In 1977, Richard Wilkens created Wilkens Weather Technologies, primarily to forecast the weather for oil production companies in the Gulf of Mexico area. Immediately, however, he began producing specific bulletins and reports for areas outside this region, such as the Strait of Magellan, Malaysia and the Caribbean. The company expanded to serve other industries as well. A year later, Richard co-founded Air Routing International and since then has developed numerous programs with global entities, which are all part of the AR Group.

Richard’s educational background started with a B.A. in physics from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. He then attended the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, and completed his M.S. in atmospheric science. During graduate school, Richard anchored the weather part-time at KTBC (now KLBJ), a CBS affiliate at the time. He then settled in Houston, Texas, working for an aviation weather and flight service company where he was senior meteorologist. Today, Richard’s background consists of more than 30 years in weather and aviation services.

He is a designated Certified Consulting Meteorologist by the American Meteorological Society and the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia. In addition, he is the former director of the Texas Capital Bank—Westwood in Houston and a member of the executive committee for the Wings Over Houston Airshow. While continuing his role as president of Wilkens Weather, Richard also focuses his work on international market development for the AR Group, particularly in the CIS countries and Europe.