Richard Louis Gooch PO BOX 206 12757 Fern Road East Whitmore, CA 96096-0206 (530) 917-6072

I have held various positions within the insurance industry for the past 27 years. I am 58 years old and sustainable organic farming and helping the little guy get access to quality health care is my passion. Since 1971 I have been licensed as a Life & Health Insurance Agent in the State of California.  My first job was a field representative for The California Farmer Magazine soliciting personal lines of insurance to the subscribers of the farming trade journal.   After earning my Bachelor of Science degree in Human Relations & Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco, I began my corporate career as a District Manager for Reserve Life Insurance Company.   We specialized in Health Insurance Plans sponsored by the United Chamber of Commerce for independent small business owners. I was then recruited to the position of Regional Recruiter for Life Investors, Inc. promoting self-funded health insurance plans to members of  “Communicating For Agriculture.” My career then migrated to ITT Hartford as a Field Marketing Director. In 1996, I joined Wellpoint, Inc. as a Marketing Specialist in the State Sponsored Business Unit.  At Anthem Blue Cross our primary mission is to help the uninsured and underserved populations gain access to Federal & State Sponsored health insurance programs.  I have worked in West Virginia, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Nevada & California building provider networks and collaborating with rural communities to bring access to healthcare and utilizing cutting edge technologies like Telemedicine and other TeleHealth services. I understand the unique needs of rural America and have committed myself to helping people gain access to quality medical care.

I am a weekend farmer while my wife Lynette works her business, Tuscan Heights Lavender Gardens full-time.  We reside on a USDA Certified Organic Farm in rural Shasta County.  We grow lavender, edible flowers and herbs and wine grapes on twelve acres.  I am an active member of the California Farm Bureau, Shasta County Viticulture Association, Redding Chamber of Commerce and Shasta County Growers Association.