Background One day in 1981 Joel Marks was working in a tight spot in the engine compartment of his ‘67 MGB (a car he continues to drive daily). It was frustrating work and he knew there had to be a better way. A light bulb switched on in his head and a squeeze-powered rotary screwdriver called SqueezeDriver® was born. From 1982-1985 Joel worked on the SqueezeDriver® every chance he had. He invested over 2,000 hours to achieve a "final design." (We assure you he's much faster today). In 1985 Mike Marks, Joel's brother, and Brad Golstein, Mike's college friend, joined Joel to found WorkTools, Inc. Starting in the Marks family garage, parts were sourced from manufacturers in the US and Taiwan. WorkTools SqueezeDriver operations eventually grew to incorporate a semi-automated assembly line that used assembly machines designed and built by Joel.
SqueezeDriver® was introduced by WorkTools in 1988 and won immediate acclaim. The tool enjoyed initial success with Brookstone, Sears catalog, QVC, and in 2 minute and 30 minute infomercials. It appeared in Kmart and Target and was sold in over 50 countries around the world. This apparent success inspired numerous illegal knockoffs. One of the knockoffs was so faithful to to the original that the "WorkTools" name was engraved in the housing! Unfortunately, 1988 was also the year that the battery powered cordless screwdriver made its hyperbolic debut. Overshadowed by the cordless screwdriver, SqueezeDriver® ultimately failed to find fame and fortune. Joel and WorkTools persevered. In 1992 Joel invented a revolutionary new staple gun. The first crude prototype received enthusiastic approval in user surveys. The new product was licensed to Black & Decker and became the PowerShot® Forward-Action® stapler.
Today WorkTools is primarily focused on the development aspects of commercialization. Our development process proceeds in a series of steps. At the end of the process we deliver an engineered product and the manufacturing sources ready to make it.
Brad
I Golstein - Brad graduated Phi Beta Kappa from
UC Berkeley with a degree in History in 1980 and then received
both a JD and MBA from UCLA in 1984. He practiced law for
several years, representing clients such as Weyerhaeuser, JVC
Entertainment, The Software Toolworks and others. Brad's responsibilities
with WorkTools include the company's legal, business and financial affairs
and WorkTools' overall management.
Joel Marks - Joel is a 1982 Engineering graduate of UCLA. He was formerly employed by TRW in its
Spacecraft Engineering Division, where his primary responsibilities were
precision fabrication and assembly of spacecraft hardware and the design
and management of product tests. Joels' primary duty with WorkTools is
product development: inventing new products, improving upon ideas brought
to the company from outside and overseeing junior product development
engineers. Joel holds numerous domestic and international utility and
design patents.
Mike Marks - Prior to WorkTools, Mike established a commercial
photography studio in New York City. His commercial account list included
American Express, IBM, De Beers, Nikon and General Electric. Mike also
worked as a freelance photojournalist for Life, Money, Newsweek, Sport and
Time magazines. Mike graduated Cum Laude from UCLA in 1978 with a degree in Economics. Mike is
involved in all of the Company's operations and has primary responsibility
for the Company's marketing and business development. Mike and Joel are
brothers.
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