Ms. Margaret J.A. Peterlin
Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and
Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Margaret J.A. Peterlin was sworn in as Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in April 2007.
As Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property, Ms. Peterlin advises the President, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Administration about intellectual property matters. As Deputy Director of the USPTO, she administers the laws of granting patents and trademarks, and the day-to-day management of the $1.7 billion agency and its more than 8,000 employees.
As a leader in intellectual property (IP) policy, Ms. Peterlin helps develop and articulate Administration positions on all patent, copyright, and trademark issues, both domestic and foreign. She also promotes strong IP policy globally, including strategies to thwart the theft of U.S. IP around the world. As an agency leader, Ms. Peterlin implements policies and initiatives that provide innovators with quality and timely patent and trademark examinations. She also provides strategic leadership to employees to help them achieve organizational excellence.
Before joining the USPTO, Ms. Peterlin was Counsel for Legal Policy and National Security Advisor for the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, J. Dennis Hastert. In this role, she advised the Speaker, House and Senate leadership, and senior staff on legislative policy and strategy, including judiciary issues such as IP protection, and international relations issues.
She previously was General Counsel to Richard Armey, Majority Leader of the U.S. House. She clerked on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for Judge Jerry E. Smith. Ms. Peterlin also served as an Officer in the U.S. Navy for four years, working in the communications field.
A native of Daleville, Alabama, Ms. Peterlin holds a bachelor of arts from the College of the Holy Cross. She earned a legal degree cum laude from the University of Chicago, where she was the founding Editor in Chief of The Chicago Journal of International Law. She is a member of the New York State Bar and lives in Virginia.
Mr. John J. Doll
Commissioner for Patents
John J. Doll is the Commissioner for Patents, responsible for all aspects of the patent granting process for the United States, more than 7,000 employees, and an annual budget of more than $1.23 billion.
Previously, Mr. Doll served as Deputy Commissioner for Patent Resources and Planning, and on a detail assignment as Special Assistant to Jon Dudas, Director of the USPTO. Before his detail, Mr. Doll was the Director of Group 1600 that examines organic chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.
Mr. Doll joined the Patent and Trademark Office in 1974 as a Patent Examiner and was promoted to Primary Examiner in 1979, reviewing patent applications encompassing pharmaceuticals, herbicides, pesticides, and dyestuffs. As a Supervisory Patent Examiner in Groups 1100 and 1800, he was responsible for applications drawn from a variety of arts, including inorganic chemistry, hydrometallurgy, zeolite catalysts, buckministerfullerenes, proteins, and peptides. In 1992, he was promoted to Deputy Director of Group 1100 and 2900, which examined chemical, chemical engineering, and design patent applications. In 1995, he became the Director of Group 1800, which examined biotechnology patent applications. He was then one of the Directors of the Chemical Matrix that transitioned into Technology Center 1600.
As a Director, Mr. Doll led the development and implementation of the 35 United States Code (USC) 112, paragraph 1, Enablement Examiner Training Materials. He was a key member of the team that developed and implemented the 35 USC 101, Utility Guidelines, and the 35 USC 112, paragraph 1, Written Description Guidelines, as well as the associated Examiner Training Materials. He was also part of the team that led the Patent Corps Business Process Image File Wrapper implementation of image-based electronic patent applications.
Mr. Doll has received the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal for examination and supervisory accomplishments; a Bronze Medal for his work on the implementation of Patent Application Location and Monitoring (PALM); a Silver Medal for his work on the development of automated examiner office action tools; the Vice Presidential Hammer Award for his work in establishing the Biotechnology Customer Partnership; a Gold Medal for his work on the Image File Wrapper system; and was named a 2007 Service to America Medal Finalist.
Mr. Doll received a bachelor of science from Bowling Green State University in chemistry and physics, and a master of science from The Pennsylvania State University in physical chemistry.
Mr. Michael Adelman
The Adelman Sales Corporation
The Adelman Sales Corporation was founded in 1972 by its current President, Michael Adelman, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Adelman Sales is an agency providing all sales responsibilities and services for manufacturers of hardlines i.e. Housewares, Home Improvement Products, Outdoor Living Furniture and Accessories, Decorative Products including Lamps, Mirrors, Occasional Furniture, Hardware Products including A/C Power and Power Pack Tools, Child Home and Travel Safety Products, Ability Aid Products, Paint Sundries and Paint Applicators and a host of other categories that are found in today’s Home Improvement Warehouse Stores, Discounters, Department Stores, Specialty Stores, Drug Chains, Supermarket Chains, Super Stores, and Catalogs.
The company operates as an independent contractor for manufacturers that are without a sales force, or as a compliment to existing company sales forces that require special assistance in getting products placed on a regular and seasonal basis with major retailers.
Adelman Sales has enjoyed particular success over its 36 year history with introducing and placing new products and implementing new retail program concepts to the USA’s largest retail establishments.
The company offers full services to its clients; the manufacturers of the products sold by Adelman Sales. In addition to regular sales responsibilities involving calls on the headquarters of America’s retailers, the company, when called upon to do so, handles in-store service (Store detailing for the purpose of maintaining displays and providing store associates with product knowledge.) Adelman Sales also provides data management and other services for its clients on a “situation by situation” basis.
Summing up the responsibilities and functions of Adelman Sales is to assist in every possible means with the merchandising of products at retail outlets, distributors, and catalogers.
Although Adelman Sales has or has had dealings with almost all of the nation’s leading retail establishments, we maintain a particularly high level of businesses, strategic partnerships, regular communications and company visibility with The Home Depot and all of The Home Depot’s subsidiaries, which also make their headquarters in Atlanta.
Mr. Matthew Anderson
Supervisory Patent Examiner, Technology Center 2600
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Matt joined the USPTO in 1999 after graduating from Case Western Reserve University with a B.S. in Computer Engineering. Until 2006, he was a Primary Examiner in TC 2100 where he examined applications related to computer memory and was extensively involved in the training of junior examiners. Matt is currently a SPE in TC 2600 where he supervises examiners in the radio and satellite communications area. Throughout his career at the USPTO, he has received numerous awards including the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal.
Mr. Richard Apley
Patent Agent
Dick Apley received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He received his law degree from the University of Baltimore. Dick is a registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent agent. He worked for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for 35 years. Eighteen of those years, Dick was a Supervisory Patent Examiner, and 2 of those years, he was Director of the Office of Independent Inventor Programs. As Chief Patent Officer in his current position, Dick supervises patent attorneys, agents, and technical writers. In his spare time, Dick enjoys playing golf, watching movies, and reading.
Ms. Catherine Pace Cain
Staff Attorney, Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Catherine Pace Cain is a Staff Attorney in the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Before joining the Commissioner’s office in February of 2006, Catherine served as an Examining Attorney with the USPTO for six years. Prior to attending law school and joining the USPTO, she enjoyed a lengthy career in the publishing industry, working at John Wiley & Sons, Inc. in New York and Little, Brown and Company in Boston, and as a freelance copy editor.
Ms. Cain received a BA in English from Marymount Manhattan College and a JD from the New England School of Law.
Mr. John J. Calvert
Supervisory Patent Examiner, Technology Center 3700
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Since October 1998, John has been responsible for supervising as many as 21 examiners in the area of textile technology in Art Unit 3765.
John graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Textile Technology in May 1971. He worked for Milliken and Co. and J. P. Stevens in various management positions including Division Director of Human Resources Development before returning to N.C. State University to pursue a Master of Science Degree in Textile Management. In February of 1990, John joined the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as an examiner in Group 240 specializing in textile technology. In February 1995, John became a Primary Examiner. Since then he has worked on detail as a Petitions Examiner. John also was selected for work assignment in the Search and Information Resources Administration where he worked in PALM as liaison between the Office of Patent Legal Administration and SIRA instituting changes reflective of changes in patent rules and formulating changes in the manner in which OIPE communicates with the customer. He also served as Sr. Project Manager for the Office of Electronic Patent Application Processing dealing with changes in the patent application format bringing a standard application format into compliance with US practice, the Patent Law Treaty and PCT.
As the former Acting Director for the Office of Independent Inventor Programs, John remains actively involved with the ongoing campaign to educate inventors about invention promotion firms and will continue to expand the outreach initiative to the inventor community.
Mr. Calvert has received numerous achievement awards, including the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal for superior Federal service and the United States Patent and Trademark Office Exceptional Career Award. Mr. Calvert completed studies in the Syracuse University, Maxwell School certificates program of Advanced Public Management and completed the Executive Development Seminar sponsored by the Office of Personnel Management.
Mr. Eric B. Chen
Patent Attorney
Eric B. Chen, Ph.D. is a former assistant patent examiner with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, where he examined applications related to semiconductor manufacturing, including dual damascene structures; etching of low-k dielectrics, metal wires, anti-reflective coatings, hard masks and chemical mechanical polishing.
Before his work at the USPTO, Eric was an engineering assistant for Saint-Gobain Corporation, where he worked on a number of projects, including developing silicon nitride heat engine components, alumina coated abrasive products, and silicon carbide semiconductor diffusional components. He was also a research associate with the University of Massachusetts, where he coordinated such projects as improving the flow rate and reach of fire hose streams via the addition of a friction-reducing polymer. Eric is an associate at Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, PC in Alexandria, VA.
Ms. Kim E. Choate
Patent Attorney
Kim E. Choate prosecutes patent applications relating to the chemical, biological and pharmaceutical arts. Ms. Choate also assists in all aspects of intellectual property litigation and interferences. In addition, Ms. Choate has experience in ITC proceedings. Ms. Choate is an active member in the AIPLA Special Committee on the ITC and The Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia. She has given presentations on practice before the ITC, including at the AIPLA Spring Meeting, and actively participated in drafting a brief submitted to the ITC on the new rules practice. She is also a member of the American Chemical Society, International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, The Bar Association of the District of Columbia, and The Virginia Bar Association.
Choate is an Associate at Sughrue Mion, and a member of the firm's Chemical Practice Group, as well as the Litigation and Interference Practice Groups.
Ms. Shruti S. Costales
Patent Attorney
Shruti S. Costales is a former patent examiner and focuses her practice on preparing and prosecuting U.S. and international patent applications in chemical engineering technologies, organic chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, polymer chemistry, petroleum chemistry, and nanotechnology.
Shruti is experienced in rendering patentability, infringement, validity, and freedom-to-operate opinions. She has drafted opinions and prosecuted patent applications in various technical areas including polymers, pharmaceutical compositions, semiconductors, electronic devices, mechanical devices, cosmetics, fuels and fuel additives, lubricants and lubricant additives, tobacco products, batteries/fuel cells, fertilizers, animal feeds, and separation technology. In addition, Shruti is also experienced in various aspects of the Hatch-Waxman Act. In particular, she has experience in patent litigation based on the Hatch-Waxman Act.
Shruti is an associate at Buchannan, Ingersoll & Rooney in Alexandria, VA. Before joining Buchanan, Shruti was a patent examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, where she examined patent applications in polymer chemistry, fuel compositions, and lubricant compositions related technologies. Prior to working at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, she worked at a patent boutique in Washington, D.C.
Mr. John Cottingham
Supervisory Patent Examiner
United States Patent and Trademark Office
John Cottingham joined the USPTO in February 1998 as a patent examiner in joints and connections in technology center 3600. He received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering in 1996 from the University of Florida. He has received his Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America in May 2005. John was admitted to the Maryland Bar in December 2005. Prior to coming to the USPTO, John worked for SAIC as a Junior Systems Programmer testing the Global Command and Control System for the Department of Information Systems. John became a Primary Examiner in December 2003 and received the Bronze Award for Superior Federal Service in 2005. In October 2004, John transferred to technology center 2100 where he examined applications in the computer power control systems. His experience at the USPTO includes: a detail to the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, IPP instructor and a mentor to junior examiners.
Mr. Paul Dickson
Quality Assurance Specialist, Technology Center 3600
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Paul Dickson is a graduate of Syracuse University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1989. Paul joined the USPTO in 1990 as a Patent Examiner and examined applications directed to vehicle safety systems including air bags and seat belts, vehicle frames and vehicle suspension systems. He became a Primary Examiner in 1996, and then in 2001, became a Supervisory Patent Examiner in Art Unit 3616. In February of 2008, Paul moved to his current position as Quality Assurance Specialist (TQAS) in Technology Center 3600.
Mr. Louis J. Foreman
Inventor - Founder and Chief Executive,
Enventys
Louis Foreman is founder and Chief Executive of Enventys® (www.enventys.com), an integrated product design and engineering firm with offices in Charlotte, NC and Taiwan. Louis graduated from The University of Illinois with a Bachelors of Science degree in Economics. His interest in starting businesses and developing innovative products began while a sophomore with his first company founded in his fraternity room. Over the past 20 years, Louis has created 5 successful start-ups and has been directly responsible for the creation of over 10 others. A prolific inventor, he is the inventor of 9 registered US Patents, and his firm is responsible for the development and filing of well over 150 more.
The recipient of numerous awards for entrepreneurial achievement, his passion for small business extends beyond his own companies. Louis volunteers his time teaching small business classes at Central Piedmont Community College, and was just recently awarded the 2007 Instructor Achievement Award. He is a frequent lecturer and radio / TV guest on the topics of small business creation and product development.
In addition to being an inventor, Louis is also committed to educating others on the topic of intellectual property. Louis is the creator of the new PBS TV show,Everyday Edisonsand serves as the Executive Producer and lead judge. The show is in production of its second season and appears nationally on PBS. In 2007, Louis became the publisher of Inventors Digest, a 20-year-old publication devoted to the topic of American Innovation.
Louis was a founding member of The Inventors Network of the Carolinas, a non-profit organization that empowers inventors through education, support, and networking opportunities. Louis currently serves as a board member for the University of North Carolina Charlotte Technology Commercialization Committee, The Entrepreneurial Leadership Council at Queens University, and the Central Piedmont Community College Small Business Advisory Board. In December of 2007, he was appointed by United States Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez to serve for a 3-year term on the nine-person Patent Public Advisory Committee of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Ms. Montia Givens-Pressey
Staff Attorney, Policy Office of the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Montia Givens-Pressey is a staff attorney in the Policy Office of the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks. Montia's duties include providing expert information and guidance on law and policy matters pertaining to the federal trademark registration process, maintenance requirements for registrations, and the petition process to both internal and external customers. Montia also drafts petition decisions on a wide range of issues in petitions to the Commissioner for Trademarks, including the review of decisions by Examining Attorneys and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. In addition, Montia provides expert legal support to the Post Registration Unit of the Trademark Office, including developing relevant training materials, reviewing relevant proposed legislation, and responding to day-to-day inquiries about legal issues.
Previously, Montia worked as a Trademark Examining Attorney with the Office from 1995 to 1999, where in addition to examining applications, Montia also trained newly hired attorneys and assisted in various other management activities. Montia also worked for five years as a trademark associate with a large intellectual property law firm in Washington, D.C. where her practice focused on trademark prosecution, client counseling, and advice in proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Montia received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia.
Mr. Anthony (Tony) Knight
Supervisor, Office of Petitions
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Tony is a graduate of Drexel University, where he earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1985. Upon graduation he joined the United States Patent and Trademark Office as an examiner in the technology of pipefittings. While working at the USPTO, Tony attended George Mason University School of Law and earned his Juris Doctorate in 1990. From 1990 until 1992, he was in private practice. Tony has prosecuted applications for various technologies through out the USPTO. In 1992, Tony returned to the USPTO. After achieving the grade of primary examiner, he was promoted to Supervisory Patent Examiner in 1998 and has supervised examiners in such diverse fields as hinges and hardware to computer controls. In 2007 he was named to the position of Supervisor in the Office of Petitions.
Mr. Bruce E. Kramer
Patent Attorney
Bruce Kramer handles patent prosecution and other patent matters mainly related to chemical technology, including polymers, pharmaceuticals, catalysts, petrochemicals, agricultural chemicals and engineering processes. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1985 with a degree in chemical engineering, and he received his law degree from the University of Akron in 1989, where he was a member of the law review. He is a member of the DC Bar and is registered to practice before the USPTO. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the American Chemical Society. Bruce Kramer is a partner at Sughrue Mion, PLLC, an intellectual property law firm in Washington, DC.
Mr. Michael Lee
Vice President Elect
Licensing Executives Society
Michael Lee is a patent attorney and Director with Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, an IP firm in Washington, DC. Mr. Lee is an experienced licensing attorney, and has been awarded Certified Licensing ProfessionalTM status. He works with clients of all sizes to strategically protect, leverage and license their intellectual assets to support and further their business objectives.
Mr. Lee earned his law degree from Georgetown University, and holds Masters and Bachelors degrees in electrical engineering from the Universities of Maryland and Virginia, respectively.
Mr. Lee is a Trustee and Vice President-elect of the Licensing Executives Society. He served as Meeting Chair of the LES Winter Meeting 2007 in San Francisco, and is currently Program Chair of the 2008 LES Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.
Mr. Terry Lee Melius
Quality Assurance Specialists, TC 3600
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Terry is one of the Quality Assurance Specialists (TQAS) in Technology Center 3600 at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Before becoming a TQAS, Terry was the Supervisory Patent Examiner in the same TC. Terry joined the Patent and Trademark Office in 1985. Prior to coming to the Office, Terry was a computer programmer for a large chain store corporation. While being an Examiner, Terry worked mostly in the oil well and harvesting technologies. Terry received a Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering degree from The Pennsylvania State University in 1983 and also has two years of computer science training from the York Campus of the same university. Terry received the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal Award in 1995 for Superior Federal Service in recognition of his work as a Primary Patent Examiner.
Ms. Karla Perkins
Senior Staff Attorney, Office of Trademark Quality Review and Training
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Karla Perkins joined the USPTO in 1997 and served as a trademark examining attorney for almost nine years. She currently works as a senior staff attorney with the Office of Trademark Quality Review and Training where her responsibilities include reviewing the work of examining attorneys to verify compliance with the USPTO's quality standards, training new trademark examining attorneys, and developing training modules concerning trademark operations. Karla is a 1995 graduate of Howard University 's School of Law. Before joining the USPTO, Karla worked in a public interest law firm specializing in addressing the needs of small business entities.
Mr. George A. Peters Jr.
President of Lancer 1 Inc
George A. Peters Jr., President of Lancer 1 Inc. started his company two years after filing for his first patent in 1999. His dream has always been to develop products to make people’s lives safe and easy, especially children’s. On April 1, 2003 that dream came true when the safety applicator glove system and method was awarded a U.S. patent. During those four years, George developed partnerships with Hefty, Milliken, and Valley Forge Sports. At that point, the Mosquito Mitt became a reality.
Along with the struggles of creating, sustaining, raising money and advancing his own company, George has simultaneously worked a full time job. For approximately the past 15-years he has been the Property Director for two nonprofit organizations; the YMCA and the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council. Both of which are located in his hometown of Lawrence, Massachusetts.
In 2007, he spoke several times at Babson College, the # 1 business entrepreneurship school in the world, which is located in Wellesley, Massachusetts. He has also appeared as a guest speaker in many schools and businesses around New England. During these visits, George shares his difficulties and successes as an inventor, and offers advice to people who hope to one day get their products discovered.
George’s latest product, the WHAT NOW??? Evacuation Training Aid, was awarded a patent in 2007. The WHAT NOW??? was developed after watching fire fighters and safety officials struggle with safely blocking exits during evacuation drills. The WHAT NOW??? provides a safe and effective way to educate people about the critical importance to know multiple escape routes when an actual emergency occurs.
WHAT NOW??? is being used by Raytheon, Fidelity Investments, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army and hundreds of schools and business worldwide.
Lancer 1 Inc. is a product development company located in North Andover, Massachusetts. His determination will continue to make Lancer 1 into a profitable consumer and safety-related product development company. In addition, George strives to help future inventors avoid some of the painful setbacks he has experienced.
Ms. Julia M. Rhodes
President of KleenSlate Concepts
Julia M. Rhodes is President of KleenSlate Concepts, a successful international product development company she founded in 2001. Julia invented, patented, manufactured, marketed and distributed her first product: The KleenSlate Attachable Eraser for Dry-erase Markers. She single handedly landed contracts with both Office Depot and Staples and understands what it takes to "do business with the Big Boys.” In the past five years she has built a thriving company with a growing line of award-winning dry-erase products.
Building a business from an idea for a product requires a can-do attitude, which is reinforced by Julia’s growing success, and she is generous in her desire to share this information with others just starting out in business. Invention is just the first step in product development and her passion is supporting other inventors in understanding the steps required for taking an idea and making it a reality. As former schoolteacher, Julia is dedicated to improving education and all of her products are designed to be of the highest quality and employ creative approaches to education. Her newest product; Kwik Chek II was just awarded “Best New Products for the Classroom” from Scholastic and earned “Teacher’s Choice Award 2008” from Learning Magazine. She is constantly engaged in crafting new educational products to expand her current offerings and is also working on her first book – “The Right Sisters: Modern Day Women Inventors,” which she hopes will inspire young adults to pursue their passions and believe in their ideas.
Julia is a member of the Women’s Enterprise Business National Council (WEBNC) and serves on the Certification Committee through WBENC’s affiliate, Astra. She also is a member of National Association for Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and National Supply and School Equipment (NSSEA). Julia also serves on the Board of Alliance Small Valley Business Development Center (SBDC), A Hand Up Coaching (AHUC) and is an active member of the United Inventors Association (UIA) and her local Economic Development Company (EDC).
Julia’s success has been recognized in two books, “Women Who Pave The Way” by Elizabeth Kearney, PhD, and “Breaking Through: Creating Opportunities for America’s Women and Minority-Owned Businesses” by Susan Phillips Bari. Julia was awarded Women- Owned Business Star 2007 from WBENC and is a highly valued speaker and teacher on inventing, innovation and entrepreneurialism. She was the keynote speaker at both the 2007 Northern Plains Inventors Congress, sponsored and hosted by Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota and Senator Mike Enzi’s Inventor’s Conference in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Julia has also been featured on radio and television, most notably The Entrepreneur Hour Radio Show and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Mr. Jessie Roberts
Administrator for Trademark Identification Classification & Practice
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Jessie N. Roberts received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts in 1972; she went on to earn her MFA from Brandeis in 1974. In 1980, she received her JD from Vermont Law School in South Royalton, VT and began working at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Washington, D.C. in January of 1981 as an Examining Attorney.
In 1984 Jessie was promoted to the position of Senior Attorney in the USPTO and in 1987 she became the Petitions and Classification Attorney in the Office of the Director of the Trademark Examining Groups. In that capacity, she represented the United States in meetings of the Preparatory Working Group and the Committee of Experts for the Nice Agreement held at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland. She took a two year leave from the USPTO from 1992 until 1994 during which time she worked for WIPO in Switzerland as the Classifications Officer in the International Trademark and Industrial Design Classifications Section. Upon her return to the PTO, her position had been renamed as the Administrator for Trademark Identification, Classification and Practice and realigned under the Office of the Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks.
Ms. Roberts is the author of the book, Guide to the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services, published by Oceana Publications, Inc. The second edition that addresses the new service classes as well as other changes implemented in the 8th edition of the Nice Agreement was released in 2002.
Mr. Thom Ruhe
Director of Entrepreneurship
Thom Ruhe is director of entrepreneurship for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In addition to guiding several new initiatives within the foundation, he is leading a joint venture between the Foundation and the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce focused on leveraging America’s entrepreneurial leadership to advance economic growth in the United States and around the world.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Ruhe was the founding Chief Marketing Officer for JumpStart (www.jumpstartinc.org), a nonprofit economic development organization created to accelerate the growth of high-potential, early-stage companies in Northeast Ohio. While there, he and his staff served as adjunct staff to venture financed portfolio companies and directed the creation of an online social networking site for entrepreneurs, angel investors, business mentors and service providers; known as www.IdeaCrossing.org.
Formerly, Ruhe was president of Optiem LLC (www.optiem.com), where he led the growth of a nascent marketing practice to a nationally recognized interactive marketing, communications and public relations agency. Earlier in his career, Ruhe held consultative positions in technology integration, marketing, finance, sales, and management. His experience spans several entrepreneurial endeavors as well as working with Fortune 500 companies.
Ruhe earned his bachelor’s degree in management information systems at Bowling Green State University where he was the recipient of a U.S. Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship.
Ruhe also serves on the board directors of the Holden Arboretum (www.holdenarb.org) the nation’s largest arboreta.
About the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City is a private, nonpartisan foundation that works with partners to advance entrepreneurship in America and improve the education of children and youth. The Kauffman Foundation was established in the mid-1960s by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman. Information about the Kauffman Foundation is available at www.kauffman.org
Mr. Joel Sincavage
Design Practice Specialist
(Special Programs Examiner/Teaching Quality Assurance Specialist)
Originally from Niagara Falls, New York, Mr. Sincavage received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1971. During a period of four years, he worked as a Package Design Engineer for two different companies. Mr. Sincavage was self-employed for thirteen years operating a full-service graphic design studio. He came to the USPTO in 1989. Mr. Sincavage’s responsibilities include: evaluation and monitoring the quality of products and services, providing representation and service to both internal and external customers for the design group and the USPTO; providing the design group with the needed legal and technical training to insure proper and efficient examination of applications and uniformity of practice, and providing legal and technical advice to managers of the design group and the USPTO.
Mr. Robert M. Spear
Training and Quality Assurance Specialist
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Robert M. Spear is a Training and Quality Assurance Specialist at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, working in the area of design patents. Rob joined the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 1993 and began examining design patent applications in the textile, packaging, tire and advertising arts.
Rob is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U. S. Army reserve, having served a successful career as a military policeman, guitar player, combat engineer officer and medical architect. He received his bachelor of architecture degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1980, and is a registered architect in the District of Columbia. He lives in Burke, Virginia with his wife, Debbie, and until recently with their two adult children.
Ms. Joyce Ward
National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame Joyce Ward is the intellectual property attorney for the National Inventors Hall of Fame (known as NIHF). She is also a manager for Business Development at NIHF and works out of the Washington, DC office of the organization. Before coming to NIHF, Joyce worked as an attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office where she served for several years in a law office dedicated to examining trademark applications in the medical, pharmaceutical, chemical and computer technology and information systems fields. While working at the agency, she developed a trademark curriculum used by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to teach students about the role of trademarks.
Joyce received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1987 and her law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC in 1991.
