Rich Lopez’s life story reflects the spirit of perseverance, civic responsibility and community leadership that has shaped Boulder County over the past several decades. Raised in California, Lopez worked in agricultural fields as a young man before serving in both the National Guard and the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War era. After pursuing architecture and planning at California Polytechnic State University and Cornell University, he came to Boulder and built a career as a city planner, working on land use and growth management during a period of rapid expansion, while also earning a law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law. He later served as the Energy, Solid Waste and Bikeways Coordinator for the Boulder County Public Works Department before founding Lopez Law Office, where he has spent decades helping businesses, property owners and organizations navigate complex regulatory environments.