John W Caldwell
Partner, Woodcock Washburn LLP
John Caldwell often makes the point that patents are essentially business tools. A patent that does not provide adequate protection against improper competition may not be worth much, he says. But he believes that there are few business tools stronger than a solid patent in a well-planned portfolio. Planning does figure prominently in John's practice as he has a long track record in refocusing corporate decision making as it relates to intellectual property.
Sound patent decisions are especially important for start-up companies. This is why he enjoys counseling companies that are just emerging. "The younger, the newer, the more fragile the business, the more important patent and trademark planning becomes," John says. "One needs to understand the patent landscape; to know what intellectual property other companies own so that a company can plan to give it an exclusive position."
John's expertise in patent prosecution has earned him a national reputation. He is listed in Who's Who in American Law and is in frequent demand as a guest lecturer on the topic.
In large part, John has developed that reputation for his commitment to start-ups, as well as to his interest in technology transfers from academic institutions to companies that often are academic spinoffs. John has also come to focus upon creative licensing arrangements, strategic pools and standards setting arrangements.
He has been instrumental in securing patent protection for new families of nucleic acid-active drugs and guided patents in breakthrough polymer batteries. John is skilled in all aspects of pharmaceutical patent law and regularly deals with Orange Book issues. He has also done patent work related to the development of microchip devices that employ light, rather than electricity, for processing. Some of the other technologies John has dealt with include sensitive aircraft parts, transgenic fungi, gene stimulation, artificial organs, bioimplantable devices and materials, new polymers, light emitting materials, industrial chemicals, agricultural chemicals, and lithography.
Clearly, a sophisticated scientific knowledge is necessary for that kind of patent track record. But John also adheres to a simple goal in his work. "It's about people," he says. "One has to figure out what the client needs, to lead the client to the correct decision and then to 'deliver the goods.' And the only way to do that is to ask pertinent questions and listen very carefully to the answers."
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Member and past president, Philadelphia Intellectual Property Law Association
Member, International Trademark Association
Member and former member of the board, Copyright Society of the U.S.
Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association
Member, Federal Circuit Bar Association
Member and former member of the board, Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
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Dr. Joseph A. Lannon
Dir., ARDEC
A graduate of St. Joseph's University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and of the University of Pennsylvania with a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Physical Chemistry, Dr. Joseph A. Lannon has more than thirty-eight years of service with the Federal Government in a variety of research, development, engineering and management positions at the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) at Picatinny, New Jersey.
On September 4, 2005, Dr. Lannon was appointed as ARDEC Director. As Senior Technical Executive for the Armaments Engineering and Technology Center (AETC) and a member of the Senior Executive Service, he has played a major role in reorganizing ARDEC. In the AETC he led an organization of about 1,800 people in developing innovative technologies in armaments and developing world class people and facilities and equipment to execute armaments programs for RDECOM, AMC, DA, other services and PEO/PM customers.
As Director of the Warheads, Energetics & Combat-support Armament Center he played a major role in putting together innovative technology programs in warheads and energetics that allowed the Armed Services to maintain its lethality overmatch in missile and munitions systems on current and future battlefields. He successfully led an effort that formed a Defense Ordnance Technology Center at ARDEC which involves a partnership among all the services, National Laboratories, fifty-two Armament Industries and Academia that encouraged joint efforts among the participants to speed the transition of the latest technologies to the war fighter.
Dr. Lannon has been a leader in project Reliance. He was Chairman of the Weapons Panel for two years, is currently the Army Lead on the Weapons Panel and has been Chairman of the Ordnance Sub panel.
Dr. Lannon has made notable contributions in engineering and management in the development, manufacturing and fielding of Armaments Systems, including energetic materials, fuzes, metal parts and warheads for many weapon systems, some of which are SADARM, WAM, Special Operations Force Demolition Kit, TOW, Hellfire and Javelin. He was also instrumental in developing and fielding the modular propelling charge for future artillery systems and propulsion systems for tank penetrators. In addition, he has contributed engineering and management efforts to many other armament systems in Mines and Countermines, Mortars, Fuzes and Small Arms.
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Alan G. Brown, Ph.D., MBA
Executive Director, NanoMaterials Commercialization Center
Dr. Brown serves as the Center's executive director, overseeing the center's efforts to establish Pennsylvania as the first-to-market leader in products and technologies that utilize nanomaterials. Dr. Brown has been instrumental in establishing the Center as a non-profit organization in 2006. He has worked closely with Pennsylvania’s universities, companies and government agencies to develop a unique public-private partnership for commercialization of advanced technologies.
Previously, Dr. Brown led the technology development for the non-profit CAMP Inc. (formerly the Cleveland Advanced Manufacturing Program), an economic development organization in Ohio. He was vice president and chief technology officer at CAMP, where he assisted companies and entrepreneurs in adopting and supporting advanced technologies, including nanotechnology.
Brown's former organization was funded under a State of Ohio Edison Technology Program. Prior to this he served as CAMP's director of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership center for eight years, and during the last two years he specialized in nanomaterials commercialization.
Before that, he was senior program manager, a consultant, and new product introduction manager with Digital Equipment Corp. Previously, he was director of engineering at Unitrode Corp. in Worcester, Massachusetts; vice president of engineering at National Micronetics; senior project manager at Andersen Labs Inc., and he was a research and development scientist at RCA Canada.
Brown received his Ph.D., in physics from the University of Toronto; he earned his masters degree in business from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts and his bachelor's and master’s degrees in physics and mathematics from the University of Waterloo in Canada.
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Eduardo M. Carreras
Of Counsel, Woodcock Washburn LLP
Atlanta
Having worked as intellectual property counsel to The Coca-Cola Company for more than two decades, Eduardo Carreras understands what in-house counsel need in an outside law firm. After joining Coca-Cola's Patent and Technology Department in 1983, Ed rose to become the company's chief intellectual property counsel. During his tenure, Ed directed a number of initiatives to ensure that the company maximized the intrinsic value of its intellectual property. He instituted a process to review existing patent and trademark portfolios to assess whether their value was worth their maintenance costs. He was instrumental in leading the company to approve a technology-licensing program and assert its patents against competitors. He adopted a project management approach that enabled the company to reduce substantially its IP litigation costs.
During his 25 years as an IP lawyer, Ed has handled issues in many technical areas, including fiber optics, lasers, plastic and metal packaging, electro-mechanical equipment, and chemical processes. But of equal importance to Ed's legal and technical skills is his global business experience. Ed has been at the center of transactions involving virtually every region of the world, providing him with hands-on understanding of the issues a company may face in Asia, Europe, Latin America and elsewhere.
His experience in-house at a major international corporation has given him something few outside counsel have - sensitivity to the business considerations that he believes should drive IP strategy. "A company's IP objectives must be consistent with its broader business objectives," Ed says.
Before joining Coca-Cola, Ed practiced with IP firms in Florida and New York City. He has a law degree and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Miami. He also has a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
U.S. Air Force, 3 years, 1st Lt. U.S. Systems, Command, FL
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Florida Bar Association
Member, New York Bar Association
Member, American Corporate Counsel Association
Member, Licensing Executive Society
Board member, Intellectual Property Owners Association, 2002-2003
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Scott Livingston
Managing Director, Axiom Capital Management, Inc.
Scott Livingston is a Managing Director of Axiom Capital Management Inc. (Axiom) and head of the Livingston Group, an investment and corporate advisory group within Axiom focused on nanotechnology. Axiom Capital Management Inc. provides wealth management, investment banking, prime brokerage and private equity services. Mr. Livingston has been called “sharp and highly connected” by the Forbes Wolfe Nanotechnology Report (July 1, 2005) and has been an invited speaker on nanotechnology investment trends at the Harvard Club, the Nanobusiness Alliance, the Cambridge Healthtech Institute, Nanotechnology.com, the International Business Forum, the Delaware Technology Park, the Business Executives for National Security, Hilary Clinton’s Jobs for New York, and has presented to half a dozen state pension leaders across the country. Scott is also the creator of the annual Axiom Capital Management “Livingston Nanotechnolgy Conference”, one of the largest nanotechnology conferences of the year. Previously, Scott has served as a Senior Vice President – Investment Management at Lehman Brothers, where he began his nanotechnology focus. Prior to joining Lehman Brothers in 2000, Scott was a Director of the Private Client Group at SG Cowen Securities, and prior to that was at Drexel and Smith Barney. Scott is a SUNY Albany graduate. He is a board member of the NanoBusiness Alliance and a founding board member of the NY Nanobusiness Alliance. Scott sits on the board of the Nanoethics Group and the Dolan DNA Learning Center at the Coldspring Harbor Labs. He is married with three children and lives in Long Island, NY.
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Cheryl Perkins
Founder and President, Innovationedge
Cheryl Perkins is a thought leader in innovation and a creative catalyst in brand-building initiatives for companies looking for that innovative edge.
In 2006 Business Week magazine chose Cheryl as one of the a Top 25 Champions of Innovation in the world. She was also named as a top executive driving vision within the consumer goods industry (Visionaries 2006) by Consumer Goods Technology magazine.
With over 20 years experience directing growth and innovation, Cheryl most recently served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer for Kimberly-Clark. She ran the company’s innovation and enterprise growth organizations, including research and development, engineering, design, new business, global strategic alliances, environment, safety and regulatory affairs, and oversaw innovation processes, systems and tools. She has ten U.S. Patents and several more pending.
Cheryl brings her expertise to Innovationedge, creating new strategic business opportunities for companies seeking a competitive advantage across key businesses to ensure long-term growth and deliver a continuum of sustainable innovative solutions.
Few consultants are able to do what Cheryl does: Identify and transform insights, designs, technologies and capabilities into total solutions and new-to-the-world innovations.
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Colonel Russell J. Hrdy
Deputy Director, ARDEC
Colonel Hrdy is a native of Omaha, Nebraska and a 1981 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. In 1990 he received a Masters Degree of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Lehigh University.
His military education includes attendance at the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced courses, the Command and General Staff College, the Advanced Program Management course and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Colonel Hrdy began his career as an Armor officer in the 3rd Infantry Division in Schweinfurt Germany. Throughout his early career as a tank officer he held assignments as a Tank Platoon Leader, Support Platoon Leader, Tank Company Executive Officer, Tank Company Commander and Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander.
In 1993 he became a member of the Acquisition Corps. Colonel Hrdy’s acquisition experience include assignments as the Executive Officer for the Program Executive Officer, Armored System Modernization; Research and Development Coordinator for the M1A2 Tank program; Chief Tank Branch, Directorate of Combat Developments, Ft Knox, KY; System Coordinator in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research Development and Acquisition; Product Manager for the Grizzly Combat Obstacle Breacher; Project Manager for the Crusader Artillery System and Project Management positions within the Future Combat System (FCS) program. In January 2007 Colonel Hrdy deployed to serve on the staff of Multi-National Force Iraq as the Science and Technology Advisor. He has since resumed his current duties as the Deputy Director for the Armament Research and Development Center.
Colonel Hrdy and his wife Amy have two daughters, Kaitlyn and Faith. They currently reside at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey.
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