Earlier this year, Geoff Clarkson received exciting news that he was nominated for the E.C. Manning Award. E.C. Manning Award is one of Canada’s most prestigious award for Innovation. I got a chance to sit down with this busy inventor to ask him a couple questions regarding the nomination.

Geoff, when you found out you were officially nominated by your peers for the Manning Innovation Award, how did that make you feel? I was really humbled that others respect me enough to nominate me. When I look at the past winners and the other nominees, it is very exciting to see the many innovations that this award had recognized.  It is an honour to be a part of this esteemed group.

What does the Manning award mean to you? It was a shocker; I was not expecting to be nominated for this prestigious award. Spending many years trying to solve a big industrial problem and then having customers and other industry professionals recognize the value of this work, it is truly validating for the importance of UltraAnalytix^®.  It is also a solid endorsement for leadership in technology and business. To me, I am proud of how the team here has helped build the company, so I was able to build on the technology.

Looking back at the 11 years as UTComp’s Founder, Principal Engineer and CTO, what were some of your highlights? I must say when I received my first patent for the UltraAnalytix^® System, I felt excited like a kid!  I wondered if everyone else felt this way when they get their first patent.  I also have to say that watching our Engineering team grow and develop in areas they never would have learned in school.

What is your greatest accomplishment? I’d have to say being recognized by my peers throughout the composites industry as someone deserving of such an award.

How would you use being the nominee of this award to influence others and how will it impact your career? Teaching and sharing knowledge, especially about composites, with others is critically important to me. I like to inspire others to challenge the status quo, to look beyond what the textbooks say. I always get excited when others say, “wait a minute.” I will keep pushing others to keep coming up with new ways to do things.

If you could do one thing, leave one mark, on the composite inspection and engineering industry, what would it be?  It would be to incorporate exact standards for the fitness for service assessment for composite materials.

We are excited to be sharing the thrill of the nomination with the other incredibly brilliant nominees of this most prestigious award. Good luck to Geoff Clarkson, all the other nominees, and wishing only the best for your future endeavors!

By Shannon Tracey-Boggess, Sales & Marketing Coordinator, UTComp