About Us
Bill Rice, AICP, CEI
Bill established Rice in Cary, North Carolina in 2020, and serves as Rice’s Principal Planner.
As a child, he lived in rural areas and enjoyed building forts, bridges and roads in the fields and forests around his house. As he grew older, he aspired to be a forest ranger, then a geologist, then a geographer—always something having to do with the interplay between the natural and human environments.
He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geography, environmental science, and urban planning. Becoming an environmental planning professional was an obvious choice for him because it studies human development in the natural environment. He started his career as an urban planner for a coastal city of 198,000. His tenure at the city was the springboard for becoming an environmental planner.
Over his 33-year career, Bill has become an expert in the interpretation and application of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), several state environmental policy acts, and has helped prepare environmental policies in other nations. He has also taught college-level courses in geology and the natural environment.
Bill has provided his expertise for public agencies and private clients throughout the United States, Europe, and Oceania. While he has provided his expertise for the departments of transportation in over 21 states, he has specialized in North Carolina and the Southeast for the last 22 years.
Bill is certified planner (AICP), certified environmental inspector (CEI), certified hazardous material waste operator (HAZWOPER), and certified materials manager.
Bill enjoys restoring cars, boats, and buildings, as well as playing bass and guitar.
Principal Planner
Ryley Rice
Ryley is Rice’s Planner and Designer and has served the company since 2020.
Having a highly analytical mind, he has always enjoyed figuring out how things work and finding new ways to improve existing designs. Growing up, he was deemed a young mad scientist amongst the neighborhood kids, as his workshop often emanated loud noises, bright lights, smoke or steam.
Ryley’s natural curiosity, intellect, and ability to quicky understand complex concepts works well in the complex world of environmental planning. He has over six years of planning, environmental and design experience, and holds an Associate in Arts in Visual Arts, and an Associate in Applied Science in Simulation and Game Development: Art and Modeling. He is currently working on a Bachelor’s degree in design, and is a certified hazardous waste materials operator (HAZWOPER).
Ryley is knowledgeable in the application of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the North Carolina Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). Ryley is also in charge of designing and preparing our company’s photorealistic and video renderings for a myriad of different project types. He has applied his expertise on 11 NCDOT projects.
Ryley enjoys developing video games, music production, blacksmithing, and sculpting.
Planner / Designer
Terri Rice
Terri has served as Rice’s Administrator since 2023.
She has been an avid reader since childhood, often coming home with a bike basket full of library books. Detective books gave her early love for organization, investigation, and forensics—talents that she applies to her administrative abilities.
Whether it is strategic planning, record keeping, scheduling, budgeting, reporting, communications, or team coordination, Terri manages these concerns with impeccable quality and organization.
Terri started her career in administration in the planning and engineering design group at The Keith Companies (now Stantec). Over her career, Terri has been the principal administrator for engineering and investment management firms of up to 40 employees.
She has over 15 years of project, program, and executive administration experience, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art.
Terri is an avid photographer who also enjoys calligraphy, interior decoration, and hanging out with her 75-pound golden retriever named Semmie (short for Semper Fidelis).
Administrator
Ruthanna Grace
Ruthie has served as Rice’s Graphic Designer and Public Involvement specialist since mid-2025. Ruthanna (Ruthie) has over nine years of graphic design, writing, and public involvement experience. She combines her keen knowledge of computerized graphics and hand drawn artistry to develop optimal quality visualizations, illustration, and graphics.
Ruthie is also a published author and is highly proficient at writing, storytelling, and editing written narratives. She also has highly developed people skills and a genuine interest in others’ experiences. Because of that, she is highly adept public involvement and is able to help build consensus on some of the most complex issues.
Ruthie enjoys raising aquatic animals and hanging out with her two tiny mini-poodle mixes.
Graphic Designer / Public Involvement
Jacob Harmon
Jacob is Rice’s Geographic Information Analyst, and has served the company since late 2025.
He has an active interest in spatial relationships and urban development patterns. Jacob uses GIS to characterize existing conditions and demonstrate how planned projects will affect the human and natural environments.
Jacob is knowledgeable in the application ESRI GIS products and those of multiple state and federal agencies, and is adept at determining the optimum ways to present complex information. He has applied his expertise on half a dozen NCDOT projects.
Jacob enjoys music, video games, and hanging out with his two black Labrador retrievers.
Geographic Information Systems