About Finder Technologies
Learn Everything About Auto-Finder and The Auto-Finder Company

The Company was originally created in 2004 as Compass Auto Tracker, LLC when Patrick Franz and Bruce Kennard, two long time friends came together to join their entrepreneurial skills. After the first round of seed capital was received from a private engineering source and the company began to grow, there was a need to bring on a more experienced individual that had the talent and past experience needed to move the company forward at an even more rapid pace. In 2005 the company met Jim Berntsen a serial entrepreneur and family man residing in San Diego. Jim had a successful history of bringing unique products to market including the world's first self heating beverage container. In January of 2005 Jim was appointed the position of President & CEO. Shortly thereafter, the company acquired a COO Jay Tillson who has a background in electrical engineering and holds an MBA from Santa Clara University. With this group of brilliant minds the Auto-Finder was created and is now available for the public's enjoyment. Below you can meet the individuals behind the scenes.

Patrick E. Franz, Co-Founder & Executive VP Patrick Franz is an ex-gymnast and spring board diver who decided to focus his competitive and winning nature towards a career as an entrepreneur. In 2004 with his long time friend Bruce Kennard, he started the company on the basis of helping people solve that pesky problem of "misplacing" ones vehicle. He is a talented speaker and salesman who received many honors and awards. Patrick has 15 years sales and marketing experience in investment funding, product sales and high level sales training. Patrick's theory is, in today's day and age, nobody should ever have to walk around frustrated and embarrassed while searching for their most important possessions.

Bruce H. Kennard, Co-Founder Bruce Kennard is a multitalented and creative spirit who has accomplished many remarkable things in his life. He has over 30 years of sales experience and is an expert at raising capital for start up's. Prior to Co-Founding the company with his good friend Patrick in 2004, Bruce was a Founding Partner in Houston's Right Step Residential Treatment Center (TRS). Currently valued at over $50M and is ranked as one of the largest privately held alcohol and drug treatment centers in the U.S. In the early 90's TRS led the way in busting the monopoly big corporate hospitals held over the treatment of people with alcohol and drug related problems. "It was like David VS. Goliath" Bruce said, and it was only after we broke that monopoly that affordable treatment for alcohol and drugs was finally moved into affordable residential home settings." TRS is one of Bruce's proudest accomplishments.

James L. Berntsen, President & CEO Jim Berntsen is a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years experience as an inventor and successful business owner. He co-developed and patented worldwide the revolutionary, "self-heating beverage container." In 1998, he took the company public on the NASDAQ small cap market. In 2005, Fortune magazine picked OnTech as one of 25 breakout companies of the year. Prior to launching the self-heating beverage container, Mr. Berntsen created 2 other successful ventures and was influential in raising over 25 million in start up capital over the years. He has over 130 utility patent claims issued in the United States and patents issued in 35 foreign countries. His inventions have been featured on NBC's The Today Show, ABC's Good Morning America, CBS, CNN, and in over 200 newspapers and magazines. He has won numerous awards, including, "Invention of The Year" at the International Invention Convention in Los Angeles, and, "Most Innovative New Product Award" at CONNECT, UCSD's Program in Technology and Entrepreneurship.

John "Jay" Tillson, COO & CTO John Tillson is an entrepreneur experienced in start-up and early stage companies, developing business strategies for attracting investment and managing growth. John has over 25 years experience in engineering, manufacturing and marketing for semiconductor and data storage companies. Prior to joining Finder Technologies in 2008, John held various marketing and engineering roles at two startup companies, Belfort Memory International and Marvell Technology Group, now a $3B public company. Previously John has managed engineering departments at Samsung and Western Digital. John holds a B.S. Electrical Engineering degree from UC Irvine and an Executive MBA degree from Santa Clara University.

James Scudder, VP of Sales James Scudder has 35 years of business management experience and has founded several successful entrepreneurial ventures. His experience includes all phases of product design and development, production, distribution and sales. His products and inventions have been featured on NBC's The Today Show, ABC's Good Morning America, CBS, CNN, and in over 500 newspapers and magazines. Mr. Scudder founded Ontro Inc. a company that invented and patented the world's first self heating beverage container that can heat coffee or tea with a push of a button. In May of 2005, Fortune Magazine picked OnTech as one of 25 breakout companies of the year. Scudder's products are currently selling through national retailers. In 1992, Scudder was the first person to break the Japanese rice import ban by successfully developing and negotiating the export of sushi products from California to Japan.