iTTU Mentor

Steve Fillipp

Functional Expertise

• Prototyping

• Product Design

Industry Expertise

• Hardware/Manufacturing

• Construction

Steve Fillipp is a retired architect and former Vice President of Product Development for Gary Products Group Inc. in Lubbock, Texas, a leading provider of seasonal Christmas industry products from 1989 to 2001. As Vice President, he led product design and development efforts, overseeing prototyping, packaging design, and the technical development of injection-molded plastic hardware and assemblies used for installing Christmas lights and holiday decorations. He worked closely with manufacturing partners on product design, tooling, and cost optimization to bring innovative products to market.

Steve's architectural career spanned more than four decades, from approximately 1980 to 2023, during which he designed a wide range of commercial and institutional projects throughout West Texas. While serving at Gary Products, he maintained his architectural license and continued to apply his design expertise to company facilities and product development initiatives.

An inventor and co-inventor on numerous company patents, Steve also served as a key liaison with patent counsel, helping guide the intellectual property process from concept through protection. His combined experience in architecture, product development, manufacturing, and innovation provides entrepreneurs with valuable insight into product design, commercialization, and bringing ideas to market.