Position:
Patent Agent (USPTO Registration #63,871)
Education:
Undergraduate: B.S. Aerospace Engineering - Auburn University
Bio:
Brainstorm Patents was created out of a personal necessity. I am a tinkerer and inventor, and as such, have aspirations of patenting and making money from some of my ideas. As with most inventors, my list of ideas goes on for pages. I quickly realized that if I was to hire a patent professional to begin the patent process for multiple ideas, I could burn through a large amount of money in a short amount of time! After a bit of research, I discovered that I did not have to go through law school to become a patent professional. Because I have a background in engineering, the United States Patent and Trademark Office would allowed me to practice upon passing the federal Patent Bar Exam. So, I studied for and successfully passed the USPTO's Bar Exam, thus allowing me to file my own patent applications and applications of other inventors with the USPTO. One item of note - please keep in mind that ANY inventor can file their own paperwork with the USPTO, regardless of educational background. I originally attempted to head down this path, but quickly found that without some sort of legal proficiency, I was in over my head, thus the decision to become educated and versed in the ways of the USPTO. Before I arrived at this point, my previous experiences helped to provide a well-rounded knowledge base.
I have a bit of a "pinball" background (think, "Jack of All Trades, and Master of None..."). I attended Auburn University and graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Upon graduation, I accepted a position with Lockheed Martin and eventually worked up the ladder to the position of "Propulsion Engineer", or as my wife fondly refers to it, "rocket scientist". After a while working in that arena, I realized that the cubicle world was a bit too inflexible and confining for my outside-the-box dreams and aspirations. I made the decision to branch out on my own and seek a more engaging and fulfilling future.
Based on my experience with Lockheed Martin, I knew that I did not want to sit at a computer all day and leave with no real physical progress at the end of the day. I needed something that would allow me to use some of my mechanical ability as well as some of my intellectual ability. An opportunity soon presented itself. I partnered with a neighbor to open a cabinetry company that designed and installed residential cabinetry. This was a good fit, requiring both design and construction sense. It provided an outlet for my creative side and my "hands-on" side, providing a greater sense of satisfaction when each day came to a close.
Then came the Florida summer that saw three hurricanes make appearances in Central Florida. The storms not only brought high winds and damage, but also more opportunity. The storms damaged a lot of the boat docks in the greater Orlando area, in addition to roofs and kitchens. With a small number of local dock contractors, the backlog of work was staggering. Recognizing the need for dock repair and reconstruction, we opened a dock company. The cabinet company and dock company shared a location, so we were able to run both simultaneously and successfully. In 2008, I sold my half of the company to my partner. Selling my portion of the company provided me with a bit of time to evaluate and see what endeavor I wanted to undertake next.
I worked with the founder of TechShop to see about the feasibility of bringing a TechShop franchise to Orlando. I got a long way down that path before deciding that the failing economy as well as the large amount of personal risk I would be assuming was ultimately too much. So, I made the smart, but painful decision to step away from that opportunity. I may revisit in the future... For now, I am happily fulfilled by helping other inventors to create functional prototypes and secure protection for their concepts.
With my background in engineering and inventing, combined with the construction knowledge gained from my foray into the cabinetry and dock businesses (I am a licensed general contractor - CGC1511647), I feel confident that I can provide a solid foundation from which to help you launch your patent dreams and endeavors.