Biography
I'm George M. Davison, founder of Davison, an innovative product design and development company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa.
With 200 new products created every month at our cutting-edge product design and development factory, our team of award-winning Inventionmen™ are an example of America's can-do spirit and ingenuity. We deliver a constant flow of innovative products to companies, so they can stay ahead of their competitors. We also have a segment of our business that develops client ideas from concepts to products.
I was born in Oakmont, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh, in 1963. My younger brother, Gordon, and I were raised by my mother. I come from a strong business-oriented family.
On my father's side, in 1854, his family formed Davison Sand and Gravel Corporation, which grew for over 125 years into the largest operation of its type in western Pennsylvania. What started out as a one man, one job business turned into a thriving company with dredge, truck and plant operations that built the roads and foundations under the steel plants of yesteryear.
On my mother's side, there was McCreery Brothers Corporation, which designed, engineered and fabricated heating and cooling systems for some of the most challenging structures in Pittsburgh. For those of you who are history buffs, if you've heard of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, you know that William Bailey McCreery Jr. designed Fallingwater's heating and cooling system. So if you ever come to Pittsburgh, you'll probably touch some of this history by visiting it, driving on it, or seeing buildings built on it.
As for me, in my early years, I attended Shadyside Academy and The Kiski School in southwestern Pennsylvania. It was during this time I discovered my love for creating new products and developed my entrepreneurial skills. While most children my age were buying products, I was the one selling it to them.
Despite two letters of nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy, one from Congressman Lyle Williams, and the other from Congressman Don Bailey, I opted to stay local and attend Allegheny College. In 1986 I graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and a minor in computer science. I also took a course in New Product Development at the Wharton School in the University of Pennsylvania.
After my schooling, I wanted to follow the entrepreneurial spirit of my family. I spent two years making a product to kill toothbrush germs. Like most inventors, I was discouraged when someone beat me to the market. I decided there must be an easier way to design, develop and present ideas to corporations. So I came up with a way for inventors and corporations to get their ideas designed and prepared for possible licensing.
In 1989, I started a business in my grandfather's basement. By using my unique way of cost-effective product development, individuals and corporations can efficiently research and design for manufacturing while keeping a brand in mind. Since then, my product development factory encompasses three locations totaling 110,000 square feet
and my company has grown to nearly 300 employees.
Inthe fall of 2006, I celebrated the opening of my latest creation - Inventionland™. The facilities and technology in this plant are what dreams are made of. It's a magical place to work because I've created what was once only in my imagination.
While my desire to create is important to me, so is my family and the community in which I live. My wife and three children encourage my inventiveness as I do with them. I'm involved in the church youth ministry, local high school activities, political fundraising events and I even got to meet George Bush. I'm active in working with local schools to place an emphasis on the importance of science and inventing. Educating kids about inventing is very important to me, as well as encouraging my employees to continue to learn.