Mike Abbott PE, PMP

Experience

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  NAVAIR

  Jan 1996 - Jan 1998

  Engineer

  While at NAVAIR I worked as a systems engineer with technical oversight of technology development programs for both Human Systems and Mechanical Subsystems. Among the project teams on which I served were HEEDS, COMBAT EDGE, 3-axis Inertia Reels, Crashworthy Seating, V-22 Wing Fold Blade Stow, F-18E/F Leading Edge Flaps and Wing Fold, Transparencies, HEELS, and others.

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  Virginia Tech

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2000

  Research Assistant

  Taught undergraduate kinematics and research laboratories while working to publish research results in dynamics, controls, and kinematics in various conference proceedings and journals.

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  Key Technologies, Inc.

  Jul 2000 - Jan 2006

  Senior Product Development Engineer

  Turn key new product development engineering and design for both internal and external customers. Electro-mechanical design.

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  Adaptive Technologies Inc

  Jan 2006 - Jul 2014

  President & Director of New Product Development

  Responsible for strategic business development, securing funding opportunities, and serving as a senior technical lead on all design and development programs and projects. Senior Product Development Engineer 2006 - 2010, Director of New Product Development 2010-2011, VP and Dir NPD 2011-2013, President and Dir NPD 2013 - Present.

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  New River Writers Project

  Jul 2009 - Feb 2012

  Chairman of the Board

  The New River Writers Project produces and promotes literature and other works of art that preserve local history and culture, support educational and arts initiatives, and celebrate a sense of place in Southwest Virginia.By becoming the New River Valley’s leading promoter of “art of place,” we will improve awareness of our shared culture, strengthen our educational system and build communities within this region we call home.

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  Industrial Biodynamics LLC

  May 2013 - now

  Managing Director and Owner

  Industrial Biodynamics has commercialized kinetic learning technologies out of the Virginia Tech Locomotion Laboratory. Among the training systems being provided is a slip simulator that allows corporations and institutions to reduce their incident rates of OSHA reportable slips, trips, and falls through a hands on, interactive training experience. Additionally, training systems have been developed to reduce long term soft tissue damage in workers exposed to repeated ingress and egress of industrial equipment such as delivery trucks, tractors, and heavy equipment. These kinetic training systems have been adopted by companies like UPS, URS, Los Alamos National Laboratories, Oak Ridge, GE, National Grid, and others. Show less

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  NSF ICorps - with regional affiliation to DMV Hub

  Oct 2013 - now

  Instructor

  DC I-Corps is a regional program designed to foster, grow and nurture an innovation ecosystem in the nation’s capital, the nearby states of Maryland and Virginia, and the mid-Atlantic region. The program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and jointly run by the University of Maryland College Park, George Washington University, and Virginia Tech. The program provides real world, hands-on training on how to successfully incorporate innovations into successful products. The ultimate goal is to create a new venture or licensing opportunity for program participants.The DC I-Corps curriculum was developed, and is taught, by successful technology entrepreneurs. Each participant in the DC I-Corps program engages extensively with industry. Over the course of several weeks, teams talk to a minimum of one hundred customers, partners, competitors, and other market stakeholders. During this time, teams seek to define a solid product-market fit while building a viable business model for their innovation. Show less

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  Cambrian Design and Development LLC

  May 2014 - now

  Managing Director and Owner

  Cambrian is a consulting firm focused on full life cycle product management and strategic product planning. We can either execute or train your employees to execute meaningful customer discovery using proven evidence-based entrepreneurship techniques in your search for meaningful, scalable, and strategic business models for your new product offering. Our team has years of experience helping hundreds of startups and companies break their innovation log jams through carefully designed and orchestrated interactions with existing and target new customers. We help define the product need and can then follow through by facilitating your ideation, design, engineering development, and manufacturing processes. Our close ties with industry leaders, universities, and federal laboratories allows us to leverage a national network of leading designers, technologies, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to solve your most frustrating problems. Whether your idea is new or simply a derivative within your existing product line, we help your transform and manage your product pipeline to ensure long term, sustainable success. As owner and managing director I serve as a lead mentor and coach in lean startup and serve as the senior mechanical and systems design engineer. Our core team of experts is ready to help you tackle your toughest business, market, and engineering challenges. Show less

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  Virginia Tech

  Jan 2015 - Apr 2015

  Professor of Practice, Pamplin College of Business

  Faculty Director of Innovate Living Learning Communityhttp://www.housing.vt.edu/llc/communities/innovate.html

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  Blacksburg Escape

  Jan 2017 - Mar 2019

  Co-Founder and Co-Owner

  It was fun while it lasted. It was never intended to be a long term project. We had fun, lots of laughs, a creative outlet. And now we're closed and off doing other things. Stay tuned.In case I didn't have enough to do... we've added another and it's awesome! What happens when a couple of engineers and a business development expert need a creative outlet? Blacksburg Escape happens. www.blacksburgescape.com

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  RAMP (Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program)

  May 2018 - now

  Entrepreneur In Residence

  RAMP is designed to have high impact on businesses with potential to create jobs and grow the economy in Virginia. RAMP serves highly technical companies from consumer electronics to medtech in defining go to market strategies using objective market-based data.

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  Caerus Venture Group

  Dec 2023 - now

  Chief Executive Officer

  Building wealth and empowering communities through non-equity investing in businesses, projects, and capital assets.