Thursday, Feb 26
6:15 p.m. Cocktails (Cash Bar), 7:00 p.m. Dinner
Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, Tower City Center
24 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 (map)
- Case Advanced Power Institute (CAPI) Display on Fuel Cell
activities at Case
- Speaker: John R. Nottingham, “Relentless Innovations"
(more info)
Co-President, Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates
$5: T-shirt
$7: Banquet Ticket
$10: T-shirt and Banquet Ticket
(T-shirts are sold at the same time & place.)
| Anytime |
Nord 508 |
Monday, Feb 2nd
Wednesday, Feb 4th
Thursday, Feb 5th
Monday, Feb 9th |
Nord Lobby 11:30am-1:00pm
Leutner and Fribley 5:00-7:00pm |
Wednesday, Feb 11th
Thursday, Feb 12th |
Leutner and Fribley 5:00-7:00 |
| Friday, Feb 13th |
Nord Lobby 11:30-1:00 |
Co-President, Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates
"Relentless Innovations"
John Nottingham is a founder and co-president of Nottingham-Spirk
Design Associates, Inc., one of the leading new product invention
and development groups in the US, employing over 50 design and
engineering professionals. It is responsible for the creation
of hundreds of successful products with over 375 commercialized
patents. Combined sales of products created by Nottingham-Spirk
exceed 20 billion dollars.
Nottingham-Spirk’s consumer product innovation programs
have produced dramatic results for Fortune 500 clients as well
as fast growth entrepreneurial firms. For example, companies
such as Little Tikes, Royal/Dirt Devil and Manco grew from small
ventures to market leaders. Nottingham-Spirk has similar successful
relationships with General Electric, Sony Electronics, Newell-Rubbermaid,
Fiskars, Black & Decker, Pennzoil-Quaker State, Johnson
Wax, Playtex, and many others. Recently Sherwin-Williams has
received international acclaim for the revolutionary Dutch Boy
Twist & Pour paint container created by Nottingham-Spirk.
In just one year, the number of outlets that carry the Dutch
Boy brand has more than tripled.
In the past few years Nottingham-Spirk has been instrumental
in starting up several new companies. For example, the SpinBrush
Company was originally founded in 1998 as Dr. Johns Products.
With one million dollars in startup capital, the first high-quality
$5 electric toothbrush with several patented features was created.
The product was an immediate best seller at Wal-Mart and other
retailers. The company was sold to Procter & Gamble in 2001
and the Crest SpinBrush has become the largest selling toothbrush,
manual or electric, in the US, with over $300 million in sales
for 2003.
In 2003, Saybrook Products Company was sold after successfully
launching a new line of power scrubbers, including the Dawn
Power Brush.
Other startup companies include:
Emerald Innovations LLC, seasonal products including the #1
selling Swivel Straight® One Minute Christmas Tree Stand,
Pet Zone Products LTD, durable pet products including the #1
selling Healthy Care® Elevated Dog Feeder, InnoDesk LLC,
convenience products for the home office including a patented,
revolutionary line of retractable highlighters and markers,
AppliTech LLC, including the #1 selling Safe2Touch On-The-Go
Surface Cleaner, Igo Home Products, LLC, tools for the “non-tool”
oriented consumer including the #1 selling Mini Grip & Drive™
Powered Screw Driver.
Nottingham-Spirk is currently renovating the historical former
First Church of Christ Scientist overlooking University Circle,
to create the new Nottingham-Spirk Innovation Center. This state-of-the-art
facility will combine product invention, design & engineering
with rapid prototyping, packaging and focus testing.
John is a founder and general partner in Consumer Innovation
Partners, the first fund in Ohio devoted exclusively to the
development of consumer products, which make up 70% of the US
Economy. This $20 million Fund supports the growth of consumer
product startups.
John Nottingham received his industrial design degree in 1972
from the Cleveland Institute of Art. He serves on the boards
of directors of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Institute of
Art, University Circle, Inc., SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise)
and several private equity companies.
