Our Guests

Performer

Speaker

Kevin Olson

Hello!

I’m Kevin. Located in Washington DC. Best known for playing guitar at basketball halftime shows. Also playing at festivals, clubs, bars, and private events with my percussive guitar routine and with my band. Lets connect!

Website : http://www.kevinjolson.com/

Valencia Martin Wallace

Valencia Martin Wallace currently serves as Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality. She was appointed to this newly-created position in January 2015. In her role as Deputy Commissioner for Patent Quality, Ms. Martin Wallace manages and leads the Patent Organization’s quality initiatives. She is responsible for sustaining the high quality of the USPTO’s patent examination processes and products by implementing and maintaining a comprehensive quality management system. As part of her twenty-two year career at the USPTO, she recently served as Assistant Deputy Commissioner (ADC) for Patent Operations from 2011-2015. As Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Ms. Martin Wallace oversaw operations in the software technology centers, served as executive co-lead on the implementation of the AIA First-Inventor-to-File statutory framework, and led the development and implementation of the Office of Patent Examination Support Services, which centralized the Technical Support Staff in a manner that allowed for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Ms. Martin Wallace is a graduate of Howard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and The George Washington University School of Law, where she earned a Juris Doctorate. She has also received a certificate in Advanced Public Administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Public Administration.

Michael W. Kim

Michael W. Kim was appointed as an Administrative Patent Judge on April 24, 2011, and as a Lead Judge in August of 2013.  In addition to his management responsibilities, Judge Kim conducts inter partes reviews and post-grant reviews under the America Invents Act, and also reviews adverse decisions of examiners upon applications for patents.  He works primarily in the business methods, mechanical, and electrical technology areas.  Prior to his appointment, Judge Kim was a Patent Attorney at the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.  Prior to joining the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Judge Kim was a Patent Attorney at the law firm of Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, before spending a year on a presidential election campaign.  Judge Kim received his law degree from the Duke University School of Law, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.