Innovation Leader · Venture-Style Builder · Systems Architect

I operate as a founder
inside organizations

I build what does not yet exist.

15+ years creating new products, systems, and revenue streams at the intersection of engineering, manufacturing, and business strategy. I turn ambiguous problems into production-ready solutions—combining technical depth, systems thinking, and commercial execution.

Zero-to-One Creation Applied R&D Industrial Automation Asset Intelligence IP Development Physical + Digital Convergence
IRR Improvement
Fleet Lifespan
4
Patents Filed
15+
Years Building

How I Create Value

🚀

Zero-to-One Creation

Building products, systems, and revenue streams that didn't exist before. From concept through production-ready deployment.

🔬

Venture-Style R&D

Running capital-efficient experiments inside corporations. Treating internal innovation with startup urgency and discipline.

Physical + Digital Convergence

Bridging hardware, software, and data systems. Industrial automation meets IoT, computer vision, and real-time analytics.

📊

Asset Intelligence

Lifecycle modeling, predictive maintenance, and fleet optimization. Turning physical assets into data-driven systems.

🏭

Manufacturing-First Thinking

Designing for production from day one. Prototyping that leads directly to scalable manufacturing workflows.

💡

IP Through Prototyping

Creating defensible intellectual property through rapid iteration, system-level design, and novel manufacturing processes.

Building Innovation Engines

Sterling Site Access Solutions
Head of Innovation / Director of R&D
Phoenix, IL & Lufkin, TX

Built and scaled the company's innovation function from the ground up, transforming it into a high-impact applied R&D engine.

📈
Created data-driven asset lifecycle models that doubled fleet lifespan, increasing internal rate of return by ~5×
📡
Designed and deployed company-wide RFID-based fleet intelligence system—real-time tracking of location, usage, degradation, and repair cycles
🔧
Reduced asset repair cost and turnaround time by ~30% through engineered tooling, automation, and new repair methodologies
🧪
Built automated mechanical test systems to generate proprietary performance data and accelerate product iteration
🏗️
Incubated next-generation CLT and hybrid structural products to expand into new markets
⚙️
Designed and implemented multiple production lines integrating custom material handling, motion systems, and PLC-based automation
👥
Built and led a multidisciplinary innovation team across mechanical, materials, automation, and data systems
📋
Created defensible IP through rapid prototyping, system-level design, and novel manufacturing workflows — 4 provisional patents filed
Independent Consultant
Principal / Innovation Architect
Innovation, Automation & Systems Design

Partnered with companies to design, prototype, and deploy novel automation systems, AI-enabled inspection platforms, and production tools.

🤖
Designed and delivered PLC-controlled motion systems, conveyor platforms, and industrial inspection rigs
👁️
Built computer vision systems for automated defect detection, measurement, and classification
Delivered UL-compliant equipment for consumer and industrial applications
🔗
Created full-stack solutions spanning hardware, firmware, data pipelines, and operator interfaces
🏢
Clients include: Amazon, Adidas, Siffron, and UL partners
Sears Holdings
Product Manager, Video & Innovation
Chicago, IL

Led the creation and scaling of Sears' video and media infrastructure.

🎬
Expanded digital video library from 6,000 → 40,000+ assets
📊
Designed post-view attribution and performance tracking systems
💰
Contributed to product page redesigns that drove $27M in AOV growth
👥
Led cross-functional teams across engineering, design, marketing, and analytics
Protect-A-Bed / Remfit
Growth, Product & Brand Leadership
Chicago, IL

Drove transformational growth through product innovation and brand strategy.

📈
Drove 400% growth in online sales
📺
Secured national media coverage
🎯
Led brand repositioning and new product launches
🏆
Delivered back-to-back record sales years

Building My Own

Active Venture

965 Chicago LLC

We find what your operations already know.

Industrial automation systems integrator and fractional R&D advisory firm. We deploy RFID, computer vision, and AI-driven operational intelligence to help PE portfolio companies extract signal from their own operations— faster and without enterprise infrastructure overhead.

RFID & Asset Intelligence Computer Vision Fractional R&D PE Portfolio Advisory Operational Data Systems mHUB Chicago
965inc.com →
Shipped Product

Cat Matter

Design-forward modular furniture via Kickstarter

Led full-stack product creation from industrial design through prototyping, manufacturing, branding, and fulfillment. Successfully shipped end-to-end physical products to market.

Kickstarter Launch Industrial Design Manufacturing End-to-End Fulfillment

What I've Built

📡
RFID Fleet Intelligence Platform
Asset Tracking · IoT
⚙️
Automated Mechanical Test Systems
R&D Infrastructure
🏭
PLC-Controlled Motion Platforms
Industrial Automation
👁️
AI Visual Inspection Systems
Computer Vision
🏗️
Hybrid CLT/Steel Structural Prototypes
Advanced Materials
📦
Delivery Verification Gateway (RFID)
Field Intelligence · Patent Pending

Technical & Strategic

Technical Depth

Automation & Controls
PLC Programming Motion Control Industrial Automation RFID / IoT Digital Twins
Systems & Software
Computer Vision Data Pipelines Full-Stack Development Firmware Machine Learning
Manufacturing
Production Line Design Rapid Prototyping Advanced Materials Material Handling Process Optimization

Strategic & Leadership

Innovation
New Venture Incubation Applied R&D Leadership IP Development Innovation Strategy
Execution
Zero-to-One Creation Capital-Efficient Experimentation Cross-Functional Leadership Technical Storytelling
Domain Expertise
Asset Intelligence Lifecycle Modeling PE Portfolio Operations Fleet Optimization

What's Next?

Looking for someone who builds innovation engines,
not just runs them.

I take on a small number of advisory and build engagements each year through 965 Chicago. If you're working on something that needs this kind of thinking—PE portfolio operations, applied R&D, or asset intelligence systems—reach out.