 Entrepreneur, scholar, world traveler, author, teacher, equestrian - these are words that only partially describe Rita Riordan's varied roles in business and life. Born on the west side of Chicago and raised in the southwest Chicago neighborhood of Clear Ridge, Rita was brought up with her two siblings by successful, enterprising parents. Rita's father, an optometrist, started the optical departments of the Wieboldt's and J.C. Penney retail stores, and Rita's mother, an artist and teacher, contributed to the 1940's war effort by drawing field maps critical to the success of bombing missions over enemy sites. A graduate of the experimental CPS/Archdiocese high school St. Paul/Kennedy (2 graduations, 2 proms), Rita went on for her undergraduate studies at Northern Illinois University (NIU), which prepared her to be an English teacher at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park for several years. A lifelong love of horses also led her to be an equestrian instructor while competing herself. During this period, Rita also helped her Dad in his business, tackling the administrative and lab management aspects of his growing optometry businesses. Continue... Riordan Profile |
