Staff

Mystical Bear Designs is the work of two guys who joined up with each other over 12 years ago. We have over 40 combined years in the IT industry, both working with computers since the first IBM PC was introduced.

That doesn't mean we're a couple of old codgers, though, waiting to be put out to pasture. In 2006, for instance, one of us spent five months in the remote Alaskan bush country and the other spent seven months in an ashram in northern California. We seek adventure and try to live our lives to their full potential, giving 110% in whatever we do.

We want to see you succeed and we know how valuable your limited resources are. Your web site is your window to the world - its what the world and your customers will probably see of you first. Let us help you be the best you know you are!

Rick Rigdon

Rick Rigdon Rick is our primary designer and developer and has been creating database applications since Ronald Reagan was president and dBase II was a hit (believe us - that's been a long time!) Even then, people were always commenting that his programs were the most clean and artistic they had ever used.

When desktop publishing came of age, Rick started adding graphic work to his skill set. Later, he was an early adopter of the web and began fooling around with HTML in the mid 90's. He has been seriously designing sites and web applications for over 8 years.

He has extensive IT experience in the healthcare industry, with 10 years working in mental health, 5 years in home health care, and 5 in hospital settings. Most of that has been in the non-profit sector where he felt he could most make a difference.

In his spare time, Rick likes to read, write, and dye and create fabric art work. He was a Religious Studies major in college and still professes to having a strong mystical bent. He also enjoys an eclectic mix of music from around the world and a wide variety of film.

View Rick's resume (204k - pdf format)

Yisrael (Larry) Bisman

Yisrael Bisman Yisrael is in charge of client contact and also works on graphics, writing content when needed, and site testing. He has worked in a wide variety of IT settings, from small businesses and private schools all the way to large corporations such as Lockheed Martin and American Express.

His career has always been focused on helping the end user. In computer lab he was the guy you called to get you on the network or show you how to use the darn thing. As an independent consultant he has installed many small office networks and gotten many new users, both young and old, over their fear of new technology. From trouble shooting to teaching, from building them to selling them, he's been involved with computing since PC's took the place of terminals on the desktop.

The great outsourcing movement at the turn of the century led him to strike out on his own. He has seen many people in similar conditions start their own businesses. “All these people are very talented with strong work ethics and have something valuable to offer. That's why we focus on small business and the individual entrepreneur - I believe the future of American business lies in the hands of small business once again.”

For fun, Yisrael makes jewelry and malas, enjoys hand-drumming and making music, and hand dying fabric and clothing. He is a student of spirituality, incorporating a wide variety of practices in his personal life along with a serious meditation practice. He is also working on a book about his experiences.

Shibu

Shibu On September 29, 2007, an accident took the life of our smallest team member, Shibu. She was a fiesty little mixed breed puppy born the previous November. She was our activities director, always pointing out when we'd been spending too much time on our work and not enough play time with her.

In her spare time, she enjoyed visiting dog parks to meet up with all of her friends, chasing lizards and squirrels around the yard, and loving on her owners. She also was working on her meditation practice with Yisrael. We miss her greatly.