I work with companies and organizations of all shapes and sizes to define strategies, uncover opportunities, unlock new methods of value creation and jumpstart innovation. • Facilitation of ideation, problem solving and opportunity finding sessions• Strategy coaching, development and workshop facilitation• Innovation management consulting and guidance (standing up/refining internal teams and processes)• Development of organizational strategy and futures/foresight scenarios• Product ideation and concept development (embedded participant/outside creative thinker)• Teaching of innovation (human-centered design/design thinking) tools, processes and frameworks• Synthesis of complex insights into action steps• Counsel and coaching of senior leaders• Fractional innovation management, strategy and leadership roles

Co-design/develop/facilitate the Design Thinking modules provided as part of the GVSU Executive MBA program.

In his current role at Newell Brands, Jason serves on the Consumer & Shopper Insights Leadership team, the Design Leadership team and guides the corporate Innovation Group, linking consumer insights with new product ideas, brand strategies and business design. He and his team assess the organization’s worldwide innovation capabilities, scan the horizon for emerging trends and new product development opportunities, orchestrate and facilitate ideation and strategy sessions, and partner with cross-functional groups within Newell Brands to bring concepts to fruition.

Led internal group, with teams located in Kalamazoo (MI) Design Center and Hoboken (NJ) hub. Reported to SVP Design and Innovation; member of Design Leadership Team. Guided key innovations and new product platforms in each of NWL’s Business Units, including successful in-market products for Graco®, Elmer’s®, Sharpie®, Contigo®, Mr. Coffee®, Yankee Candle®, Marmot®, Rubbermaid®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Oster® and NUK®.• Partnered with BU CEOs, Brand VPs and R&D VPs to build product funnels and new business models, and to create future scenarios and strategies• Oversaw annual cadence of 50+ innovation engagements across all business units• Personally facilitated hundreds of engagements, from ideation workshops, design sprints, immersions, trend synthesis, design research and empathy-building exercises• Trend identification and insights translation for key brands• Direct partner to other Design functions (Industrial Design, Communications Design, Color/MateriaL/Finish, Usability and Human Factors)• Hosted monthly Design Management meeting for all Managers+ in the global design organization• Contributed heavily to design and delivery of Newell Design Institute, teaching Leadership, Management and Design Thinking coursesPeer-recognized Awards:• Process Impact Leadership (2019)• Design Mentor (2018)• Design Mastery (2017)• Design Ambassador (2017)Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Graco, Coleman, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Yankee Candle, Paper Mate, FoodSaver, Dymo, EXPO, Elmer’s, Oster, NUK, Spontex and Campingaz. Newell Brands is focused on delighting consumers by lighting up everyday moments.

I lead an internal team of innovation specialists who are committed to growing the overall brand portfolio of Newell Brands' products and services worldwide. Partner with executive leadership to translate strategic direction for Newell Brands and specific business segments. Responsible for providing a POV on innovation health across the organization and for more responsible alignment of segment NPD projects.Newell Brands (NYSE: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Parker®, Elmer’s®, Coleman®, Jostens®, Marmot®, Rawlings®, Oster®, Sunbeam®, FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Graco®, Baby Jogger®, NUK®, Calphalon®, Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, First Alert®, Waddington and Yankee Candle®. For hundreds of millions of consumers, Newell Brands makes life better every day, where they live, learn, work and play.

NewNorth is a non-profit, hybrid education and business institution. We’re located in Holland, MI; our clients and students are nationwide, although we maintain a specific focus on building Michigan-based organizations. Our job is to bridge the tools of design thinking with the tools of business. We teach innovation process, design methods and creativity tools to Companies, Non-Profits and Government to foster new thinking and growth. We focus on helping individuals, teams and corporate leadership move beyond personal preferences and theories of invention and into practical application of innovation processes and commercialization. Our pedagogy is one of engagement, healthy critique and competition.We offer the Innovation Management Certificate and other group learning experiences, practical resources, design sprints and custom services.The Center for Innovation & Applied Design (d/b/a NewNorth) is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit.

The Image Group is a Holland-based creative communication agency with a dedication to Real. Good. Communication. We work with a variety of clients (higher education institutions, healthcare organizations, B2B/B2C companies, nonprofits and municipal entities) to produce a wide variety of brand, strategy, print, video and digital content. We pride ourselves on communicating in ways and with tools that best represent our clients’ values, desires and goals. Responsibilities:• Oversaw day-to-day operations, new business development and direct management of accounts for creative communication agency• Co-managed team of 16, including creative staff, administrative team and account management. Worked with founder/owner to achieve performance and financial goals and to craft business strategy.• Hands-on involvement with a broad variety of creative projects and full-scale integrated campaigns in higher education, nonprofit, healthcare, B2C/B2B and municipal sectors. Projects included brand research, strategy, identity development, naming, web, video, print and digital media, as well as ideation and consulting workshops.• New business development, responding to inquiries, fostering relationships and seeking out opportunities.• Responsible for R&D and trend analysis for team and for designing team professional development strategies.• Actively represented agency in external settings, including pitches, speaking engagements, panels and presentations.• Regularly worked with a variety of client teams, including C-suite/executive groups, internal marcom departments, BoDs and key stakeholders.

Codesketch is an up and coming app development startup focused on carefully marrying design and code to create apps with soul. Codesketch develops apps for the iOS platform.

Following the first TEDxDetroit event in 2009, I purchased the TEDxMacatawa.org domain, registered with TEDx and co-founded the working group that would eventually launch TEDxMacatawa. The first event was March 2012, themed “Do More Good.” The following year - March 2013 - was themed “Good2.” TEDxMacatawa returned in March 2015 with “Collaboration by Design,” followed “What’s Next” (March 2017), “Fresh” (March 2019), 2023 and 2024.

Vox United is a global, non-profit organization working to unite universities, local churches, humanitarian organizations and businesses in a concerted effort to reverse the spread of extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS. We build international bridges resulting in viable, holistic, self-sustainable solutions in infected and underdeveloped communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.Developed and implemented community development initiatives with African local partners. Lead project development teams in South Africa and Swaziland. Worked with teams to design successful home-based care, child sponsorship and computer training programs. Primary relationship nurturer for African agencies and partners. Represented agency nationwide in US, presenting at colleges/universities, business and churches. Lead short-term teams to Southern Africa, mentored interns and fundraised for the organization.

Part of small specialist team launching a new Influence/Outreach department, covering neighborhood, community and global outreach and development projects. Designed and developed a new neighborhood outreach program ("Half Mile") from the ground up, and lead a volunteer team of 175. Worked closely with the City of Holland, the Mayor's Office, and the Holland Police Department on strategy. Spoke at a number of events on neighborhood community development. Member of the Pastors & Directors leadership team, and interfaced with senior church and denomination leadership on outreach vision and strategy. Supervised one FTE and one part-time assistant as part of the church's Kids Hope USA program. Participated on initial quick-response disaster assessment team for World Hope International during Hurricane Katrina, and lead multiple short-term relief trips to the Gulf Coast.

Began as an intern focused specifically on Middle School, transitioned to Missional Community Pastor for the West Ottawa High School community. Planned a variety of events, including summer camp, classes, seminars and after school events. Spoke and taught regularly, and worked with the church's executive leadership team on development of the missional community concept. Worked with Student Ministries team on a variety of planning, theming and creative communications (branding, print, web and video) tools.

Co-managed a team of 30 student employees. Estimated, scheduled and produced a variety of on-campus video projects, including directing live switching events. Worked on production (concepting, filming and editing/post-pro) of two documentaries for the Joint Archives of Holland, including "Tulip Time in Holland" and "The History of Holland." Worked as a production assistant on the research project and PBS production "The Klan in Michigan."

Concepted, filmed, edited and produced short film for the EPA as part of a consulting contract with Booz Allen.

ITS specializes in technical services and provides equipment, software, and integration for the design, development and commissioning of monitor and control systems (Wonderware and Motorola SCADA/MOSCAD).Designed HMI screens for Wonderware/MOSCAD control systems. Wrote technical manuals for new deployments in municipal sector. Designed full set of Visio objects covering all available MOSCAD modules. Programmed and tested MOSCAD modules prior to client delivery and installation.