The Heart and Background Behind The Interruption
Meet Rick Cadden
The Parts Counter
My story didn't start in a church — it started behind a parts counter in Corpus Christi, Texas. At just 16 years old in 1971, I began working at my family's retail auto parts store, eventually working my way up to store manager. For 24 years I worked side by side with my dad, where I learned early on that everything rises and falls on how well you treat people.
When my dad retired and the store was sold, the family relocated to Arlington, Texas, and I wasted no time building something new. I launched a wholesale auto parts business from scratch, serving repair shops across the region. After five years of steady growth, I sold the business and stepped into a District Sales Manager role with an auto parts distributor in the DFW metro area, overseeing the Fort Worth market.
Then came the interruption.
The Pivot
In 1995, I made a pivotal career shift — leaving the business world behind to join a local church as Business Manager. What followed was 30 years of ministry across four churches, where the customer service principles I had spent decades developing found a new and deeper purpose: hospitality. It became more than a responsibility. It became a passion.
Over those years, I earned certifications as a Church Business Administrator through The Church Network and the Baptist Leader Network, and was ordained as a minister. I have served in roles including Children's Pastor, Business Administrator, and Executive Pastor, leading teams across Support Staff, Food Service, Facility Management, Operations, Risk Management, Budget and Finance, and HR.
Today
I am a retired Church Business Administrator and a frequent speaker at national and regional conferences and local chapters. My most recent speaking focus has been on hospitality in the church setting — and after two years of sharing how churches can build and implement a culture of welcome, I am now developing a series of practical resources available to churches everywhere.
When I'm not writing or speaking, you'll find me out on the water in my kayak, cooking something worth gathering around, rallying with fellow Mini Cooper enthusiasts, or tracking down my next great score in musical gear.
Where I Learned Hospitality
Long before anyone called it "customer experience" or wrote books about servant leadership, I learned hospitality behind the counter of a small, family-owned auto parts store in the early 1970s.
Let's Talk About Your Team
I'm available for speaking engagements and custom hospitality training sessions for your church staff or volunteers.