Advisory Board
Frank Bernstein, Partner, Kenyon & Kenyon, LLP. A major international law firm founded in 1879. Frank has devoted three decades to providing legal services to some of the world’s leading technology companies. Frank has diversified his practice over the years to give clients the advantages of the synergies that result from his having extensive patent litigation as well as patent prosecution experience. He is the partner in charge of the firm’s Palo Alto office. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Licensing Executive Society.
Forrest Bird, M.D., Ph.D., Sc.D, D.S., inventor of the first mass produced respirator in the world. He is credited for saving countless lives throughout the world. He also invented the “Baby Bird” for infants. This technology changed the pre-mature infant mortality rate from 70% to 10%. He is referred to as the “Father of the Respiratory Industry” and his ventilator – respirators are used in every hospital in the world. Inductee, National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1995. Recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Bush in 2008 and the National Medal of Technology & Innovation by President Obama in 2009. Dr. Bird has over 100 medical technology inventions including pioneering “Medi-Evac”. At 93 he is the oldest licensed helicopter pilot in the world and is qualified on almost all aircraft. He and his wife, Pamela Riddle Bird, (see below) also established the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center in Sand Point, Idaho. He was also honored with an interview and story on CBS 60 Minutes
Pamela Riddle Bird, Ph.D. Founder/CEO Innovative Product Technologies, Inc. Pam is a lifelong educator and supporter of American inventors. She is recognized for her achievements internationally as a commercialization expert. Dr. Bird has served as a consultant to ABC television network 20/20. She has been interviewed by numerous publications including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Barron’s-the Dow Jones Business and Financial Weekly, Forbes, etc. She is the author of over 70 publications including the famous series, “Inventing for Dummies.” She is also founder of the non-profit, Inventors Educational Foundation and co-founder of the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center.
Robert S. Block, successful inventor/entrepreneur. Holder of more than 200 U.S. and International patents relating to: software, solar energy, communications, interoperability systems, in-building communications, information labeling, signal control, terrestrial and satellite distribution, smart utility meters, real-time billing systems, pay- per-view, parental control and speech education. Block’s inventions are licensed to most of the major consumer electronics manufacturers and have influenced entertainment, sports, information and education services worldwide.
John Forge, Ph.D, Founder/Chairman of Euro-Pacifica, Inc. providing international consulting in mobile communications, social networking and education. Also Senior Fellow at Innovative Growth Partners, Inc. which provides consulting on advanced science and technology projects and strategies for board-level guidance at international firms. Founder/President of CXP, Paris, France which is now part of Forrester Research, Inc.
Charles Glasser, President Emeritus of John F. Kennedy University. Served as President 1990-2003,Regent 1988-1990 and Dean of the Law School 1977-1983. He was engaged in the general practice of law from 1971 to 1977. As a businessman he has over three decades of experience in the healthcare and real estate fields and for over 20 years actively involved in the evaluation, participation and investment in biotech and other start-up companies.
Mark Holmes, CEO, Patent Bridge a preeminent Silicon Valley patent brokerage since 2003 and co-founder and CEO of RavenWhite Security selected at the RSA Conference as one of the top security startups worldwide. He is recognized as one of the world’s leading intellectual property strategists with over $500 million in successful patent transactions. He is the author of “Patent Licensing and Selling Strategy” published by the Practicing Law Institute and a member of the Band of Angels, investment group.
Curtis Landi, Co-founder/President of Supracor, Inc., The inventor of flexible, fusion-bonded honeycomb. Curt holds over 90 patents and 70 trademarks worldwide for his versatile technology utilized in products that are sold throughout the world. Manufactured in Silicon Valley his advanced, eco-friendly material, Stimulite is a leading brand in medical support surfaces for pressure sore prevention also in high-performance aircraft cushions for the F-18 Hornet fighter jets including commercially for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The company’s products range from luxury skin care, body and spa products and high- performance saddle pads to sophisticated, shock-absorbing bullet-proof vests, sports protective gear, bumpers for amusement park rides and more. All of the products are non- toxic and completely recyclable.
James Marggraff, successful inventor/entrepreneur. World famous for his inventions of the Leap-Pad Learning System which sold over $1 billion and the Live-Scribe smartpen that sold over one million units in its first year. He is a co-founder of StrataCom (acquired by Cisco) and founded Explore Technologies. Jim is recognized as one of the top 150 MIT Inventors with SB and SM degrees along with EE and CS. Jim is an E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year and holds over three dozen patents. Jim’s most recent company www.eyefluence.com transforms intent into action through your eyes.
Nola Masterson, Managing Director, Science Futures Management LLC. Nola has many well recognized distinctions in the areas of bio-medical research, industrial genomics, DNA and was the first woman analyst for Biotech on Wall Street. Advisor in biotechnology with Drexel Burnham and Merrill Lynch. With Kleiner Perkins she wrote the first plan for IDEC Pharmaceuticals and InSight Vision. She is Chair of the Board of Repros Therapeutic, Inc., RPRX a Nasdaq listed public company plus several start-up companies.
André Lake Mayer brings 25 years of experience in strategic brand extension & business development within the entertainment-driven consumer products and licensing industry. While with Lucasfilm from 1995-2000, Mayer, as the head of domestic licensing, was extremely instrumental in the re launch of the Star Wars franchise after building the Star Trek global consumer products program at Paramount Pictures for the prior 5 years. Following this 10 year period Mayer implemented branded extension and creative licensing programs for Turner Classic Movies under her own consulting business Twister Sisters Inc., and helped launch Cookie Jar Entertainment. For the last 8 years she has created strategic growth opportunities for Playmates Toys and Bandai America Inc. through IP acquisition and commercialization with an emphasis in entertainment/new media, invention and technology. Today Ms. Mayer is heading up global brand licensing for ZAG ANIMATION Studios opening in Glendale, CA next month. Find out more at www.zag-inc.com.
Sanjay Prasad, Esq. A unique intellectual property attorney with a diversified background in corporate IP strategy. Previously chief patent counsel at Oracle Corporation and director of software acquisition/licensing for Intellectual Ventures worldwide. He has degrees in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. Now in private practice in the Silicon Valley.
Mark Publicover is a successful inventor/entrepreneur. Founder/CEO of JumpSport, Inc. and inventor of the trampoline safety net enclosure which provides protection for millions of bouncing kids every day. It has reduced serious trampoline injuries by 40%, and has generated billions in industry sales worldwide. JumpSport branded fitness/play products are top rated and big sellers at Costco and Amazon. Mark holds over 30 issued patents and dozens of pending patents on products and technologies which, besides sports/play, include traffic control systems, digital advertising and distribution fulfillment systems
Bill Seidel, President, America Invents. Founded in 1984. AI is a consumer product development, licensing and marketing company credited with products in 50,000 outlets and $1.5 billion in retail sales. Bill has distinguished himself in the world of marketing innovation by teaching it at UC Berkeley and successfully developing, managing and marketing such hits as the first baby monitor, the famous FoodSaver and the new Fisher-Price Love-U-Zoo Crib Soother.
Craig Smith is the Business Development Manager for Emerging Technologies at Sandia National Laboratories where he develops key commercialization strategies for the US Department of Energy, specializing in Renewable Energy Research, Cyber Security and Information Technologies. Craig is speaker and advisor to the USPTO Office of Policy & External Affairs, World Intellectual Property Organization, and IP offices across Asia and South America. He gives frequent workshops on Idea Creation to Commercialization, Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Innovation and the Innovation Ecosystem, Renewable Energy Management and IP in Global Energy markets. Craig is Director of International Relations and Advisory Board Member of the Licensing Executives Society, Silicon Valley.
Alastair Swanwick, Founder/CEO, Innovate Product Design is an international firm whose primary objective has been to create cost effective ways for inventors and entrepreneurs to access prototype design and production services. With 12 years of success they maintain offices in London and Salisbury in the UK and opened an office in San Francisco in 2012.