The United States Patent & Trademark Office partnered with the Ohio Patent Pro Bono Program to recognize volunteers & founding firms at an award ceremony sponsored by the Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association (“CIPLA”) in April 2019. Dr. Frank Papay, Chairman of the Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Institute at the Cleveland Clinic was the keynote speaker.
Ted Theofrastous, OPPBP Chairman and Damian Porcari, Director of the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional USPTO will presented the following awards during dinner:
- USPTO Certificate of Achievement 50 Hours
- Liza Heinig, Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino LLP
- Julie Micalizzi, McDonald Hopkins
- Mark Guinto, McDonald Hopkins
- Rookie of the Year
- Jessica Fross, City of Mentor
- MVP Volunteer -Firms
- Mark Guinto, McDonald Hopkins
- MVP Volunteer -Corporation
- Kevin Dunn, Lincoln Electric
- Hall of Fame Award-Patent Issued
- Brian Bolinger, Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino LLP
- Donald Firca, Kraguljac Law Group, LLC
- Rich Wesorick, Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino LLP
- Robert Schmidt, Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino LLP
- Founding Firms
- Emerson Thomson Bennett (Roger Emerson)
- Founding Corporations/Sponsors
- Parker Hannifin (Chris Hunter)
- Lincoln Electric (Kevin Dunn)
Damian Porcari (Director of the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional USPTO) awards attorney volunteer Robert Schmidt with an Award for his work with Ohio inventor, Adam Wray.
Rich Wesorick (CIPLA Pro Bono Committee Chair) , Dr. Frank Papay (Keynote Speaker & Chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Institute) , Ted Theofrastous (Ohio Patent Pro Bono Program Chaiman), Una Lauricia (CIPLA President), and Damian Porcari (Director of the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional USPTO) at the CIPLA Ohio Patent Pro Bono Program Volunteer Award Dinner.
