User:Noschro/sandbox

= Ryan McFarland = Ryan McFarland (born October 20, 1968) is the founder and Chief Enthusiast of Strider Sports International.

Born: October 20, 1968 (Age 49)

Nationality: American

Education:

Occupation: Founder & Chief Enthusiast, Strider Sports International

Spouse(s): Married

Children: 2

Parents: Sandra and Joe McFarland

Early Life
Ryan McFarland was born in Custer, South Dakota. Upon graduation from Custer High School in 1987, where he served as the class valedictorian, McFarland attended one year at Colorado State University before withdrawing to pursue multiple entrepreneurial ventures.

Career
McFarland founded RJ Concepts, Inc. in January of 1994 in Rapid City, South Dakota. The most notable product developed by RJ Concepts, Inc. was a bicycle seatpost with pivotal suspension, patented November 7, 1995 as US5464271 A. RJ Concepts sold the product line and licensed all related patents to Cane Creek in 1998 while retaining an online retail outlet for the products through November of 2013 before transferring fully to Cane Creek Cycling Components.

In June of 2004 McFarland became the co-owner of Rushmore Mortgage Company, a financing company providing residential mortgages in the Rapid City, South Dakota area. McFarland sold his stake in the company in June of 2008.

Strider Sports International
McFarland founded Strider Sports International in January of 2007 following his invention of a no-pedal, balance bike. From his garage, McFarland invented the balance bike in 2006 for his then-2-year-old son to teach him to ride after experiencing frustration with the inabilities of tricycles and other children’s bikes with pedals and stabilizers (training wheels). McFarland’s patent application for his design was published December 14, 2010 as USD629049 S1.

Since its founding in 2007, Strider Sports International has grown to be distributed worldwide, selling over two million bikes.

Awards
·        2014 Small Business Association (SBA) Small Business Person of the Year