Armand Ferranti is a curiously energetic guy who has interests in many things. He’s constantly striving to learn and eagerly applies that knowledge to everyday life.
“Like a school kid, I wait for the end of the day to come so I can get home and build things, only now I focus on practical ideas,” Armand said.
Growing up in small-town New Jersey, Armand spent his adolescence taking stuff apart and making things. He was constantly outside, building new ideas or tinkering with old ones. During high school, he took an interest in art, business, mechanics and science. He played a few seasonal sports but focused on getting his pilot’s license early on. After high school, Armand left for flight school in South Carolina. He then moved to Florida to start an associate’s degree in business while simultaneously attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at night for his bachelor’s.
After a couple of years, Armand moved back to New Jersey to attend an aircraft mechanics school, which ultimately resulted in a job building helicopters. Perfect for someone who likes to work with his hands.
From there he moved into a corporate position as an underwriter assessing aviation risks for an insurance company while pursuing his dreams in his free time — inventing.
“Creating new things that the world hasn’t seen before, whether it’s a small consumer product or a large industrial energy idea, making things that solve problems is what I enjoy,” he said.
Armand will be speaking at TEDxNavesink Makers on April 9 at Monmouth University. And we don’t have to tell you why he fits perfectly into the theme of Makers.
When asked what attracted him to TEDx, Armand was honest.
“Well, it wasn’t the idea of speaking to a few hundred people, that still hasn’t sunk in. But I enjoy watching the talks on Netflix and the idea of inspiring others through my story would be pretty cool,” Armand said.
A true maker at heart, Armand has created a lot. But a lot of the physical things he’s made have come from learning about them and experimenting in a scientific way. “There is a sense of accomplishment and humility around the idea of making things,” he said.
Armand’s goal is to entertain others by talking about his experiences. Some of them are comical and others unintentionally sketchy or near life-threatening. “I learned a lesson for everyone and if I can motivate others to simply try to pursue their interests, then I feel like I’m helping in some way,” he said.
Armand’s claim to fame is that he feels he can build anything. Whether it works or not is a different story. He’ll give the TEDxNavesink audience a snapshot of some awkward early inventions. There will undoubtedly be some laughs, but more importantly, the audience will see that every idea has to start somewhere.
Armand’s hope is to motivate by the simplicity of his story and inspire others to pursue passions. “Anything is possible if you work hard enough to go after it,” he said.
“The last year of my life has been the busiest. A large part of that was due to a product my partner and I launched. We spent four years working on it and it ultimately paid off. But more importantly, the road to get to this point has been the most valuable. My dream is to take those lessons and pursue this passion of inventing full time. Like famous inventors of the past, I plan to impact the future for the better. I have a lot of very big ideas, I just need the time and resources to make them happen,” Armand said.
Curious about Armand’s inventions? Come and experience his enthusiastic approach to inventing at TEDxNavesink Maker’s on April 9th at Monmouth University. Tickets on sale now.