About Opportunity Analysis Associates
Our team
We are a small team of veterans of numerous Opportunity Analysis studies and investment decisions for introducing new products and technologies. We have addressed applications with potentials between one million and hundreds of millions of dollars. We have personal experience in the chemicals, plastics, electronics, packaging, elastomers, automotive, power distribution, construction, aerospace, consumer mobility and further downstream product-markets. We have also taught courses and coached over 150 opportunity analysis trainees in the conduct of an analysis project. Our team all have both technical and business backgrounds, a combination we believe is essential for a balanced understanding of both sides of opportunity issues.
Robert Sylvest, Principal of Opportunity Analysis Associates, is a veteran of 33 years industrial experience, two thirds of it with responsibility for international commercial development and 13 years’ work in Europe including the implementation of Planned Innovation® there.
His experience spans bench and pilot level research & development, technical service, sales and marketing management, Opportunity Analysis, business development, external affairs management, and mergers and acquisitions. He holds a six sigma green and black belt.
He has also started up, and was the owner and president of a small independent business in the field of lift and mobility devices and home elevators.
His industrial experience includes Dow Chemical USA, Dow Europe SA, DuPont Dow Elastomers SA and DuPont USA and Access & Mobility, Inc. He has lectured in graduate programs in entrepreneurship at multiple universities.
He holds a BS in Chemistry from LSU and an MBA Technology Focus from City University, Zurich Switzerland as well as certification in Mergers & Acquisitions from the University of Chicago. He is an aspiring pianist and holds an Extra Class amateur radio license.
R. Trezevant Wigfall, Vice President, has been a mentor, coach and consultant in the fields of Opportunity Analysis and the principles of the Planned Innovation® system for over 35 years. His primary work has been to help manufacturing organizations of all sizes, from start-ups to large multinationals, achieve continual growth and success through commercialization of technologically-based innovation. He has consulted with major Fortune 100 companies across the US and Europe. He has worked with companies in aerospace, computer peripherals, machinery, materials, and other technologies.
He has led diagnostic business strategy reviews and the establishment of proactive criteria for management of existing business as well as for new product development. He has personally coached over 50 opportunity analysis projects and participated in well over 150 others. His business and technical insight have enabled teams to reach decisive approaches to difficult new product problems.
Mr. Wigfall is a former Advance Development Engineer at Whirlpool Corporation. He received his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and MS in Industrial Management from Georgia Tech. He enjoys mountain camping in his time off.
Leon J. Ostrowski
Leader in Entrepreneurship and Angel Investor
Leon J. Ostrowski, co-founder and vice president, is a 35 year veteran of a Fortune 500 technology firm, having had leading roles in product development, marketing, compensation, benefits and personnel development, new business development, economic evaluation and strategic planning. He has lived and worked in Europe and Japan during his corporate tenure. He installed all components of the Planned Innovation System Globally and trained the corporate users.
He is currently the Chair of Midwest Wealth Ventures; a consulting and angel investing network. He is also Vice Chairman of WiSys Technology Foundation, and Chairman of the Wisconsin Institute of Sustainable Technology advisory group. In these roles, he has used incisive business acumen and discerning technical skill to guide innovative new product development and to assist new businesses in strategic management direction and funding.
An early adopter of the Planned Innovation® process, Leon has remained active in the proliferation of market-oriented, entrepreneurial business approaches to achieving profitable commercial success and guiding his angel investment decisions.
He holds an MBA from Central Michigan University and a BS degree in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. He completed the INSEAD Human Relations Management Program in France and the MIT Strategic Management Program
Our Experience with Opportunity Analysis
Our team's work experience includes personally conducting or coaching over 150 in-depth Opportunity Analysis projects. Among the subject areas are the following:
Trolley wheels, Buried power cable, Medical tubing, Conveyor belting, Ostomy and CAPD bags, Toothbrush grips, Recyclable crates, Stretch film, Military tank treads, Automotive dashboards & upholstery, Automotive bumpers, mirrors, and sound deadening, Durable packaging, Slipper soles, High voltage cable waterproofing, Road furniture, Aircraft canopies and windows, Soft touch steering wheels, Sound absorbants, Geomembranes (shown at right).
Also: Polypropylene impact modifiers, Oriented optical shrink films, Antistatic packaging, Barrier packaging, Gasoline tank barrier layers, Glossy hi-tech paper, Robotically deposited gaskets, SN2 catalyzed cure systems, Silage film, Refrigerator door gaskets, Automotive foam fillers, Automotive primary wire insulation, Designer sheet flooring, Safety glass,Thermoplastic elastomers, Submarine silencing, Elastomeric powder coating, Conductive films, Plasma seal gasketing, Steering wheel covers, Mail distribution systems, Weighing automation systems, Flight data management systems.
With our approach to building understanding of the critical issues facing a new product or emerging technology, we have established the leading edge approach to opportunity understanding.
Understanding gives backbone to decisions, because it is the most profound risk minimization element. Every step in Opportunity Analysis is focused on building a deep understanding of the issues governing the success of a new product or technology.
This depth of understanding usually goes beyond the customer’s own understanding of the need and delivers clarity beyond what typical “voice of the customer” exercises bring.