A Q & A, for the promotion of my appearance on the PBS show, 
​Everyday Edisons. 
​

Q: Where is your hometown and where do you currently live? 
A: I was born in Bellevue, Washington where I lived until about age three.  We moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon (suburb of Portland) where I grew up and began raising my own family.  In the late 90s, after a road trip to Disneyland (a trip that was a promise to my toddler son for becoming potty-trained), I committed to my family that we would leave the rain of Oregon for the sunshine of California...we did less than a year later.  We found a great place to buy a house in the sunshine, by the beach, with an Oregon woodsy feel….San Juan Capistrano. 

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?

A: OK, I’m not just saying this because this is about inventing…I honestly spend much of my spare time looking at how things work (or don’t), what people need, what products are on the market…and most of all make things in my workshop.  In addition… I enjoy sailing with my parents; at the stables with my daughter and her horse; playing ping pong with my son; going on photography adventures; playing with my grandson at the park (which I designed) and going on vacation with my wife.What is your professional background?My first job was when I was 16.  Having always enjoyed wood working and my father having tools in a garage workshop, I started Easels Creations.  I designed and made decorative, functional easels for businesses, students, artists.  After failing as an actor, I moved back to Oregon where I acted in commercials, modeled (that was a lifetime and about 60 lbs. ago) and taught at a performing arts center (where I met my wife). While in school I saw a need for products and services to the local entertainment industry.  With a nice loan from my parents (thanks and I will pay you guys back), in a converted warehouse, IDEA, Inc. was born.  We joke now about how the money that I sunk into this business could have put me through Harvard, but I’m sure I learned a lot more from the school-of-hard-knocks.  After a few years the business closed its doors…I wish it had been a Louis Forman success story.   Now in my early twenties, it was the first time I had to find a real job.  I took a job as a traveling copier salesman.  I traveled to various cities in the US, spent a couple of weeks, and worked to set-up consignment-based photo copiers.  It was tough, but I credit it (and acting/modeling) with leaning to overcome rejection…which has helped in my inventing career.  My next job came after answering an ad in my local newspaper looking for someone to set-up a rep agency selling commercial playgrounds to private and public municipalities.  After an extensive vetting process a large, international company gave me money and a territory and told me to go sell.  This was a great opportunity which gave me the experience and confidence that lead me to my current employment of the past 13 years, where I am vice president of the largest commercial playground and outdoor recreation rep company in the country.  Between the two playground gigs I was a traveling sales rep for Reebok, selling shoes and apparel into retailers throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho.    

Q: How did you find your passion for inventing?
​A: …I think it found me. While in high school I started a company making presentation easels, I had a friend of my parents ask if I could design and fabricate swinging presentation displays for her poster and art shop…I did, she loved it, and most of all I got paid.  I thought wow I can design something, make it and sell it…that was from the simple mind of a high school student; mind you I was no Steve Jobs.  Well busyness of life took over and nothing much on the inventing front transpired.  Since as early as eight, I remember coming up with ideas, writing them down and sometimes making them. School projects come to mind.  One time in middle school we were studying the French Revolution; I had to do a book report.  For a visual I made a 5’ tall, fully-functional guillotine. I got an A, but the teacher didn’t appreciate the mess from slicing the fruit demonstration.  I think another motivation for inventing was to pick-up girls…this one I am not going to elaborate on.

Q: In what way are you a conventional (or unconventional) inventor?      
A: ​I believe I am conventional in many ways and unconventional in others.  Like most inventors my drive comes from wanting to solve a problem; helping to make people’s lives better.  Also the reward and affirmation of seeing others using something you conceived…and the opportunity to make money.  I also have additional, more altruistic motivations.  Many of us want a legacy.  Sure consumer products, patents, royalty streams, etc. may be long-lasting; I want the ability to work on projects that could increase the livability and possible the longevity of those less fortunate…from sustainable housing to methods of air purification and water desalinization.  I may be unconventional in the sheer quantity of ideas that I conceive and perhaps my ability to quickly make “look-like”, “work-like” and sometime “look-like/work-like” models.  These are usually made from existing product components, paper Mache’, foam-core and/or duct tape.  I always have a small voice recorder with me; sometimes it is hanging around my neck (which my wife says I look like a nerd…wait until I start using my NASA pocket protector).  I find that most of my ideas are conceived when I am sitting in LA traffic or on my 4 am walks.  

​Q: What do you hope viewers will take away from your inventing journey?  
​A: That inventing is fun and anyone has the opportunity to be successful with the right team behind them.  I found that I am pretty good at assessing a need and conceptualizing a product that would fill that need.  But as I always say, that is the easy part.  The hard part is the rest of the work…that is why you need a team.What advice would you offer hopeful inventors or “idea people”?Open your eyes and look at the world from different angles.  Try to solve problems in unconventional ways.  Observe others, read and think…we tend to live in our own bubbles and may be missing huge opportunities.  Log everything, not just inventions, but also observations, interesting quotes and anything else that sparks your interest.  Always do research before investing your own money.  I have licensed products and have never spent more than a couple hundred of dollars.  Make sure there is a market for your product beyond your friends and family; remember they love you and don’t want to hurt your feelings…the consumer doesn’t care.  Follow your dreams just don’t mortgage everything to do it, especially if others are relying on you.