PLANNED INNOVATION INSTITUTE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Professor of Marketing at the Daniels School of Business
Dr. Donald R. Bacon is Professor of Marketing at the Daniels School of Business at the University of Denver, where he has been on the faculty since 1989. He teaches new product development (including Planned Innovation® procedures), marketing research, and consumer behavior at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. In his research and consulting he specializes in application of psychometric theory and multivariate statistics to customer satisfaction assessment and learning outcomes assessment, especially as they relate to existing and new products. He consults with numerous business clients on sampling, survey design and data analysis regarding both consumer and industrial products.
His research on importance/performance analysis has appeared recently in International Journal of Market Research and Marketing Research.
He received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, his MBA from the University of Chicago, and a PhD in Marketing from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Bacon lives in Denver, Colorado.
Dr. Frank R. Bacon, the founder of the Planned Innovation Institute, is the originator of the Planned Innovation® Process and principle author of several books on the subject. These include two editions of Planned Innovation®, published by The University of Michigan, and Achieving Planned Innovation®, published by Simon & Schuster. He is an internationally recognized authority on new product/service development and strategic planning.
He is former Research Program Director, Industrial Development Division, Institute of Science and Technology, at the University of Michigan. Later he was recruited by the President and Vice President of Research at Michigan State University to assist there with joint appointments in the Colleges of Business and Engineering.
While at MSU he pioneered the teaching of new product innovation in graduate classes combining both business and engineering students using live projects from industry. He is now Professor Emeritus of Marketing and Supply Chain Management. He is a founding member of the Product Development and Management Association.
His extensive hands-on experience assisting many domestic and foreign companies with developing a wide variety of products and services has led to the continual updating and refinement of the Planned Innovation® process to meet the needs of both small and large multi-national firms.
Product/services have included items such as materials handling robotics, computer systems, aero-space/defense products such as avionics and flight data recorders, automotive components, medical devices, packaging, as well as personal care consumer products and recreational services/products. His experience also included assignments for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
Dr. Bacon holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. He received his MBA and PhD from the University of Michigan. He lives in Park Ridge, Illinois.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Professor Emeritus of Marketing at Grand Valley State University
Dr. James Wolter is Professor Emeritus of Marketing at Grand Valley State University where he taught Graduate Courses in Marketing Management, Business Planning, New Product Development and Management of Technology. Jim completed his Doctorate specializing in Planned Innovation at Michigan State University under the supervision of Dr. Frank Bacon in 1986. He has consulted on sales and product development with large and small clients including General Electric, Xerox, IBM, McDonalds, Caterpillar, Hines Corporation, Herman Miller, and Steelcase.
Jim has worked in public service for Michigan's Commerce Department and DLEG/MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation) and was the co-founder of the University's MAREC Center (Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center) where he directed renewable energy research for three years before returning to teaching full time in 2003.
Dr. Wolter retired from classroom teaching in August 2010 to found Energy Partners, LLC, an Energy Research and Product Development Lab at the University's MAREC Center. His recent work has focused on helping firms which are developing and marketing new renewable-energy products involving power generation, control, and energy storage. New clients include Energy Conversion Devices, General Motors, Ovonic Battery, COBASYS, Harding Energy, Uni-Solar, Applinetics, Lockheed Martin (FTTS), NextEnergy, Plug Power, Designed Nanotubes, Patriot Solar, and Briggs and Stratton Corporations. Jim has served on the Boards of three Energy and Information Companies as Vice Chairman for one and as Marketing Manager for another.
Dr. Wolter began his career as an advanced development physicist for General Electric and progressed through several GE-divisions from New-Product development in Power Conversion products to sales engineering, regional and national sales management. He was a Marketing Manager for two commercial equipment Companies before returning to graduate studies at MSU in 1981 and full time teaching at GVSU.
Jim has developed new courses and authored numerous Journal Articles on New Product Development, Relationship Marketing, Lean Systems, and Business Planning. He has participated-in or led development-teams working on "smart-power" systems and holds one patent on microprocessor control devices used for integrating renewable energy systems and has three "clean-tech" patents pending.. Dr. Wolter holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Physics from Indiana University and Ball State University, a Masters Degree in Administration and a MBA from Indiana University, as well as the Ph.D. in Marketing from Michigan State University. He lives in Spring Lake, Michigan
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Member of the Advisory Board
Dr. Thomas Butler is former Professor of Electrical Engineering and Director of the Cooley Electronics Laboratory and Industrial Sciences Group at the University of Michigan.
Butler is the co-author with Dr. Bacon of Planned Innovation and Achieving Planned Innovation. He is originator of the "Innovation Board" concept, and is a member of several boards.
Butler has extensive industrial experience with the development of new products. He is former Vice President-Technical Director of the Genlyte Group which designed and developed electrical lighting products. He is also former Vice President for Research, Engineering and Manufacturing worldwide for AMF Corporation where he was the driving force in the development of numerous new products for recreational product-markets such as bowling, boating. gymnastics, and golf. He retired from industry to serve as Dean of Engineering at Oakland University, and later as a member of the Planned Innovation® Group.
Dr. Butler received his BSEE degree, MS (Physics), and PhD at the University of Michigan. He lives in Sun City West, Arizona.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Elbit Systems of America
- President and Owner of InterMet Systems, Inc
Mr. Parini is the interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Elbit Systems of America, LLC, where he leads the strategic and operational direction of the company. Mr. Parini is also President and Owner of InterMet Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of upper air weather instrumentation systems. In this capacity, he has led the strategic growth of the company and enhanced its systems offerings to its customers.
Mr. Parini has held several executive level positions including President and CEO of Elbit Systems and President and CEO of Rospatch Corporation where he led the company's diversification into avionics, antisubmarine warfare instrumentation, and infrared detector businesses. Mr. Parini began his career in the defense industry with Lear Siegler, Inc., which subsequently was acquired by Smiths Industries and then GE Aviation. Over his twenty year career with Lear Siegler, he served in positions of increasing responsibility including President of the Instrument Division and Vice President of Aerospace Operations where he led the strategic operations of nine divisions. A leader in the aerospace industry, Mr. Parini holds several patents for multi-sensor navigation systems. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University.
Mr. Parini is President and Owner of InterMet Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of upper air weather instrumentation systems. In this capacity, he has led the strategic growth of the company and enhanced its systems offerings to its customers. He is also a member of the Board of Elbit Systems of America, LLC.
Mr. Parini has held several executive level positions, including President and CEO of Elbit Systems and President and CEO of Rospatch Corporation, where he led the company's diversification into avionics, antisubmarine warfare instrumentation, and infrared detector businesses. Mr. Parini began his career in the defense industry with Lear Siegler, Inc., which subsequently was acquired by Smiths Industries and then by GE Aviation. Over his twenty year career with Lear Siegler, he served in positions of increasing responsibility including President of the Instrument Division and Vice President of Aerospace Operations where he led the strategic operations of nine divisions.
A leader in the aerospace industry, Mr. Parini holds several patents for multi-sensor navigation systems. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Marketing Officer
- Senior Vice President
Mr. Leon J. Ostrowski was manager of Dow Corning Strategic Management System when he installed all components of Planned Innovation System globally, covering the business units and geographic areas of North and South America, Europe, Asia, Japan and Australia. As manager of the Business Research Group, studies were completed and employees trained in support of current Product-Markets and New Opportunities using the Planned Innovation tools and procedures.
Leon was founder of the Central Wisconsin Business Angels LLC, a group investing in seed and early stage growth companies. He is Senior Partner with CPI - Midwest Investment Banking Group to assist with follow on financing needs. He is a TEC (The Executive Committee) Chair Emeritus to a group on Central Wisconsin Executives. He is a member of the WISYS Technology Foundation Board of Directors, involved in protecting and licensing technology and intellectual property developed at 25 campuses of the University of Wisconsin System. Over his 35 year career at Dow Corning he was New Business Development Manager involved in commercializing unique materials for use in Integrated circuits, turbine engines and aircraft; as Manager, Global Strategic Planning System; as Compensation, Benefits and Personal Development for Europe; Global Benefits and International Relocation Manager; as Economic Evaluation and Controller for the Elastomers Business Unit; in his early years in Research and Development several US and Foreign Patents were received.
Leon received his BS (Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics) from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and an MBA (Marketing, Finance, Management) from Central Michigan University. He completed the INSEAD Human Relations Management Program in Fountainblu, France and the MIT Strategic Management Program. He resides in Plover, WI and Ocoee, FL.
Robert Johns has 30 years of experience in the global commercialization of specialty materials.
He is the managing principle of Summit Growth Solutions, LLC, a consultancy & advisory service focused to help firms find new, innovative and profitable growth in current and emerging businesses. Clients leverage the insights of a versatile and decisive leader with broad business-to-business experience in global and domestic markets. As a trusted advisor he listens to understand customer & client needs, and asks compelling questions that help organizations put issues into perspective and make robust decisions that lead to financial success.
During his 30-year career with Dow Corning Corporation, Mr. Johns served in a variety of global leadership positions in industries including electronics, solar, chemicals, defense, petroleum and other specialty material segments. He is a strong advocate of the Planned Innovation® management system, and used these tools in a number of professional and leadership positions.
As Global Director of New Business Programs in the Advanced Technologies & Ventures Business, he led teams to collaborate with federal congressional delegations and state economic development stakeholders to build new venture businesses within Dow Corning. Working in Shanghai, China during 2007-2008 he made key contributions refocusing strategies and resources to target the growing middle market and led a reengineering of the commercial organization for improved productivity and enhanced customer satisfaction. His education includes a BBA from Western Michigan University, and he is an alumnus of the Executive Development Program at Northwestern University, Kellogg School.
Mr. Robert M. Julier completed a 34-year career with the Dow Chemical Company, where his last position was Global Director for Business Research. This position carried responsibility for providing competitive intelligence and business research for Dow's 16 global businesses.
After joining the firm initially as a research chemist for product development and technical service, he also held numerous management positions in Business and Market Research. He was Manager of the Planned Innovation® process for Dow where he was the principal company interface with the Planned Innovation® services group headed by Dr. Bacon. After being trained in all Planned Innovation procedures, he served as an in-house instructor, training over 100 Dow employees in Opportunity Analysis, and instructing Product Management Teams in Product-Market Analysis procedures.
Mr. Julier holds a BA in Chemistry from Lewis & Clark University, and has participated in Executive Education programs in marketing and finance at the University of Michigan and Northwestern University. He lives in Midland, Michigan.
Mr. Wigfall is a former Advance Development Engineer at Whirlpool Corporation. He received his Bachelor in Electrical Engineering and MS in Industrial Management from Georgia Institute of Technology. He lives in Aurora, Colorado.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Member of the Bars of the District of Columbia
- Partner of Robinson
Mr. Sellay is a partner of Robinson & Cole LLP, with offices in Boston, Connecticut and Manhattan, and chairs the firm's International Practice Group. A business lawyer with an engineering background, he brings to technology driven companies substantial experience in structuring and negotiating joint ventures and collaboration agreements, commercial contracts and licensing arrangements. A significant part of his practice centers on legal problems associated with design, production, marketing, and distribution of technology products and services, including the selection and termination of distribution channels, pricing, advertising and promotional programs, competition law compliance, intellectual property protection and products liability prevention.
Mr. Sellay represents numerous privately and publicly held international companies doing business in the U.S. Clients include businesses in food and beverage, leisure products, financial services, electronic media, advertising, publishing, management consulting, IT, manufacturing, marine electronics, medical devices and avionics.
Mr. Sellay is the immediate past chair of the Intellectual Property Transactions Committee of the American Bar Association's Business Law Section and is a member of the Licensing Executives Society and the International Bar Association. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, one of the most respected referral lists of attorneys in the U.S.
Mr. Sellay has served as an Advisory Board member of several companies and organizations including organizations providing equity investments in early stage and emerging technology companies, and companies involved in the development, production and use of energy from renewable sources. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of BEACON (Biomedical Engineering Alliance & Consortium).
Mr. Sellay received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering at Michigan State University, where he was a member of the Honors College. He held engineering positions with both IBM and Honeywell Corporation. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Michigan Law School.
Mr. Sellay is a member of the bars of the District of Columbia, New York and Connecticut.