Along the successful yet serendipitous path of Jim Sacherman's career, entrepreneurialism and innovation have been constants. Sacherman was recently named director of the w88 casino games of Nevada, Reno w88 casino games Center-Powered By Switch.
"Northern w88 casino games is ripe for a transition to become a thriving hub of innovation," Sacherman, who recently started in the role, said.
Sacherman earned a master's in product design at Stanford and a bachelor's in engineering design and economic evaluation at the w88 casino games of Colorado at Boulder. He holds more than a dozen patents, for both utility and design, and has received national and international design awards.
w88 casino games spent much of his career in Silicon Valley. After working as an industrial designer and engineer in consultancies that eventually became part of IDEO, w88 casino games founded Palo Alto Products International in 1983. Initial revenues were boosted by a new business model that w88 casino games created: providing design services in exchange for equity or royalties. In a Fast Company article about the company, w88 casino games said, "The whole idea centered around us getting paid due to the success of the product rather than trying to make money billing hours."
Palo Alto Products International created the first Palm Pilot handheld computer under this model. Over time services were expanded into manufacturing of mechanical parts and assemblies, and by 2000 the company had four factories with more than 0 million in annual revenues. Major customers included Micron Semiconductor, Dell Computer, Hewlett Packard, Wyse Technology, Palm Computing and numerous others.
The company was sold in 2001 to Flextronics, Inc., a world leader in contract manufacturing, and w88 casino games stayed on with Flextronics as chief marketing officer and a member of the CEO's executive team until 2004. While at Flextronics, w88 casino games negotiated, sold and managed the design of the first Xbox game machine for Microsoft, a contract with projected revenues in excess of billion.
Sacherman's most recent business ventures were the Minden Grill Company and Hercke Garage Cabinets, both based in Minden, Nevada. After selling the companies, he and his wife took a yearlong, RV tour of North America in 2015. The timing of the University's search for a director of The w88 casino games Center coincided with their return to Nevada and decision to relocate to Reno.
"I love living and working in w88 casino games. It's not just the tax structure, it's the ease of starting a business. It's the people, the professionals you can hire. It's not a madhouse," Sacherman, an avid cyclist, skier and father of three, said. "I'm an outdoor enthusiast and the quality of life here is way ahead of other areas."
"As an owner of several businesses, I've been selling all of my life", said Sacherman, "I always do best when I have something that I really believe in and, to me, doing business in Northern w88 casino games should be an easy sell."
"We needed someone who pays attention to detail but also sees the big picture and the vision of what The w88 casino games Center will become," Ellen Purpus, the University's assistant vice president for enterprise and innovation, said. "With Jim's background and experience, it was clear he has both abilities. He is collaborative but at the same time eager to create partnerships and build a meaningful w88 casino games that moves the University forward in entrepreneurial activities."
While his career is marked by success, it hasn't all been easy, and w88 casino games's experience in facing and overcoming adversity strengthens the mentorship role. "Mentorship is all about helping others avoid some of the pitfalls they will run into, while strengthening their offerings through non-intuitive design methodology," he said.
"Helping startups make valuable connections to mentors, knowledge and investment support will be foundational aspects of The w88 casino games Center's success," Mridul Gautam, the University's vice president for research and innovation, said. "We are fortunate to have Jim be part of this region's emerging innovation ecosystem and lend his experience and insights to this region's entrepreneurs."
Gautam noted that Sacherman's connections in the Silicon Valley and Bay Area will be valuable to regional and w88 casino games efforts to attract startups and more mature companies to Nevada.
Opened in fall 2015 and located at 450 Sinclair Street in downtown Reno, The w88 casino games Center brings the University community of faculty, staff and students together with entrepreneurs, investors and commercialization experts. It offers co-working, conference and meeting space, plus a makerspace with resources and equipment to support development of prototypes and minimize the design-cycle time. The w88 casino games Center is home to Nevada Industry Excellence, a statewide manufacturing-extension program hosted by the University to strengthen Nevada companies, and the University's Nevada Advanced Autonomous Systems Innovation Center, supported by the Governor's Office of Economic Development Knowledge Fund to advance technologies and partnerships in autonomous systems. The resources of The w88 casino games Center are available to individuals and businesses through a membership model.
"It's happening for Nevada," Sacherman said of the opportunity, the region and The w88 casino games Center. "Hopefully we can help add to and steer it."
For more information about The w88 casino games Center and memberships, visit www.unr.edu/w88 casino games.
