Thrusters on for innovation
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 12 years, 3 months AGO
Meet Nick Smoot.
The intriguing subject of a feature story in the February issue of North Idaho Business Journal, Smoot is one of those wonderkids who grew up here, dreamed big and, at the ripe old age of 31, has already built and sold one profitable business while creating another that looks bigger and better.
For a relatively small, remote region, ours is home to some exceedingly bright young people who are creating products and companies that never existed before. So why put a spotlight on Nick Smoot? Because he's working hard to spread the wealth, particularly with the idea that great careers should be awaiting our children so they won't have to move away to make a good living.
Smoot's vision includes an incubator for innovators, making Coeur d'Alene a hot spot for exciting ideas to be hatched, nurtured and perhaps mature fairly quickly into full-scale companies. He's been there and done that himself, and one of his many strengths is turning abstract concepts into viable products.
While the incubator concept is percolating on a back burner at the moment, right up front is a monthly fireside chat that's one of Smoot's many brainchildren. In January Smoot's fireside chat featured a couple of Idaho mechanical engineers whose startup company, Rohinni, is right across the street from McEuen Park. This dynamic duo already has 15 patents to their credit. And now Cody Peterson and Andrew Huska have developed a process that could revolutionize an application of light.
Next up on the chat circuit: Renowned aerospace engineer Elbert Leander Rutan - better known around here as Burt. Mr. Rutan is scheduled to be the featured guest at the next fireside chat, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. at The Wine Cellar in downtown Coeur d'Alene. Per Smoot's plan, there is no charge for admission, although donations to help cover drinks are appreciated.
These chats aren't just invigorating; they're inspiring. With Nick Smoot and others like him spreading the wealth, this inspiration could be contagious.
Read more about Nick Smoot in the next North Idaho Business Journal, which will be distributed throughout the region Tuesday, Jan. 28.