Okay, let’s tackle this. So Richard Taplin has 33 years of experience in operations management and strategic planning, which is a significant amount of time. He’s held a senior leadership position, and his skills in areas like procurement, construction, and negotiation are in demand. Location is Blaine, Washington, which is not a major hub for high-paying industries. Considering his experience and skills, I’d estimate his hourly rate to be around $125, which is a reasonable rate for a senior operations executive with this level of experience. This rate is slightly lower than what I’d expect for someone with similar experience in a more demanding industry, but it’s still a good rate for someone with his level of experience and skills.