John Blackburn’s innovative thinking has allowed him to become an award winning inventor and entrepreneur. In 2003, John formulated the idea of BullEx, leading to the company’s intellectual property and first product line. John co-founded BullEx and served as Chief Technology Officer, with responsibilities including IT, engineering, research and development, legal, and large one-off custom project development. The company’s success is attributed to continued creation of innovative, patented technology, the 2008 acquisition of European-based Haagen, and the executive team’s strong leadership and direction. John’s most notable contributions include development of nearly every patented product at BullEx, implementation of IT systems to support sales at the North American and European plants, and establishment of a custom build department specifically designed for sophisticated customized special projects. After the acquisition, John Blackburn and his co-founder Tom Rossi transitioned to real estate development, founding Redburn Development Companies in 2013. Notable projects include The Wick Hotel, an incredibly imaginative adaptive reuse of a former candle factory into a luxury Marriott Hotel. Furthermore, Redburn has developed a vertically integrated platform capable of handling all aspects of the property lifecycle. Key differentiators include the development of the “All In Living” platform where Redburn sells all support services (electricity, heating, cooling, high speed internet and DirecTV) to its residents for additional profit. John developed MassiveMesh’s wired and wireless network topology utilizing a command of the latest in wireless Internet technology. MassiveMesh has deployed a network of more than 2,000 customers utilizing low cost wireless Internet equipment in dense, urban environments. John also developed all of Redburn’s proprietary building energy systems that provide significant reductions in annual CO2 emissions and reduce operating expenses. The Tilley Lofts feature a specialized heating and cooling system that reduces the MTCDE (Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent) of the building by roughly 55% compared to the standard construction techniques. The Lofts use 165 MTCDE fewer on annual basis through its innovative green energy system and LEED platinum design. Over ten years, the positive impact on the environment is equivalent to eliminating the effect of 3,928,517 miles driven by an average passenger car.  John holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a minor in economics, with concentrations in control systems and product development. He is the inventor and co-inventor on 10 patents and as a teenager was a 2-time champion of the National Canadian High School Science Fair. In his spare time, John is an instrument-rated twin engine pilot and enjoys outdoor motor sports.