John D.K. Karp – Business Growth Coach
Contact John:
207-841-6695
Email John
Areas of specialty: Strategic planning for growth and development, Innovation Engineering, technology, business planning, enterprise formation, marketing, intellectual property, accessing capital
Fields of specialty: engineering
John D.K. Karp served as a project manager at Maine MEP from 2000-2005, and rejoined the organization in 2011 as a growth coach. In this capacity, John uses Innovation Engineering principles to help manufacturers develop capacity for rapid product and process development. He also performs outreach for MEP partner organizations such as the Maine Technology Institute, the Maine International Trade Center, and the University of Maine.
As an MEP Project Manager, John was a strategic advisor on new technology commercialization and business development. His responsibilities included financial comparisons/feasibility analysis of new product opportunities, materials and production process selections, technology transfer/licensing, business planning, enterprise formation, joint ventures, technical product sales management, strategic marketing, intellectual property, and access to capital. Now co-located at the Maine Technology Institute, John serves the additional role of liaison between the two organizations. His detailed understanding of both organization’s programs make him a powerful resource for clients.
John began his career in 1984 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and has since had a diversified engineering and management career in which he fine-tuned skills at AEC Engineering, Central Maine Technical College, Navtec Inc., Syrs Scientific, LLC, and as CEO of Bourgeois Guitars.
A graduate of Northeastern University with a BS in mechanical engineering with dual concentrations in mechanical design and thermofluids, John has also taken numerous graduate courses in business administration and technology management at schools including MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Additionally, he has earned a Black Belt in Innovation Engineering, which he taught as adjunct faculty at University of Maine during the program’s early stages.
John is an active volunteer in the community: he served as Chair of Freeport’s Water District for many years, and is currently Trustee and Treasurer of the Owl’s Head Transportation Museum and a mentor in the Top Gun program. He also serves as the Maine Venture Fund representative on the Board of Nyle Corporation, Brewer.
