Richard Neumann
Richard was born in Burbank, California in 1957. He is the son of a Rocket Scientist and an accomplished Ballerina and Movie Actress. These diametrically opposing influences of logic and creativity have given Richard a unique approach to life. He has found that this rare combination provides him with a unique ability to apply creative solutions to business and to apply strategy to creative endeavors. Rich's financial career has led him across a broad spectrum of industries from heavy manufacturing, to agriculture, to high tech and entertainment. He has been CFO for a number of companies including a half-billion dollar agricultural operation. He currently consults as a CFO and Business Advisor to start-up and transitional phase companies. In 2007, Rich completed a national radio talk show tour with more than a dozen major radio stations. In his program, he discussed managing life changes and his experiences in the pursuit of dreams.
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Entrepreneur
Rich and Seth discuss how to bring economical and sustainable transportation and living solutions to the natives of Cobán, Guatemala
As with most entrepreneurs, Rich has had a few successes and a few more that didn't succeed. He is always looking to apply an entrepreneurial approach to established businesses and to new opportunities. Some of Rich's projects have involved, aquaculture, automotive design of highly efficient "green" commute vehicles, remediation of contaminated soils, the extraction of high value proteins from dairy waste, and the development of a seamless on-demand digital printing and die cutting system.
Currently Rich is working on several projects; the growing of rare hardwoods in Kansas, indie publishing, and bringing economical and sustainable transportation and living solutions to the natives of Cobán, Guatemala.
The most rewarding aspect of Rich's career has been the opportunity to share his knowledge and insights with others. In 1998, shortly before the dot-com crash, Rich co-founded Ravix a consulting firm specializing in bringing financial and operational support to venture funded start-ups. After the dot-bomb era, Rich continued to consult with companies facing change. He specializes in helping businesses to understand how they operate, how they participate in the marketplace, their value to their customers, and what their strengths and weakness are. From there he helps them to understand how to make significant changes to their business and develop the plans necessary to reach their new goal.
Steve Shlisky, winner of 12 Emmy awards, directs Richard during the recent filming of a documentary about his latest book, When The Force Isn't With You
Books and writing and publishing have been an essential part of Rich's life for as long as he can remember. He has over a decade of combined experience in publishing. Rich has run printing presses and bindery equipment, managed warehouses and now owns Stone In The Surf, an independent publishing company. Rich is also the Executive Editor for Over The Wall publications.
His written works include three published books, When The Force Isn't With You, Charlie's Treasures, and The Chronicles of Adrian Smith: The Audit Report. He also has another fiction novel due to be released in the summer of 2008 and several more in the works. Rich has also written five stage plays, three of which have been produced.
In bringing his works into print, Rich has had to fight through the confusing and rapidly changing world of publishing. Using his approach of applying strategic disciplines to creative endeavors, he distilled the process of indie publishing. He then devoted his website www.stoneinthesurf.com to one that is focused on helping aspiring writers understand the business world of becoming published. As part of the site, he provides a free spreadsheet which allows the user to see the financial results of different publishing options. The site also includes discussions on writing, marketing, economics of the business, and inspiration by other featured indie publishers.
Richard launches from the top of Glacier Point, Yosemite - 4,000 feet above the valley floor
Rich looks at life as an adventure. Every turn in life is a chance to learn something new. One of his passions is hang gliding, a sport that has allowed him to launch from Glacier Point in Yosemite and glide through the mist of Yosemite Falls. He has soared to a height more than 15,000 feet, a mile above the highest mountain surrounding Lake Tahoe. His longest duration flight lasted 5 1/2 hours. He also scuba dives and for a short time raced sports cars.
Wherever he goes, Rich strives to be a traveler, not a tourist, learning all he can about the people he meets, respecting their lives, language and culture. Rich has traveled across the US, to northern and western Europe and Japan. He has climbed to the top of the pyramid of Chitzen Itcha and survived the jungles of Manhattan.
Recently he went on the adventure of a life time. In 1963, he lost track of a childhood friend Seth, who's family spent half of their time in Southern California and the other half in Guatemala. With little more to go on then a name, Rich searched for nearly 40 years trying to find his long lost friend. Then in 2004, he came across another person who was also trying to locate Seth. They combined their notes and managed to track him down in the remote town of Cobán, Guatemala. In 2007, Rich and his intrepid friend Mary set out to find Seth. In a tiny four-wheel-drive they trekked 160 miles across dirt roads through the northern high deserts and into the jungles of Guatemala. Finding Seth and his family in Cobán is only the beginning of this adventure.