Experience

Growth Strategies International LLC

• United States
• Professional Training and Coaching
• 1 - 100 Employee

• President

  • May 2010 - Feb 2022

  Charleston, SC Dr. Jim Wasson is founder and President of Growth Strategies International, LLC (GSI) providing Technology Commercialization Consulting Services since 2010 helping entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, develop and market new products and services, and obtain financing (grants, equity, and loans). In addition to GSI, he founded and managed two other high-technology small businesses that have since been acquired and are still in operation today. As such, he assist organizations in… Show more Dr. Jim Wasson is founder and President of Growth Strategies International, LLC (GSI) providing Technology Commercialization Consulting Services since 2010 helping entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, develop and market new products and services, and obtain financing (grants, equity, and loans). In addition to GSI, he founded and managed two other high-technology small businesses that have since been acquired and are still in operation today. As such, he assist organizations in Strategic Business Planning, Business Development, R&D/Product Development, Proposal Development, Project Management and Operations Management. GSI’s initial consulting contract in 2010 was from U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transition (SBIR/STTR) Program Offices on their Commercialization Pilot Program (CPP) assisting awardees in the development of Technology Commercialization Transition Plans. More recently, he was under contract from 2015 to 2019 to the University of South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as a Technology Commercialization Consultant assisting small businesses in launching new products into the market place and obtaining financing (loans, equity, grants and contracts). In this capacity, he assisted clients in developing business plans and pitch decks, and writing technical and cost proposals and commercialization plans for Government grants and contracts. Currently, Jim is under contract to the Larta Institute as a Principal Advisor to the DOE, NIH and NSF SBIR/STTR Commercialization Assistance Programs assisting awardees to develop and execute their Commercialization Plans. He is also under contract to BBCetc, Montana State University TechLink, SOFX, ATSI Navy SBIR Transition Program, and Vital Strategies LLC serving as an SBA-certified SBIR/STTR consultant and providing on-site SBIR/STTR training, mentoring and on-demand webinars. Show less



Battelle

• United States
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Avionics Business Development Manager

  • Jul 2012 - Jun 2013

  Columbus, Ohio Area Responsible for developing business strategies and marketing plans and then executing those plans to grow Battelle's Aerospace business, specifically toward the development and production of Avionics products (e.g., Communications, Navigation & Guidance, Cockpit Displays, Mission & Display Processing, Weapons & Fire Control and Electrical Power Management Systems).



Bennett Aerospace, Inc.

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President of Business Development - Defense Systems

  • Nov 2010 - Nov 2011

  Cary, NC Managed the strategic planning process, conducted market/competitive analysis and opportunity assessment, and led the development of market strategies and tactics, including defining our value proposition, developing customer relationships, and coordinating and producing winning proposals. Developed, implemented and maintained a process to review new business opportunities to ensure we are applying appropriate resources to capture new business opportunities in order to profitably grow the… Show more Managed the strategic planning process, conducted market/competitive analysis and opportunity assessment, and led the development of market strategies and tactics, including defining our value proposition, developing customer relationships, and coordinating and producing winning proposals. Developed, implemented and maintained a process to review new business opportunities to ensure we are applying appropriate resources to capture new business opportunities in order to profitably grow the business. Recruited, trained and led a team of business development managers located near key military customer installations to capture new business with ASC, AFRL, ONR, NAVAIR, NAVSEA, SPAWAR and DARPA. Show less



BAE Systems Inc. Platform Solutions

• Chief Technology Officer - Strategy/Business Development, Product Development, Program Management

  • Apr 2004 - May 2010

  Endicott, NY Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Oversaw R&D/technology strategy, business development, product development, and operations across 7 sites in the US and UK for the Military and Commercial Aircraft, Land Vehicles and Power & Energy Systems business units. 1.) Strategy Formulation: Developed and implemented a balanced product portfolio investment strategy. Developed business plans specifying customer capability needs, market trends, competitive analysis and value propositions. 2.) Business… Show more Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Oversaw R&D/technology strategy, business development, product development, and operations across 7 sites in the US and UK for the Military and Commercial Aircraft, Land Vehicles and Power & Energy Systems business units. 1.) Strategy Formulation: Developed and implemented a balanced product portfolio investment strategy. Developed business plans specifying customer capability needs, market trends, competitive analysis and value propositions. 2.) Business Development: Directed technology business development, including product expansion and new market penetration strategies, business capture plans, teaming agreements, proposal development and contract negotiations. Increased sales by a factor of four in six years. 3.) Product Development: Managed Research & Development (R&D) and initiated the Innovation Venture. Developed and managed product development plans/roadmaps and process integration to develop and launch dozens of new products to profitably grow the business from $800M to $1.5B in six years. Eliminated waste and duplication across 25 multi-national product lines through modularity and software re-use resulting in a 25% cost savings. 4.) Program Management: Planned and executed over one hundred projects on schedule and within my $70 million annual budget. Built and led project teams, developed and approved program plans, and chaired quarterly program reviews. Implemented earned value management, critical path analysis, stage gates, and risk mitigation plans to meet or exceed customer expectations. Show less



GE Aviation

• United States
• Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director of Technology Programs and Business Development at Smiths Aerospace

  • Jun 1995 - Apr 2004

  Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area Planned and executed several hundred programs across nine international sites while consistently achieving technical goals and assuring customer satisfaction. I also developed and executed technology business development strategies, including customer relationship management; market and competitive assessments; pursuit identification and capture planning; and teaming agreements, proposals, and contract negotiations. As F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program Director, I led the program team in… Show more Planned and executed several hundred programs across nine international sites while consistently achieving technical goals and assuring customer satisfaction. I also developed and executed technology business development strategies, including customer relationship management; market and competitive assessments; pursuit identification and capture planning; and teaming agreements, proposals, and contract negotiations. As F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program Director, I led the program team in planning, problem solving, decision making, subcontractor management, and the development of winning proposals using Cost as an Independent Variable. Show less



University of Phoenix

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Chairman of the Graduate Business and Management College and Adjunct Professor

  • Aug 1990 - Apr 2004

  Phoenix, Arizona Area Instructed over 100 courses in Operations Management, Technology Management, Strategic Management, Marketing Management, Project Management, Business Research, and Government Contracts Management. Chairman of the Graduate Business and Management College at the West Michigan Campuses. Served on the MBA Academic Program Council providing input on curricula - participated in the development of the MBA in Technology Management program and authored several course modules including Technology… Show more Instructed over 100 courses in Operations Management, Technology Management, Strategic Management, Marketing Management, Project Management, Business Research, and Government Contracts Management. Chairman of the Graduate Business and Management College at the West Michigan Campuses. Served on the MBA Academic Program Council providing input on curricula - participated in the development of the MBA in Technology Management program and authored several course modules including Technology Forecasting and Strategic Management of R&D. Member of the Academic Cabinet, under the auspices of the Board of Directors, responsible for creating and approving the academic strategic plan, programs, and curricula; and providing oversight of policy making processes and procedures. Show less



The Boeing Company (formally McDonnell Douglas)

• Senior Avionics Programs and Business Development Manager

  • 1984 - 1995

  Phoenix, Arizona Area Captured and managed R&D projects to develop and manufacture new products to enhance the operational effectiveness and survivability of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Developed and executed project management plans for over 60 programs including the Army's $70 million Rotorcraft Pilot's Association program. Also was the Avionics Program Manager for Army's Light Helicopter Experimental (LHX) Program, which later became the Comanche. In 2012-2013, Dr. Wasson was under contract to Boeing… Show more Captured and managed R&D projects to develop and manufacture new products to enhance the operational effectiveness and survivability of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Developed and executed project management plans for over 60 programs including the Army's $70 million Rotorcraft Pilot's Association program. Also was the Avionics Program Manager for Army's Light Helicopter Experimental (LHX) Program, which later became the Comanche. In 2012-2013, Dr. Wasson was under contract to Boeing South Carolina providing Composite Fabrication Manufacturing Engineering Project Management support to the 787 Dreamliner program. Show less



Northrop Grumman

• Airlines and Aviation
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Avionic Systems Engineering Manager

  • 1981 - 1984

  Hawthorne, California, United States Led a team of engineers to design and develop the avionics systems architecture and digital cockpit for the F/A-18L, F-20 and YF-23 tactical fighter aircraft. Project lead for the development of the F/A-18L Fire Control Continuously Computed Impact Point (CCIP) algorithm.