Russ studied engineering while attending Southern Tech in Marietta Georgia.  He began his professional career with General Motors Corporation in 1976.  He worked 6 years for GM, gaining large-scale manufacturing and supervision experience in a union environment.

He was recruited in 1982 to National Service Industries as a Production Supervisor. His was promoted to Production Superintendent responsible for a division of 150 people before he moved into the marketing department as a National Product Manager. Russ left NSI in December of 1987 to found Rowland Mountain and Associates. 

Over the past 20 years Rowland Mountain has become an award winning industry leader in executive level leadership and functional sales and marketing recruiting.  Since 1999 The Atlanta Business Chronicle has twice named Rowland Mountain as one of the top 10 Executive Search firms with headquarters in Atlanta, Ga. 

In 1999 Russ earned his C.P.C. recognition by the National Association of Personnel Services and was elected to the Board of Directors for the Georgia Association of Personnel Services (GAPS). Russ has earned numerous personal production awards from GAPS and has been inducted in the Million Dollar Hall of Fame.

He represented the Georgia State Association as the Legislative Director on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. in 2000.  He has presided 4 years in the executive rotation of the board where he has served as the V.P. of Membership, V.P. of Programs and as President in 2004 and 2005.  Russ is one of only three twice elected Presidents of the state association.  He is the only President to serve back to back terms in the 40 year history of the organization.  Under his leadership in 2005, the Georgia Association received the National Presidents Award from the National Association of Personnel Services in recognition of the association’s leadership, expertise and commitment to the staffing profession.