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Article: Riding green wave: Todd Patterson launched Synergy Surfboards to take advantage of market for eco-friendly models.(This Week: STARTUP)
- Article from:
- Los Angeles Business Journal
- Article date:
- September 15, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 CBJ, L.P. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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TODD Patterson's journey to making environmentally friendly surfboards has been long and painful. Literally.
He's a veteran of the first Gulf War, and in the years after his service in the Army's 82nd Airborne, he felt bruised and battered all the time. At first, he thought it was the effects of his vigorous martial arts activity. Then, as the condition worsened to the point where he had to give up his job at Guitar Center in Hollywood, he realized it was chronic pain associated with Gulf War Syndrome.
"It was tough watching him deteriorate," said his wife, Emma Stashin. "I was very worried about him."
He tried prescription medication and ...