
Director of Solution Development at Innovation Edge
Oshkosh, Wisconsin Area

Director of Solution Development at Innovation Edge
Oshkosh, Wisconsin Area
At Innovation Edge, led by Cheryl Perkins, one of the "Top 25 Champions on Innovation in the World" according to Business Week and former Chief Innovation Officer of Kimberly-Clark Corp., we work with clients to bring inventions and new products to market, strengthen intellectual asset strategies, and improve innovation systems. My approaches have been influenced by disruptive innovation theory (Clayton Christensen), open innovation, many sources of intellectual asset strategy, and Value Network tools. "Partner-friendly intellectual assets" and awareness of new IA opportunities in the digital era (including aggressive publication strategies, tactics for domain names and other E-assets) helps clients obtain creative, cost-effective protection.
In working with inventors, including university personnel, I bring the perspective of an inventor (93 patents), former professor, and patent agent, with consumer products experience. I feel this helps me communicate better with inventors and understand the potential market for the invention.
After receiving a Ph.D. in chemical engineering (BYU, 1986), I spent 7 years at the Institute of Paper Science and Technology (Georgia Tech campus). I joined Kimberly-Clark in 1994 to help advance an exciting breakthrough in tissue (uncreped tissue). I studied patent law on the side and became a patent agent in 1997.
At K-C, I founded an active community of practice called the Intellectual Property Chapter, and served as chair for 3 years. I also helped form and guide a new cross-sector group aimed at protecting innovations in how K-C does business, including areas such as RFID applications, logistics, software systems, etc. I also led efforts to apply "disruptive innovation" theory to IP strategy, including many projects to generate IA to reduce disruptive threats or lay a foundation for future growth in disruptive areas.
I have also driven defensive publications as a low-cost way to strengthen our estate.
Intellectual property strategy, Value Network Analysis (based on training from Verna Allee and Oliver Schwabe), open innovation, new business concepts, patent drafting, patent searching, university relationships, external partnerships, long tail concepts, radical innovation, defensive publications, IP.
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Consumer Goods industry)
August 2007 — Present (10 months)
With my background in consumer products, patent strategy, and R&D, I work with clients to develop plans to bring new products to market and develop intellectual asset strategies for success. This includes connection building to find the right partners for commercialization and to drive healthy open innovation, and Innovation Edge sessions with inventors to strengthen IA estates. We also work with corporate clients to improve innovation systems and strategies. Areas of operation include consumer products, health care products and services, and financial services (including business method innovations and patents, particularly in the area of data security and identity protection).
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; KMB; Consumer Goods industry)
May 1994 — August 2007 (13 years 4 months)
This Corporate role involves guiding our many intellectual asset (IA) committees in their systems and strategies, leading by example in identifying and pursuing IA opportunities to pursue, helping to build strategic partnerships with outside groups to bring in the IP that we need for business growth, guiding efforts to pursue IA that deals with disruptive innovations, leading efforts in business method patents (including our RFID estate), driving defensive publications as a key strategic tool, and enhancing K-C's position as a thought leader in IP areas.
(Educational Institution; 201-500 employees; Research industry)
January 1987 — May 1994 (7 years 5 months)
Faculty member at IPST, conducting research and advising graduate students (Ph.D. and M.Sc. students). Great fun! Research focused on fluid mechanics and heat transfer in paper-related systems and porous media. Use gamma densitometry and flash x-ray radiography to explore multiphase flow and heat transfer systems, including high-intensity dewatering of paper and fiber slurry flow. Investigated anistropy for flow behavior in paper systems, displacement dewatering technology, pulp suspension flow, ceramic paper properties, etc. Developed new courses on flow through porous media and on recycling technology. Also taught solid mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, etc. Received the Olmsted Award for one of my early technical papers on the anistropic permeability of paper. Received the Teacher of the Year Award in 1992.
B.SC., Chemical Engineering, 1977 — 1983
Took two years off (1979-1981) for an LDS mission in Swizterland (German-speaking: Zurich Switzerland mission, which included parts of Germany and Austria).
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering
My research was in the Combustion Program at BYU with Dr. Paul Hedman. Applied Laser Doppler Anemometry to explore the fluid mechanics of a simulated pulverized coal combustor system with a swirled flow inlet.
Intellectual property, business models, disruptive innovation, Web authoring, humor, satire, amateur magic, writing, inventing, photography, religious studies (LDS), foreign language and culture. My newest interest is in Value Network Analysis, based on training from Verna Allee and Oliver Schwabe. A fabulous tool for understanding business models and identifying intellectual asset opportunities.
AIChE (serve as Chair of the Forest Products Division), LDS bloggers
Registered US Patent Agent (No. 41,155)
Outstanding Alumnus of the Brigham Young University Chemical Engineering Department, 2004
Chairman, TAPPI Fluid Mechanics Committee, 1991-93.
Teacher of the Year at the Institute of Paper Science and Technology, 1992.
Director, AIChE Forest Products Division, 1989 to 1995.
Best Paper Award for 1993, Tappi Journal.
Best Paper of the 1992 TAPPI Engineering Conference.
Co-winner of the 1988 George Olmsted Award competition from the American Paper Institute (now AF&PA) for best technical paper.
National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow, 1983-86.
Valedictorian of the College of Engineering, BYU, Aug. 1983.
Currently hold 90 US patents.