Footwear Expert Witnesses

This expert has extensive experience as a paper scientist and product engineer, with expertise in forensic document examination and legal document services. He earned his BS in paper science and engineering from the University of Minnesota. He has created two patent-pending technologies for advancements in forensic document examination and document security. Formerly, this expert has served as a production engineer for Boise Cascade Corporation and a technical sales analyst for Ashland Hercules Water Technologies. Currently, this expert is an account manager for a paper company in Georgia and a forensic document examination consultant.

This highly-qualified laryngology expert has experience with voice and airway disorders, laryngeal and airway trauma, difficult airways, and vocal fold paralysis. She received her BSE in mechanical engineering from the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University and her MSE in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan before earning her MD from Wayne State University. She subsequently completed her residency in otolaryngology with a focus in head and neck surgery at Henry Ford Health System and her fellowship in voice and airway surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. This expert is board-certified in otolaryngology and is active in her field as a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the International Association of Phonosurgeons, and the Triological Society. Formerly, she served as a global product development engineer at General Motors Corporation, an assistant professor of immunology & microbiology at Wayne State University School of Medicine, an assistant professor of otolaryngology at Oakland School of Medicine, and a locum tenens otolaryngologist at ProMedica Memorial Hospital. Currently, this expert serves as a staff laryngologist at a health network, as well as an assistant professor of surgery in otolaryngology at a university, both in Pennsylvania.

This highly-qualified expert has over 25 years of experience in the areas of electronic materials, electronic components (capacitors, resistors, inductors, batteries, antennae, etc.) and assemblies (surface mount), intellectual property, product development, process optimization, market studies, and grants. He earned his MS in materials science and engineering from the University of Florida and his MBA from Webster University. He went on to complete his PhD in materials science and engineering at the University of Florida. Formerly, he served in many different research and engineering roles at firms relating to electronic materials. This expert also served as the director of research and development in electronic materials at Ferro Corporation, as director of advanced technology at KEMET Electronics, and as chief economic development officer at Health Sciences South Carolina. Currently, he is president of the consulting of an electronic materials firm in South Carolina.

This expert has over 30 years of experience in the medical device industry, with broad expertise in cardiovascular and endovascular fields with a focus on percutaneous catheters, heart assist devices, brain and aortic aneurysm treatment, and vascular closure products. He earned his MS in mechanical engineering at Moscow State Technical University and worked as the lead engineer at the Scientific Institute for Transplantology and Artificial Organs before moving to the United States. He is a registered patent agent through the US Patent and Trademark Office and is a member of the Association of University Technology Managers, the International Society for Rotary Blood Pumps, and the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs. He formerly served as the scientific director and vice president of technology at Datascope Corp. before he served as the CTO of Cerus Endovascular. This expert is currently the principal of a patent consulting company, the founder of a medical technology development company, and the vice president of product development for a medical device start-up in New Jersey.

This expert received his BS and MS from the Mechanical Engineering Department at MIT and is a licensed engineer in NY and CT. He currently works as a forensic/consulting engineer at a private engineering firm. His investigative and analytic experience includes motor vehicle accident reconstruction, biomechanics, product design and safety, and computer simulation and animation. He has also served as a member of the ANSI/NGCMA Z130.1 engineering specifications committee.

This expert has been working with fire extinguishing systems for 40 years. He is a Registered Professional Engineer and holds membership in both the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association. He spent 15 years working for Ansul/Wormald, starting as a Development Engineer of fire suppression products and working his way up through the roles of Manufacturing Engineer, Operations Management, Applications Engineer, Product Development Manager, and eventually to Vice President of Wormald Fire Systems. After serving in executive positions with Fenwal Safety Systems and Forney Corporation, he became President of Kidde Technologies, a position he held for over a decade. Currently, this expert is the Principal of his own fire systems consultancy, wherein he utilizes his technical and market experience in the fire suppression industry to aid businesses, manufacturers, and private equity firms on a variety of projects and initiatives related to fire protection systems.

This seasoned expert is the primary consultant and CEO of an ATV Safety Consulting company. From 1985 to 1989 he was licensed as an ATV Rider Training Instructor. In 1989 he was elevated to position of Chief Instructor for the ATV industry. He has held that position from 1989 to the present. In 2011, he became Chief Driver Coach Trainer for the ROV industry. He has assisted in managing and establishing the current curriculum for the Nation's leading ATV rider training organization and the leading ROV training organization. The ATV organization has provide ATV rider education to more than 750,000 ATV users. He was selected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to not only testify on several ATV safety issues, but to also train their compliance officers in hands-on ATV operation. From 1970 to 1993 he was employed as a State Trooper for the Maryland State Police. Consequently he adds twenty-three years of expertise in accident investigation to his curriculum vitae. He has testified in Court concerning ATV, ROV and UTV accident cases extensively.

This human factors psychologist has nearly 30 years of experience as a safety analysis professional. She began her career as a Human Factors Psychologist with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and she currently owns and operates a firm that examines the design, instructions and warnings of consumer products. She conducts training for manufacturers on issues such as anticipating product hazards, consumer behavior, motivation & perceptions, foreseeable interactions with consumer products, etc. She earned her B.A. from George Washington University and her Master's/Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the same institution. Her career has specialized in the safety of products regulated by the CPSC and the Food and Drug Administration. She is the recipient of numerous professional awards including the A.R. Lauer Safety Award from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, and the Chairman's Commendation Award from CPSC.

This expert has been in the cycling and sporting goods industry for over 19 years. A former Product Manager/Buyer with Performance Bike, Inc., he was a key component of designing, developing, sourcing, pricing, and marketing their highly successful private-label line of cycling and multi-use apparel and accessories. As a Senior Line Product Manager with Cycling Sports Group, he managed the entire apparel product life cycle from initial concept to final delivery. The recipient of awards such as Honoree of Sporting Goods Business Top 40 Under 40 as well as a two-time winner of Bicycling Magazine Editor's Choice Award, this expert is currently the Director of Product Development & Sourcing for a global leader in the Sporting Goods/Outdoor channel.

This Nutrition industry professional has an advanced degree in nutrition, and several years of experience involving the technical aspects of regulatory affairs, scientific affairs, product labeling, and research & development. His specialties: 21 CFR 101 (Food Labeling), 21 CFR 111 (cGMPs for dietary supplements), FTC advertising guidelines, regulatory compliance review, product substantiation, ingredient research and product development. In his current role as Manager at a Vitamin research company he is responsible for reviewing products, labeling and marketing materials for FDA and FTC compliance.

President and CEO of company which specializes in identifying areas prone to slip and fall accidents. He entered the field of slip and fall accident prevention as a participant in the development of a chemical compound. This chemical compound known as Anti Slip Solution would prevent slip & fall accidents when applied to the surface. He currently consults with clients nationwide regarding slip and fall prevention, slip and fall safety programs and maintenance protocol. He also conducts surface testing in slip and fall litigation to determine if the surface in question is suitable for the demands of the environment and the activities conducted. All surface testing is conducted using a BOT-3000E (Binary Output Tribometer) in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI). The BOT-3000E is a robotic type of tribometer that represents the leading edge of technology in the field of slip resistance. This machine is designed to test both Static Coefficient of Friction (SCOF) as well as Dynamic Coefficient of Friction (DCOF). The test method is referred to as touch down friction� which simulates how a person's foot would contact the floor during normal ambulation. The BOT-3000E is an electromechanical device whose operation and output cannot be effected by the operator, thus making it the first user-independent tribometer. The BOT 3000E also has a data port allowing the operator to download results in PDF format. Surface testing using the BOT 3000E will assist in determining if the surface in question is suitable for the demands of the environment and the activities that are conducted.

This expert worked for a major manufacturer of aluminum electrolytic capacitors where he was in charge of new product development, electrolytes, separators, product design models, Engineering Test Lab, Analytical Lab, anodic oxidation and manufacturing processes as well as special quality issues. He currently consults for the electronic components and aluminum electrochemical processing industries. He is a world-class expert in aluminum electrolytic capacitors for materials, design, manufacturing, quality, and applications engineering.

This expert is a multi-disciplined inventor with dozens of patents and applications, and a seasoned business creator with 23 years of experience in various areas of Automotive Electronics, Consumer Electronics, and Electronic Product Design. In 1991, he established a design, manufacturing and distribution facility for his dozens of inventions. He is currently a consultant working primarily in the litigation context of electronics.

This licensed engineer earned his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri and is a certified fire & explosion investigator. He has held a number of electrical engineering and products safety positions throughout his career, specializing in EE, product development, technical management, design verification, advanced troubleshooting, and failure analysis. This expert is currently a Senior Professional Engineer at a private Engineering consultancy.

This seasoned expert has been involved in the diving industry since the 1970s. He earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara and also completed additional graduate work in Human Physiology and Exercise Physiology at both California State University, Long Beach and California State University, San Diego. The expert is certified as a Scuba Instructor by the National Association of Underwater Instructors, the Los Angeles County Underwater Unit, and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. He previously worked as the Chief Engineer of Water Sports at AMF Voit, the Technical Director at Sea Quest, the Director of Engineering at U.S. Divers Co., and the Director of Product Development at Sherwood Scuba.

This expert has been involved in Product Development and new product innovation for over 25 years, serving in various positions in both the corporate and consulting settings. In his current position, he is responsible for New Product Development and Innovation as well as managing the day to day product development and brand development activities. I have held similar corporate positions at Body Solid Inc. a fitness equipment manufacturer and distributor, Lava World Internationaln and Home Products International. As part of his experience in developing and bringing to market new and innovative products, he has become very familiar with the patenting process and efforts to protect new product innovations. He has served as a design and utility patent expert for a number of intellectual property law firms throughout the country and has been part of numerous cases involving utility and design patent infringement as well as trade dress. He has testified in Federal Court and WTC Hearings. IHe has a number of personal patents and has been named on over 100 design and utility patents. He have been involved in two company start ups, an intellectual property licensing and manufacturing firm and a specialty sporting equipment and apparel manufacturer. In addition to his career in Product Development,this expert has over 20 years experience in the architectural field as an Architectural Designer of residential, commercial and government projects. Prior to transferring to U of I for design, he was involved in the architecture program at Western Michigan University, later becoming a partner in an architectural firm responsible for the historic re-development of downtown Kalamazoo.

This highly qualified shoe designer has 18 years of experience in the footwear industry. He received his B.F.A in Industrial Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Former positions include Staff Designer at Saucony, Staff Designer at Nike, Senior Designer at POLO, Ralph Lauren, RLX, and Reebok, Product Design Director at Morro Snowboards, Creative Director at UGG, Owner at Medium Design Group, and Founder/Design Director at the Vael Project. Currently, he is the founder and principle designer at a design firm.

This international technology expert has hands-on experience in all aspects of agriculture, including crop production, equipment design, R&D, teaching, manufacturing, and marketing. He has four advanced degrees in business/engineering, including a Ph.D. in the Automation of Technological Processes from the National University of Life and Environmental Science of Ukraine. He has authored 70+ publications and holds 11 U.S. patents, as well as others from Canada, the EU, and Russia. The expert currently works in a product development and marketing capacity for an agricultural systems consultancy.

This expert has over 25 years in electrical engineering and product development. He gained his MS and PhD in electrical engineering and systems from the University of Pennsylvania. After serving as an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Illinois Institute, he transitioned to industry and spent 13 years at Motorola Mobility developing wireless products. He ended his tenure as Motorola's vice president of product management and development. Currently he is developing products at a start-up in Massachusetts.

This industrial design expert has 45+ years of experience in product design and engineering. The expert founded a successful industrial design development company in Philadelphia in 1970 and remained Principle of the business through 2012. In addition, he served as a local and national officer for the Industrial Designers Society of America and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award as well as election to the Academy of Fellows. The expert earned his B.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design and is currently a Member of the Product Development Management Association. He now works as a professor and a product design & development consultant.