|
|
If you have raised equity capital to fund a venture, then you have been asked the critical question, “who is your management team?” Experience is critical and is defined by Merriam Webster as: “practical knowledge, skill, or practice derived from direct observation of or participation in events or in a particular activity.”
|
|
As principal and founder of Open Water Ventures, Bob Richards has over 30 years of business experience. His personal strategy has been to learn the skills required to identify, develop and commercialize consumer-based business opportunities. After graduating from University of Southern California with an MBA in 1979, Mr. Richards worked several years for Ernst & Whinney as a Certified Public Accountant. In 1983 he started and later sold his first business, a consumer products manufacturing firm. Seeking additional consumer products experience, he joined Nestle Foods Carnation working his way to Marketing Manager and leading the turn around of the Carnation Dairy Division (now Nestle Ice Cream USA). He then joined Valley Grain Products, a national food company and leader in the Mexican Food Products industry, as Vice President of Marketing and Sales. After the sale of VGP to an international food conglomerate, Mr. Richards founded Rockreation, which became the worlds largest operator of indoor climbing gyms in the 1990’s. After selling his interest in Rockreation in 2004, Mr. Richards founded and invested in several new ventures including Open Water Ventures, AdventureMed, Nittany Ventures and PIKA Partners. He currently serves on the boards of directors of both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses and trade associations.
|
|
One of the great advantages of today’s business environment is that instantaneous communication has opened up vast networks of talented people that can be engaged on a project basis. Open Water Ventures has developed a network of individuals that possess the skills required to successfully meet its management needs from product design and engineering to sales and financial management. These individuals are engaged based on the unique requirements of a particular project or acquisition.
|
|
