In this session Richard speaks to those people that may be considering becoming an entrepreneur or

have just started their own business. He explores common myths about being an entrepreneur and

finally provides advice on how to be successful based on his own experience.

About the speaker:

Richard is a seasoned professional engineering manager with extensive international and industry experience. Richard’s background covers a wide variety of technologies that include semiconductor process development, semiconductor device development, semiconductor imagers, lasers, hardware design and physical electronics.

Besides R&D management, Richard has managed manufacturing, quality and financial organizations. This breadth of management experience has provided a robust base of experience with the entire product cycle and an all-encompassing view of how successful organizations work.

Richard is a recipient of a 2012 Academy Award (Oscar) for technical development of the Phantom High Speed Camera. In addition, Richard was recognized as an Outstanding Young Executive by Hewlett Packard and was inducted into his high school's Hall of Fame in 2017.

Richard has successfully managed organizations of greater than 1000 people but enjoys working with small organizations and is passionate about helping new businesses succeed.

Richard holds six patents, sits on two BoD, and owns TASTERRA LLC a small consulting and design firm focused on high tech product development for specialized applications.

Richard has been recognized by ERSA for a camera adaptation that has successfully been installed on the International Space Station, while another camera has been used by NASA in the world’s largest parachute test.

In 2017 Richard was awarded the Individual achievement award for IEEE Region 5. On November 27th, 2019, He was awarded the IEEE-USA George F McClure Citation of Honor for continued advocacy and grassroots promotion of student technical and professional activities in the US.

Richard was instrumental along with Roger Ison in heading the Loveland campaign to opt out of Senate Bill 152, resulting in the development of Loveland Municipal Broadband (PULSE).Richard is currently a member of the Loveland Communications advisory Board. (LCAB).