Larry Spiers
Larry has professional roots in manufacturing, engineering, design, customer services, business process improvement and new product development since 1969.
Since retiring from Emerson in 2005, Larry has been a Sr. Project Consultant, primarily for TechSolve, an Ohio Edison Technology Center and Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Most of his work for TechSolve has focused on facilitating growth and improving operations in small and midsize manufacturers, as well as, a few large cap manufacturers. This data base of manufacturers has been a source of new technologies and the origin for creating the Edison Manufacturers Network, a searchable data base of manufacturers, capabilities and equipment.
With Emerson for 25 years, Larry last served as a divisional Vice President of Engineering and Technology, developing new products and services. Over the years he applied his talent and management skills in four different Emerson divisions, including the Emerson Motor Technology Center at corporate headquarters in St. Louis. He was known for coordinating interdivisional capabilities and facilitating improvements in manufacturing operations.
Larry's first pension is with Harley Davidson where he started his career as a Manufacturing & Design Liaison Engineer. In 1969 Harley was still family owned with operations extremely vertically integrated, manufacturing most of their own components, including bearings, most mechanical pieces, electrical and plastic parts. He held motorcycle Program Manager, plant Resident Engineer and Golf Car Chief Engineer positions before, during and after the acquisition by AMF Corporation.
Giving back in semi retirement, Larry has been a volunteer for about ten years with the Cincinnati/Tri-State PDMA chapter and is currently past president. The Product Development & Management Association is a national and international organization of practitioners, academics and service providers, sharing best practices and new ideas for applying innovation to new processes, services and product development.
For fun Larry and Karen enjoy visits with the grand kids and going on motorcycle rides. Larry is also a member of BUFF, Buckeye United Fly Fishers, so you might find him on a pond or stream with a fly rod for mental therapy.
Since retiring from Emerson in 2005, Larry has been a Sr. Project Consultant, primarily for TechSolve, an Ohio Edison Technology Center and Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Most of his work for TechSolve has focused on facilitating growth and improving operations in small and midsize manufacturers, as well as, a few large cap manufacturers. This data base of manufacturers has been a source of new technologies and the origin for creating the Edison Manufacturers Network, a searchable data base of manufacturers, capabilities and equipment.
With Emerson for 25 years, Larry last served as a divisional Vice President of Engineering and Technology, developing new products and services. Over the years he applied his talent and management skills in four different Emerson divisions, including the Emerson Motor Technology Center at corporate headquarters in St. Louis. He was known for coordinating interdivisional capabilities and facilitating improvements in manufacturing operations.
Larry's first pension is with Harley Davidson where he started his career as a Manufacturing & Design Liaison Engineer. In 1969 Harley was still family owned with operations extremely vertically integrated, manufacturing most of their own components, including bearings, most mechanical pieces, electrical and plastic parts. He held motorcycle Program Manager, plant Resident Engineer and Golf Car Chief Engineer positions before, during and after the acquisition by AMF Corporation.
Giving back in semi retirement, Larry has been a volunteer for about ten years with the Cincinnati/Tri-State PDMA chapter and is currently past president. The Product Development & Management Association is a national and international organization of practitioners, academics and service providers, sharing best practices and new ideas for applying innovation to new processes, services and product development.
For fun Larry and Karen enjoy visits with the grand kids and going on motorcycle rides. Larry is also a member of BUFF, Buckeye United Fly Fishers, so you might find him on a pond or stream with a fly rod for mental therapy.
Ed Vargas
Ed has been active in the development and commercialization of new products for 30 years. During his career with Exxon Chemicals and LyondellBasell Industries, he was involved in the commercialization of new polymer products for a range of industries, including food and beverage, industrial packaging, medical, recreational, construction, agriculture and automotive. He currently holds six patents.
One of his strengths as a new product development professional is his broad background in leading organizations covering all elements of product innovation including fundamental research, product development, process development, plant operations, customer technical research and new business development. As a result of his leadership experience, he has developed a strong expertise in evaluating development projects and in using new product development methods to execute programs faster and more effectively. In addition, he has successfully created and managed external technology partnerships when additional skill sets were required to co-develop new products or processes. He is also experienced in developing business processes to improve the performance in areas such as project management, intellectual property management, operations, research practices, evaluation of new ideas and employee development.
Ed is one of the founding members of the Cincinnati/Tri-State Chapter of the Product Development & Management Association and is currently Vice President of Membership. His continual involvement with the chapter has provided him the opportunity to expand his knowledge of product innovation by learning about the product development and management processes used in a variety of fields.
One of his strengths as a new product development professional is his broad background in leading organizations covering all elements of product innovation including fundamental research, product development, process development, plant operations, customer technical research and new business development. As a result of his leadership experience, he has developed a strong expertise in evaluating development projects and in using new product development methods to execute programs faster and more effectively. In addition, he has successfully created and managed external technology partnerships when additional skill sets were required to co-develop new products or processes. He is also experienced in developing business processes to improve the performance in areas such as project management, intellectual property management, operations, research practices, evaluation of new ideas and employee development.
Ed is one of the founding members of the Cincinnati/Tri-State Chapter of the Product Development & Management Association and is currently Vice President of Membership. His continual involvement with the chapter has provided him the opportunity to expand his knowledge of product innovation by learning about the product development and management processes used in a variety of fields.
KBE Software, Inc. (KBE) is a veteran-owned small business located in Centerville, OH. KBE specializes in the development of business, engineering, and manufacturing software applications for the desktop, web, and cloud. KBE utilizes the latest technologies engineered by the most respected companies in the software industry to build their products.
For over 25 years KBE has been a recognized leader in the field of information technology. They have provided their services to many organizations within academia, industry, the Department of Defense (DoD), and NASA with significant projects requiring the following capabilities and technologies:
• Process Analysis and Modeling
• Information Analysis and Modeling
• Relational and Object-Oriented Database Design and Development
• Stand-alone, Client/Server, Multi-Tiered, Web, and Cloud Application Design and Development
• Keyword Search and Data Mining
• Statistical Analysis
• Value Stream Mapping
• Simulation
• Enterprise Metrics Indicators
• Virtual Manufacturing
• Award Fee Management
Since 1986 KBE's mission has remained the same -- deliver the best, most cost effective software solutions to their clients. KBE understands that their success is tied to the success of their clients. Therefore, their objective is to produce innovative software that enables their clients to achieve their most challenging business goals.
For over 25 years KBE has been a recognized leader in the field of information technology. They have provided their services to many organizations within academia, industry, the Department of Defense (DoD), and NASA with significant projects requiring the following capabilities and technologies:
• Process Analysis and Modeling
• Information Analysis and Modeling
• Relational and Object-Oriented Database Design and Development
• Stand-alone, Client/Server, Multi-Tiered, Web, and Cloud Application Design and Development
• Keyword Search and Data Mining
• Statistical Analysis
• Value Stream Mapping
• Simulation
• Enterprise Metrics Indicators
• Virtual Manufacturing
• Award Fee Management
Since 1986 KBE's mission has remained the same -- deliver the best, most cost effective software solutions to their clients. KBE understands that their success is tied to the success of their clients. Therefore, their objective is to produce innovative software that enables their clients to achieve their most challenging business goals.
