Hillman’s Accomplishment Followed Recipe for Invention
The romantic myth of the American inventor doesn’t have much substance. A colleague used the term to describe Award of Excellence Winner John Hillman, but there is very little romance in the process of creating an invention for profit. Large amounts of perspiration and legal entanglement are more typical. Hillman’s story involved, as our cover story notes, “endless sketches, headaches and hope,” and he is a good example of what it takes to produce such an invention. His story could serve as a template for others who fear construction has forgotten how to innovate.
You won’t find a campus-like environment at too many companies, but Chicago-based Teng & Associates strikes us as an employer that supported rather than hindered Hillman’s work on his Hybrid Composite Beam project. Supportive environments are vital for creativity. When people can express opinions, pursue outside passions, work autonomously and feel appreciated, they are free to brainstorm and follow through on their ideas.