Firefighter Wins ABC's "American Inventor"

HispanicBusiness.com - Santa Barbara, CA, USA - The viewers of an ABC television program have picked Greg Chavez, a firefighter, husband and father of six from Camarillo, California, as the nation's top new inventor for his device to make Christmas trees safer.

Voting by viewers concluded Wednesday night in the second season of the program "American Inventor." Having won their tally, Mr. Chavez also takes home the $1 million grand prize, money he says will help him get his Guardian Angel system into production

In reaching the finals, Mr. Chavez was first chosen during a casting call in San Francisco, one of six cities across the country where thousands of inventors and entrepreneurs applied. A panel of judges, including former heavyweight boxing champion and entrepreneur George Foreman, selected one winner from each city to receive $50,000, a ticket to Los Angeles and one month to perfect their invention. The inventors worked with design companies and focus groups to develop a prototype and pitch it on television. The judges then chose three finalists, and the audience selected the final winner.