John VanderHorst - Certified Personal and Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC)
John VanderHorst grew up the Netherlands and moved permanently to Colorado in 1960. He has a particular knack for building valuable businesses in niche markets on a shoestring budget by coming up with clever products sold in clever ways. His background and relevant experience includes:
- An engineering degree and career at Wilkerson Corporation in Englewood. He initially worked in engineering and was awarded several patents. He became VP of engineering after 3 years and later served as VP of international sales and marketing.
- While in his forties, he left the security of the large company to start a business based on an innovative pump design. After tooling and introducing this product, he discovered that the market was too small and difficult. So he started again with a different pump design, which he patented, productized, and sold. He was able to grow this business to a size that allowed him to retire by selling the company to Wilkerson, his original employer, and retire at age 48.
- While in his mid-60’s he found a problem with his RV, which he solved with a new invention (a towing mirror that uses a suction cup that can be seen at www.townsee.com). In the process he did the funding, inventing, product development, manufacturing, sales and promotion himself (with the help of his wife) until the business could start making a profit. The business is now doing very well and John VanderHorst has been able to go into semi-retirement while others keep the business going and growing.
Recent Events
- May 19, 2007 - Completing the Flight Plan: Valuation, Business Transition - INSTRUCTOR
