| I recently interviewed Rafferty Pendery as | | | | or more documented scientific expeditions." |
| part of a series of articles I'm doing on | | | | |
| young entrepreneurs. | | | | Q: "Why aren't you satisfied to just be a |
| | | | tourist and take the cruises and guided |
| Mr. Pendery is the CEO and founder of two | | | | tours?" |
| successful, fast growing companies. In 2006 | | | | |
| he started 98th Street Clothing Company and | | | | A: "Being a tourist has never appealed to me. |
| in 2007 he started Studio98, a web design and | | | | I'm not the kind of guy who likes to stand on |
| development company. In previous articles, | | | | the sidelines and watch. I prefer to actively |
| I've explored his two very successful | | | | participate in whatever activity I'm |
| businesses. In this article I want to find | | | | pursuing. I guess that's why I could never be |
| out how Mr. Pendery spends his time when he's | | | | satisfied working for someone else. I like to |
| not wearing his CEO hat. | | | | create my own game and be an active |
| | | | participant in that game." |
| Q: "Mr. Pendery when you're able to get away | | | | |
| from the office for a while, what do you like | | | | Q: "What kind of field research have you done |
| to do to relax and unwind?" | | | | so far?" |
| | | | |
| A: "I actually have many other interests | | | | A: "Recently I was part of an official NASA |
| besides my business ventures. I play the | | | | exploration. I was the crew chief for a hot |
| drums, fly small aircraft, crew for hot air | | | | air balloon team. My team's mission was to |
| balloons, go skydiving and recently I've been | | | | test the feasibility of doing thermo graphic |
| doing a lot of scuba diving. I'm also | | | | imaging from a lighter than air craft. We |
| actively working on projects for my | | | | spent long hours crisscrossing the Mojave |
| application to the Explorer's Club." | | | | Desert in Southern California. The data we |
| | | | collected in this mission will be used by |
| Q: "I've heard of the Explorer's Club. It's a | | | | NASA for further research on finding life on |
| very prestigious organization. Tell me more | | | | Mars if it does exist. Besides leading the |
| about this organization. | | | | air balloon team, I was asked to design the |
| | | | commemorative patch that will be given to all |
| A: "I've wanted to be a member of the | | | | the people who participated in this mission. |
| Explorer's Club since I was a little kid. A | | | | It was extremely gratifying to participate in |
| lot of the heroes I had growing up were | | | | this country's efforts to secure a foothold |
| members of this organization. The Explorer's | | | | on other planets for the benefit of all |
| Club is a professional society dedicated to | | | | mankind." |
| the advancement of field research, scientific | | | | |
| exploration and the ideal that it is vital to | | | | This desire to create their own game and roll |
| preserve the instinct to explore. The mission | | | | up their sleeves and get their hands dirty |
| of the club is to encourage scientific | | | | making their dreams come true is a trait I |
| exploration of land, sea, air, and space. To | | | | found in many of the young entrepreneurs I've |
| qualify for membership you must carry out or | | | | interviewed for this series. |
| assist in field science expeditions to study | | | | |
| unknown or little known destinations or | | | | In my next interview with Mr. Pendery I'm |
| phenomena in order to gain knowledge for | | | | going to delve deeper into his unique |
| humankind. You have to get out there and | | | | business model that he has used to great |
| actually get your hands dirty working in one | | | | success in both his businesses. |