Ritter is a 4th generation shareholder in E. Ritter & Company, a family business from which he is recently retired. Ritter held many positions with the Company during his career, including president.

He earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Rhodes College and is a non-practicing certified public accountant.

Ritter currently serves on the boards of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Arkansas Community Foundation, Crowley’s Ridge Development Council, El Centro Hispano (Jonesboro), and the Arkansas Research Alliance of which he is board chair.

He is a Past Chairman of the Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation and the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce.

He is married to Becki Forbes Arnold and has three children, Ann Marie, James, Lara, and one grandson.