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1. Hometown: Pittsburgh

2. Current City: I grew up in, and still live in, Penn Hills

3. College/Major: Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Communications Media major, with a minor in English and another minor in Theatre

4. Best thing about Pittsburgh: I have two good ones, at least to me, cost of living and I don’t have to worry about dangerous weather (e.g. tornadoes, Earthquakes, hurricanes)

5. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? My sons and I are all comic book, anime and Japanese Manga fans, so we have this conversation a lot… I usually choose Omnipotence, like Dr. Manhattan from the Watchmen comics or when we can’t choose just one power we go with characters. I usually go with the Blue Marvel from Marvel Comics or One Punch Man from Japanese Manga. If I MUST choose an ability I’d choose ‘adaptability’, because my body and mind would adapt to any situation to overcome any issue.

6. Who is your role model and why? I could say ‘I don’t have a role model’, because I never wanted to be like anyone. I always wanted to blaze my own trail and become something of my own. But, I do have one. Jesus. The only perfect person that walked this planet. That is someone who I follow and who inspires me.

7. Favorite part of the tour? The Ball Park. I love seeing the kids’ faces when they walk in. It gives me the chance to tell them that if they get a job they enjoy doing, it inspires them to do better, then the higher ups are inspired to keep that employee happy by doing extra for them. Its a giving circle. I always tell kids that ‘if you’re blessed to get a job in something you like to do, you never work a day in your life’.

8. Tell us one of your most memorable tour experiences. I try to make my tours fun, exciting, informative and inspiring. My most memorable tour experience was with a group of grade schoolers. After the tour, as the kids were piling up and walking out the door, one little girl broke from the crowd, ran up and gave me a big hug. I love kids. I treat them as if they were my own, so my goal is to inspire them the way I do my own four kids.

9. When you’re not at Inventionland, what are you doing? When I’m not in Inventionland I’m busy. My wife home schools our kids, so I jump at the chance to teach as well. My part, surprising, is media and life. Videography, photography, editing, writing, social media, etc. I also work on preparing my kids for the future by teaching life lessons, teaching the lessons from the Bible and how to survive in the world they’ll inherit as adults. When I’m not spending time with my family, I also coach youth football and youth track & field.

10. Unique talents/skills? I guess my biggest talent is working with people, but, if you ask my family, its being a goofy. Life is short, I’m only serious when necessary.

11. Favorite TV Show? I’m a big sci-fi fan, so I’d have to say my favorite is the entire genre. Second to that is action and comedy. Mix them together and I’m in total bliss.

12. Favorite Brunch Food? What ever I like and available, but my wife would say potato chips.

13. Guilty Pleasure? REAL milk chocolate. Not that drab stuff the big candy bar industry has been putting out. Real chocolate products like from Sarris in Canonsburg, Gene and Boots in Perryopolis and Rosalind Candy Castle in New Brighton

14. What one word would your mom use to describe you? Determined. I don’t give up. I may take a break, but I don’t quit.

15. When I was ten, I wanted to be… a butt kicking super hero that fights super humans, aliens, extra dimensional beings, you name it. I wanted to be the protector of the Earth.

16. In high school, I was… the Billy Dee Williams of high school football. I was involved in stage in my last two years of high school. During the Spring I would go straight from a musical rehearsal to Spring football practice. My Head Coach called me the Billy Dee Williams of high school football, because, to him, actors were wimps, but Billy Dee was a tough guy and I was no wimp.

17. People would be surprised to know that I… used to be certified in stage combat and fight choreography

18. In five years, I see myself… finally being able to take my wife on a honeymoon (all the kids will be in college or beyond at that point). My wife had the courage to marry me in the beginning of my career (the broke years). Then we had four kids, then… then… then… life happens. The honeymoon will be almost 30 years late, but I’m going to take my Queen where ever she’d like to be.

19. Who would play you in a movie and why? Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) or Will Smith. Two action actors that can be both funny and serious in a movie and make it look natural. My life is almost as much active as it is everything else. Although, I’ve had some times in my life when Rowan Atkinson would have easily fit right in (like changing my 1st child’s diaper for the first time)!

20. If you were trapped in Inventionland overnight, what would you do? Hook my Ipod up to the sound system and let the music play… and play loud! If I’m going to be trapped, I’m going to at least enjoy myself.

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1. 1. Hometown: Wagontown, PA – though no one really knows where that is, so I normally tell people West Chester or Philadelphia, PA.
   2. Current City: Morningside
   3. College/Major: I went to Susquehanna University for Creative Writing. (Please see abnormally long responses to seemingly basic questions as proof.)
   4. How long have you been in Pittsburgh/What brought you to Pittsburgh: I’ve lived in Pittsburgh for five and a half years. I moved here because my roommate and one of my best friends wanted to move back out here (this was where she went to college), and I just happened to be ready to move out as well!
   5. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I would love to fly and at incredibly fast speeds. How nice would it be to not need a car?
   6. Who is your role model and why? My role models would be my grandparents—together they’re just a hilarious and unique pair of humans. My grandfather is intelligent, thoughtful, and quick-witted. My grandmother is this fierce old German woman; she’s absolutely terrifying (though she would hit me if she heard me say that) as well as smart and strong.
   7. Favorite part of the tour? My absolute favorite part of the tour is the most unsuspecting part! Right on the side of the castle is a pile of products with the toothbrush sanitizer and the worlds, “It all started… because of a failure.” I’m able to tell the story of one of Mr. D’s original ideas and how it went to market before he was able to present it, but he didn’t take that failure and give up; he went off to make the 9 Step Inventing Experience as well as Inventionland. This isn’t only inspiring to the Student tours and the Client tours, but I see the teachers and chaperones really take this message to heart. We’re a company that is here to help people, we are here because Mr. D was able to take that crappy experience and learn from it. We’re facing the beginning of many generations that would just give up because of something like that, but now they’re able to see and stand inside of Inventionland, something that is only here because of that failure. It’s a resounding message that everyone can bring home with them, I love it.
   8. Tell us one of your most memorable tour experiences. Student tours are my absolute favorite. I feel many high school aged kids always start tours and they’re reluctant to ask questions because they don’t want to seem uncool or dumb in any way. The first high school group I was able to take around the facility was so quiet, to the point where I started talking to myself (loudly, loud enough for everyone to hear me). “Oh, Madie, how many majors would you say are in this building? That’s an amazing question, Madie, great job! There are 35+ majors in this building…” Once I was able to make a foo

      

      l of myself they opened up a bit and all asked for selfies with me at the end. As I was walking the group out of the building, a few of the kids on my tour approached me asking questions. Mr. D came up behind us and offered the kids some Tomorrow’s World Today merchandise and stuck around to ask questions. You could just see the kids light up when they got to see the person that I had been talking about for the last hour. Many kids asked about how to start inventing and everyone’s energy and excitement was palpable. 

   9. When you’re not at Inventionland, what are you doing?  Trying to show off to my 13 year old sister with my lacking Overwatch skills! If I’m not playing games, I’m walking my dogs, reading, or watching my fiancé cook while asking every 2 minutes if we can eat yet.  
   10. Unique talents/skills?  I’m super handy around the house. I can fix just about anything, except plumbing, because I don’t mess with that one. I have fixed all of my minor electrical problems and the like for the last 5 years. All in all, I’m probably the worst tenant in the world because I don’t like to wait weeks for someone to come out and fix a problem that I can fix myself.
   11. Favorite TV Show? Archer, for sure.
   12. Favorite Brunch Food? There is no way I can pick between Eggs Benedict and Eggs-in-a-Basket.
   13. Guilty Pleasure? Any romance reading material ever; I say reading material because I have been whisked off one too many times with some crappy fan-fiction or one-off blog posts as well.
   14. What one word would your mom use to describe you? Unique.
   15. When I was ten, I wanted to be…a veterinarian, but only because 10 year old Madie wanted to come off as sensible and realistic. On the inside I wanted to be a pop-star.
   16. In high school, I was… always busy!  I would play roller hockey with my friends after school, on weekends I would go off-roading and swimming in a local creek.
   17. People would be surprised to know that I…play Dungeons & Dragons, like a LOT. I play on Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 7-11 most of the time. In college I used to play every Sunday from 10am until 6pm. My longest session was 13 hours with a group of friends about a year ago.
   18. In five years, I’d like to be…a billionaire, but who wouldn’t? All in all, I’d settle for millionaire, or at least having my student loan debt paid off.
   19. Who would play you in a movie and why? I know she’s significantly older than me, but I would want Lucy Lawless to play me. If I could say I was played by the actress who was Xena the Warrior Princess, I would die happy. Plus, we’re both brunettes!
   20. If you were trapped in Inventionland overnight, what would you do?
       1. I would start the night by digging through all of my old creative writing pieces from college and pick out the one which would be most fun to open up again to work on.
       2. Then, I would go to Chipper’s Tree House and use all of the whiteboards re-storyboarding my story. This would take a few hours, but before I knew it, it would be around 9pm and I would start to feel hungry.
       3. I’d skip—yes, skip—over to Brainpower Ballpark where I’d make a small dinner feast of Ramen and Slim Jims.
       4. Finally, I’d find a blanket, probably in Crafty Cottage, and I’d snuggle up on one of the recliners in Dare to Invent Theater and watch Netflix on the big screen until I fell asleep. 

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Every year, our Creationeers really go all out coming up with creative costumes. We offer our Creationeers numerous awards including best overall, most creative, best performance, most comedic, best company theme, scariest costume, and best couples costume.

Along with some pretty cool personalized trophies, our Creationeers also receive gift cards and other prizes.  There is a lot of fierce competition among our team members, and each year people are constantly trying to outdo one another.

Check out some of these costumes from years past:

Now, check out some of these costumes from this year:

Our Creationeers never cease to amaze us with what they come up with each year! Be sure you keep an eye out for more costumes being posted on our social media!

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Cobwebs overtook the bridge to the tree house, smoke rolled over the stairs to the castle-turned-crypt, and one designer even created a giant monster head to go over his door, making anyone who entered, dinner for the beast. A full haunted house was constructed, complete with “REDRUM” painted on the walls and treats for any survivors.

While the Halloween party featured all of these and more, the biggest stars were the costumes. As to be expected of company full of “Creationeers”, each costume was chalked full of innovative thinking. While seeing Jigsaw or Papa Smurf may not be too out of the ordinary, what about a dining room table, complete with meal and flower centerpiece headdress?

That’s just the beginning. Despite the normally cheerful vibe the company radiates, some employees tapped into their darker sides for a healthy dose of macabre…The mounted head of Bambi’s mother was not a costume for the faint of heart.

But perhaps the most hilarious and ingenious is the marriage between childhood innocence and the sweets that Halloween is (in)famous for: giant PEZ dispensers of Calvin and Hobbes. Certainly not another Elsa or Minion.

Awards were handed out for categories such as: Best Group Costume, Best Company Theme Costume, Best Costume Costume, and of course, a Best Overall Costume award.

Such creativity reflects just what Inventionland is about: a creative workplace to foster innovation and make mere ideas into tangible reality. It promotes not just employee (and visitor) satisfaction, but an immersive atmosphere that proves that there’s no such thing as a bad idea.

And most certainly no bad costumes.

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For those of you who have toured Inventionland this past month, you know what we are talking about. You cannot go anywhere without seeing Halloween decorations! People are amazed when they walk through and see just how “all out” we go when it comes time to decorate for our favorite holiday.

Each team is responsible for decorating their own set and what some people come up with is pretty amazing. From fog machines to cobwebs, to carved foam skulls, there is no predicting what the Creationeers will come up with each year. This image shows one of the more creative decorations that a Creationeer build this year as an entrance to his office.

“Every year it seems as though the decorations get more and more creative,” says Michael, who is in charge of organizing all of the decorating and party activities here in Inventionland.

The entire month is a celebration of Halloween which all leads up to our much anticipated Halloween party. Throughout the years, Creationeers continue to outdo themselves with the costumes they put together.

Everyone looks forward to the annual costume contest where the Creationeers get to show off their costumes and judges pick the best ones. Prizes are awarded to those who win, along with the Halloween party trophies that are made just for the occasion.

Inventionland has seen some pretty crazy costumes over the years but who knows what we will see at this year’s costume contest?

Check back in the weeks to come for an Inventionland Halloween Party recap!

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