and new beginnings

Hello, loyal readers. I am writing to you as someone older and therefore wiser (okay, I’m actually writing this the day before my birthday, but you will receive your copy after I’ve already celebrated). I was reminded of how truly blessed I am t


Certified in self-care: Renaissance Day Spa expands luxury offerings, renovates spaces and builds new Fayetteville location

Renaissance offers a broad range of massage services, from standard Swedish and deep tissue massages to signature massages that offer clients aromatherapy, a farmhouse-sourced “honey heel glaze” foot treatment and hot stone therapy. Photo by Style To


Locally sourced, family-owned: No-BS Meats celebrates the opening of its new storefront in downtown Fayetteville

Nikole (pictured) and Lakota Shawn began selling their meat at farmers markets and in an online store in 2024. Now, they’ve opened their first brick-and-mortar location. Photo by GFBJ.The Shawn family believes in quality, locally sourced food, and th