EDUCATION / PROFESSIONAL

B.S. Civil Engineering, Structural option, University of Illinois
Certified Product Safety Manager, Board of Certified Product Safety Management
Chairman, Portable Metal Ladder Committee, and member of Portable Wood and Reinforced Plastic Ladder Committees of the American National Standards Institute
Past Chairman, Committee for Carports, Awnings & Lawn Buildings, American Society for Testing Materials

EXPERIENCE

Development
. Developed new concept in storm doors, including extensive performance specifications, changing a commodity into a custom product. Improved performance of hardware ( closures, wind chain, hinges, latches ).
. Invented a fence post anchor in use for over 25 years, with over 10 million produced.
. Worked very closely with the Home Improvement Products and Services program at Sears at its inception, providing guidance in growing this program to a billion dollar business.
. Developed a number of exclusive mobile home accessory products.
. Developed / invented outdoor pool table, and safer playback table tennis table.
Research
. Led a technical program to evaluate window damage to the Sears Tower, which reduced potential hazard.
. Evaluated initial tests to determine impact loads on railroad bridges.
. Led a team to improve the performance of insulated safes.
. Setup long term roofing shingle exposure test racks in northern & southern locations.

Testing
. Developed testing procedures for such products as storm doors, ladders, pool ladders, windows, pool tables, lawn buildings, fencing, and many other consumer products.
. Tested first prestressed concrete bridge span.
. Provided product safety guidance and investigations on many products.

Design
. Performed structural design work on buildings, flood walls, zoo structures and military installations.
. Wrote and evaluated numerous assembly and installation manuals.
. Evaluated 1000's of products for performance, materials, durability, human factors and safety.

Construction
. Provided construction layout and control for such projects as sewers, bridges, buildings, earth dams, plant remodeling and military compounds.

Standards
. World expert on ladder safety, having been associated with American National Standards Institute Committee on Ladders for 30 years. Initiated testing procedures. Led accident investigation programs and reporting methods.
.Originated American Society for Testing Materials standards sub-committee on carports, awnings, and lawn buildings. Became first chairman of this committee, which led to position of secretary of main committee on Performance of Building Constructions.
.Worked in cooperation with government agencies such as US Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Bureau of Standards, Forest Products Laboratory , OSHA and NIOSH, as well as many manufacturers, universities, associations and UL.

Legal
Provided expert testimony in many product areas & personal injuries , with depositions and trial appearances.

Writing
.Investigating a Ladder Accident
. Ladder Inspection
. Technical Editor of largest correspondence course on House Construction.