Wendy Runyon Ricker is a lifelong Hoosier who was born and raised in Carmel, Indiana, where she continues to live today. Her parents, Gary and Jackie Runyon, owned Jack’s Tool Rental, a beloved local business started by Gary’s father. Over the years, they expanded the company into several successful ventures, including Party Time Rentals, Runyon Equipment Rental, and Runyon Surface Prep. Growing up in an environment that valued hard work and accountability, Wendy and her younger siblings, Carla and Jack, began contributing to the family businesses at a young age.
As a middle schooler, Wendy spent her summer Saturdays filling propane tanks at Jack’s Tool Rental. Outside the shop, she embraced Indiana’s passion for racing, setting a class track record in Quarter Midgets at just eight years old. Still, her true joy came from weekly lawn mowing on the family’s riding mower and daydreaming about being a neonatologist—a doctor specializing in the care of premature babies. During her years at Carmel High School, when she wasn’t running Party Time Rental, she was very active in DECA, and naturally she ended up majoring in Business. In 1995, Party Time Rental sold, and Wendy transitioned to Jack’s Tool Rental, managing its portable toilets division for four years. When the tool rental was sold in 1999, she returned to school and earned a degree in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU).
Back in 1995, Wendy’s life took a romantic turn when she met Tim Ricker at a friend’s wedding, where they were bridesmaid and groomsman, respectively. The next year they were married, and over the next five years, welcomed four children: Reagan, Raley, Roc and Race. Never one to shy away from new challenges and always business-minded, Wendy launched Kid’s BMV in 2004, shortly after the birth of their fourth child. The children’s identification service grew from a single kiosk at Castleton Square Mall into a mobile operation with partnerships that included Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and over 750 other corporate sponsors. Wendy sold Kid’s BMV in 2010 and tried her hand at wedding photography, though it wasn’t her true passion.
In 2011, Wendy took on a new challenge by taking charge of Runyon Surface Prep, an offshoot of Runyon Equipment Rental (previously Jack’s Tool Rental). Although this was a bold move in an emerging industry, it was one that Wendy was particularly well-suited for. Under her leadership, Runyon Surface Prep grew from a small back-room operation into an independently owned and operated enterprise with multiple locations across the United States. And this is the RSP we all know today. Despite her demanding schedule, Wendy treasures time visiting her children, who are now spread across Boston, New York City, and Carmel, Indiana. She enjoys exploring the local restaurant scene and spending evenings out with her husband wherever they stay. Back at home, Wendy and Tim keep busy with various projects and are entertained by their pets: Remy, a Doberman; Rylo, a miniature American Eskimo; and Weiner the cat.
Wen
dy’s Focus has always been on running a business, and as the inspirational leader of Runyon Surface Prep, she lives the business every day, ensuring she’s available to both customers and employees around the clock. In addition to directing operations between multiple locations, visiting customers, prepping for trade shows, displaying at conventions, and striving to keep ahead of the competition, remarkably, she also finds time to cook homemade meals for her grateful HQ staff. With Wendy at the helm, every day is an adventure at Runyon Surface Prep! We are all so thankful for her unwavering dedication as she navigates RSP through exciting times and keeps everything on course toward a bright and productive future.