Heroes of CentralSquare: Rich Mendenhall

Heroes rarely ask to be recognized. They just show up. They solve problems. They lead by example, even when the job is hard and the stakes are high.

We launched Nominate a Hero to celebrate the people who serve with purpose and make a real impact. Our customers and communities stepped up, nominating individuals who inspire those around them through hero-grade work. Across every entry, the theme was consistent: dedication, integrity, and leadership.

Nominations continue to roll in. Each one reminds us of the amazing people behind the scenes, working to keep teams strong, operations moving, and communities supported.

Today, we’re proud to highlight another hero in public service: Rich Mendenhall. Keep reading to hear his story.

About Rich

Rich Mendenhall serves as a Site Reliability Engineer III at CentralSquare, powering the work that customers rarely see but always depend on. He supports countless cloud migrations and VPN configurations so agencies can transition with confidence and keep critical systems running.

Rich was nominated four times by multiple colleagues for going above and beyond. They describe him as the person who keeps projects on track and elevates teammates. He shows up with consistency, patience, and positivity.

Rich’s dedication is often described as tireless. When something needs to get done, “he does whatever it takes”—whether that means working late, coordinating with third-party contractors, or troubleshooting with hardware vendors.

“Rich is literally everything Hero-Grade stands for,” said one of his coworkers. He’s reliable and 110% committed to CentralSquare and its customers.

Q&A with Rich

1. What inspires you to be Hero-Grade?

“Working in Public Safety for over 20 years inspires me. I understand the needs; I understand how impactful it can be when software or systems go down. That affects our communities and the citizens who serve in those communities.” 

2. What impact are you most proud of in the communities you serve? 

“I am most proud that I have been given the opportunity to make the public sector more reliable, resilient, and progressive.”

3. How do you stay motivated to be Hero-Grade during difficult situations? 

“Knowing our work is making a positive impact for agencies and the communities they serve—that motivates me. There’s purpose in offering progressive solutions to help solve problems.” 

4. How has teamwork impacted your role? 

“Our work depends on the entire team coming together to collaborate and identify how we can achieve the same goals. Each person’s teamwork strengthens CentralSquare as a whole.” 

5. What advice would you give to others who strive to make a meaningful impact in public service? 

“Lead with purpose, not just process. Always ask, ‘How can I make the agencies and communities we serve more efficient?’” 

6. Looking ahead, how do you hope to continue serving your community? 

“By continuing to work with the CentralSquare family, and by offering the solutions that our agencies and communities need to complete their mission more efficiently.”

Celebrate the Heroes Around You

Some of the most important work happens behind the scenes. Rich’s story shows what Hero-Grade looks like in practice: steady follow-through and the commitment to do whatever it takes to deliver reliable cloud solutions.

Rich helps remove uncertainty for agencies relying on mission-critical systems. With reliable technology and secure connectivity, public servants can serve the community without disruption.

Nominate a Hero has given us the chance to hear inspiring stories from people in the CentralSquare community—customers and employees alike. Do you have a story to share? Nominate a hero today and help us recognize the people who keep your operations moving.