Jeff di Rado
Welcoming Jeff to Rocket Masterminds
We’re excited to introduce Jeff Di Rado as the newest Chair at Rocket Masterminds. His journey is one of resilience, transformation, and leadership—and now he brings that wealth of experience to support business leaders on the Central Coast.
From LA Roots to Global Tech Leadership
Born in Los Angeles to two lifelong educators, Jeff learned the value of education and responsibility early. By 18, he was financially independent, covering tuition, housing, and life’s milestones entirely on his own.
In the late ’80s, Jeff joined a computer technology startup as employee #5 and helped scale it to $250M in revenue—personally driving 65% of sales.
That success launched him into executive roles: EVP of Global Sales, Division President, and leader of organizations exceeding $2B in revenue. Known as a “player-coach,” Jeff built high-performing teams, transformed companies into service-led providers, and guided businesses through public ownership, PE transitions, acquisitions, and integrations.
Entrepreneurial Spirit & Resilience
Jeff and his wife also ran successful retail stores in Manhattan Beach and El Segundo, and he founded an advisory firm assisting PE groups in assessing and scaling IT services companies.
In recent years, he faced one of his toughest challenges: helping lead a company while its founder—his close colleague—battled cancer. Together, they guided the business through COVID, pivoted services to client needs, and ultimately navigated the founder’s passing and the company’s sale. Jeff then served as executive integrator during the merger, carrying the team through another transformation with optimism and care.
Why Rocket Masterminds
Four years ago, Jeff and his wife made Arroyo Grande their permanent home. With this new chapter, Jeff turned toward what inspired him most: helping leaders grow.
“I want to build one really special group—rooted in trust, honesty, and support. Not just for business success, but for the whole person.”
His Vision for Leaders
Jeff envisions a diverse, cross-industry group where:
- Seasoned executives learn from fresh entrepreneurial voices.
- Rising leaders accelerate growth through shared wisdom.
- Family business owners explore succession strategies.
- Entrepreneurs scale with balance, avoiding burnout.
Above all, members will find a circle of peers committed to business success and personal well-being.
An Optimistic Spirit
If there’s one quality that defines Jeff, it’s optimism. Having faced financial independence at a young age, career pivots, market disruptions, and personal loss, he still carries a hopeful, forward-looking perspective:
“I always bring optimism to anything I do. Maybe it’s tenacity, maybe it’s just confidence built from tough times—but it allows me to take smart risks and see opportunities others might miss.”
We’re honored to welcome Jeff to Rocket Masterminds. His mix of executive experience, entrepreneurial resilience, and servant leadership will be a powerful addition to the Central Coast business community.
If you’re a CEO or business leader interested in joining Jeff’s inaugural group in Arroyo Grande, connect with us today.
Jeff Di Rado, Rocket Masterminds Chair