EIGHT OVER 80: Warren Haussler

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Warren Haussler | 84 | President, Keck-Craig Inc.

When he turned 65, Warren Haussler was hardly ready to retire. First, he didn’t have enough money. Second, he wanted something to do. So he joined a product design company. That was almost 20 years ago.

“The last 15 or so years have been the best years of my life,” said Haussler, president of Keck-Craig, a product development company. “There is always a new problem to solve, new things to learn.”

Keck-Craig works with businesses and individuals to bring products from initial idea to production-ready model. The company has developed prototypes for products such as UV water purifiers, construction warning lights and golf carts for paraplegics. Corporate clients, about 60 percent of the company’s business, include Chevron, Hewlett-Packard, Lockheed Martin and Pfizer. Haussler has overseen about 600 product developments since 1992.

At the company’s shop, employees work with wood, plastic, metal and cloth to create prototypes for clients. Haussler said each prototype has to pass a three-part test: “It has to work right, has to look right and has to be readily manufactured.”

Haussler meets with clients, writes proposals, leads daily meetings, buys parts and does marketing. He arrives at his office just south of Old Town Pasadena each morning at 7:30, and tries to get to the gym a couple of days a week after work. He keeps fit by eating well and watching his drinking.

Haussler works more than he did earlier in his career, since he now owns all of Keck-Craig. He took half the company when he joined in 1992, and became the sole owner five years ago.

“When you own a company and you are concerned about your reputation, you take a little more care,” he said. “You watch things a bit more carefully.”

Haussler’s resume includes work on the Manhattan Project. He worked in management consulting and engineering services before joining Keck-Craig.

Haussler misses the years of watching his children grow up, as well as the mountain climbing and sailing he used to do.

He said he takes things three to four years at a time, and after each three to four years, has concluded that he has three to four more years of work in him.

He continues to be drawn to the creative enterprise of prototype production.

“I want to be and feel useful, productive,” he said. “I prefer the stimulation of business-type interchanges versus hobbies.”

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