Serving Jackson Area Inventors and Entrepreneurs Since 2009
April is Intellectual Property Month for the Jackson Inventor’s Network. The meeting, April 26, 2022, at 6 p.m. will also be a hybrid meeting, offered both in-person at the Lean Rocket Lab and on Zoom. We will welcome Mikhail Murshak, Patent Attorney, Loomis Attorneys at Law, to speak to us about intellectual property. Mikhail also plans to bring a surprise guest
Tuesday, Jan 22, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
Dave Verduyn’s passion is Innovation and Inventive Thinking in the front end of product development to create new Customer Value. In 2001, after 17 years of industry experience in Design and Systems Engineering, Technical Instruction, and Product Development Consulting, he created C2C Solutions, an organization that’s mission is to help unlock the innovation potential in any individual, team, or organization.
Verduyn is an engineering graduate of Lawrence Institute of Technology and to date, he has taught and coached over 70 fortune 1000 companies in the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and South America across a diverse range of industries. He has given over 75 lectures at the University of Michigan, ASQ, and other professional organizations to develop new innovators by giving practical “how-to”, interactive, educational, and entertaining talks on Inventive Thinking Strategies.
He is a recognized thought leader and has trained thousands of corporate professionals in methods including Systematic Innovation, Voice of Customer, TRIZ, Inventive Thinking, Cost Reduction, Value Analysis, and other Product Development activities. Dave lives in Troy, Michigan with his wife and 3 teenage daughters.
Verduyn last spoke to JIN in-person in 2013.
Due to the current rise in local COVID cases and the presence of a new COVID variant, the board has elected to hold a virtual meeting in January. Any device with internet or cellular data service can get you access to a Zoom meeting. Meeting ID and password will be e-mailed to all who RSVP to Jon Roty at roty1@sbcglobal.net
6:00–6:30 PM Networking
6:30–7:30 PM Program
7:30–8:00 PM Networking
Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021
Gerri Jensen is a Certified Mentor with SCORE Ann Arbor Area. Her business background includes being the founder and president of a national nonprofit organization with offices in New York, Sacramento, Toledo, and Chicago. She built volunteer teams that operated 400 local chapters in 48 states. She frequently appeared on national a local TV, radio, and in newspapers promoting her nonprofit organization. Ms. Jensen went on to be a digital publisher of an online magazine that had a circulation number of 1 million readers per month.
SCORE lists her area of expertise as Business strategy & planning; government relations, nonprofit organizations, web technology, digital marketing, public relations, sales, and eCommerce.
Agenda:
6:00–6:30 PM Networking
6:30–7:30 PM Program
7:30–8:00 PM Networking
Due to the current rise in local COVID cases and the presence of a new COVID variant, the board has elected to hold a VIRTUAL meeting in December. Any device with internet or cellular data service can get you access to a Zoom meeting. Meeting ID and password will be e-mailed to all who RSVP.
PLEASE RSVP to Jon Roty @: roty1@sbcglobal.net
Speaker: Bill Rayl, president, JAMA
Bill Rayl, the President of the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association (JAMA), will be the presenter at the Oct. 26 JIN meeting. By building relationships, he has led JAMA to be the #1 regional manufacturing group in Michigan. Bill is connected like no other individual in manufacturing. In his work with JAMA, he partners with many organizations to help entrepreneurs and manufacturers meet and exceed their goals:
Jackson Co Chamber of Commerce / Jackson Co ISD / Michigan Works! Southeast / Lean Rocket Lab / Enterprise Group of Jackson, Ann Arbor SPARK and other Michigan regional economic development organizations / Regional manufacturers associations serving the Great Lakes/Bay region and central, western and northern Michigan/the UP / Automation Alley / Michigan Dept. of Labor & Economic Opportunity / MEDC / MMA / National Association of Manufacturers / National Skills Coalition / Business Leaders United
Bill will give us tools to steer through the maze of finding the manufacturer that can work with you on your project/product.
Due to the COVID pandemic, JIN is offering the option to attend our meeting either in-person or on Zoom. Any device with internet or cellular data service can get you access to a Zoom meeting. Meeting ID and password will be e-mailed to all who RSVP. Please RSVP to Jon Roty at roty1@sbcglobal.net
Agenda:
6:00–6:30 PM Registration
6:30–7:30 PM Program
7:30–8:00 PM Networking
In-person meeting at: Lean Rocket Lab, 133 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson, MI 49201 Please enter thru EAST DOOR off parking lot
The Sept. 28th meeting of the Jackson Inventors Network features seasoned entrepreneur and inventor Joe Finkler The meeting starts with registration at 6 p.m., with the program following from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Networking takes place from 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Finkler got his start as the co-owner of the “As Seen on TV” stores in Muskegon and Grand Rapids. He has bought and sold over 4,500 products for both retail and internet sales.
Finkler has been working with inventors and entrepreneurs for over 20 years. During this time, he helped found the Grand Rapids Inventors Network (GRIN). He has also served as the president of GRIN, Muskegon Inventors Network and, most recently, the Michigan Inventors Coalition. Joe is currently serving on the advisory board for the Inventors Groups of America (IGA).
Do you have a retail product but you’re struggling to get it noticed on store shelves?
Join us to learn packaging tips that will help your product stand out! Joe Finkler will be sharing his takeaways from the Chicago Housewares Show and samples highlighting the latest in packaging! As marketing trends change, packaging is one of the most important aspects of the product. You have less than a second to catch the eye of the buyer. Your packaging is what sells your product.
In-person location: Lean Rocket Lab, 133 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson, MI 49201 (Please enter thru east door off parking lot.)
Zoom instructions: Any device with internet or cellular data service can get you access to a Zoom meeting. Meeting ID and password will be e-mailed to all who RSVP to Jon Roty @: roty1@sbcglobal.net
Aug. 24, 2021 Jackson Inventors Network Meeting
Josh Malone quit his corporate job in 2006 to take his shot at the Inventor’s Dream. Eight years later, savings depleted and kids’ college unfunded, he took one last swing before trudging back to the corporate world. And hit a homerun with Bunch O Balloons. His solution to the 63-year-old problem of filling and sealing water balloons instantly became the number one selling summer toy. His invention was stolen by a notorious infringer who convinced the USPTO to invalidate his patent under a controversial procedure of the 2011 America Invents Act. A brutal and costly legal battle combined with an anti-corruption crusade ultimately resulted in a $31M award and restoration of his patent rights. He is now a full-time volunteer with the inventor advocacy organization US Inventor.
Meeting schedule:
6:00–6:30 PM Registration
6:30–7:30 PM Program
7:30–8:30 PM Networking
Hybrid Meeting – Zoom or In-Person at:
Lean Rocket Lab
133 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson, MI 49201
Please enter through east door off parking lot
Do you want to know what it takes to get a patent approved? The April 27 JIN meeting features Q & A with a patent examiner. This virtual Zoom meeting takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m.; Please RSVP to Jon Roty @roty1@sbcglobal.net to get the access code.
Our speaker, Patrick Lewis, received his Ph.D in Organic Chemistry at Louisiana State University in 2000. After graduating from LSU, Lewis worked as a research chemist for DuPont for a year before joining the USPTO in 2001. Since joining the USPTO, Lewis has primarily examined carbohydrate-based patent applications. He is currently serving as an assistant outreach coordinator for the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional Office. In this role, he facilitates stakeholder engagement and organizes or participates in events that aim to educate the public on intellectual property matters and resources.
The next JIN meeting is March 23, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The speaker is John Bracknell (Brack) is a 25-year 3D veteran specializing in design, prototype and build for physical, digital and synthetic environments. He has worked with General Motors, Harley-Davidson and many Tier 1 suppliers, developing methodology and processes for optimizing 3D data reuse in sales, service marketing and quality assurance.
In addition, Brack is a DFSS Black Belt providing all forms of design and engineering including process development, visual validation, training, and planning.
Due to the COVID pandemic, JIN is currently hosting meetings on the ZOOM platform. Any device with internet or phone access can get you access to a Zoom meeting. Meeting ID and password will be e-mailed to all who RSVP.
PLEASE RSVP to Jon Roty at roty1@sbcglobal.net
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Agenda: 6:00–6:30 PM / Networking 6:30–8:00 PM / Program
Calvin Battles has been working for Jackson District Library for over 9 years and has the been the Adult Services Coordinator since 2017. He is born and raised in Jackson and returned home after getting a BS from Michigan State and an MLIS from Wayne State.
Calvin regularly works the Reference Desk at the Carnegie Branch, and helps people with a variety of issues including job searching, applying for benefits, and research of all shapes and sizes.
Calvin will show JIN Members how to navigate market research and analysis tools on both the Jackson District Library and Michigan Electronic Library websites.
Due to the COVID pandemic, JIN is currently hosting meetings on the ZOOM platform. Any device with internet or phone access can get you access to a Zoom meeting. Meeting ID and password will be e-mailed to all who RSVP.
PLEASE RSVP to Jon Roty @: roty1@sbcglobal.net
Michigan Inventors Coalition is hosting a new live virtual event with TV Personality & Innovation Expert, Steve Greenberg, The Gadget Guy!, Feb. 17, 2021 at 7:00 PM. Join Aimee Carroll of Edison Nation for this exciting event.
Register soon because space is limited.