Interview: Rodney Gainer

I have been very fortunate to be in touch with Rodney Gainer over the last couple of years. He has worked as the Director of Business Enhancement for the Innovation Resource Centre for more than four years. During his time there, he assisted new inventors and established entrepreneurs on their commercialization efforts.

Rodney holds a business administration diploma from the college of New Caledonia and currently works as web developer for Noratek Solutions, one of the largest technology companies in North-Central BC.

I had the opportunity to interview Rodney about the Innovation Resource Centre and innovation in general. Here are his responses to these questions.

What is the Innovation Resource Centre?

Innovation Resource Centre enables economic growth and diversification based on the commercialization of innovative technology in the Central Interior of BC. We provide support to new and established entrepreneurs through both one to one advising as well as workshops and seminars. We organize networking and idea exchange opportunities and pursue an active communications and research program that creates a broader, better understanding of the role of technology in our economy.

Who were your early role models and what were the main things you learned from them?

Ray Savidan the owner of a forest company. I learned not only to work hard but to work smart. Physical strength only get you so far. Ray taught me to work smarter not harder and to trying new things, not to be afraid to think outside the box.

Dawn Miller, former Executive Director at Innovation Resource Centre, taught me to know my limits and how to work within them. By knowing your limits you learn when to ask for help before you actually need it. Also the ability to be a good listener and how to look at he big picture.

In your opinion what are the key trends affecting the innovation landscape?

Available talent and connectivity are keys to innovation.

The current labor shortages changing how people do business. They are embracing more automated systems that are able to do the jobs that used to be done by a person. The simplest example is the voice mail I got left the other day about the latest Canadian Blood Services blood drive campaign.

Connectivity is more than just a connection to the Internet. It is also to your personal and business networks. It is not only what you know it is who you know who has access to the resources that you will help you achieve success.

What is an example of an innovative company that people have never heard of?

Alterna Energy Inc. believes the world should strive to maximize the value from precious natural resources. Hence the question most often heard around Alterna, 'Why combust when you can carbonize?' Most biomass energy conversion systems take biomass such as wood waste and process it to produce heat energy and ash through combustion or gasification processes. Alterna's 'enviro carbonization' process will produce high quality carbon and heat energy which can be converted into electricity. Carbon is found in all biomass and is used in hundreds of valuable carbon products used by people around the world. Carbon for medicinal use. Carbon for filtering our water. Carbon for use as a reductant in the metal smelting industry. Carbon is a key element in our complex world and can also provide a renewable source of green energy.

What is a biggest pitfall that impedes successful innovation?

People. Many inventors and entrepreneurs are very short sighted when it comes to the success of their inventions and businesses. They believe they can do everything to make their product or service successful which makes them their own worst enemy. To achieve success people need to work with people who can get their innovation to the next level. Is it better to have 100% of nothing or 10% of a million dollars?

List a few of your favorite sites on Innovation.

www.changethis.com - Change This ' uses pdf's, blogs and the web to spread important ideas and change minds.

www.sethgodin.typepad.com - Seth Godin's blog - the agent of change.

www.innovationtools.com - Innovation Tools - a collection of resources on business, innovations, creativity and brainstorming.

www.thecis.ca - The Centre for Innovation Studies - a non-profit in Calgary, Alberta that focuses on research, networking and education.

Thanks Again Rodney!