Bio
As a Senior Concept Designer at Techtronic Industries (TTi)'s Advanced Concept Engineering Group, I'm lucky to be part of a great team, designing award-winning power tools. What does that mean? My work focuses on developing a good idea into a working application and a marketable product. That process entails studying emerging technology, leading problem solving approaches, and designing, modeling, and tooling upcoming products. Based in Anderson, SC, I'm also fortunate to be a husband and dad.
How'd I get here? In 1999, I graduated from UNC Greensboro with a BFA in Fine Art. Most of my degree seeking time was spent throwing and firing pottery pieces, but I also worked part time at an appliance repair shop, repaired and flipped cars and motorcycles, and spent three years as a Resident Assistant within UNCG's Residential College. In retrospect, I think this arts-intensive experience certainly helped develop my sensitivity to form, while the RA position helped me learn how to deal with even the most ridiculous of situations. After graduation, I spent the next several years as a small business owner. Honest Appliance Repair catered to the maintenance needs of property management groups and allowed me the flexibility to also focus on renovating our first house and dabbling in a little bizarre lamp construction. It was during this time that I was introduced to NC State's Industrial Design Program and the wonderful meld of art and mechanics that is ID. After attending one class as a potential student, I was hooked. I submitted a portfolio and was accepted into the three-year Industrial Design Graduate Program. While completing my Masters of Industrial Design at NCSU, I worked in the materials lab assisting other students with their projects, served as a Design Camp counselor, volunteered for the NCSU IDSA student chapter, and graduated with honors including the highest appointed Dean's Award. During my final year, I interned at Techtronic Industries (TTi) and was offered a job upon completion of my degree. Pretty sweet. During my first three years at TTi, I worked as an Industrial Designer within the Industrial Design Department. Although I enjoyed the team, I learned that my real passion resided not in tricking out an isolated aspect of a product, but instead getting more hands-on by designing, prototyping, and exploring solutions with respect to the full system of product development. In 2008 I transferred to the newly created Advanced Concept Engineering group where I now work. It's been an exciting challenge to help grow this department while at the same time enjoying the unique mix of design/mechanical/electrical engineering problems that the day-to-day work provides. My mechanical background and industrial design skills help me create concepts that not only function, but that keep aesthetics and the user interface in mind. The end result is typically a better and more innovative project that can be brought to market very quickly. |
Career HighlightsDesigner of multiple award winning products including: 2007 Hong Kong Consumer Product Design Award, 2008 IDEA Silver Award, 2009 SC InnoVision Award, 2010 IDEA Award finalist, and multiple tools of the trade awards
Inventor, Over 20 issued patents IDSA Carolina Chapter President 2007 – 2013 Guest critic, lecturer for collegiate design classes Experienced shop and mechanical guy Skilled at 2D and 3D modeling Former small business owner I make a mean cupcake Downloads |
