Ready to Build Something That Lasts?
We meet companies where they are, whether they’re navigating rapid growth, a transaction, a leadership gap, or an operational rebuild. Let’s talk about what you are solving for.
Rick Nordvold
Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Growth Operators®
Chairman & Managing Partner, NORTH Partners™
Chairman & Managing Partner, NORTH Partners™
Areas of Expertise
Vision & Long-Term Strategy
Shapes enterprise vision and growth strategies designed to build enduring, high-performing businesses.
Executive Leadership & Governance
Guides leaders and organizations through growth, succession, governance, and long-term transformation.
Investment & Value Creation
Brings financial and operating discipline to investments, strategic partnerships, and business-building opportunities.
BEFORE GROWTH OPERATORS
-
Griffin International Companies
- Chief Financial Officer
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Golf Galaxy
- Chief Financial Officer
-
Best Buy
- Director of Corporate Finance
-
Arthur Andersen LLP
- Audit Manager
ALMA MATER
-
University of St. Thomas
- BBA, Accounting
Something You Should Know
If I’m not in the office, chances are you can find me on the golf course, on a lake, or in the woods.
Rick Nordvold is Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Growth Operators and Chairman and Managing Partner of NORTH Partners. Since founding Growth Operators in 2010, Rick has helped build the company from a one-person consulting firm into a nationwide, operator-led professional services and advisory firm.
As Executive Chairman, Rick focuses on the areas most critical to Growth Operators’ long-term success: advancing the firm’s vision, strengthening its culture, deepening key client and marketplace relationships, and mentoring the next generation of leaders.
Rick also leads NORTH Partners, the investment holding company he co-founded with Molly Hiller. NORTH Partners provides a long-term ownership and investment platform for Growth Operators and future businesses. Through NORTH Partners, Rick brings a disciplined approach to investment, governance, leadership development, strategic partnerships, and long-term value creation.
Before founding Growth Operators, Rick spent nearly 20 years in accounting, finance, corporate development, and operational leadership. He began his career in public accounting at Arthur Andersen before joining Best Buy, where he led Corporate Development and Corporate Finance. He later served as CFO of Golf Galaxy, leading its initial public offering and subsequent merger with Dick’s Sporting Goods, and then led finance and operations for Griffin International Companies.
Rick is passionate about building enduring businesses, developing exceptional leaders, and creating sustainable growth. He also serves on the boards of several for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
STRENGTHS
- Bold visionary
- Drives growth and innovative strategies
- Entrepreneurial
- Innovator
- Leadership
- Financial Storytelling for Non-Finance Audiences
- Relationship Builder
- Strategic
- Strategic Leadership
- Strategic thinking
Being a CFO in industry gave me a front row seat to understanding how a strong back office can give a company the freedom to grow and scale with confidence. Building a firm committed to turning good companies into great companies has been the highlight of my career.
