Ricky graduated from Clemson University with a BS in Administrative Management.
From there, he got his start in the steel business as a Melting Department clerk in 1980, holding various positions with Refractory and Steel companies both hourly and in management.
Fifteen years later and with a growing family, Ricky went to work on construction and start-up of Steel Dynamics, Inc. There he held multiple supervisory positions until he became the Melting Department Manager until retiring in January 2017. He then started Ricky Rollins Safety Speeches shortly after.