Meet Richard Tamaki of Norwalk California

Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Tamaki.

Hi Richard, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Torrance, California, and raised in Orange County. I graduated from La Quinta High School in Westminster then continued on to earn a degree in Agricultural Business Management from Cal Poly Pomona.

I began my career in my family’s business, T & T Growers, Inc., which eventually led me to launch my own ventures—T & T Technologies and Vista Verde Landscape. After a major car accident took me out of work for nearly two years however, I returned to the workforce with a new perspective and joined Paramount Perlite, while also working with two plastic manufacturing companies, one of which being Integra Plastics, a sister company to Molecular Express, Inc. This would eventually lead me to my current role at Molecular GPS Technologies, where I serve as Corporate Secretary and COO. Today, I also serve as COO of OviGenex LLC, a wound care company.

Along with being a husband and father, community involvement has always been incredibly important to me. I began as a volunteer coach for my son’s basketball team at the Southeast Japanese School and Community Center(SEJSCC), which led to a decade serving as President of Norwalk Youth Sports and service on the SEYO league board. Today, I continue that commitment as Vice President of the SEJSCC Board of Directors.

Although my path hasn’t been linear, each experience has helped shape both my family, career and my commitment to community.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It most definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. After closing our family nursery and starting a landscape company with my father, I was in a serious car accident that left me with a traumatic brain injury. I spent nearly two years recovering and wasn’t able to work or drive during that time.

With the help of a family friend, Bill Gillean of Paramount Perlite, I was able to gradually return to work. That opportunity helped me rebuild and eventually led me to the Molecular GPS Enterprises, where I am today.

That experience was challenging, but it shaped my resilience and perspective in a lasting way.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an executive and multi-industry entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in operations, finance, business development, and biotech program management. I’m known for scaling organizations, leading cross-functional teams, and bringing complex, federally funded R&D projects to life.

I’m most proud of my work with startups like Minisurf, developing a synthetic lung surfactant to help premature infants, and OviGenex, which received FDA approval for an innovative wound dressing. Both reflect my focus on creating solutions that make a real impact.

That same approach carries into my community work. As President of Norwalk Youth Sports, I helped grow the organization to 46 teams, and today, as Vice President of the Southeast Japanese School and Community Center, I’m focused on modernization and long-term sustainability.

I love solving problems and transforming ideas into tangible outcomes that improve people’s lives.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Many of my childhood and young adult memories were lost after my accident, and while some have been pieced together through stories from family and friends, they don’t always feel fully my own.

One memory I do hold onto is a family trip to the Grand Canyon. We traveled together in an RV, and I remember the sense of being on the road as a family and seeing something so vast and unforgettable for the first time. It’s one of the few moments that still feels vivid and truly mine.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Moleculargps.com, www.ovigenex.com, www.SEJSCC.org