You may already know that around Renner Otto we like to say “A good idea can change the world,” but some other expressions you are likely to hear is that a good idea can come from anyone, and in the business of obtaining patents, persistence is often the greatest attribute. Greg Getzinger has exemplified each of these mantras in his quest for the perfect slice of pizza, which led to the creation of the Portion PadL, celebrity recognition, and international success.

Greg graduated with a degree in criminal justice, and although life as a University Police Officer didn’t appeal to him, he was able to take marketing classes that led him to make a career change to the insurance industry. Although successful, Greg longed to build his own business and purchased a pizzeria in Hudson, Ohio. Always thinking of new opportunities for growth, Greg approached a local school about getting his product into their cafeteria. It was there a problem presented itself that would change the trajectory of Greg’s business career.

Always the keen consumers, children at the school were purchasing the larger pizza slices and leaving the smaller ones to eventually find the trash can.  Uneven slices of pizza were leading to both food waste and revenue loss for the school. Research has always been the key to Greg’s success, so he looked into pizza-cutting tools to offer a remedy but found that the few options available fell short of his litmus test for kitchens: ease of use, ease of clean-up, and food safety. He wanted something that would be efficient in his own fast-paced kitchen and, lacking available resources, literally went to the drawing board.

For Greg, it was paramount to steady the cutting tools for even pieces with both the roller and rocker methods of separating slices, so the cutting surface became his focus.  Through trial and error, he concentrated on creating the perfect-sized grooves that would catch and stabilize the cutting tools efficiently and safely. With the help of a friend, he originally experimented with wood and created a prototype that solved the school’s issue. He had preserved the customer relationship, but now he wondered if he could improve more than his relationship with the cafeteria.

He continued his research and found a non-wood, commercial kitchen material that was approved by the National Sanitation Foundation and used it to create another prototype. Looking for proof of concept, he traveled to a nearby pizzeria convention, where he showed it to a trade publication reporter. While he was demonstrating it for the reporter, a crowd formed, and Greg knew he was onto something bigger than the local school cafeteria. 

The Pizza Industry is worth nearly $66 billion, and there were some pretty big players that Greg wanted to get in front of, but first, he needed a name; he and his former business partner came up with and trademarked Portion PadL. The reporter he had shown his invention to authored an article about Greg’s product which was published as he first filed to patent Portion PadL.

His path to protecting his innovation wasn’t always an easy one. Patent examiners can sometimes become fixated and fickle, and the process dragged on several years. Greg appreciated that his attorneys, George Moxon and Brian Harrod, never gave up on his vision and eventually took his invention through the USPTO’s Appeals Process to ensure his patent was awarded.

Thinking big and exhibiting persistence have paid off for Greg. The Portion PadL has been put into use by major players in the pizza and greater restaurant and retail industry. Clients like Sbarro, Swan Foods, Speedway, and Domino’s Pizza have brought him large-scale success, and his latest relationship with a chain of convenience stores in Australia has taken the PadL international.

A well-timed social media post led to an appearance on the “Drew Barrymore Show,” where he demonstrated his invention for Mark Cuban. He also counts reality TV series “The Cake Boss” among his clients. He has worked with the same Ohio manufacturer for 14 years to ensure his product is customizable to meet the needs of various clients. He has continued to innovate and create additional products to solve delicious problems, and he is proud to manufacture all of these in the United States.

Greg encourages others to look to the problems within their industry for opportunities to create, and to ask where they might be losing money. He believes that no matter the industry, there is always room for improvement. In his first year of business, all he knew was that he had a product that improved his process. He utilized organizations like the Ohio Small Business Development Center and JumpStart Cleveland to help him grow his business. He recommends inventors continue to learn how to become business owners.

Protecting his innovation and brand through trademarks, patents, and litigation has been only one piece of his success. His ability to customize and focus on the customer's needs has been another. As for pizza, the last decade and a half has not spoiled his love for the dish and he never visits a client without enjoying at least one perfectly portioned slice.