Brandon Hoover

● Developing end-to-end business solutions for product development, from concept to launch, emphasizing empathy, iteration, and smart risk-taking into a team’s process, cost and specification optimization, leveraging an internal development stack using local LLM agents and a combination of traditional and AI design development tools.

● Transformed the US engineering department as a key member of the Americas leadership team, beginning in 2020, to grow the US business with new product development, created the Global Innovation Hub as Director of Advanced Engineering, and evolved the BOB Gear and Britax design language as the Director of Industrial Design. As business unit leader, the team included advanced, NDP, CAE, and sustaining engineers, industrial designers, project managers, soft goods designers, seamstresses, technical writers, illustrators, advocates, and shop within a global organization matrix.
● Launched 7 new platforms in 2023, directed all engineering and manufacturing efforts for Britax car seats, strollers, and BOB Gear products, tracking 750K-1.5M CAPEX costs, timing, functional requirements, and regulatory specifications.
● Achieved a 25% reduction in departments SG&A from 2022-2023.
● Instituted agile methodologies into lean six sigma processes to streamline development, eliminate inefficiencies, conducted training, improved design and system thinking methods.
● Led the global Advanced Engineering team in championing innovation initiatives, incorporating materials science, technology, and prototype development.
● Enhanced child safety through a government-grant-funded collaboration with MinnHealth and Ohio State University who assisted Britax with the development of IoT technology integration.
● Received 7 utility patents, and collaborated with legal teams on all patents, global portfolio reviews for additions, maintenance reductions, and initiated new business agreements.
● Directly designed and managed programs for top-selling products, including the Britax One4Life car seat, Britax Skyline/Highpoint Booster, BOB Gear Alterrain, and BOB Renegade wagon.

● Headed the product development initiatives for Munchkin and Brica travel accessories in Charlotte, NC.
● Led a team of industrial and fashion designers, fostering international collaboration with production engineers, safety, and quality team members while actively contributing to product development.
● Leveraged external creative talent, including character illustrators and audio composers, to enhance product appeal.
● Evaluated research data (IRI) of growing accessory business categories and generated innovative conceptual designs for roadmap opportunities for Munchkin.
● Designed and developed stroller accessories, child-safe fans, and vehicle mirror light & play accessories and created and tested innovative proof-of-concept prototypes including a playful digital bathtub sensor for infants.

Research, design & complete product development for Striker products
Marketing, brand and web development for Striker
Design and development of ecommerce stores for Striker and Risk Racing

I was responsible for the conceptual direction, industrial design, engineering, management of overseas manufacturing and marketing of Striker products. A few of my recent items are; The Magnetic Light Mine, Light Mine Professional, Flexit Light, Carbide Utility Score, The Simple Sucker, Capsule, and soon to be launched new item. I also created and developed Striker's consumer branding for packaging, newsletters, websites, marketing and communication literature, and developed the Risk Racing and Striker eCommerce stores.

Industrial Design Manager and brand management of:
Irwin Industrial Tools
Shur-Line Paint Tools

New Product Development also included projects for:
Rubbermaid Home
Lenox Industrial Tools
American Tool Companies
Craftsman
NASCAR (developed IRWIN car graphics & signage for races)

Industrial Design, Mechanical Design, and Illustration for:
Interior Decorative Lighting (UL compliant - residential)
Hotel and Commercial Interior Lighting (ADA compliant)
Exterior Residential and Commercial Lighting

Lighting Design Development included products for:
Thomasville Lighting
Delta
Kohler
Micheal Graves for Home Depot

Armstrong World Industries (Building Products Division, Lancaster PA)
Xerox (Rochester, NY)
Fisher~Price (East Aurora, NY)
Gunlocke Furniture (Rochester, NY)