Guest Entrepreneur Information - November 3, 2003

Networking Workshop Speaker: Alan B. Glou

Paul R. Beswick

WPI '57 ME

Founder, President & CEO, Beswick Eng'rg Co. Inc.

Paul is founder, President and CEO of Beswick Eng'rg Co Inc located in Greenland (nr Portsmouth) NH. He's a graduate of WPI in '57 in Mechanical Engineering and worked in the Aerospace industry for 6 years developing reconnaissance cameras for orbiting satellites. In '63, with a fellow classmate, they struck out with the expectation of establishing a product based manufacturing business based on a patented clutch mechanism and other patent able ideas. His friend and classmate later chose a different direction and Beswick Eng'rg with less than $1000 capital was launched. Early products failed and income sources were sparse. Consulting became the meager source of cash flow.

One consulting program led to identifying a customer need for miniature pneumatic devices such as regulating valves, fittings and so on. These applications segued into the field of Fluid Power Components. It wasn't long before debt became large. Banks and bankers were deaf to the business plan and the projections. In the beginning the first successful products were produced using old automatic screw machines imaginatively adapted to producing complex items without requiring second operations. Those products were attractively priced for the marketplace and the savings from the production innovations generated the cash flow needed to sponsor additional products.

Over the past 36 years the product list has increased to hundreds of items and the customer base of over 1000 has grown to include over a dozen high tech and medium tech fields such as robotics, medical electronics, biotech, computer chip makers, toxic gas detection, bomb detection, fuel cells, aerospace and the like. Accumulated earnings have financed steady evolution from a manufacturing company to a largely R & D based activity with a network of outside vendors. Serving customers through the web page, the 60 plus page catalog and application engineering results in producing the main source of revenues.

The company is wholly owned by Paul, is debt free and earnings continue strong. The major thrust today is in the fun of new product development. The company employs just under 50 people and the profile of skills has more and more concentrated upon graduate engineers and other professionals.

Jeff Stutzman

Founder, ZNQ3, Inc.

Founder, Beadwindow!, Inc.

Mr. Stutzman is the founder of ZNQ3 and Beadwindow! -both information security companies. ZNQ3 manufactures authentication and encryption technologies. Beadwindow! Manufactures and sells computer intrusion prevention systems. Mr. Stutzman has over 19 years of information security experience, including Cisco Systems Corporate information security where he managed a wide range of infosec activities including: management information security for Cisco Systems' Americas Theatre, an enterprise encompassing more than 170 sites and 14,000 employees; management of security in the global wireless environment; management of the global internal risk assessment practice. Mr. Stutzman is a former US Navy Intelligence Officer from the computer warfare field of Information Warfare, and an enlisted US Coast Guard systems administrator. Mr. Stutzman spent two years as a visiting scientist with Carnegie Mellon Universities Software Engineering Institute and is an active member in the Honeynet Project. Mr. Stutzman holds a BS from the University of New York, and an MBA from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Published works include "Know Your Enemy: The Honeynet Project", and several technical papers in the field of information security.

Troy Thompson

Founder, Daedal Creations

Troy Thompson prides himself on being a socially conscious web designer. Not only does he run a company that provides lower-cost design services to many non-profit organizations, but he also created and runs a share-event interactive database called the Social Web, which allows free calendar listings by Worcester area colleges and organizations. That's when he is not serving as full-time web designer for WPI.

Thompson has been dabbling in computer programming since age 10, creating educational math games in high school. In 1991, he founded Daedal Creations, a web design business that helps create websites for for-profit and non-profit organizations. Since 1999, he's been working at the web development office at WPI, from which he earned a BS in mechanical engineering.

Thompson maintains a customer friendly approach to web technology. "Where many companies in my field use intimidation and create a mystery about unfamiliar technologies…I believe that educating the client and building a bond of trust creates a stronger relationship," he says. He's received several Mary T. Holland awards for excellence in web sites.

He also has a new take on building at Daedal, which, he says, starts by finding out how much the client can pay, and bills by the hour for phased projects. His company, he says, charges approximately half the industry standard, and even less for non-profits.

Thompson also spends up to 20 hours a week doing volunteer website work for ARTSWorcester, the Higgins Armory and the Blackstone Canal anniversary website. Such efforts, he says provide a balance "for a well-rounded company." He acknowledges. "Otherwise, the human element can get lost."

Piece written by Taryn Plumb of the Worcester Business Journal

Shari Worthington

President, Telesian Technology Inc.

Shari Worthington is President of Telesian Technology Inc., a marketing and e-business services firm focusing on the technology and manufacturing markets. Shari has over 20 years experience in management and marketing in the technology markets. Client work includes start-ups as well as Fortune 500 corporations, including Apple Computer, Raytheon, Dresser, and Honeywell. Shari is an international lecturer on the topics of guerilla marketing, e-business, and e-marketing. Recently, she co-authored, "e-Business in Manufacturing: Putting the Internet to Work in the Industrial Enterprise". She is a member of the WPI Venture Forum Board of Directors; is a Business Counselor for the Center for Women in Enterprise; is a former President of the Industrial Computing Society; and was the founder of Science & Engineering Network News. She holds a BS in biology and psychology from St. Lawrence University, an MA in psychology from Framingham State College, and an MBA in marketing management from Babson College.

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Last modified: May 22, 2007 13:46:47