When Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev visited Minnesota in June 1990, Paul Ridgeway was the mastermind behind the logistics. Ridgeway was only given 15 days to prepare and coordinate the details, involving over 3,000 media and security people. "The task was daunting", said Harvey Mackay, New York Times best-selling author. "Paul Ridgeway and Ridgeway International orchestrated a perfect event. I know, because I was there to witness it firsthand". Economist magazine said the organization of the event was "impeccable".
Since coordinating the visit of President Gorbachev Ridgeway International has handled visits by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Prime Minister Barak of Israel, Pope John Paul II, and numerous other heads of state. Through these visits Ridgeway International has achieved a wealth of experience in dignity protocol, motorcades, security, communication, and international affairs.
I had the opportunity to work with Paul for a week in 1978 preparing for a Walter Mondale campaign visit. I learned more in that one week than in an entire semester of class. It was Paul who taught me the trick of printing prices on things you were going to give away anyway, in order to help establish their value. Many years later when I was a magazine editor for GE, I had them print "$3.95" on each issue even though we gave them all away for free. Our Japanese division never really did understand that.
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