Luke Richey, the founder of Liberty Lake-based augmented-reality software firm Gravity Jack Inc., last month removed himself from the company’s top spot in favor of Joshua Abel, someone he believes is a better fit to run the company than he is.

Richey writes content for a blog hosted on Gravity Jack’s website. The title of his most recent post is: “Why I Fired Myself and You Should Too – Understanding that the best move you can make, may be your exit.” In the post, he writes, “Last month, I stood in front of every employee I have at Gravity Jack—and I fired myself.’’ 

The 37-year-old Abel, who has been serving as Gravity Jack’s chief operations officer, takes over the CEO position effective immediately. He also says he is negotiating to take on an ownership stake in Gravity Jack. However, Richey, who is 41, will retain the title of president, and he will maintain primary ownership of the company, Abel says. 

Located at 23505 E. Appleway, Gravity Jack continues to grow in the field of augmented reality, which differs from virtual reality in that augmented reality is a view of a real scene with digital information printed on top of it. By comparison, virtual reality immerses a person in an environment such as a digital scene.

The leadership-change announce-ment comes after unprecedented growth in both Gravity Jack’s commercial and government projects in the last 12 months. Though Richey wouldn’t divulge specific figures, he says that growth is due largely to Abel, whom he hired in May 2014.

“The first quarter of revenue this year doubled last year’s, and it’s growing consistently,” Richey says. “We’ve paid off nearly $1 million in debt and funding over just the last few months. Raises have been implemented across the board for every single member of our team, and the road map for 2016 is extremely exciting.”

Richey says he hopes his story of stepping down and not allowing his ego to interfere with the best interest of the company will inspire other CEOs to do so if it’s in the best interest of their companies. Richey will continue to actively market Gravity Jack, which has 30 employees, while continuing to explore new ideas for the company’s future. 

Abel will take over cash-flow management, employee reviews, hiring, and debt negotiations, Richey says.

“I’ve got the skill set to take a startup to the threshold of generating $5 million in revenue per year,” Richey says. “But Josh has the ability to do so much more.” 

Richey describes himself as being “aggressively energetic,” a trait that he admits can sometimes alienate those around him.

“Joshua, he rallies everybody around him in a softer way than I do. There has been zero turnover since he got here. In a short period, he’s helped to establish a cool culture,” Richey says.

Abel joined Gravity Jack from Imaginary Trout, a Phoenix-based web development and management firm he founded in 2008. Richey founded Gravity Jack a year later. Imaginary Trout and Gravity Jack became technology partners not long after both businesses started, Richey says.

He also says Abel’s military connections have helped strengthen Gravity Jack’s business relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Abel says he was inducted as an honorary command chief at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Ariz., and participated in a two-year program that included civilian immersion and awareness instruction under the 56th Fighter Wing’s Command Chief Master Sergeant. The Command Chief Master Sergeant is responsible for the morale, welfare, training, management, and professional growth of 5,000 enlisted personnel assigned to the U.S. Air Force’s largest fighter wing, he says.

“I didn’t serve in the military, but I believe it’s incredibly important that I pursue any opportunity I can to give back and serve those who lay their lives on the line for us every day,” Abel says.

Twenty years ago, Richey owned and operated Elite Distributing in Spokane. Elite Distributing made custom-built personal computers before the dot-com collapse. Richey hired Abel as his warehouse manager. Abel left the company after Richey denied his request for a raise, Richey says.

About a decade passed and the two reconnected after each had started new businesses.