Walter Herbst's strong technical background coupled with professional management skills has resulted in the successful growth of the firm since he founded it in 1962. Herbst LaZar Bell Inc. is the largest independently owned design firm in the country.

Mr. Herbst's specific responsibilities include his role as chairman, where he reviews HLB's strategic business plan, while maintaining hands-on responsibilities as a senior account supervisor. His specific research and expertise have culminated in HLB being recognized as "Experts in the Process of Product Development".

Distinctions Mr. Herbst holds over 85 patents in hardware, housewares and medical products. He is listed in "Who's Who of American Inventors," as well as other "Who's Who" publications. Mr. Herbst is a frequent contributor of articles in various trade journals and is a co-author of the PDMA Handbook of Product Development, which has become the industry standard. Amongst his numerous design awards, he was recognized by BusinessWeek magazine and the Industrial Design Society of America as one of the "Best of the Decade" for his design work with the Gillette Company.

He is on the faculty of Northwestern University, where he serves as the Director of the Master of Product Development program and is a clinical professor in the mechanical engineering department of Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. He also serves as a faculty member in the Marketing Department at Northwestern's, Kellogg School of Management.

An expert in his field, he is frequently invited to speak at national and international industry trade shows and events.

Advisory Board Member - Northwestern University, Kellogg/McCormick, joint degree program (MMM/MBA)
Advisory Board Member - Arizona State University, Material and Sciences Department
Fellow - Institute of Design Engineering and Applications - Northwestern University, McCormick School of Engineering
Member - Industrial Designers Society of America