In March 2024, Wendy Romeu, President and CEO of Alluvionic, looked forward to a rare retreat—a getaway to Puerto Rico with five of their six sons and their partners. As the strategic and methodical leader who built a one-person company into a multi-million-dollar government contractor with over 100 team members, she had planned every detail: home-cooked dinners, late-night puzzles, and soaking in the island’s beauty.
Her husband, Ricardo Romeu, Alluvionic’s VP of Technology, was her opposite in many ways as he was an inventor, a pilot, and an adventurer. While Wendy thrived on preparation, Ricardo embraced spontaneity. But what was meant to be a relaxing retreat turned into a test of survival, resilience, and unwavering determination.
A few days into the trip, Wendy set out to spend a quiet morning journaling on the beach. Ricardo, who had recently taken up paramotoring, a form of powered paragliding, couldn’t resist the chance to fly over Puerto Rico. But from the moment he lifted off, he knew something was wrong. Unfamiliar equipment, unpredictable winds, and a much smaller landing zone created a dangerous scenario.
While he fought for control, the crash was unavoidable. Hitting the ground hard, he broke his femur before bouncing and then flipping upside down into a water-filled ditch. The engine crushed his back. The instructor rushed to roll him over, ensuring he could breathe. From the shore, Wendy had no idea the depth of what had just unfolded.
Time stood still as she reached him, waiting for help to arrive. Ricardo, fully conscious, already knew he was paralyzed from the waist down. Airlifted to the main hospital in Puerto Rico, he endured a grueling wait for surgery. And then, everything took a turn for the worse.
Placed on a ventilator and unable to communicate, his condition deteriorated rapidly. After six harrowing days, Wendy faced an impossible decision to keep him in Puerto Rico or attempt an emergency flight back to Florida. One of the doctors warned, “If you take him, he will die on the plane.” But with unwavering instinct and the encouragement of those who urged her to be a fierce advocate, she made the call.
At 5 a.m., they landed in Miami. Within 24 hours, three life-saving surgeries stabilized Ricardo. He then spent five days in the intensive care unit followed by five weeks in the hospital. Through every moment, Wendy was by his side, navigating a new reality neither had planned for.
For years, Wendy had been the one keeping everything running at work, at home, and in life. Letting go wasn’t in her nature. But when she could no longer juggle it all, something remarkable happened. Friends, family, and colleagues stepped up, proving she didn’t have to carry the burden alone.
As she and Ricardo rebuilt their lives, Alluvionic didn’t just survive, it thrived. The company revenue grew by over 25% and the team nearly doubled in size. Their cybersecurity services saw record demand following years of preparation, triggered by the Department of Defense’s announcement of the final Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) ruling in October 2024.
Ricardo, too, found his way back to technology, balancing recovery with focus. By the end of the year, the team began marketing one of his inventions, Flyball Energy, a revolutionary energy-dense, fire-safe power storage system ideal for space and defense applications. Before the year ended, Ricardo attended his first business conference since his accident, a significant milestone in his recovery. Since then, he’s attended even more, proving that setbacks don’t have to stop progress. He’s still the same inventor, thinker, and visionary, just with a few more wheels under him now.
“At Alluvionic, forward progress isn’t just a value, it’s a mindset,” Wendy shared. “This year has tested us in ways we never imagined, but we’ve learned that resilience isn’t just about pushing forward, it’s about recognizing the people who lift you up along the way. Our family, friends, and team lifted us up and carried us forward. We will never be able to fully repay the kindness we’ve received, but we will spend our lives paying it forward.”
One year later, their home remains under construction, but their foundation built on resilience, gratitude, and forward progress is unshakable. Ricardo is back behind the wheel of their modified Tesla, taking up boxing, and continuing to dream up new inventions to make the world around him better. Together, they have found their way back to the beach, a place that has always brought them peace.
When others would have become bitter, the Romeus embraced gratitude. Back at the office during a recent team icebreaker, when asked what he’s most grateful for, Ricardo didn’t just list being alive, he wrote Wendy’s name. Twice.
For the Romeus, forward progress isn’t just a company value. It’s how they live, and their journey is far from over.
