In 2015, we met in Panajachel, Guatemala, while Larry was looking to start manufacturing his Astrojax invention after winning a long patent battle. Initially, I worked with Larry as a translator in 2017, facilitating communication between Spanish and English. I vividly remember the excitement of those early days. The work was engaging, and I was compensated at a rate of $15 per hour. As I continued to work with Larry, our relationship deepened, and I transitioned into a full-time role.
A year later, in 2018, I was honored to accept the position of Director of Operations for Astrojax. It was around this time that my sister Rosy Garcia, with her remarkable skill in crochet, joined the team and began crafting the Astrojax Weave, a pivotal component of Larry's innovative creation.
Sadly, in spite of a small and loyal following, sales never really materialized for Astrojax and that project was eventually abandoned. But that wasnt for a few more years.
In 2019, our collaboration took an unexpected turn that led to the birth of the Dual Band chin strap. While trying to get the Astrojax business off the ground, Larry stayed at my home in Guatemala, where we embarked on the venture of finding a solution for his loud snoring, which often disrupted the sleep for everyone at the home.
Together, in the confines of our shared living space, we brainstormed ideas, mused over potential solutions, and eventually settled on the concept of a specially designed chin strap. Our initial brainstorming sessions yielded various ideas, including the notion of a swim cap equipped with dual straps – one elastic and one non-elastic. Over the course of a few months, we experimented with different prototypes, refining our designs and considering various materials. Ultimately, the groundwork for the Dual Band chin strap began to take shape.
