(PRWEB) August 17, 2006 -- FINIS Inc. (www.FinisInc.com) announces the appointment of Mark Stephens as the new Product Development Specialist. He will oversee product development for Finis, Inc., a Livermore-based swim equipment company http://www.finisinc.com/company-catalogrequest.shtml. Stephens, former Stanford Swimming Captain and Design Engineering Graduate, specialized in Product Design Engineering during his four years at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. Stephens swam for the Stanford Men’s Swim and Dive Team and served as team captain for the nationally recognized swim program during his final year.

I am very excited for the opportunity to combine my passions for swimming and design. John and the people at FINIS are very welcoming and excited about their work. We have already begun discussions on new products which I will help develop in the future which I believe will impact our great sport of swimming. "We are very excited to have Mark join our team because he brings a high level of knowledge and experience in both swimming and product development. FINIS has always been devoted to listening to the athletes and coaches during our product design process. With that in mind, we sought a developer with a strong aquatic background as well as a fresh, innovative approach to new product design. I am confident in Mark’s skills and eagerly anticipate working with him to develop the future of swimming." said John Mix, President of FINIS.

Stephens has been affiliated with competitive swimming since the age of six. Career highlights include winning a Senior National Championship in the 200 Individual Medley in the summer of 2004, qualifying for both the 2004 Athens, Greece and 2008 Beijing, China Olympic Team Trials, and being a four-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-American during his final two years at Stanford. Stephens swam under legendary coaches Skip Kenney (Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA) and Ed Spencer (Dynamo Swim Club, Atlanta, GA). With an extensive background in product design, Stephens looks to add more than his expertise in swimming to the FINIS team. His mentors at Stanford University include the very well known product design engineering professors David Kelly and Dave Beach.

"I am very excited for the opportunity to combine my passions for swimming and design. John and the people at FINIS are very welcoming and excited about their work. We have already begun discussions on new products which I will help develop in the future which I believe will impact our great sport of swimming." said Stephens.

About FINIS, Inc:
Founded in 1993 by John Mix and Olympic Gold Medalist, Pablo Morales, FINIS, Inc. www.FinisInc.com develops the most technological and advanced training equipment for the swimming industry. From competitive swimwear and technical training equipment to high-end competitive swim goggles and children’s water confidence products including Waterproof Kids and Baby Steps, FINIS offers something for swimmers of all abilities to improve their technique and add to their enjoyment of being in the water http://store.finisinc.com. Brands owned and operated by Finis include: FINIS, SwiMP3, Zoomers, Lane 4, and Water Pals.