From the Board Room to the Track
R. J. VALENTINE From the Board Room to the Track. A Road Less Taken Story & Photos By Jeff Louk What does the automotive aftermarket, current Pontiac GTO.R, and still continues insurance, high technology, real estate, to be a force on the track. This year, he financial services, corporate investigative drove in his 20th consecutive Rolex 24 at services, auto racing and high performance Daytona, placing 2nd in class. karts have in common? They’re all “I believe there are remarkable businesses Richard J. Valentine has parallels for success in both the racing excelled in prior to launching SSC East. and the corporate world,” Valentine SSC East is the exclusive distributor states. “To achieve something special of Rotax, CRG, Mogo, and GearBox in both areas you need the support of a product lines to the eastern United States. great team, the drive and desire to make With over 50 dealers, partnerships with the most out of every opportunity and Champ Car and a handful of new tracks the vision, passion and drive to see it in development – SSC East is on the fast through to the finish.” track. At the core of this success is SSC East president The Business Beginnings: Richard “RJ” Valentine. His keen ability to apply Entrepreneurial Engine the experience and knowledge he’s gained from an Fresh out of Suffolk University, RJ founded array of different industries is breathing new life into the Massachusetts Business Association (MBA) the kart racing business. RJ’s mission is to bring a in 1970 with the mission to serve the needs of professional business approach to karting – it’s an small to medium sized businesses – from group approach that has helped him achieve tremendous health insurance, real estate to auto aftermarket success in a wide array of businesses.
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