Describe your business. Did you find it, or did it find you?

I found that in the Silicon Valley many start-ups needed help with manufacturing engineering. Filling those needs evolved into designing our own products and eventually into helping other individuals and large companies develop and market their new products.  

What was the first job you ever had, and what did you learn from the experience?

Mowing lawns with a hand mower. I learned gasoline was a great invention.

What life accomplishments are you most proud of?

The invention of tape flags, which I sold to 3M in 1991, and my other inventions (riordanco.com/projects_success.htm).

Who is your role model in business or in life, and why?

My dad, Henry J. Riordan, was my greatest mentor. His message: “Choose carefully the most important things in your life, for they are your options and become the values of your life. Your values determine your priorities, which govern your choices. Your choices dictate your decisions. Your decisions generate actions, attitudes and habits, which become your character and the consequences of your life.”  

Where do you and your family go locally to have fun?

Lynn: To quilt shops and volunteering at Sew for Vets.
Jim: To the airport to fly upside down.

Where do you go when the going gets tough?  

In the air (upside down) or playing music with my band, Elderado.

If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?

Thomas Edison, because he never gave up and kept a great attitude about it all the while.

If you could be any other profession, what would it be?

There’s no other one. I am 100-percent satisfied and do different things every day – all while working with my best friend: my wife.

And finally, customer service is…?  

Total customer satisfaction, even if it costs you money!

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