Biographical Information for Mark Farris:

Residence: Idaho

1995 - Present C1 Design Group, L.L.C. Ketchum, ID

Design Director, Managing Partner

- Responsibilities include product development, R&D, creative development and industrial design for the Design Group and for individual projects including furniture, architectural components, jewelry and other consumer products.
- Achievements include concept and design of many successful consumer product launches such as (in reverse chronological order) the Waterworks LT, FS, and ULA fly fishing reels, the Lamson Litespeed, Velocity and Radius fly reels, the Sage Mfg. 3000 series and Center Axis Fly Rod/Reel system, the Ketchum Release trout release tool , the Flytrap fishing accessory, Scott Vertigo mountain bike, Kestrel Composites Rubicon mountain bike, Waterworks technical clothing, Vetta USA Ergo bike saddle and Chaos series mountain bike tires, Smith Sport Optics Moab sportshield, Sundance Goggle and Z Bend composite ski pole.
- From 1996 until present, responsible for the Waterworks Catalog production photography and art direction.

1990 - 1994 Cannondale Bicycle Corporations Bethel, CT

Director of Research and Development

- Concept, ideation, design and engineering director for projects including Cannondale's proprietary Headshok suspension system, the Delta V suspension system (winner of WCS Downhill and Cross Country professional cycling championships in the U.S. and abroad), as well as other suspension, structural and hardware designs.
- Established Cannondales' California 'Skunkworks' design center for technology research in Costa Mesa, CA and a second design and R&D unit in Ketchum/Sun Valley Idaho

1986 - 1990 Avant Sport, Inc. Laguna Beach, CA

Partner and Design Director

- Developed and patented the Talon bicycle clipless pedal system
- Achieved national and international distribution
- Licensed the Talon system to Cannondale Bicycle Corp. in 1990

1979 - 1986 Universal Import/Exports Laguna Beach, CA

- Embarked on an extended 'See the world and decide what you're good at' interlude

1975 - 1979 University of California at Irvine Irvine, CA

- Undertook an extensive and unfocused education pursuing studies in Studio Art, Literature, Philosophy and Drama
- Left in 1979 without completing undergraduate degree

1973 - 1975 Orange Coast College Costa Mesa, CA

- General studies with emphasis on the Physical Sciences and Literature
- Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree


Design, Technical, and Manufacturing skills:

- Experience and execution in a broad range of processes, materials and conceptual tools including various CAD/CAM wares; RTM, Vacuum, and Hybrid composite molding; CNC machining and programming; thermoplastic injection molding, investment, die and pressure casting, impact extrusion/cold forging, material identity and selection for process, EDM (electrical discharge machining) Laser surfacing, metallurgy and heat treatment of technical alloys.

Inventor of the following U.S. Patents:

6,155,541; 6,145,862; 6,073,871; 6,053,445; 6,007,056; 5,942,714; 5,915,639; 5,702,092; 5,644,865; 5,611,557; 5,494,302; 5,320,374; 4,890,507