JUDGES . . .
InnovationErie: Design Competition 2010

2010 Competition Judges:

Matt Beckwith, Visiting Instructor in Industrial Design at The Cleveland Institute of Art Jonathan D'Silva, Attorney with the MacDonald Illig Firm Karen Ernst, Professor at Edinboro University Joseph Gula III, Attorney with the Knox Firm Tom Kidd, Executive Director of the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority Jaisen Kohmeunch, Engineer with Eriez Magnetics Mike Mankosa, Vice President of Eriez Magnetics Shawn McClintic, Attorney with General Electric Debbie Steiner, Director of the Small Business Development Center Alternate: Lance Christodoulou, Engineer with Eriez Magnetics

Matt Beckwith, Matt Beckwith is a visiting instructor in Industrial Design at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Currently. Established in 1882, the Cleveland Institute of Art has earned a reputation for being among the top ten professional colleges of art and design in the country. The CIA is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and is also a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design and the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education.

Jonathan D'Silva, Jonathan D'Silva is a registered patent attorney with MacDonald Illig Jones and Britton, LLP. He is a member of the intellectual property practice group and has experience prosecuting patent, trademark, and copyright applications, drafting agreements for the sale and licensing of intellectual property, and enforcing intellectual property rights. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Cornell University and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Buffalo School of Law. He is the current Chair of the 2010 InnovationErie Design Competition.

Karen Ernst, Karen Ernst is an Assistant Professor of Woodworking / Furniture Design in the Art Department at Edinboro University. She received her MFA in Furniture Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and has fourteen years of woodworking and design experience. The furniture and sculptural objects she designs and builds have been exhibited in numerous museums and galleries across the US and are included in many private collections.

Joseph F. Gula, III, Joseph Gula is a registered patent attorney at Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C. As a member of the intellectual property and technology group, he prosecutes patent and trademark applications, register copyrights and advise clients on all types of intellectual property issues, including infringement, licensing, assignment and general I.P. portfolio management. He is also am a member of the bankruptcy and creditors rights group representing both debtors and creditors in and out of bankruptcy as well as in collection actions. Mr. Gula has a B.S. in Pharmacy from Duquesne University and a J.D., cum laude, from Widener University School of Law.

Tom Kidd, Tom Kidd is the Executive Director of the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA), which is charged with the distribution of a portion of the funds that Erie County receives from Presque Isle Downs and Casino. Tom holds a BA degree in both History and Geography from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and a MA in Urban Planning/Economic Development from the University of Akron. Prior to working at ECGRA Tom worked for the last 15 years in various economic development positions at the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, the Department of Community and Economic Develop for the Commonwealth of PA and StARTup Incubator.

Dr. Jaisen N. Kohmuench, Jaisen Kohmuench is a process and applications engineer employed by the Eriez Manufacturing Company in Erie, PA. He currently is the manager of Eriez' Research and Development Process Group. He has been integral in the development of several patented technologies including the Eriez' CrossFlow and HydroFloat systems. Dr. Kohmuench graduated with a doctorate degree from Virginia Tech in 2000. His priority is to continue the development and support of both new and existing separation technologies. He has served on and headed the Eriez Advisory Board and is also an active member of Society of Mining Engineers.

Michael J. Mankosa, Michael Mankosa is the Vice President of Eriez Magnetics. He is a graduate of the Mining and Minerals Engineering Department at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia where he received his Doctorate degree. Dr. Mankosa joined Eriez Magnetics as Technical Director in 1997 and was promoted to Vice President of Operations in 2003. In his current position he is responsible for Research & Development, Engineering, Information Systems and Manufacturing Operations. He is also responsible for acquisition and operation of two international engineering affiliate offices. Dr. Mankosa has produced over eighty articles in scientific and technical journals, has obtained seven equipment and process patents, and has received over $2 million in research funding from various state and federal agencies.

Shawn McClintic, Shawn McClintic is a patent attorney at General Electric Company. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Cleveland State University in 1996, his Juris Doctor degree, with honors, from the same University in 2002, and his Associate of Applied Science in Chemical Technology degree from the University of Toledo in 1991. He is a member of various organizations, including the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the Ohio State Bar Association.

Debbie Steiner, Debra Steiner is Director of the Small Business Development Center at Gannon University, one of 16 Small Business Development Centers in Pennsylvania and an accredited affiliate of the national network of Small Business Development Centers. SBDC consultants works confidentially with entrepreneurs in Erie, Crawford, Mercer, and Warren counties to help their businesses maintain a competitive edge at no charge to clients.

Alternate Judge:

Lance Christodoulou. Lance Christodoulou started work in the mining industry as a learner official in the Gold Fields bursary scheme in 1994, working on Kloof Gold Mine. He commenced with studies at the University of Pretoria where he received his Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering in 1999. He has worked for Eriez Manufacturing since 2001, transferring from the company's South African affiliate in 2006 to Headquarters in Erie, PA. Currently he is working as a Senior Process Engineer for Canadian Process technologies (Wholly owned subsidiary of Eriez Manufacturing).

About InnovationErie
A collaborative effort among professionals in the science, art, manufacturing, engineering and design (SAM & ED) industries, InnovationErie: Design Competition is a product design competition allowing people in northwest Pennsylvania to showcase their product ideas, with the possibility of taking them to the next level: the marketplace. The competition seeks ideas for products that can be manufactured in the Erie region.

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