How long have you owned Riverstone Taverne?
Twelve years.
What’s your favorite thing about owning your own business?
Being your own boss—your success or failure depends on no one but yourself.
What do you love about your job?
The customers. We have so many great regulars who drop in several times a week, whether it be for a drink, dinner or both. I also enjoy playing with recipes for new dishes.
What defining moments set you on your career path?
I’ve had several careers over the years. When I graduated from engineering school, I went into the Air Force as a commissioned officer. I stayed for eight years, making many lifelong friends along the way and meeting some of the most impressive people. Then I spent some time working in the quick-paced telecommunications industry running a large engineering department. This was exciting for a while, but over time, the excitement wore off, and working for a large corporation just wasn’t something I wanted to keep doing. So, my wife and I decided to take a risk and go into our own business, and here we have it. My wife, Joyce Hicks, is a software project manager and still works outside the business. By not having to rely on the business for our day-to-day life, we’ve been able to focus on growing.
What motivates you?
Making our customers happy. We’ve gained a lot of loyal customers over the years, and these are the people who make it all worthwhile. These customers are the ones who will let us know when something is excellent or will tell us when we fall short.
What’s your favorite thing on the Riverstone menu?
The grilled salmon topped with pico de gallo and crispy Brussels sprouts on the side.
+ Business professional
+ Foodie
+ Mariner
+ Ex-hippie