Detroit Metropolitan Area
Transformative legal and business leader, strategist, brand builder, and innovation facilitator with more than 30 years of experience in general corporate, technology, branding, and intellectual property matters plus broad experience in Corporate Transactions, Patent Procurement, Patent Enforcement, Patent Litigation, Trademark Law, Brand Protection, Anti-Counterfeiting, Brand Management, Copyright Law, Open Source Software, Design Law, Intellectual Property Transactions, Mergers & Acquisitions, Intellectual Property Strategy, Technology Strategy, Brand Strategy, Corporate Governance, New Product Introduction, Offshore Outsourcing, and Law Department Management
I am an officer of Tenneco LLC with enterprise responsibility for all intellectual property business and policy matters, all legal matters related to intellectual property, technology, brands, and innovation, and all related aspects of Tenneco's compliance, securities, and corporate governance activities. Tenneco Inc. is an $18 Billion (2021) Fortune 200 diversified global tier 1 supplier to vehicle manufacturers and a leading manufacturer and seller of branded parts for the independent automotive aftermarket. As the executive business leader for intellectual property strategy and asset management, I manage of global portfolio of more than 5,000 patent assets in more than 30 countries and more than 8,000 trademark assets in more than 175 countries. As an executive leader in the Law Department, I have a broad range of responsibilities including legal matters related to (1) intellectual property (e.g. patents, trademarks/brand protection, trade secrets), (2) technology and brand transactions and commercial transactions related to technology and brands, (3) innovation, (4) marketing, (5) social media and advertising, and (6) all related compliance, securities, and corporate governance activities. I lead a team of ~18 attorneys, IP professionals, and investigators based in the USA, Germany, Poland, Sweden, and China. I am also a member of the company's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Steering Committee with responsibility for Product Innovation and related topics, lead all IP-related legislative and lobbying activity, and oversee legal operations for a team of ~60 legal and compliance professionals is the USA, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, China, and India.
I am a guest lecturer for MBA students on topics including Innovation Management, Brand Management, and Intellectual Capital Management
Board Member (March 2018 - present), Executive Committee Member (September 2018 - December 2022, January 2024 - present), U.S. Advocacy Steering Committee Member (April 2020 - December 2021), Amicus Brief Committee Member (January 2023 - December 2025, Chair January 2024 - December 2025), Audit Committee Member (January 2022 - present), Nominations Committee (January 2024 - present), Vice President (January 2024 - December 2025), President (January 2026 - present) IPO Education Foundation Board Member (January 2020 - January 2024)
Benchmarking Taskforce: February 2017 - January 2022 Program Committee: August 2017 - June 2019 Executive Committee: January 2018 - January 2026 Treasurer: February 2021 - January 2022 Vice President: February 2022 - January 2023 President: February 2023 - January 2024
I led a group of ~25 patent attorneys, agents, and other professionals with responsibility for protecting the majority of Caterpillar's innovation, overseeing IP legal support for executing of Caterpillar's technology strategy, and supporting Caterpillar's innovation and digital initiatives (e.g. data analytics, e-business, smart machines, autonomous machines, connected worksite, 3D printing). Team activities include patent procurement and portfolio management, patent clearance and freedom to operate, technology development and licensing agreements, trade secret counseling, and general technology-related IP support. I also had a leadership role in Caterpillar’s legislative and lobbying activities and was a strategic advisor for legal process outsourcing projects including commercial contracts, employment matters, litigation support, and intellectual property matters. I served as a member and Chair of Caterpillar’s Pro Bono Outreach & Recognition committee. I was also a leader-teacher for Caterpillar's L.E.A.D (Leadership Excellence in Accountability and Development) leadership training program and oversaw development and execution of the IP aspects of Caterpillar’s corporate venture capital program.
I led a multi-national team of ~30 attorneys and other professionals with global responsibility across the Caterpillar enterprise for: (1) brand protection and trademark enforcement, (2) intellectual property licensing, supplier development agreements, and other transactions, including IP aspects of M&A transactions, (3) aftermarket parts and service protection, and (4) patent clearance and disputes including litigation activity, as well as (5) all aspects of IP for Caterpillar’s industrial turbines business and Caterpillar’s locomotive and rail services business. I also had a leadership role in Caterpillar’s legislative and lobbying activities and was Caterpillar’s initial Legal Division Champion (2011-2014) for legal process outsourcing projects including commercial contracts, employment matters, litigation support, and intellectual property matters. I served a member and Chair of Caterpillar’s Pro Bono Outreach committee and as office space coordinator for 200+ members of the Legal Division in the Peoria area. I was also a leader-teacher for Caterpillar's L.E.A.D (Leadership Excellence in Accountability and Development) leadership training program and oversaw development and execution of the IP aspects of Caterpillar’s corporate venture capital program.
I created and led Caterpillar’s global center of excellence for IP dispute management including oversight for patent disputes and opinion processes and other contentious matters including domestic and international patent litigation. During this time, I also had leadership for Caterpillar’s patent search and analytics function and a key role in development of global analytics-based patent strategies.