Industrial Research Institute
IRI e-Innovation Newsletter
No. 427
August 2015
Member Spotlight

Andy Kintz
Making Homes Warmer, Safer, Drier

Andy Kintz
Sr. Staff Scientist
Open Tech Innovation
LORD Corp.
Andy Kintz started his career as a Product Development Chemist for Mead Corporation and has held numerous management roles for large chemical companies. His work leads him to some of the most innovative, creative thinkers in global organizations, but there is one week a year where innovation takes a backseat to basic, practical solutions. 

This is the week Andy ventures into the Appalachian Mountains with 40 youth, working to improve the living conditions of local residents through a program known as the Appalachia Service Project, or ASP, designed to repair and improve the buildings of low-income families throughout the region.

"I thought I was supposed to be teaching others, but I was learning so much it seemed impossible that I was the teacher," Kintz said of his first ASP trip in 2011. The work sites are typically in very rural areas with few amenities. Sleeping on school room floors and showering outdoors are the norm. The food is reminiscent of grade school cafeterias, but after a long day working construction, Kintz says, "The tater-tots and peanut butter sandwiches never tasted so good!"

Kintz was a bit reluctant to join the project at first; he knew he could handle the work environment but he was not sure how he would lead a group of teenagers. "I have traveled the world from China to India and Brazil. I have seen firsthand the poverty in those regions, but I have to say the thought of supervising teenagers with power tools seemed more frightening than anything I had experienced. Yet, this service project works on so many levels. The youth build self confidence, stereotypes about poverty are changed, families are transformed and human living conditions are improved."

 

Each week, progress is tracked through photos and task sheets. Roofs are removed and reshingled, sagging floors are repaired, tile is installed, walls are insulated and access is improved through ramps and revised doorways. Working in industry with long project timelines often blurs individual contributions to a project; during this week, Kintz says, "the results appear in front of your eyes in one week. The teens are amazed at what they have done!" ASP is life changing for the volunteer workers as well as the recipients of the work.


Andy was voted to the IRI Board of Directors in 2015. He is passionate about open innovation and its application to business growth. He is an active External Technology Network (ETN) member and serves as the IRI board liaison to all of the Networks.


Member Companies in the News

-from Bloomberg Business


-from Cosmetics Design--Europe
-from Fox KTVU News
Upcoming Events

 


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Sept. 16 - 18

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In This Issue
Member Spotlight: Andy Kintz
Member Companies in the News
Upcoming Events
Thank You 2015 Industry Sponsors
Fall Networks Meeting
DARPA: Wait, What?
Len Huskey has Retired
Share Your Good News

Fall Networks Meeting Sept. 16 - 18
Network Logo 2011

deadline Aug. 21

DARPA: Wait, What? Technology Forum



"Wait, What?" is a DARPA-hosted forum on future technologies; on their potential to radically change how we live and work, and on the opportunities and challenges these technologies will raise within the broadly defined domain of national security.

Register today to come hear speakers and participate in breakout sessions to explore the state-of-the-art in technology concepts.
 

Len Huskey
Retired from ARL



After more than 30 years of service, Len Huskey (U.S. Army Research Lab) has retired!

His last day at ARL was
July 31st.

Len has been an active contributor and leader to various ROR working group projects and has been a frequent attendee at our annual meetings. Len says he will be attending the Member Summit in Chicago this fall and is then leaving on a 3 week drive across the United States with his wife.

Join us in wishing Len a life of leisure and luxury in his retirement.

 
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