This FREE, half-day symposium will focus on women inventors and provide information on the available resources and services to assist and support women inventors and entrepreneurs.

Program Agenda*

12:30 – 1:00 – Registration

1:00 – Welcome/Panel Discussion Advancing the Role of Women in IP

Laura Peter, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

Lisa Jorgensen, Executive Director at AIPLA

Jessica Landacre, Executive Director at IPO

Lisa Dunner, Managing Partner at Dunner Law, PLLC and Commissioner ABA Commission on Women in the Profession

1:50 pm – Keynote

Introduction

Sean Wilkerson, Innovation Development Program Manager, Office of Innovation Outreach, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

Keynote Speaker : Tiffany Norwood, CEO of Tribetan

2:45 pm – Panel Discussion

Connecting Entrepreneurs to Resources and Support

Moderator:

Sarah Harris, General Counsel, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

Panelists:

Margot Dorfman, CEO and Co-Founder, U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Narcrisha Norman, Founder and Chief Research Advisor of STEM-Time ROC

Nina C. Roque, Executive Director, National Women’s Business Council

Jim Silbermann, Senior Counsel for Enrollment and Intellectual Property Legal Services, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

3:45 pm – Panel Discussion

Developing a Network for Success

Moderator:

Valencia Martin-Wallace, Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

Panelists:

Elizabeth Dougherty, Eastern Regional Outreach Director, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

Erika Jefferson, President and Founder, Black Women in Science and Engineering (BWISE)

Erin Kelley, Co-Director of STEM to Market, Association for Women in Science (AWIS)

Tiffany Spearman, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Outreach, Black Girl Ventures

4:45 pm – Closing Remarks

NaThanya Ferguson, Supervisory Innovation Development Program Manager, Office of Innovation Outreach, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

4:50 pm – Resource Booths and Networking

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The Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium is presented by the Office of Innovation Outreach.

For questions or assistance, please send an email to WES@USPTO.GOV.

Register for this event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/womens-entrepreneurship-symposium-tickets-89572448605

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