Applying
engineering
innovation to emerging markets
President,,
Senior Technology
Consultant
Business
Manager
Throughout his career Bill has
demonstrated the ability to reach successful business decisions
combining new product design with market research and business
management. Given the fact that often there are several good ways to
reach a goal, Bill does not bring canned solutions to the process of
deciding future direction and product development. The years of
building a business in a pioneer and emerging market have taught Bill
the importance of asking questions. The task is to find the solution
with the highest probability of success, i.e. the one that fits both
that organization's own characteristics and the current stage of the
market. He takes pride in having been a practical visionary doing
what
was possible to do (not necessarily easy) with the resources at
hand.
1.Connections to other expertise. In my years in high tech business I
have worked with excellent professionals in complementary professions
when I sensed I did not know exactly the right answer. These
professionals have specialized expertise in many fields of knowledge,
such as: optics design, micromachining, machine controls, vision
systems, metallurgy, medical device design, laser material processing
development, laser job shops, research institutes and university
research departments, marketing, sales management, manufacturing
operations, financial operations, HR and personnel selection, legal
questions, and patent law.
2.Coaching an organization through implementing a new process. The goal
is to have a good buying experience, i.e. to minimize the new
technology risk, help you understand the tradeoffs, pluses and minuses,
and
help your people become competent in using the new technology
system.
Successful implementation involves asking good questions, such
as,
Understanding
necessary personnel aptitude, QC, infrastructure,
training, etc is crucial to a successful implementation.
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Bill, a registered professional
engineer, has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison and has completed substantial graduate work in
electromechanical design at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis. He
holds thirteen patents, primarily in the field of industrial laser
processing.
In 1978 he founded a production
company, Laser Machining, Inc. (LMI), for industrial laser processing
and laser system manufacturing. For close to 25 years Bill was the
majority owner and engineering manager during the years laser
technology
transitioned from a pioneering to an emerging market and while 95% of
other start-up companies disappeared.
From an initial investment of
$15,000, and without further outside investment, LMI developed into a
market leader employing 225 people. The company grew by reinvesting
earnings and by carefully taking advantage of market changes. Bill kept
LMI focused on opportunities that
were challenging and profitable but did not reach beyond the
capability of the company to provide a good solution for the customer.
As a result, in
25 years of manufacturing more than 1000 systems, LMI only needed to
give money back to two customers where the system did not do what was
promised.
When in 2002 LMI was purchased by
Preco Industries of Lenexa, Kansas, Bill formed NewTech Development,
LLC, to help new technology companies succeed in emerging markets.
Prior to founding LMI, Bill worked
at 3M Company in their Central Research Division, was an advanced
concepts engineer for the U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Command, and in
1974 started the engineering consulting firm Lawson, Lawson &
Assoc., working with his father Robert R. Lawson, (BS Eng 1932 Purdue
Univ.). Their clients included Harken Yacht Fittings, and North Sails
Inc.
Bill is a private pilot with
twin-engine, instrument and seaplane ratings. He is an avid downhill
skier and gadget maker in his home machine shop. Bill has served
on
the Board of Directors of the Laser Institute of America (LIA) since
1998, holding the offices of Treasurer and President. In 2004 he was
named a Fellow by the LIA. In the community Bill was elected to the
Somerset School Board for eleven years, and the Bass Lake
Rehabilitation District Board from 1997 to the present.
Bill's Favorite
Books
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Rita has a BS in Education from the
University of Minnesota-Minneapolis. She taught English and German for
10 years and was a Fulbright exchange teacher at a college-prep high
school in Solingen, Germany for a year.
A founding partner in Laser Machining,
Inc (LMI) in 1978, Rita worked full-time as Vice President and
Chief
Communication Officer. Rita helped implement
basic functions at LMI such as accounting, human resources, office
administration, and marketing support. As the company grew she assumed
responsibility for initiating and supporting foreign marketing
partnerships, overseeing safety policies and practices, communicating
with legal advisors and insurance suppliers, community relations, and
editing marketing materials and the monthly company newsletter.
Internationally LMI developed business
partnerships with a Japanese corporation to sell and manufacture LMI
components, a major European sales organization, Korean and mid-East
sales representatives, and established a subsidiary in Sweden.
international business partnerships flourished due to her european
experience and fluency in German. Rita was especially helpful in
keeping
both organizations from stumbling over differing cultural aspects that
often impede good communication.
Rita has served on many community
organization boards including the St. Croix Valley Community Foundation
and the Somerset Public Library.
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NewTech Development LLC
1917 County Road I
Somerset WI 54025 USA
Phone 715-247-3242
Fax 715-247-3594
