About Us

Richard is a compassionate soul, an avid golfer, and a proud Seahawks fan. He and his wife co-run the Mitz Project, which hosts an annual Celebrity Golf Invitational featuring Alonzo Mitz—former #61 of the Seattle Seahawks. Proceeds from the tournament support Vine Maple Place and Nine9 Line Veterans Services. Richard also lives with Parkinson’s Disease and experiences Freezing of Gait. His personal journey with mobility challenges became the spark behind Drop & Step™, a device that has helped him regain freedom of movement.

Jennifer is thoughtful, inventive, and endlessly curious. She has a service background in transportation as well as with Goodwill Industries. She’s passionate about helping others and employs her creative problem-solving skills with re-purposing everyday materials to design helpful tools for daily use as well as creating functional art—like phone stands made from driftwood and beach rocks.

The two met in 2023 when Richard offered to teach Jennifer’s son how to golf. As she watched them tee off in the backyard, she noticed Richard struggling to walk just a few feet into position. He mentioned a simple device he’d made to help “get unstuck,” but it was still in his car. Inspired, Jennifer quickly crafted a pocket-sized version using materials she had on hand and gave it to Richard as he was leaving.

After trying it out, Richard returned the next day to tell Jennifer that a friend recommended that they patent it for distribution to help others with Freezing of Gait.  That moment marked the beginning of Drop & Step™. Over the next two years, Richard personally tested more than ten prototypes, ultimately choosing the final design that now helps others with “sticky feet” move more freely.

Together, they are committed to creating practical, user-friendly tools that empower people with Parkinson’s—and beyond.