Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heart
After nearly 20 years at JMP, Dave Richardson is retiring as Vice President of Sales for Americas and EMEA at the end of January. He’s left an indelible mark on the company and his colleagues.
As CEO Jon Weisz said in his tribute to Dave at Kickoff earlier this month, “Dave had a steady hand that kept us focused on growth, while still ensuring we took good care of our customers. Thank you, Dave, for helping make JMP what it is today.”
Dave arrived at JMP in 2004, after a stint as Vice President of Sales at Avicon. He had also worked at BBN, along with JMP retirees Brad Jones and John Leary. “Dave was the perfect fit as a sales leader for our technical product, having the experience from BBN/RS1; he knew DOE and our kind of users. Dave assembled and led a great team that drove our success for many years, and he will be much missed,” said JMP Founder and Chair John Sall.
During his tenure at JMP, Dave built a culture of support and success for Sales team members.
“Working with Dave Richardson has been one of the highlights of my career," Senior Sales Manager Ashley Prince said. "Dave’s leadership style is truly a reflection of his personality – he is hardworking, nurturing, and extremely humble. I will always be thankful for his hands-on approach and willingness to roll up his sleeves and get involved with any task.”
“Dave not only motivated us to achieve our goals, but he helped shape the culture of pride and camaraderie that endures at JMP," Prince said. "Dave has truly been the heart of our sales organization, infusing warmth into every corner of JMP. His legacy is an enormously talented sales organization that consistently strives to raise the bar, along with a legion of happy JMP users across the globe. It has truly been an honor to have had Dave as a leader, mentor, and friend.”
Pre-Sales Support Senior Manager Chuck Boiler agreed. “I’ve learned a lot from Dave, including the wonders of the triple entendre, which is a true gift Dave displays often," he said. "Dave can simultaneously praise, discipline, coach, and tickle with just one sentence. It always leaves me smiling.”
“On a personal note, I’m deeply thankful to Dave for giving me a flexible schedule to take care of a family crisis at a particularly challenging time in a business cycle," Chuck continued. "I’ll always be grateful for the extra time I had because of Dave’s actions. Wishing Dave wonderful adventures on the water in the next chapter.”
Noriki Inoue, JMP Japan Country Manager, always appreciated Dave’s pride in the Americas teams, even if Dave took every opportunity to point out that JMP Japan was always in second place. “Dave never forgot to joke, even as he was reminding us that we were never able to catch up to him and his teams,” said Inoue. “I’m sure he’ll always remember to tell jokes and have fun, even in retirement.”
For Todd Hoffman, VP of EMEA Sales and Marketing, Dave’s retirement is bittersweet. “I have had the pleasure of working closely with Dave for over 15 years," Hoffman said. "He has been such a key part of JMP’s success and has enriched my experience with JMP in so many ways. Dave has a unique ability to bring a smile to others during challenging or stressful times. He has led with a strong mind and a big heart. We will miss Dave’s presence in our daily work, but his fingerprints throughout our great company will surely carry on. I look forward to seeing Dave’s big smile in photos with his expanding family as he enjoys retirement living.”
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And finally, Lori Casto, Director of Inside Sales for the Americas, leaves us with a proper ode to Dave and his legacy at JMP:
A Poem for Dave
In the realm of JMP sales where targets abound,
Stood a VP of Sales truly renowned.
But now the time has come for Dave to retire,
Trading the corporate hustle for dreams reaching higher.
No more quotas to meet, no more sales spiels,
Just leisurely moments, pure and surreal.
From boardrooms to vacations, a new venture begins.
A chapter of relaxation, where happiness wins.
As a VP of sales, your legacy is grand.
A skilled leader, you have led a great band.
Now with grandchildren in tow, your days will be a cherished tale,
Of joyous laughter and love as new memories set sail.
So here’s to you and your family, may this chapter be forever grand.
In leisure and love, may your legacy expand.
All of us at JMP wish Dave fair winds and calm seas as he sets his sights on new adventures in retirement.
Feature StorySalesRe: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave, it's hard to imagine JMP without you. You have definitely left your mark on this organization, and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to learn from you and work with you. I wish you nothing but the best in retirement. You will be missed!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartCongratulations, Dave!! Was it the inaugural Wasatch Front JMP Users Group at US Synthetic where we met? Or was it on a JMP visit to US Synthetic? Whatever it was, I recall you doing one of the Demos. I immediately recognized your technical competence, empathy for the customer, and leadership acumen but it was later that I learned that you were also a sales rockstar. You are certainly a man of many talents and I will miss working with you.
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartCongratulations Dave!
I remember many pieces of advice you gave me. Thank you!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartCongrats Dave, may all your memories here at JMP bring you smiles and laughter for years to come! Best wishes
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartCongrats to you Dave, well deserved. You've greatly contributed to JMP's success.
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartCongratulations Dave! It's been great working with you.
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartLovely Poem @Lori Casto and so nicely written @AmyStuart. Clearly Dave you are a wonderful man and a great contribution to the intelligent (IQ/EQ), hardworking and humble fabric of the JMP culture, congratulations and best wishes for your next chapter in retirement.
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartI wish I had the opportunity to get to know you better! Wow - what an amazing legacy you are leaving here at JMP. I love all the stories! Enjoy your family and relaxation time (although I'll bet you'll be plenty busy)! All the best!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartCan't think of a better person to try and emulate for working with both our customers and internal JMP teams. We'll be telling Dave Richardson stories for a long time!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartSo excited for all that is to come, Dave. You've worked so hard for so long. And now you can spend all day, every day surrounded by your favorite people -- and dogs!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartWishing you a wonderful retirement!! Congrats!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave, congratulations on your retirement. Working with you showed me there are often better ways of addressing an issue or smarter ways of moving forwards; thank you for your wisdom and insight. Wishing you a wonderful next chapter, I don't expect you'll be spending much time with your feet up.
Best wishes, Adrian & Emma
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartWill miss you! Have a wonderful time writing this new chapter of your life!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave, congratulations on reaching this big retirement milestone! Thanks for always being such a passionate supporter of the JMP products and the teams who develop them. I wish you all the best as you enjoy more time with your family, embark upon non-work related travel by boat, plane, bike, rollerblades (or however else you choose to go), and pursue passion projects and hobbies both old and new. My dad took up competitive table tennis and disc golf in retirement and he's never been happier! Just in case you're looking for some ideas...
Have a wonderful time, whatever you do!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave, I am so grateful to have gotten to work for you these last few years. Thank you for your support and guidance. I am wishing you the very best retirement - Congratulations on a very successful career!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartI was lucky enough to sit in on a few meetings with Dave, including pipeline reviews and meetings with customers, and picked up a number of tidbits of wisdom from these that I will take with me for the rest of my career. Congratulations Dave, and enjoy your retirement!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave, I wish you all the best in retirement. It's been a pleasure working with you and seeing the value you put on customers and employees. I know from what you have shared that you have fun, enriching, and exciting retirement adventures ahead. Enjoy!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave Richardson hired me into JMP from SAS, after I presented the bivariate platform in a way that brought a tear to his eye. Work was fun with Dave, he set the expectation and let you run with it, when you needed help along the way or guidance he was always available. It's been a pleasure watching you, Dave, also grow over the last 15 years from one of the hardest points in your life to a fulfilled life headed into retirement with so many exciting things happening for your family, and those grandkids you love. Enjoy the journey Dave.
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartCongratulations on a spectacular career. Thanks for everything you've done for me over the past decade and a half. I've enjoyed working for you and with you. I will miss you as you sail off into the sunset.
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave it has been an absolute honor to get to work with and learn from you - even thought it was a short time it has been a time I will continue to be grateful for!. Cheers to the next chapter!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartIt has been a pleasure and honor to work with you. You are one of the leaders who made us what we are today. I wish you the best of luck as you write the next chapter of "Dave Richardson!"
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDifficult to add something on all the wonderful messages you received. So I would just say : Thank you Dave, your empathy is unique.
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartThank-you Dave for being such a great role model, of guiding others to what good looks like, helping us to do the best we can, and doing so in a caring and fun way.
Thank-you too for encouraging and making it possible for me to be a part of this incredible experience and journey at JMP. Enjoy this opportunity to give more time to you and your loved ones.
All the best,
Malcolm
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave, I remember with affection the trip we made when you were kind enough to offer me a ride from Logan to one of our early meetings (in Portland?) – You definitely passed the ‘John Leary test’ :smiling_face_with_smiling_eyes:. And looking at this thread, I’m not the only one who thinks this! You will be missed. To quote Mr Spock, I hope you "live long and prosper". And I hope our paths may cross again soon. Best wishes, Ian
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartThanks Dave for your great contributions to JMP, it has been a pleasure working with you and meeting you annually at the Kickoff meetings. Edgar
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave, your passion for JMP is always evident. Thank you for the best comic relief in meetings. Wishing you so much fun in retirement - well deserved!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave, while our time working together has been brief, it has been an honor and a privilege to work with you! CONGRATULATIONS on your next chapter in life! Definitely a well-deserved retirement! May your future be filled with good health and happiness!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave, what a mark you’ve left here! Your management style brought the best out of the sales teams and we had fun along the way. I’ll miss your wit and wisdom on those visits to HQ. Fair winds and following seas!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave,
Wishing you good times, good health, and many more adventures for you in your retirement.
And don't forget to splice the mainbrace.
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartCongratulations Dave, wishing you the very best for the new chapter in your life.
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartDave - Wishing you all the best on this new exciting chapter! Cheers to you and congratulations on retirement!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartCongratulations Dave! Enjoy the next chapter of your live!
Re: Dave Richardson: Leading with a strong mind and a big heartForever thankful for your insights, guidance and humor
Wishing you the happiest of retirements!