WHO IS BEHIND THE DEVICE

During 2020 being grounded at home with little to no travel with COVID restrictions, I got the privilege to see my autistic son cross a milestone where he can successfully walk his dog down the street independent of my,  or his father's assistance. You can imagine the pride I felt to see him move towards independence!

However, in the same breath, I couldn't help but think what if he encounters a police officer for any reason on his walk? What will be his response?  He certainly would not be able to immediately yield to a command from a stranger. What would the police do, in frustration of him not being receptive to their commands?  

 After much research, I found this is a very widespread problem that many communities are working on, especially after the George Floyd killing. Addressing the shootings of people with mental assisted abilities needs more focus which is the purpose of this project.

So with my skills as an electrical engineer, I began to develop a solution to this problem, and have found an innovative approach through AARON Wearable Tech.

My education includes a BS in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and a MBA in International Business from the University of Cincinnati.  I am a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and also a Taekwondo 4th Degree Black Belt.

My experience includes 14 years at the Procter & Gamble Company in Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Program Management improving systems and creating new product supply chains.  I have been a management consultant for over 21 years, focusing on Strategic Performance Improvement. 

For AARON Wearable Tech my role is President and Product Development Director.

I am a recently retired clinical psychologist and was awarded Professor Emerita at Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH) in August 2021, following eighteen years as a full-time tenured faculty member in the School of Psychology, teaching thousands of students. I taught undergraduate students in core courses (Experimental Psychology, Psychological Science, Statistical Techniques) and graduate students in major professional training courses: Ethics, Professional Development, Diversity, and the Culture, Ethnicity, and Race Research lab that studies culturally proficient mechanisms to reduce racism and racial trauma.

I am the author of the Laboratory & Research Manual for Psychological Science which is now in its third edition and a Psychological Science Perspectives digital science course.  Moreover, I co-authored various articles and book chapters and have given countless presentations in the areas of psychological interventions,  culturally-relevant parenting, treatment and prevention for substance abuse and trauma, and social justice scholarship that focuses on racial trauma, support for protesters, and antiracist allyship (Cash-Ghee, A.).

I have been very active in the Greater Cincinnati community, offering expertise as a psychologist by serving on executive boards (e.g., Crossroads Center, Responsible African American Men United in Spirit) and consulting (e.g.,  Hamilton County Juvenile Youth Court Center). Over the years, I have developed numerous programs, workshops, and training to build cultural proficiency, social justice, substance use prevention, and to strengthen families (e.g., the Summer Enrichment Parents Program that thrived for over thirty years).   

For AARON Wearable Tech my role is Education and Training Advisor.

Principal of Strategic Product Development,

Former director at GlaxoSmithKline & Dow Chemical

For AARON Wearable Tech my role is Product Development External Advisor.

The Schechter Company, AI, ML, & Data Science Expert, former Intel executive, Band of Angels member

For AARON Wearable Tech my role is  Startup Advisor.

My first encounter with this demographic started back in 2002.

 I took on a summer job that gave me the chance to manage a bookstore, that employed high-functioning individuals with diagnosed mental inabilities. 

Working with this group also introduced me to the caregivers that love and dedicate much of themselves to their loved ones. 

Since then I've always been burdened with the thought of what happens when these caregivers pass on before their dependents do.  How can society help alleviate some worry from these caregivers? 

When Valda explained to me the idea, it took me back to that moment and gave me purpose in helping to find a solution to an issue that no one should have to worry about.  I immediately came on board putting to work my industry knowledge from banking and health management to set up and establish the framework needed to build AARON Wearable Tech.

I acquired a BS from Johnson & Wales University in Marketing Communications with a concentration in Project Management. Upon Completing my 1st degree I went into finance and sales and gained 15 years of experience. I  have since held roles in management, operations, and as part owner of a manufacturing company. 

For AARON Wearable Tech my role is Co-founder and Marketing/ Operations Director.