Business - Randy Boyd

Randy Boyd is a successful entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropic leader.

He is the founder of Radio Systems Corporation in Knoxville that designs and sells pet products under the brand names PetSafe, Invisible Fence, and SportDOG.

Randy sold Radio Systems in June 2020 to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R). Randy continues to serve on the board of directors.

ENTREPRENEUR & DOG FENCE SALESMAN

Randy’s early career was marked by hard work and hustle.

After college, he started two small businesses and traveled the Southeast selling products door-to-door to feed and hardware stores in an old Dodge van with no radio – he preferred to listen to his customers and think about what they wanted. At night, he would often sleep in the non-air conditioned van to save money, other times staying in the best hotels he could find for under $18 a night.

After multiple customers started asking for the Invisible Fence, an underground wireless pet fence, Boyd inquired about carrying the product; however, the Invisible Fence company only sold to franchise dealers. With the company’s patent on the Invisible Fence set to expire, Randy sunk his and Jenny’s life savings of $26,000 into purchasing one and reverse-engineering it, eventually forming Radio Systems Corporation.

RADIO SYSTEMS CORPORATION

In 1991, Radio Systems began selling its own invisible fencing unit.

Today, they sell over 4,600 pet-related products under the brand names Invisible Fence, PetSafe, and SportDOG.

The company that initially started out of the back of a van has now grown into an industry leader that does business in over 6 countries with annual revenues of nearly $500 million, while employing 800, including 400 located right here in Tennessee.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

While Radio Systems Corporation has consistently been rated a Great Place to Work, under Randy’s leadership it is also committed to giving back to the Knoxville community. In the past year alone, they have donated $2,000,000 to organizations committed to supporting animal welfare and youth education.

Radio Systems has led the charge to make its hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee the most pet-friendly city in America. They’ve partnered with the Young-Williams Animal Center to build a Pet Village to promote adoption, spaying, and neutering in order to significantly reduce animal euthanasia.

Additionally, Radio System’s Invisible Fence Brand launched the Project Breathe initiative, which has supplied 23,000 specifically-designed oxygen masks to fire stations across the country to protect pets from smoke and fire inhalation.

Radio Systems also financially supports the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley, the United Way, and Tennessee Achieves, among many others.