Author: Chris Varney

Keynote Speaker

Eric Little is a professor of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus. He also works as a patent agent at Schwegman Lundberg and Woessner, a law firm based in Minneapolis, and as an engineering and business consultant for several startup companies. With over 20 years of experience in engineering and entrepreneurship, Eric has expertise in the research, development, and commercialization of innovative products and technologies across a range of industries, including automotive, acoustics, mechanical testing/control, and medical devices. His background includes serving as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Earl Bakken Medical Devices Center and co-founding two medical device start-ups focused on cardiac care. Eric has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers, and he is a passionate advocate for STEM education. Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in business, along with bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics from Michigan Tech. He also holds a law degree with a focus on Intellectual Property from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. An enthusiastic advocate of Michigan Tech, Eric is equally dedicated to supporting Upper Peninsula establishments such as the Downtowner, KBC, and Nuitini’s.