From BEC to CEO

Can a PhD in Physics prepare you to start a company? Can a Post-Doc at NIST be the ticket to entrepreneurship? While the subject of research at these institutions may not be directly applicable to industrial problems—in my case, Bose-Einstein Condensation and quantum computing— the skill sets and tools you develop are on the critical path in preparing you to succeed in high-tech industry and even in starting a company. In this presentation, I will take the audience on my personal journey from a University of Colorado/JILA lab to founder and CEO of two companies, and finally to retirement and board service with other emerging companies. My first company manufactures high precision optical devices and systems, and my second is a diagnostics and testing company, making testing equipment for veterinary, water quality, and diagnostics applications. I will share how a physics degree prepared me, the lessons learned, and encouragement of more entrepreneurial activities.