Richard Upton directs all of ICON’s human resources activities from staffing, benefits and payroll to organizational development and employee relations. He also oversees office management and facilities.
Upton career in human resources began in a somewhat unconventional way. While working for a brokerage firm in NYC as a staff accountant, he was asked to cover for a colleague working in the payroll department while she was on maternity leave. Unwittingly, he began his career in HR.
Early in his career, Upton was instrumental in growing United Waste Systems from 45 employees to more than 2,000 in less than four years, after which, at the age of 28, he was hired as the director of human resources for Howard Systems International. Through the years, Richard’s proudest accomplishment to date is helping ICON achieve the honor of being selected as one of the top 25 companies to work for in the state of Connecticut for the past six years.
Upton received a BS in business administration from SUNY Brockport with a major in finance and a minor in economics. He also holds a masters in social work, human resources development and counseling from the University of Bridgeport in CT. He has been a keynote speaker on the topic of Generation Y for Market Trends and is on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford.
