(Morrisville, N.C.) Montie Roland, president of collaborative product design and development firm Montie Design, will be leading the discussion, “X-Rest - The Process of Going from Concept to Consumer” February 1st as part of the RTP Product Development Guild Speaker Series. The event will be hosted at multimedia and mobile messaging firm Tekelec from 11:30 – 1:00 p.m.

The presentation will take attendees on a visual tour through the development process for the X-Rest, a unique portable shooting accessory conceived, designed, and distributed by Montie Design. Since Montie Design began selling the X-Rest in the Spring of 2009, it has seen distribution grow from local to regional to national.

“We felt very strongly that by utilizing our design facility as a learning laboratory to conceptualize, build, market and distribute our own product we could learn where we needed to tighten our process and strengthen our capabilities to better serve clients,” Roland said, adding, “The opportunity to understand first-hand how companies launch new products into the marketplace, and what challenges that brings and how they relate to the design process is invaluable.”

Attendees at the February 1st event will follow Montie Design on its quest to take the X-Rest from concept to market, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the integrated design, public relations and marketing process. Prototypes of the X-Rest critical to the development of a simple product will be on-hand, as will samples of the finished product, to give professionals in the design and product development industry a better understanding of the entire process of getting a product to market..

Designed to meet the needs of all shooters as well as most firearms, the easy-to-carry X-Rest weighs less approximately one pound and disassembles easily in three pieces, fitting neatly into a small carrying case. Unlike conventional bench rests, which are heavy and complex, the X-Rest  — made of sturdy yet lightweight aluminum — provides steady support for different sized long guns ranging from  semi-automatic and bolt action rifles to shotguns, carbines and pistols.

The X-Rest was the second “test” product designed and distributed by Montie Design in 2009, following the firm’s innovative radio frequency identification (RFID) detector card which was released in January and is now being sold throughout the U.S. and seven foreign countries.

Both the RFID detector and the X-Rest are produced in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, using local manufacturers. The event sponsor, the RTP Product Development Guild, is a local group of engineers and designers working together to improve the regional economy.

To register online visit http://xrest.eventbrite.com/. Cost to attend is $15, which covers lunch. A video demonstration of the X-Rest is available online:

http://www.youtube.com/user/montieroland#p/u/3/XeRrmbh7-Vk

For more information visit http://www.rtpproductguild.com.

About Tekelec
Tekelec, a global leader in core multimedia session control, mobile messaging and network intelligence, ensures scalable, secure and highly available communications. The company’s market-leading signaling solutions enable the interworking of different network applications, technologies and protocols, providing a smooth transition to next-generation networks. Tekelec has more than 25 offices around the world serving customers in more than 100 countries, with corporate headquarters located near Research Triangle Park in Morrisville, N.C., U.S.A. For more information, please visit www.tekelec.com.

About Montie Design
Montie Design is a collaborative product design and development firm with core competencies in industrial design, mechanical design and fuzzy front end services. Implementing a client-centric approach in taking products from concept to marketplace, Montie Design balances vision with usability in realizing products that are economical to manufacture, elegant and robust. The firm operates out of the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina with access to industry-leading technology, resources and innovative thought.  Visit Montie Design at www.montie.com.

About the RTP Product Development Guild
The RTP Product Development Guild seeks to improve the regional economy in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, N.C. by providing a framework for product developers and startups to work together on products in a collaborative environment. This helps entrepreneurs move products to market that might otherwise languish due to a lack of funding and professional guidance. The Guild accepts applications for products, services or concepts from entrepreneurs, early stage start-ups and corporate spin-offs. More information is available online at www.rtpproductguild.com.

(Morrisville, N.C.) The RTP Product Development Guild and NC Product Design & Prototyping Co-Op have launched a new interactive map to connect out-of-state business professionals with quality Research Triangle Park-area manufacturing design and production talent.

The RTP Design & Prototyping Resources Map, accessible via www.rtpdesignmap.com, enables visitors to click on business locations highlighted on a visual map of the RTP area or filter product design resources by 34 categories. The results include details on each participating business’ specialty, physical location, contact information and website URL.

“RTP is one of those unique tech-heavy areas throughout the U.S. where you can literally get off a plane, rent a car, and in five minutes be at the front door of any number of companies to support the development, manufacturing, and marketing of a new innovative product,” Montie Roland, president of the RTP Product Development Guild, said.

According to Roland, the map’s development comes from the queries he has been receiving over the past year from entrepreneurs and innovators looking to tap into the RTP area’s well-trained workforce and rich business development resources.

“People contact the Co-Op and the Guild looking for info on professionals who might be able to support their product development needs, but they don’t know who is here and whereabouts they are located,” he said, adding, “When they find out how many are located within a stone’s throw of RDU airport it blows them away.

“The physical representation of the sheer number of sought-after companies on the map helps drive that point home for those unfamiliar with the area,” he said.  “It also shows seasoned engineers where they can find vendors that are often right down the street.”

According to Roland, the map is the only one if its kind in North Carolina.

Launched in late December 2009, the RTP Product Design Resources Map currently has 63 companies listed, representing industry sectors such as product design, rapid prototyping and manufacturers providing much needed parts for products designed by startups. Members of the Guild and Co-Op can get listed for free; non-members can submit listings for a fee of $49 per year.

Founded in 2007, the RTP Product Development Guild is a community of designers, engineers, entrepreneurs, inventors and other professionals devoted to helping the RTP regional economy, clients, members and businesses prosper through technological product innovation. Together with the NC Product Design & Prototyping Co-Op, the Guild has hosted numerous educational and networking events throughout 2009, in addition to an annual Street Faire in September bringing hundreds of attendees and exhibitors together in a relaxing, family friendly atmosphere.

For more information about the Guild or Co-Op visit www.rtpproductguild.com or contact Montie Roland at 919-481-1845.

The RTP Product Development Guild seeks to improve the regional economy in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, N.C. by providing a framework for product developers and startups to work together on products in a collaborative environment. This helps entrepreneurs move products to market that might otherwise languish due to a lack of funding and professional guidance. The Guild accepts applications for products, services or concepts from entrepreneurs, early stage start-ups and corporate spin-offs. More information is available online at www.rtpproductguild.com.

The NC Product Design and Prototyping Co-Op, a project of the RTP Product Development Guild, is continuing its popular lunch and learn series with an event hosted at Fidelity Bank in Cary on Wednesday, October 28, from 12-1:30 p.m.

The lunch and learn events are one of several educational and business networking opportunities presented by the Co-Op in an effort to promote regional entrepreneurship and, specifically, growth in the engineering and manufacturing sectors.

"Fortune Small Business Magazine just ranked the greater Raleigh area third in the nation for small business growth, something we've been focusing our efforts on with Co-Op and Guild events and outreach," Montie Roland, a founding member of the Co-Op, said. According to Roland, he is seeing increasing interest in small business vendors servicing engineering and manufacturing clients from queries the Guild and Co-Op are receiving from outreach vehicles like a recent Product Design Street Faire in Morrisville and a free service directory the Co-Op publishes.

"Reading about Raleigh ranking third for small business growth doesn't surprise me," Roland said, adding, "It's valid notoriety that our region can definitely build on."

Co-Op lunch and learns held so far in 2009 have attracted between 35 and 50 attendees per event from many interconnected industries, mostly representing small-to-mid-sized businesses. Each event provides an educational presentation, along with opportunities for attendees to share leads, resources, and technological innovations.

"Fidelity Bank is 'Right By You' -- this is not just our motto, it's what we do and where we are for our customers. We work side by side with our customers to help our community grow," said Scott Mackey, vice president and business development officer for Fidelity Bank.

Founded in 1909, Fidelity Bank is a full-service financial institution with approximately $1.4 billion in assets and headquartered in Fuquay-Varina. The Bank owns and operates 69 branches in 26 counties throughout North Carolina and Virginia, and was recently rated five stars (a superior rating or the highest rating possible) by BauerFinancial, Inc., an independent ratings company that analyzes banks and credit unions.

To register to attend the October 28 event or download a copy of the Co-Op service directory, visit the NC Product Design and Prototyping Co-Op page at www.rtpproductguild.com.

About the NC Design & Prototyping Co-Op
The NC Design & Prototyping Co-Op is a professional network of service providers driving economic growth in North Carolina's technology and manufacturing communities. The Co-Op membership reflects a wide spectrum of expert practitioners involved in the conceptualization, design, development, production and marketing of innovative products and technologies for multiple industries in the U.S. and overseas. For more information, visit www.rtpproductguild.com or email Montie Roland at montie@montie.com

(Morrisville, N.C.) The RTP Product Development Guild – a local group of engineers and designers working together to improve the regional economy – is hosting its third annual RTP Product Design Street Faire Saturday, Sept. 12  from 3:00 - 6:30 pm at 400 Dominion Drive in Morrisville. This fun, outdoor networking and educational event will feature exhibits and demonstrations by leading Triangle-area product designers and affiliated professionals showcasing the technological innovation that makes North Carolina a hotbed of state-of-the-art manufacturing design and production talent.

Admission to the Street Faire is free but requires pre-registration online at RTPStreetFaire.com.

Barbeque, drinks, popcorn, snacks and other treats will be served throughout this family friendly event which will include an inflatable kids’ play area and plenty of shaded space for business networking among peers.

“The Street Faire is a great way for area businesses and manufacturers to get to know product design and prototyping professionals right here in RTP,” Montie Roland, president of the RTP Product Development Guild, said, adding, “Why spend hours on conference calls or travel overseas to work with vendors when you can find the resources you need right down the street? I think people will be surprised at how competitive the region has become in the global marketplace.”


According to Roland, each year has seen increased attendance and vendor participation at the Street Faire, with well over 200 attendees representing a diverse range of business professions and 26 vendors last year. Vendor spaces are still available for this year’s event; pricing and information is available at RTPStreetFaire.com.

Sponsors of the 2009 Product Design Street Faire include Montie Design, the RTP Product Development Guild, Studio Hagler and Trimech, with Gilmore Global as a contributor.

The annual Street Faire is one of many educational and business development programs conducted by the Guild, which also hosts networking meetings, lunch-and-learn seminars, and other events at member locations throughout the year.

“We love our craft and do a lot of different things to promote it, share leads and resources, and build essential working relationships,” Roland said.

For more information visit RTPStreetFaire.com or call 919-481-1845.

About the RTP Product Development Guild
The RTP Product Development Guild seeks to improve the regional economy in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, N.C. by providing a framework for product developers and startups to work together on products in a collaborative environment. This helps entrepreneurs move products to market that might otherwise languish due to a lack of funding and professional guidance. The Guild accepts applications for products, services or concepts from entrepreneurs, early stage start-ups and corporate spin-offs. More information is available online at www.rtpproductguild.com.

We are going to have a grand opening celebration on Saturday, March 21st. There will be a few special events, a few classes, T-Shirts for sale, free food and drinks and you are invited to join us.

It will start at 10 AM and go until 8 PM.

We're opening the same day as the Portland location and we've been going back and forth about who can get the most people to show up for the event and who can sign up the most members by opening day. I know we're going to beat them but we need you to come down to make it happen. If you purchase your membership any time between now and 8PM on Saturday March 19th, you will get the Charter Membership rate. You can buy a One Month membership for $100, a Six Month membership for $550, or an Annual membership for $1000. We also offer Family and Business Memberships. You will not need to activate your membership at this time. You can wait up to three months to activate your membership. But in order to get the Charter membership rate, you will need to purchase at least a One Month membership by 8 PM on Saturday, March 19th. You will be able to keep that rate as long as you stay current. And remember, if you buy a Charter Membership for atleast 6 months, you will get a free Charter Membership T-Shirt too! Whoopee.

If you want to buy your membership now, just go to our Membership page.
We won't have everything completely finished by the 19th but most everything will be there. In fact, you can help both now and after we open. We're there six days a week from at least Noon to 7PM while we're still setting everything up. Feel free to stop in and help any time you can during those hours. We have a list on the whiteboard and you can just grab a task and have at it. It's a great way to make sure things are the way you want them at your TechShop.

I look forward to this last super busy month of getting things ready for the Grand Opening and also look forward to seeing you there too.