Interviews
We frequently interview innovation leaders to learn from them and to share their perspectives with inventors. Below are some recent exclusive interviews.
Ash is a Florida-based lawyer and member of AbsolutelyNew’s external patent attorney referral network. He is an engineer-turned-lawyer, so he’s able to approach each patent with technical and legal insight. A member of the Florida and American Bar Associations, he’s worked at a Fortune 500 company and at one of America's top intellectual property law firms—so when it comes to patents and innovation, he’s got depth and breadth of experience.
Bill has spent 25 years in the retail sector working in Buying, Planning, Product Development and Sourcing for companies including Target Corp., Williams-Sonoma and The Sharper Image. He was very often THE guy who made the call on whether an invention did or did not make it to stores.
Dick is the person who started RadioShack® Computers (with Tandy Computers) in 1980. He now keeps himself occupied as president of a company marketing and selling Tunebug™ ultra-portable sound generators—little devices that turn just about any smooth surface into a flat panel speaker.
Doug is the founder and CEO of Eureka! Ranch, an “invention & research think tank” that specializes in new product creation for corporations including Nike, Disney and American Express. Doug is also the author of the book series Jump Start, a former judge for the ABC-TV show American Inventor, and past holder of the very cool job title “Master Marketing Inventor” at Procter & Gamble—the company that makes everything from Tide® detergent to Pringles® potato chips.
John is the Executive Director of Stanford University’s Product Realization Network (PRN). PRN is a joint project between Stanford’s School of Engineering and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. It collaborates with leading companies in the San Francisco Bay Area to help prepare students for the diverse challenges in product design and manufacturing. John has helped lead this organization for the past six years, and previously worked for a well-known consumer electronics manufacturer.
Kevin Harrington is the infomercial pioneer who’s worked behind-the-scenes to launch more than 500 inventive products over 25 years—generating more than $4 billion in sales and making dozens of inventors into multi-millionaires. Kevin’s now also one of five on-camera business “sharks” who evaluates (and sometimes invests in) inventions on ABC-TV’s hit reality TV program, The Shark Tank. He has also participated on AbsolutelyNew’s Board of Advisors.
Sean is the infomercial pro who played a very big role making George Foreman Grills and OxiClean household names. He subsequently founded and became CEO / Chief Creative Director of Envision Response, Inc., now one of the leading players in the world of “direct response” television (DRTV) advertising development. His latest work includes Brainetics, Space Bags and Foodsaver DRTV ads. It’s an understatement to say he’s seen thousands of new products and made more than a few very successful via DRTV.
Steve is on the Executive Board of the United Inventors Association/UIA, and the author of “Gadget Nation”. He also appears on various television programs around the country, including NBC’s Today Show, showcasing innovative new products.
Steve is AbsolutelyNew Manufacturing’s Director of Catalog and Online Retail Sales. He has over 30 years of experience in the design, development and manufacturing of consumer products for the global market. His specialty has been early-stage product and business development and product branding. Over the years, he has negotiated and secured product licensing and product supplying agreements for many worldwide sporting events, including the Olympics. He’s also developed and sold numerous sporting goods and other consumer products to over 80 countries worldwide.
Tara is an industrial engineer who served as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) before leaving the government to pursue a legal career. She has been an employee at AbsolutelyNew, and comes to the table with an insider’s understanding and practicality towards patenting.
Warren is President of the United Inventors Association (UIA). He has worked behind the scenes on some very successful kitchenware products, such as the Smart Spin™ (8 million units sold) and the MISTO™ gourmet olive-oil sprayer (4 million units sold). As a marketing expert, he consults for large corporations, helping them become more innovative. He also speaks at national events, such as the International Home & Housewares Show.
Bill is Sprint Corporation’s former CEO and current Chairman Emeritus. According to Wikipedia, he led the company as it “developed from a rural telephone company into a multi billion dollar international corporation.” Bill’s also served as the Chairman of Japan Telecom, and is now Chairman of Spectra Energy Corp. and a member of the General Mills board of directors.
