I earned my B.S. and M.S. at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell in Plastics Engineering; a unique blend of chemistry and mechanical engineering. There I gained experience in extrusion, injection molding, thermoforming, blow molding, mold design and fabrication, programming, milling, and ASTM testing procedures. I was even given the chance to design and fabricate a mold, including installation and a successful first run.

     During my undergraduate and graduate studies, I worked for a variety of organizations, including UMass Lowell's Network Services Department, KaZaK Composites, and NxStage Medical. Responsibilities at Network Services included website creation, network troubleshooting and repair, and network infrastructure replacement and planning. While at KaZaK composites, I participated in R&D and fabrication of novel composites products. There I honed my skills in computer modeling and fabrication, while learning techniques for production of small batch composite products. At NxStage Medical, I worked in a R&D laboratory, participating in product and process development, documentation and performance of validation protocols, creation of medical device and disposables labels, as well as quality control.

     In law school, I pursued a strong intellectual property track, studying patent, trademark, and copyright law and treaties as well as IP licensing. I also had the opportunity to provide counseling and transactional assistance to clients in IP and related matters as part of a clinical program and became involved with the International Technology Transfer office, where I engaged in patent analysis, data compilation, image manipulation, and patent landscape mapping.

     More recently, at the Boeing Company, I created a database in order to allow more efficient tracking and entry of trademark licensing and licensee information and engaged in troubleshooting of other databases on behalf of their Intellectual Property Management (IPM) division with outside vendors, while participating in market research to determine optimal market insertion points for Boeing created intellectual property assets.

     Outside of the firm, I spend most of my time tinkering with cars and computers, hiking, boating, and generally enjoying the outdoors. Although I would not consider myself an expert, I thoroughly enjoy learning about and experimenting with computer programming, especially using HTML, Visual Basic, SQL, Batch Scripting, Shell Scripting, and AppleScript.

     I am excited to be a part of Maine Cernota & Rardin, working closely with the current practitioners and staff to provide the excellent service that clients have come to expect from this firm. If someone you know would benefit from having myself or one of our other great patent professionals in their court for intellectual property matters, feel free to pass this on to them and ask them to contact us anytime.