About

We are based in Michigan and active worldwide.
We translate your voice and ideas through commercial engagement.

Who we are

Nextworks was founded to help companies move beyond reactive, short-term pressures and build repeatable engines for ambitious growth.

Our team brings deep, cross-functional experience across design, strategy, innovation, engineering, marketing, and business transformation.

Collective Experiences – Past Employers and Clients

  • Mobility Futures

How we're different

Commercial engagement is the learning engine.

We work with customers, operators, and thought leaders early — not to validate ideas after the fact, but to learn where value actually exists. We don't just broker introductions — we design conversations that create insight, uncover hidden needs, and refine the growth story until it resonates with decision-makers.

Clarity before commitment.

Innovation shouldn't live in PowerPoint and on whiteboards. It should live where revenue, adoption, and usage happen. The earlier clarity forms, the fewer bets need correcting later.

Aligned incentives.

We engage as a senior partner with shared upside, not a traditional consultancy optimizing for billable hours. When commercial success happens, everyone should benefit.

Partners

Dana Lowell

Dana Lowell

Partner

Business Modeling, Innovation, Venture Leadership

Dana Lowell is an innovation and sustainable mobility champion with over 30 years of experience bridging global MNC and startup ecosystems. At Nextworks, he applies his deep expertise in business viability modeling, and ecosystem partnerships to help organizations transform consumer and industrial product portfolios for the future. In parallel, Dana co-founded Lilypad Labs, a Michigan-based startup delivering solar-powered recreational boating solutions and remains actively involved in venture formation across sustainable consumer and mobility technologies. He also drives innovation through Helicoid Industries and Biophilia Ventures, supporting biotech and biomaterials startups such as Revolin Sports, empowering hybrid athletic gear for eco-conscious athletes. With a foundation in integrating consumer insights, technical feasibility, and strategic resourcing, Dana delivers thought leadership and measurable innovation outcomes. He holds advanced degrees in business (MBA focus on sustainable systems), and lives in Holland, Michigan, where he remains deeply engaged in regional entrepreneurship ecosystems such as SURGE and the Holland SmartZone.

Jim Hotary

Jim Hotary

Partner

Cross-Functional Disruptive Innovation Leadership.

With over 30 years of innovation leadership and new product development experience at both Fortune 100 and startup companies, Jim guides cross-functional teams in setting compelling product strategy and launching fast-to-market products. At Bissell, Jim led advanced technology and innovation teams focused on healthy indoor spaces, IoT, robotics, and consumer apps. He was also instrumental in bringing to market new product lines focused on air care and allergen reduction. Jim began his career at Johnson Controls developing user-centered telematics products for automakers, including the BlueConnect (Honda) and uConnect (Chrysler) navigation and hands-free phone platforms, while building a world-class interaction design team and process. Later he focused on open innovation principles, building relationships with Silicon Valley technology startups, and applying new tech to corporate strategy. At Bose, Jim established a team responsible for conceptual development and UX design of Bose's first infotainment system – the award-winning Bose Media System (Ferrari). At Faurecia, Jim led efforts to develop disruptive automotive products at xWorks – an internal accelerator and established an innovation center in Shanghai. Jim was instrumental in shaping exciting new concepts and product strategy including the Faurecia SmartFit and Active Wellness systems. Jim is also the founder of Lilypad Labs, a startup disrupting recreational boating. He holds nearly 20 patents and an Engineering degree from Michigan Technological University.

Rob Huber

Rob Huber

Partner

Design, Innovation, Venture Leadership

With over 30 years of experience leading innovation strategy and design execution, Rob Huber specializes in translating emerging trends and human-centered insights into market-ready product solutions. At Nextworks, he helps companies define their preferred future and bring it to life through integrated strategy, design, and commercialization. Rob’s most transformative work took place during his 12-year tenure at Faurecia, where he led global innovation initiatives as Vice President of Innovation & Ventures. He built and scaled the company’s xWorks internal accelerator and led the launch of Faurecia Corporate Ventures group, focusing on emerging technologies and disruptive product platforms. During his time at Faurecia, Rob established dedicated innovation centers in Michigan, Shanghai, and Munich, and built a global tech scouting network spanning Silicon Valley, Europe, Toronto, Tel Aviv, and Asia Pacific. These efforts connected Faurecia to the forefront of open innovation, enabling joint development programs and venture collaborations that advanced future mobility experiences. Earlier in his career, Rob spent over a decade at Johnson Controls, where he led advanced product development and global industrial design, contributing to award-winning interiors and forward-thinking UX solutions. He began his career at Chrysler as an Industrial Designer, where he worked on iconic concept and award-winning production vehicles that helped define a new era in automotive design. Rob’s expertise spans consumer products, mobility, and connected ecosystems. His leadership reflects a systems-level approach to innovation — combining deep market insight, design intuition, and a global network to bring new ideas to life. He holds a BS in Industrial Design from the University of Cincinnati and continues to mentor startups and lead strategic design engagements focused on creating next-generation user experiences.