130 Years of Family Serving Family: Ricky Nelson Shumock Jr., Wiesbaden Exchange

One in a series honoring the Exchange’s 130 years of family serving family.

Who he is: Ricky Nelson Shumock Jr., services business manager at the Wiesbaden Exchange.

Years with the Exchange: 14

Military service: Shumock joined the Army straight out of high school in 2005 and was stationed with the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment in Büdingen, Germany. “Coming from a small town in Alabama, everything felt unfamiliar, the language, the layout, even the buses,” he said. “But the Exchange? That was familiar. That’s where I bought sheets, pillows and an Xbox 360.” That Xbox was sold to him by an Exchange associate named Anita Jackson who, two decades later, is now a cash cage supervisor Shumock works with daily. “We laugh about it now. That’s ‘family serving family’ in real time.”

What brought him to the Exchange: After separating from the military, Shumock relocated back to Germany to join his wife and found his next mission with the Exchange. He began as a temporary laborer in November 2011, bringing with him not only firsthand military experience, but a deep appreciation for the role the Exchange plays in service members’ lives. “It felt natural,” he said. “This place helped shape my early years in the Army, and now I get to be part of that experience for others.”

What he did next: Since that first position, Shumock’s career with the Exchange has grown. Today, as a services business manager, he oversees operations and coordinates closely with concessionaires, associates and military leadership to ensure services meet the evolving needs of the Wiesbaden community. His days are filled with everything from business analytics to solving logistical challenges, but it’s the human side of the work that keeps him going. “Whether it’s helping a Soldier find a familiar place to relax, or making sure a young parent can pick up what they need for their child, it all matters.”

Best part of working for the Exchange: The reward comes from knowing he’s giving back in the same way he once received. “The Exchange is where I bought my wife’s wedding band, our kids’ strollers and diapers,” he said. “It’s been there for every chapter of my life. Now I get to help ensure it’s there for the next generation too.”

Family Serving Family: “To me, Family Serving Family means working shoulder to shoulder with the very same people who supported me when I was a young, wide-eyed Soldier,” Shumock said. “Now, it’s my turn to be that familiar face, to provide that same comfort and service to those who wear the uniform today.”

He sees his work not just as a profession, but as a privilege, as a chance to continue serving in a different uniform, for the same cause. “The Exchange was my first stop 20 years ago, and now it’s where I make a difference every day.”