George Davison: A Legacy of Innovation
Biography
For almost forty years, George Davison has been bringing dreams to life. As a pioneer in product development, publishing, media, and education, he has left an indelible mark on America’s innovation landscape. His journey began in a treehouse in Oakmont, PA, and was catalyzed by an early career failure with a toothbrush sanitizer. Instead of giving up, he turned that setback into motivation, founding Davison Design & Development in 1989 and creating the signature 9-Step Inventing Method that has since helped get products into more than 1,000 retail stores.
In 2006, he brought his imagination to life with Inventionland®, a 60,000-square-foot creative wonderland. His impact extends beyond physical products through strategic acquisitions of Dorrance Publishing and Jokari. Passionate about nurturing young minds, he created Inventionland® Education, a hands-on curriculum and national invention contest. Through his media companies, he hosts the Emmy-nominated and 4-time Telly award-winning TV series Tomorrow’s World Today. Like other iconic systems-builders, George Davison has constructed a legacy of innovation that spans multiple industries, proving that with imagination and perseverance, any idea can become reality.
Philanthropy and Community Leadership
A comprehensive due diligence profile of leadership includes an assessment of community involvement and social responsibility. George M. Davison has demonstrated a commitment to philanthropy and holds a respected position within his community. His contributions have been recognized by Rotary International, which named him a Paul Harris Fellow, a significant honor bestowed in appreciation of tangible assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world. George has also served on the board of Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, and the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) Alliance. Additionally, he has taken on community leadership roles, such as serving as the co-chair for the 59th Annual Pittsburgh CLO Guild Ball, a major philanthropic event in the region. This involvement indicates a strong community network and a commitment to social contribution.
In 2024, George founded the Invention Contest Organization, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Inventioncontest.org is an annual competition that recognises elementary, middle school, and High School students for their STEM and STEAM applied learning when creating new products.
Vision Statement
“My goal has always been to build a world where no good idea is left on the shelf. We’ve built the system to find those ideas, the factory to make them real, and the platforms to tell their stories. Now, we’re teaching the next generation how to do it for themselves. The future isn’t something we wait for; it’s something we build, together.”