Rick Alden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rick Alden (born July 4, 1964 in Baltimore, Maryland) is the founder and CEO of Park City, Utah based Skullcandy, creators of headphones, mp3 player watches, audio accessories and other audio-enabled products, such as backpacks with built-in speakers and iPod controls. Alden's Park City, business hit $35.7 million in sales last year (2007), according to Inc. (magazine).
Alden is grandson of Rose Marie Reid, recognized as being one of the most famous women during the 1940's and 50's. In 1955, Reid, an American swimsuit designer, was named Designer of the Year by Sports Illustrated and Woman of the Year by TIME Magazine.
While working for his Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Alden co-founded his first company with Jim Gardner in 1986-- National Snowboard Inc (NSI). An events and marketing company producing consumer, amateur, and pro-snowboarding events nationwide. As quoted by Rocky Mountain News reporter, David Lewis, on February 5, 1992,"Gardner and Alden did not invent snowboarding, but they distilled it, translated it, and marketed it. They were instrumental in making snowboarding an industry and not just another youth-culture fad." Alden later sold NSI to the American Ski Association in 1991. After years of snowboarding, Alden launched his second venture in 1995, designing and patenting the first ever stp-in snowboard boot and binding system. This venture was co-founded with snowboard industry veteran Brett Conrad, and launched under the brand name, Device Manufacturing. Four years later, Alden sold Device Manufacturing to Atomic Ski Company[1]
In 2003, Alden formed Skullcandy designing products that offered the consumer audio solutions and that also fit into his active lifestyle [2]. The first Skullcandy product – the Skullcandy™ Portable LINK – was introduced at the 2003 Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where it won its first Design and Innovation Award. A few weeks later, the brand was launched to the action sports industry at the Snow Industries America (SIA) show.
The CEO of Skullcandy, Alden, was named one of vSpring Capital's "Top 100 Venture Entrepreneurs" of 2008,[1] and holds a patent for technology that integrates mobile phones and music players.[2]
In September 2008, Alden was featured on CNBC's The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, starring Donny Deutsch. In 2008, he was also featured in Inc. (magazine) "Inc 5000 Award" for Skullcandy's three-year (2004-2007) growth of 24,077.4%. In addition to his national recognition, Alden's company, Skullcandy, was noted as being "the world's coolest ear bud," by both CNN Money and Fortune Magazine during December 2008.
In addition to Alden's entrepreneurship, he is the holder of numerous patents in the snowboarding, audio and electronics industry and fly fishing industries, including a design patent for the Orvis Batternkill Large Arbor Fly Fishing Reel [3]
He is a known resident of Park City, Utah where he lives with his wife (Holly) and four children (Preston, Brooklyn, Autumn, Tyler), as reported in the June issue of Utah Business Magazine. He and his wife, Holly Alden, have been married since 1989.
[edit] References
- ^ Marketwire (2008-03-16). "vSpring Capital Releases Its List of the 2008 Top 100 Venture Entrepreneurs", SYS-CON Publications. Retrieved on 6 April 2008.
- ^ Cannon, Karl R. (2007-04-03). "20 patents include core brace", Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved on 6 April 2008.
[edit] External links
- Skullcandy Home Page
- Article: Inc. Magazine Interviews Rick Alden
- Article: Utah Pulse Magazine Spotlights Rick Alden
- [4]
- Article: Transworld Business
- Article: Rick Alden as featured in Rocky Mountain Voices
- Article: Rick Alden Nominated for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year
- Article: Inc. Magazine Spotlights Skullcandy
- [5]
- [6]
- Article: Rick Alden as spotlighted by Deseret News