Chef Rico was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. From a young age, he watched his grandmother and mother in the kitchen making wholesome comfort food, bringing family and friends together with love and good food. As a young man, Chef Rico joined the Army, where he laid his culinary foundation during kitchen duty, preparing food for over 400 service members. After his service, Chef Rico relocated to Portland, Oregon, in 1998 to be with family and met his beautiful, loving wife.

Rico re-evaluated his career goals and decided to become a chef to share his love through food. In 2005, he enrolled in the Western Culinary Institute. After graduating, he began his journey at one of Portland's prominent steakhouses, where he honed his skills in fine dining. It was there that he was inspired to pursue his dream of owning a catering business.

Nevaeh Cee’s Catering (NCC) started in May 2014. "Nevaeh" is his daughter's first name, and "Cee" is his son's nickname for Christian. Rico’s culinary style is a mix of Southern and Spanish cuisine. He has served as a private chef for corporate and special events, and his reputation as an A-list chef is growing, along with his client roster.