caption image_size nationality birth_date image article_title name occupation
richard `` ultimate davos '' stromback 160px american 29 january 1969 richstromback.jpg richard stromback
 richard stromback former capitalist professional ice hockey player , entrepreneur and venture
richard stromback

richard stromback -lrb- born january 29 , 1969 -rrb- is an american former professional hockey player -lrb- ohl , echl -rrb- , venture capitalist and entrepreneur .
in 1997 he founded web group , a technology staffing and search firm and served as its ceo and president until 2003 .
during this time web group ranked 189th on `` inc. .
magazine '' 's annual list of the 500 fastest growing companies .
in 2003 , he shifted his investment focus to clean technology , acquiring the research firm , ecology coatings .
stromback has been referred to as `` ultimate davos '' , primarily due to a large number of influential contacts , in reference to the annual meeting of the world 's elite in davos , switzerland .
his 40th birthday received media coverage for both its excess and attendees from billionaires and royalty to political figures , and leaders of corporate and financial world .
he was named a technology pioneer and young global leader by the world economic forum and one of the top `` 40 under 40 '' business leaders by crain 's business .
