Education

  • San Diego State University – San Diego, CA – B.S.M.E.
  • Santa Clara University – Santa Clara, CA
  • Woodside High School – Woodside, CA
  • Montessori – Falls Church, VA


Career Highlights

  • ​Founded Markel Enterprises to develop my own product ideas – and gained invaluable cradle-to-grave product development experience.
  • Stints as startup CEO and General Manager provided real-life business experience.
  • Shift to offshore manufacturing via a partnership with a Taiwanese company.
  • As a consultant, developed diverse consumer electronics products for technology companies and VC-funded startups as well as for the two largest electronic bingo equipment suppliers in the world.
  • Entree into the electric bike space in two different arenas-- the medical device field and the shared electric mobility platform -- culminating in the opportunity to spearhead the mechanical development of not one, but three different electric bikes. 

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International Experience
Asia.  Numerous offshore product development projects.  Formed long-standing relationships with Asian families including assisting with U.S. business school applications and hosting during their U.S. visits.
Mexico.  Ran a maquiladora for Rain Bird Corporation in Tijuana, Mexico, in 1989.
Canada.  Managed a product development project for a Canadian gaming software company.

Singapore.  Worked on 3D printer design for a company in Singapore.
South Korea.  Mechanical lead on Samsung touch sensor projects for Synaptics Inc.

Japan.  Collaborated with Mitsubishi Group to develop a wine preservation system.


Interests & Hobbies

  • Golf, Biking, Jogging
  • Private Pilot’s License and Scuba Certification
  • Home Renovation Projects (5 completed to date) 
  • Active in Coachella Valley Economic Partnership
  • Passionate about Renewable Energy
  • Prolific Inventor


 

 

​JEFF'S PROFILE 

Building things has always been my passion.  So it's probably no surprise that I ended up as a mechanical engineer and inventor.

My entrepreneurship and work ethic come from my parents who owned several small businesses including two defense electronics firms in Silicon Valley and a chain of fabric & sewing machine stores – which explains why I was the only guy I knew in high school who made his own clothes.

As a kid, I worked in all of the family ventures and during college I started my own handyman and moving businesses.  I was also active in athletics – especially tennis – which taught me discipline and sportsmanship.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of my career has been the opportunity to interact with people from different nationalities and cultures – the deep South, Midwest, East coast, West coast and internationally.  

  PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT THOROUGHBRED