Ron Erickson (born December 24, 1943) is an American business executive, lawyer, and angel investor based in Seattle.
[2] He has either founded or served as an executive for companies such as GlobalTel Resources, Inc.,[2] Egghead Software, Inc.,[2] eCharge Corporation and Blue Frog Media.
He was the sole investor in Double Down Interactive, a social video game studio[3] that was sold IGT for $500 million in 2012.
His father, Ed Erickson, worked in education as both an administrator and professor,[5] first as superintendent of the Ellensburg School District (1952–1958), then as director of planning and development at Central Washington University, a professor and chairman for the department of education, and founding president of the Seattle Community College system.
[6] Ron Erickson spent much of his childhood on the pioneer farm owned by his mother, Ayleen Frederick's family, which they had homesteaded in the Kittitas Valley of Washington in 1876.
[6] Erickson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history from Central Washington University,[6] where he recently served as Chairman of their Board of Trustees.
[6] Early in his career, Erickson worked in public policy at the White House and the Office of Economic Opportunity in Washington, D.C.,[6] becoming the latter's branch chief for emergency food and medical services.
In the late 1970s, Erickson began his long-term career as a business executive and investor, working primarily with companies in the high technology, telecommunications, micro-computer, and digital media industries.
He was an initial investor in Egghead Software, where he served variously as chairman, vice-chairman, and interim CEO.
Erickson is the founder of Know Labs, Inc., where he currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Know Labs is a public company whose shares trade on the NYSE American Exchange under the stock symbol “KNW.” The company’s technology uses proprietary radiofrequency spectroscopy to direct electromagnetic energy through a substance or material to capture a unique molecular signature.
This patented and patent-pending technology makes it possible to effectively identify and monitor analytes that could only previously be performed by invasive and/or expensive and time-consuming lab-based tests.
[8] Erickson served variously as chairman, interim president and CEO, and director,[6] before leaving the company in 1994.
[2] Originally called Blue Frog Mobile, it sold ringtones, wallpaper images, and games to cellphone users.
[3] Double Down Interactive had its first blackjack game on Facebook in spring of 2010, and turned a profit immediately.
[3] In early 2012, Double Down Interactive was acquired by slot-machine company International Game Technology[3] for up to $500 million.
[4] The transaction was following the U.S. Justice Department’s decision to drop its legal objections to online gambling.
[3] As of 2023, Erickson lives on Bainbridge Island in Washington with his wife Dia Armenta, a political and governmental affairs consultant.
[6] He is an active participant in vintage sports car racing, driving a 1957 Corvette and a 1969 Porsche 911.
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