Bernd Becker
Senior VP Product Development and Innovation
Timex Corporation
 

Bernd Becker is Senior Vice President of Product Development & Innovation at Timex Corporation. In his current position, Bernd is responsible for leading the Product Development organization with focus on driving functional excellence. Bernd and his team introduced Stage-Gate to Timex early 2006 resulting in immediate improvement of the Product Development portfolio, better resource utilization and faster speed to market. In addition, Bernd is leading the R&D Organization focusing on the Technology and Innovation strategy.

Prior to his role in Product Development, Bernd held key positions in Manufacturing Engineering and Quality Control in Timex. Bernd has a Masters in Microelectronics and –Mechanics from the University Karlsruhe in Germany.

Case Study Presentation:
Timex Corporation’s Big Win: Tough Decisions To Rejuvenate a NPD Portfolio

Larry DelPrincipe
Winner, Stage-Gate^® Innovation Summit ’07 storyboard Presentation
Process Manager - New Product Commercialization
Ansell Healthcare

Larry Del Principe is the Process Manager of New Product Commercialization for Ansell Healthcare LLC. Larry implemented the global Ansell's Stage-Gate NPD Process - Ansell's Roadmap to Commercialization in 2004. He is responsible for leading the Stage-Gate process and ensuring it is effectively executed, maintained and improved.

Larry has a MBA in Finance from Iona College and a BBA in Accounting from Iona College.

Case Study Presentation:
Reaching A Global Innovation Organization: Ansell’s Automated Stage-Gate System

Johannes Erler
VP, Innovation/ Crystal Business
D. Swarovski & Company
 

Speaker’s Biography to come

Case Study Presentation:
A Brilliant New Product Idea Generation Program: Swarovski's i-Lab Story

Craig Maxwell
Corporate Vice President of Technology and Innovation
Parker Hannifin Corporation (PH)
 

With annual sales in excess of $10 billion and operations in 46 countries, Parker is a world leader in the motion and control industry

Craig joined Parker Hannifin in 1996 in the role of Manager of New Business Development at the company’s Racor Division  in Modesto, CA.  During his tenure at the division, and in the role of Engineering Manager (97-2002) Racor experienced sales and revenue growth of >300% which resulted from the development and commercialization of a host of new products. In 2003, Craig assumed global responsibility for Parker’s Innovation Initiative (Winovation) in his current role of Corporate VP of Technology & Innovation.

Prior to joining, Parker, in 1996 Craig worked for Stanadyne Automotive Corporation in Windsor, CT where he began his career in 1981 as a laboratory technician and rose through the engineering ranks to become Engineering Manager in the companies Power Products Group.  He holds a BS degree in Industrial Technology from Central Connecticut State University.

Case Study Presentation:
A Strategic Approach to Driving Breakthrough New Products

Dr. Dale McIntyre
VP New Product Development
BEHR Process Corporation
 

Dale McIntyre is currently the Vice President of New Product Development for Masco Architectural Coatings  (MAC) group and Vice President of Conferences for the Product Development Management Association (PDMA).  In addition, Dale leads the sustainability strategy effort for MAC.  Prior to joining Architectural Coatings, Dale was the Group Director of New Product Development and Strategic Planning for Masco Corporation. Throughout his career, he has been involved in new product development in a number of high-tech start-up companies, a venture capital group and a Department of Energy National Laboratory.

Dale holds a PhD in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from Eastern Michigan University.

Case Study Presentation:
How Behr Succeeded Implementing Stage-Gate into A Fast-Paced, Entrepreneurial Culture

Dr. David Mirth
Vice President, Innovation
Owens Corning
 

Dave Mirth is the Vice President of Innovation for Owens Corning's Insulating Systems Business. In addition, Dave is a founding member of Owens Corning's Sustainability Council. Dave has helped to lead several initiatives at Owens Corning to improve the company's innovation process. He was a member of the team that designed Owens Corning's original stage gate process for new products, and has subsequently led two initiatives to update and improve the process.

Prior to his current role, Dave was Vice President of Innovation for the Exterior Systems Business (now Roofing and Asphalt). Dave holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, and a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

Case Study Presentation:
From Good to Great: Owens Corning’s Never Ending Quest For Better Innovation Results

Jack Welsch
VP Product Development
InterMetro
(an Emerson Electric Company)

Jack Welsch is Vice President of Product Development at InterMetro. His significant accomplishments include leading the successful development of a new business platform for InterMetro in polymer products.  This new platform resulted in the successful development of a wide range of polymer products, including a revolutionary composite shelving system.  Jack is responsible for leading organization-wide product development including supporting frameworks, business processes and best practices.  He has introduced several best practice models into InterMetro over the course of 30 years including Stage-Gate, Voice of Customer and, most recently, Portfolio Management.

Jack has a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering (summa cum laude) from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and, as adjunct faculty, teaches the process of product development.

Case Study Presentation:
Staining Innovation Results: 30 Years of Evolution With a World-Class Innovation Program

Dr. Debra Wilfong
VP and Chief Technology Officer
Donaldson Company
 

Dr. Debra Wilfong is Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Donaldson Company, Inc. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN., Donaldson is a leading worldwide provider of air and liquid filtration systems and replacement parts that improve people's lives, enhance our customers' equipment performance, and protect our environment.  As CTO, Dr. Wilfong provides strategic direction and leadership for Donaldson’s Global R&D Technology functions.  In this role she is responsible for developing and commercializing next generation filtration solutions to satisfy our customers’ needs for diesel engine equipment and industrial filtration solutions through innovative research and development, superior technology and global presence.  

Prior to Donaldson Company, Inc., Dr. Wilfong spent over two decades at 3M where she held a number of Engineering and Technology management and executive leadership positions with various 3M business units where she was responsible for leading new product commercialization and developing next generation technology. Dr. Wilfong also has an extensive educational background including an MBA from the Carlson School, University of Minnesota, both an M.S. and Ph.D. in Macromolecular Science from Case Western Reserve University, and a B.S. in Polymer Engineering from Case Western Reserve University.

Case Study Presentation: The Process of Researching and Implementing A New Business Model For Growth