The event marked the first time in three decades that Loren Ridinger stood before thousands without JR, her partner, mentor, coach, confidante and husband, who passed away last August.
Photo Credit: Market America
More than 30 years ago, JR and Loren Ridinger founded an award-winning and multi-billion-dollar global e-commerce and product brokerage company. On March 2nd, Loren took the stage at that company’s latest event, the Market America Worldwide | SHOP.COM Leadership School 2023 (#MALS2023), at the Hard Rock Live at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The event brought close to 7,000 entrepreneurs together from across the world. JR’s spirit and energy was palpable throughout the room as his was a legacy that impacted so many lives.
“JR was a legendary leader, not because he created an amazing business, but because he helped people do amazing things,” said Loren. “Leadership School is our first major corporate event since JR’s passing, and while the profound pain of his loss will always linger within us, so does his vision of a better future with prosperity for all.”
Photo Credit: Market America
Before his passing, JR outlined a detailed plan for an event that would take its thousands of distributors, known as UnFranchise® Owners, back to the roots of success by amplifying prosperity through inspired, grassroots leadership. Market America’s Leadership School 2023 fulfilled JR’s dream of providing an interactive and immersive experience in a workshop setting designed to leverage experiential learning. Thanks to some powerful tributes and magic moments, JR’s profound impact and presence was felt throughout Leadership School.
An innovator and a revolutionary thinker who foresaw the future of e-commerce, JR Ridinger set out to create a business model designed to help average people achieve entrepreneurial success. He and Loren founded Market America in 1992. More than 30 years later, Market America is a global success story operating in eight market countries and servicing over 200 countries and territories worldwide, retailing exclusive, science-based products driven by his creation, the UnFranchise® Business system, which has produced thousands of worldwide success stories.
Photo Credit: Market America
Photo Credit: Market America
#MALS2023 featured many tributes to JR, shared as magic moments from company and field executives as well as Grammy-nominated artist and entrepreneur Joseph “Fat Joe” Cartagena, Market America Worldwide | SHOP.COM’s President of Urban and Latino Development. But none were more unforgettable than experiencing JR Ridinger as never before in the opening and closing tributes presented by Loren.
Photo Credit: Market America
“More than anything, JR taught people how to believe in themselves” Loren said. “JR’s remarkable legacy and impact was measured in lives touched and magic moments, and I know he would consider this event to be a magic moment. He loved you, and he loved building this business with you — and together we will carry on JR’s vision and legacy.”
