Stephen Mason

Stephen Mason

Austin, Texas, United States
3K followers 500+ connections

About

I protect and monetize the innovation of world-beating companies that started in garages,…

Articles by Stephen

  • The patent at the edge of life and death

    The patent at the edge of life and death

    The role of patents in other technology areas is economically similar, but I feel the role more profoundly in medicine…

    2 Comments
  • The great American road trip, in 2050.

    The great American road trip, in 2050.

    Before the self-driving car, I was the guy behind the wheel, paying careful attention to the road and the rolling rocks…

    2 Comments
  • Growing through a century.

    Growing through a century.

    At the beginning of the summer, I shared pictures of my collections of postcards from the twentieth century at Texas…

    1 Comment
  • Exceptional cannoli teach us about patents.

    Exceptional cannoli teach us about patents.

    If you don't hear your patent lawyer tell stories of wonder at the innovations that make our lifetime an age of…

    3 Comments
  • STEM education delivers transformative versatility.

    STEM education delivers transformative versatility.

    An engineering education is a key that opens doors to jobs from marketing to law. As a college student, I thought that…

    4 Comments
  • Cultivate an implacable urgency.

    Cultivate an implacable urgency.

    The death of my inventor taught me an implacable sense of urgency. Ultimately, an implacable urgency enabled me to…

  • Guard the gate: the lethal danger of ignoring software patents

    Guard the gate: the lethal danger of ignoring software patents

    There will be companies that take the shortsighted view and say, "Software patents are no longer worth the fight." Five…

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Experience

  • Dickinson Wright PLLC Graphic

    Dickinson Wright PLLC

    Austin, Texas Area

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    Austin, Texas Area

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    Austin, Texas, United States

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    Austin, Texas, United States

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    Salt Lake City, San Jose, and Manhattan

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    Austin, Texas Area

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    Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area

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    Austin, Texas, Verenigde Staten

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    Austin, Texas, Verenigde Staten

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    Dallas/Fort Worth Area

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    Houston, Texas Area

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    Houston, Texas Area

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    Houston, Texas Area

Education

  • Texas A&M University Graphic

    Texas A&M University

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    Activities and Societies: Activities included Engineering Scholars Program; International Engineering Education in France through École Polytechnique; Habitat for Humanity; and Hotard Hall council (Vice-President).

    Terry Foundation Scholar (a full tuition and expenses scholarship). National Merit scholarship. Houston Phi Beta Kappa Alumni/Vinson & Elkins scholarship. VFW Voice of Democracy scholarship.

    My elective courses were concentrated in communications and signal processing, digital logic and electronics, and digital systems design.

    Senior design project for 3M: Wafer-Level Semiconductor Device Testing.

    My engineering education was significantly enriched by three somewhat…

    Terry Foundation Scholar (a full tuition and expenses scholarship). National Merit scholarship. Houston Phi Beta Kappa Alumni/Vinson & Elkins scholarship. VFW Voice of Democracy scholarship.

    My elective courses were concentrated in communications and signal processing, digital logic and electronics, and digital systems design.

    Senior design project for 3M: Wafer-Level Semiconductor Device Testing.

    My engineering education was significantly enriched by three somewhat atypical extracurricular adventures. First, I completed four semesters (18 months) working as a co-op student at Nortel Networks in Dallas. Second, I was able to study abroad in electrical engineering in Paris, France for a semester in 1999 through a joint program of Texas A&M and École Polytechnique. Third, I was awarded just over 50 hours of credit by examination, mostly in liberal arts courses, which created flexibility for the first two experiences.

    Courses listed for this degree are my technical electives.

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    Activities and Societies: Inducted into Order of Barristers for excellence in litigation exercises. Joseph Milton Nance Scholar (a full tuition scholarship).

    Baylor was very generous in offering to me a place in the long tradition of Texas Aggie lawyers who studied law at Baylor, a tradition starting with President Sam Houston's son, Temple Lea Houston, from A&M's class of 1879. They were even more gracious to offer the opportunity for me to do so on a full-tuition scholarship.

    Baylor emphasizes (and I made a point to pursue) a curriculum heavy in practical courses focused on performing a broad range of legal tasks, rather than on…

    Baylor was very generous in offering to me a place in the long tradition of Texas Aggie lawyers who studied law at Baylor, a tradition starting with President Sam Houston's son, Temple Lea Houston, from A&M's class of 1879. They were even more gracious to offer the opportunity for me to do so on a full-tuition scholarship.

    Baylor emphasizes (and I made a point to pursue) a curriculum heavy in practical courses focused on performing a broad range of legal tasks, rather than on contemplating legal theory.

    Courses listed for this degree either were electives or were required at Baylor, but would be practice-focused electives at other law schools.

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    Activities and Societies: National History Day; YMCA Texas Youth and Government; BSA Explorer Scouting

    At Texas History Day, I medaled as a freshman with a paper on LBJ and the Gulf of Tonkin. My paper (Grandma's Nightshirt) was subsequently published in Texas Historian (Volume 53, #1, September, 1992).

    At National History Day, I medaled as a sophomore with an individual performance portraying Harry Truman in the campaign of 1948. The following year, an individual performance portraying TR with respect to the Panama Canal also took me to finals. Studying the biographies of those three…

    At Texas History Day, I medaled as a freshman with a paper on LBJ and the Gulf of Tonkin. My paper (Grandma's Nightshirt) was subsequently published in Texas Historian (Volume 53, #1, September, 1992).

    At National History Day, I medaled as a sophomore with an individual performance portraying Harry Truman in the campaign of 1948. The following year, an individual performance portraying TR with respect to the Panama Canal also took me to finals. Studying the biographies of those three men caused me to spend a lot of my subsequent life reflecting on the value of naked determination in turning the course of events.



    Youth and Government included participation in both the Youth Conference for National Affairs in North Carolina and the Youth Governors' Conference in Washington, D.C..

Licenses & Certifications

Volunteer Experience

  • Member of the Board of Directors, 2007-2008, 2018-2026

    Senior Aggie Leadership Council of Austin

    - Present 17 years

    Education

    Program Director 2019-2021

    The Senior Aggie Leadership Council is a group of Austin Aggies who are selected for membership based on positions of significant leadership in business, politics or the community. Membership is by invitation. Austin Aggies who have graduated from Texas A&M more than 20 years ago and have achieved positions of executive leadership are invited to apply.

    https://senioraggieleadership.com/

    Français:

    Membre du Conseil d’Administration, 2007 –…

    Program Director 2019-2021

    The Senior Aggie Leadership Council is a group of Austin Aggies who are selected for membership based on positions of significant leadership in business, politics or the community. Membership is by invitation. Austin Aggies who have graduated from Texas A&M more than 20 years ago and have achieved positions of executive leadership are invited to apply.

    https://senioraggieleadership.com/

    Français:

    Membre du Conseil d’Administration, 2007 – 2008, 2018 – 2023

    Le « Senior Aggie Leadership Council»l est un groupe « d'Austin Aggies » dont les membres sont sélectionnés en fonction de leur niveau de direction dans le monde des affaires, de la politique ou de la communauté. L'adhésion se fait sur invitation. Les « Austin Aggies » qui ont obtenu leur diplôme à l’université du Texas A&M il y a plus de 20 ans et qui ont occupé des postes de direction sont invités à soumettre leur candidature.

    https://senioraggieleadership.com/

  • The Terry Foundation Graphic

    New Scholar Selection Panel Volunteer

    The Terry Foundation

    - Present 24 years 9 months

    Education

    The Terry Foundation, which fully funded my undergraduate education, selects new Terry Scholars through a series of annual selection boards. The selection boards interview scholarship candidates and make recommendations based on academic excellence, demonstrated leadership potential, and financial need.

    It has been my great privilege to serve on those selection boards in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2022. There is no business better than to play a small role in helping good…

    The Terry Foundation, which fully funded my undergraduate education, selects new Terry Scholars through a series of annual selection boards. The selection boards interview scholarship candidates and make recommendations based on academic excellence, demonstrated leadership potential, and financial need.

    It has been my great privilege to serve on those selection boards in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2022. There is no business better than to play a small role in helping good kids reach their dreams.

    Français:

    Nouveau comité de sélection des chercheurs bénévoles

    La Fondation Terry, qui a entièrement financé mes études de premier cycle, sélectionne les nouveaux boursiers Terry par le biais d'une série de comités de sélection annuels. Les comités de sélection interrogent les candidats aux bourses d'études et émettent des recommandations fondées sur l'excellence universitaire, le potentiel de dirigeant et les besoins financiers.

    J'ai eu le grand privilège de faire partie de ces comités de sélection en 2000, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015 et 2022. Il n'y a rien de mieux que de jouer un petit rôle pour aider de bons élèves à réaliser leurs rêves.

  • U.S. News & World Report Graphic

    Law School Reputation Survey Respondent

    U.S. News & World Report

    - Present 6 years

    Education

    Every year, a panel of roughly 2,000 practicing attorneys and judges throughout the nation completes a professional reputation survey, by which we rate the quality of product of the nation's roughly 200 law schools. The results of that survey form part of the U.S. News ranking of America's law schools.

    Since 2018, it has been my privilege to serve as a respondent to that survey.

    Français:

    Sondage sur la réputation des facultés de droit

    Chaque année, un panel…

    Every year, a panel of roughly 2,000 practicing attorneys and judges throughout the nation completes a professional reputation survey, by which we rate the quality of product of the nation's roughly 200 law schools. The results of that survey form part of the U.S. News ranking of America's law schools.

    Since 2018, it has been my privilege to serve as a respondent to that survey.

    Français:

    Sondage sur la réputation des facultés de droit

    Chaque année, un panel d'environ 2 000 avocats et juges en exercice dans tout le pays participent à une enquête relative à la réputation professionnelle, par laquelle nous évaluons la qualité des produits de près de 200 écoles de droit du pays. Les résultats de cette enquête font partie du classement des facultés de droit américaines établi par U.S. News.

    Depuis 2018, j'ai eu le privilège de contribuer à cette enquête.

  • Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation (BVEDC) Graphic

    Member of the Board of Advisors

    Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation (BVEDC)

    - 1 year

    Economic Empowerment

  • Texas A&M University Graphic

    Pro Bono IP Attorney for Innovation Partners & TAMU School of Innovation

    Texas A&M University

    - 5 years

    Education

    Coordinating Pro-Bono Attorney 2018-2020
    Pro Bono Volunteer Attorney and IP guest lecturer 2018-2023

    https://tamuip.tamu.edu/about/educational-programs/pro-bono-ip-office-hours/

    Throughout the 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years, I coordinated a team of attorneys from Dickinson Wright as we created with the staff of the School of Innovation a monthly day of in-person pro-bono office hours and speaking engagements for the benefit of technology entrepreneurs on the TAMU campus at…

    Coordinating Pro-Bono Attorney 2018-2020
    Pro Bono Volunteer Attorney and IP guest lecturer 2018-2023

    https://tamuip.tamu.edu/about/educational-programs/pro-bono-ip-office-hours/

    Throughout the 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years, I coordinated a team of attorneys from Dickinson Wright as we created with the staff of the School of Innovation a monthly day of in-person pro-bono office hours and speaking engagements for the benefit of technology entrepreneurs on the TAMU campus at College Station, Texas. The DW lawyers who worked with me in this effort were K. Lance Anderson, Michael Noe, Jon Harder, Brian Mangum, Bill Broom, Keith Driscoll, and Renessa Kennelly.

    In the 2020-2021 academic year, the program massively expanded, adding attorneys from dozens of additional law firms via Zoom and phone calls through coordination by staff of the School of Innovation. My colleagues at Dickinson Wright and I continue to serve as volunteer attorneys.

    https://tamuip.tamu.edu/former-student-and-local-law-firm-recognized-for-donating-pro-bono-hours/

    Français:

    Coordination des avocats pro deo en propriété intellectuelle.

    Tout au long des années académiques 2018-2019 et 2019-2020, j’ai coordonné une équipe de huit avocats du Cabinet d’avocats « Dickinson Wright » en instaurant avec le personnel de la « School of Innovation - A&M Texas » une journée mensuelle de travail de bureau et d’allocution en personne à titre bénévole, et ce, au profit des entrepreneurs en technologies sur le campus de l'université du Texas A&M à College Station, Texas. Les avocats de Dickinson Wright qui ont travaillé avec moi dans cette dynamique étaient K. Lance Anderson, Michael Noe, Jon Harder, Brian Mangum, Bill Broom, Keith Driscoll, and Renessa Kennelly.

    Au cours de l’année académique 2020-2021, le programme s’est virtualisé et s’est massivement étendu. Mes collègues de Dickinson Wright et moi-même continuons à travailler bénévolement, sans coordination préalable.

  • Greater Texas Credit Union Graphic

    Chairman of the Supervisory Committee, 2016-2019

    Greater Texas Credit Union

    - 8 years 7 months

    Economic Empowerment

    Chairman of the Supervisory Committee 2016-2019
    NAFCU Certified Volunteer Expert 2016-
    Member of the Supervisory Committee 2014-2023
    Member of the Credit Union 1995-

    The committee provides various audit and oversight functions for GTFCU's board of directors.

    I am genuinely honored by this opportunity to give back to an institution that has served a critical function in my own life (for more than half my life).

    Moreover, the education afforded by exposure to the…

    Chairman of the Supervisory Committee 2016-2019
    NAFCU Certified Volunteer Expert 2016-
    Member of the Supervisory Committee 2014-2023
    Member of the Credit Union 1995-

    The committee provides various audit and oversight functions for GTFCU's board of directors.

    I am genuinely honored by this opportunity to give back to an institution that has served a critical function in my own life (for more than half my life).

    Moreover, the education afforded by exposure to the details of a 170-employee financial institution holding over $1/2B in deposits for roughly 65,000 members is invigorating.

    Français:

    Président du Comité de surveillance, 2016-2019

    Président du Comité de surveillance 2016-2019
    NAFCU Expert volontaire certifié 2016-
    Membre du Comité de surveillance 2014-
    Membre de l’union du crédit 1995-

    Le comité assure diverses fonctions d'audit et de surveillance pour le conseil d'administration de la GTFCU.

    Je suis sincèrement honoré de cette opportunité de servir à mon tour une institution qui a rempli une fonction essentielle dans ma propre vie (pendant plus de la moitié de ma vie).

    De plus, la connaissance des détails d'une institution financière employant 170 personnes et détenant plus d'un demi-milliard de dollars de dépôts pour environ 65 000 membres est motivante.

  • International Trade Promotion Volunteer

    OWIN - Open Worldwide Innovation Network

    - 5 years

    Economic Empowerment

    The Open Worldwide Innovation Network (OWIN®) serves as a virtual business incubator and a clearinghouse for members to exchange their worldwide needs and resources.

    Beginning in 2017, I have provided advice and assistance to Belgian companies seeking to enter the market of the United States. This assistance has, at various times, taken the form of support for Texas A&M University in receiving week-long trade missions in College Station, visiting companies and institutions in Belgium…

    The Open Worldwide Innovation Network (OWIN®) serves as a virtual business incubator and a clearinghouse for members to exchange their worldwide needs and resources.

    Beginning in 2017, I have provided advice and assistance to Belgian companies seeking to enter the market of the United States. This assistance has, at various times, taken the form of support for Texas A&M University in receiving week-long trade missions in College Station, visiting companies and institutions in Belgium, and participating in trade promotion meetings in Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Austin, and College Station to coordinate the actions of member institutions and companies.

    https://www.lecho.be/entreprises/general/stephen-mason-pour-reussir-au-texas-les-entrepreneurs-wallons-ne-doivent-pas-etre-trop-polis/10454749.html

    https://www.lavenir.net/fil-info/belgiqueetmonde/2017/10/17/mission-economique-wallonne-au-texas-le-cabinet-davocats-michael-best-etoffe-les-rangs-du-reseau-dinnovation-de-lawex-735MWM56UJDO5P64VBWINO6JIY/

    http://openiwin.com/

    https://vimeo.com/user44114511

    Français:

    Volontaire pour la promotion du commerce international

    L'Open Worldwide Innovation Network (OWIN®) sert d'incubateur virtuel d'entreprises et de centre d'échange pour ses membres afin qu'ils puissent échanger leurs besoins et leurs ressources dans le monde entier.

    Depuis 2017, je conseille et assiste les entreprises belges qui cherchent à pénétrer le marché des États-Unis. Les conseils et assistance ont, à plusieurs reprises, pris la forme de soutien envers l’Université du Texas A&M en recevant des missions commerciales d'une durée d’une semaine à College Station, mais également, en visitant des entreprises et des institutions en Belgique et en participant à des réunions de promotion commerciale à Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Austin et College Station ceci afin de coordonner les actions des institutions et des entreprises membres.

    https://vimeo.com/user44114511

    http://openiwin.com/

  • President, 2008-2009

    Texas Aggie Bar Association

    - 5 years 1 month

    Education

    Member of the board of directors 2005-2010

    The Texas Aggie Bar Association is a national networking organization for the attorney-alumni of Texas A&M University. In addition to providing a yearly CLE meeting on the campus of Texas A&M, the TABA holds quarterly happy hours in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio and raises scholarships to assist alumni of Texas A&M in attending law school.

    As president, I had ultimate responsibility for planning and supervising execution of the…

    Member of the board of directors 2005-2010

    The Texas Aggie Bar Association is a national networking organization for the attorney-alumni of Texas A&M University. In addition to providing a yearly CLE meeting on the campus of Texas A&M, the TABA holds quarterly happy hours in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio and raises scholarships to assist alumni of Texas A&M in attending law school.

    As president, I had ultimate responsibility for planning and supervising execution of the CLE and networking events, as well as raising money for the TABA's scholarships.

    See: http://hullabalog.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/texas-aggie-value-statements/

    Français:

    Président, 2008-2009

    Membre du conseil d'administration 2005-2010

    Le Texas Aggie Bar Association est une organisation nationale de networking pour les avocats de l'Université A&M du Texas. En plus d'organiser une réunion CLE annuelle sur le campus de Texas A&M, la TABA organise des happy hours trimestriels à Dallas, Houston, Austin et San Antonio et collecte des fonds pour aider les anciens élèves de Texas A&M à suivre des études de droit.

    En tant que président, j'avais la responsabilité ultime de planifier et de superviser le fonctionnement de la CLE et des événements de networking, ainsi que de recueillir des fonds pour les bourses d'études de la TABA.

    http://hullabalog.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/texas-aggie-value-statements/

  • President, 2007-2008

    Capital City A & M Foundation

    - 11 years

    Education

    The CCA&MF is the 501(c)3 foundation supporting the scholarship efforts of the below-referenced CCA&MC. I have served on the board of the foundation in various capacities at various times from 2006 to 2017.

    Secretary to the board, 2011-2013
    President 2007-2008

    Français:

    Président, 2007-2008

    Le CCA&MF est la fondation 501(c)3 qui soutient les efforts de bourses d'études du CCA&MC mentionné ci-dessous. J'ai siégé au conseil d'administration de la fondation à…

    The CCA&MF is the 501(c)3 foundation supporting the scholarship efforts of the below-referenced CCA&MC. I have served on the board of the foundation in various capacities at various times from 2006 to 2017.

    Secretary to the board, 2011-2013
    President 2007-2008

    Français:

    Président, 2007-2008

    Le CCA&MF est la fondation 501(c)3 qui soutient les efforts de bourses d'études du CCA&MC mentionné ci-dessous. J'ai siégé au conseil d'administration de la fondation à divers titres et à différentes époques de 2006 à 2017.

    Secrétaire du conseil d'administration, 2011-2013
    Président 2007-2008

  • Capital City A & M Club Graphic

    President, 2006-2007

    Capital City A & M Club

    - 12 years 8 months

    Education

    Member of the board of directors from 2005-2008.

    Founded in 1907, the Capital City A&M Club provides, on an ongoing basis, scholarships to 29 Aggies from the Austin area. The board provides volunteer leadership and execution of the fundraising and candidate selection for those scholarships, while also organizing 150 events per year to provide networking opportunities for the 15,000 Texas Aggies in town. The events ranged from breakfast for 20 to dinner for 1500. The club is the heart of…

    Member of the board of directors from 2005-2008.

    Founded in 1907, the Capital City A&M Club provides, on an ongoing basis, scholarships to 29 Aggies from the Austin area. The board provides volunteer leadership and execution of the fundraising and candidate selection for those scholarships, while also organizing 150 events per year to provide networking opportunities for the 15,000 Texas Aggies in town. The events ranged from breakfast for 20 to dinner for 1500. The club is the heart of a close-knit network of Aggies living behind the Orange Curtain in the heartland of our former rivals.

    As the 100th president, I had ultimate responsibility for supervising the planning and execution of those 150 events, as well as recruiting and motivating a core group of about 30 volunteers. I also handled media inquiries when our activities made the paper, which was more frequent than I ever expected, and did a bit of fundraising whenever needed. The media exposure sometimes had longer legs than I expected.

    See: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/sports/ncaafootball/08steps.html?pagewanted=print&_r=0 and http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/ring-fire/page/0/1

    The size and complexity of the organization provided me with an opportunity to develop transferable skills in managing large groups of people, managing stewardship of financial transactions executed by a distributed network of people running various events, and developing service concepts from market opportunity identification to sales plan.

    One of my proudest accomplishments with the organization came after I left the board, when a random audit by the IRS, which included my year, found that we had executed the financial details cleanly and in accordance with appropriate standards and controls during my time on the board.

    President, 2007
    Member of the Board of Directors, 2005-2008
    Member of the nominating committee 2011-12, 2015-7
    AFS Gold Century Club member

  • Président 2006-2007

    Capital City A & M Club

    - 12 years 8 months

    Education

    Membre du conseil d'administration de 2005 à 2008.

    Fondé en 1907, le "Capital City A&M Club" offre, de manière permanente, des bourses d'études à 29 Aggies de la région d'Austin. Le conseil d'administration assure bénévolement la direction et l'exécution de la collecte de fonds et de la sélection des candidats aux bourses, tout en organisant 150 événements par an pour offrir des possibilités de networking aux 15 000 Texas Aggies de la ville.
    En tant que 100e président, j'avais la…

    Membre du conseil d'administration de 2005 à 2008.

    Fondé en 1907, le "Capital City A&M Club" offre, de manière permanente, des bourses d'études à 29 Aggies de la région d'Austin. Le conseil d'administration assure bénévolement la direction et l'exécution de la collecte de fonds et de la sélection des candidats aux bourses, tout en organisant 150 événements par an pour offrir des possibilités de networking aux 15 000 Texas Aggies de la ville.
    En tant que 100e président, j'avais la responsabilité principale de superviser la planification et l'exécution de ces 150 événements, ainsi que de recruter et de motiver un noyau d'environ 30 bénévoles. Je me suis également chargé des relations avec les médias lorsque nos activités ont fait la une des journaux, ce qui était plus fréquent que je ne l'aurais imaginé. Je me suis également chargé de récolter des fonds chaque fois que cela était nécessaire.

    Voir : http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/sports/ncaafootball/08steps.html?pagewanted=print&_r=0 et http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/ring-fire/page/0/1

    La taille et la complexité de l'organisation m'ont donné l'opportunité de développer des compétences transférables dans la gestion de grands groupes de personnes, dans la gestion des transactions financières exécutées par un réseau de personnes gérant divers événements, et dans le développement de concepts de services allant de l'identification des opportunités du marché à la planification des ventes.

    Membre du conseil d'administration, 2005-2008
    Membre du comité de nomination 2011-12, 2015-7
    Membre du AFS Gold Century Club

  • Austin Independent School District Graphic

    Pease Elementary School Parent Volunteer

    Austin Independent School District

    - 7 years

    Education

    My wife and I did whatever we could, whenever asked, because it mattered. She served on the board of the PTA, and I provided support as I could. We were honored (and humbled) by the 2014 presentation of separate parent volunteer awards to each of us.

    My long run-suspicion is that the actual details of the work that we did are less important than the intensity of our engagement with our daughters' school. Pease had a 140+-year tradition of fostering intense engagement in the Austin…

    My wife and I did whatever we could, whenever asked, because it mattered. She served on the board of the PTA, and I provided support as I could. We were honored (and humbled) by the 2014 presentation of separate parent volunteer awards to each of us.

    My long run-suspicion is that the actual details of the work that we did are less important than the intensity of our engagement with our daughters' school. Pease had a 140+-year tradition of fostering intense engagement in the Austin community to achieve great results for its students.

    Français:

    Parents bénévoles

    Mon épouse et moi-même avons fait tout ce que nous pouvions, quand on nous le demandait, parce que c'était important. Elle a siégé au conseil d'administration de l'association des parents d'élèves, et je l'ai soutenue autant que possible. Nous avons été honorés (humblement) par la remise en 2014 des prix distincts aux parents bénévoles pour chacun d'entre nous.

    À long terme, je réalise que les détails du travail que nous avons accompli sont moins importants que l'intensité de notre engagement dans l'école de nos filles. « Pease » a une tradition de plus de 140 ans de profond engagement dans la communauté d'Austin afin que ses élèves obtiennent d'excellents résultats.

  • Travis County Republican Party Graphic

    Executive Committee Member and Precinct Chairman

    Travis County Republican Party

    - 8 years

    Politics

    In a past life, I served as a Republican precinct chairman in two precincts that were roughly 85% democratic. The experience was a bit like selling dog food to people in a neighborhood where each house owns a cat. In the time that I was precinct chairman, I managed to raise the visibility of the GOP in my precinct from 'non-entity' to the front page of the Austin American-Statesman. You can read a little bit about my adventures in "The Big Sort," a book by Bill Bishop.

    See:…

    In a past life, I served as a Republican precinct chairman in two precincts that were roughly 85% democratic. The experience was a bit like selling dog food to people in a neighborhood where each house owns a cat. In the time that I was precinct chairman, I managed to raise the visibility of the GOP in my precinct from 'non-entity' to the front page of the Austin American-Statesman. You can read a little bit about my adventures in "The Big Sort," a book by Bill Bishop.

    See: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92292747.

    My most important accomplishment was an ordinance allowing dogs on restaurant patios.

    See: http://fideliodogs.com/blog/pets-on-the-patio-up-for-a-vote/

    It is fair to say that I have more background than most people can imagine in selling a product with no natural local market. It helps that I also like cats and am largely undeterred by repeated rejection.

    I learned a lot about sales, marketing, and carefully targeting a pitch to concentrate on broadly shared bits of very small consensus. Because my precinct is on the East Side, I also learned to use 2,800 words of conversational Spanish (though usually with more enthusiasm than precision).

    Executive Committee Member, 2004-2012
    State Convention Delegate, 2004, 2006
    SD Convention Rules Committee Chairman, 2004
    Precinct Convention Chairman 2004, 2006, 2008

  • Travis County Republican Party Graphic

    Membre du comité exécutif et président de séance

    Travis County Republican Party

    - 8 years

    Politics

    Par le passé, j'ai été président d'un groupe de républicains dans deux circonscriptions qui étaient démocratiques à environ 85 %. L'expérience était comparable à la vente de nourriture pour chiens aux habitants d'un quartier où chaque maison possède un chat. À l'époque où j'étais président de district, j'ai réussi à faire passer la visibilité du GOP dans mon secteur de "non-entité" à la première page de l'Austin American-Statesman. Vous pouvez lire quelques-unes de mes aventures dans "The Big…

    Par le passé, j'ai été président d'un groupe de républicains dans deux circonscriptions qui étaient démocratiques à environ 85 %. L'expérience était comparable à la vente de nourriture pour chiens aux habitants d'un quartier où chaque maison possède un chat. À l'époque où j'étais président de district, j'ai réussi à faire passer la visibilité du GOP dans mon secteur de "non-entité" à la première page de l'Austin American-Statesman. Vous pouvez lire quelques-unes de mes aventures dans "The Big Sort", un livre de Bill Bishop.

    Voir : http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92292747.

    Ma réalisation la plus importante a été la réglementation autorisant les chiens sur les terrasses des restaurants.

    Voir : http://fideliodogs.com/blog/pets-on-the-patio-up-for-a-vote/

    Il est vrai que j'ai plus d'expérience que la plupart des gens ne peuvent l'imaginer dans la vente d'un produit sans réelle existence d’un marché local. Heureusement, j'aime les chats et je n'ai pas été découragé par les refus successifs.

    J'ai beaucoup appris sur la vente, le marketing et le ciblage minutieux d'une offre pour me concentrer sur les éléments largement partagés par un petit nombre. Comme mon quartier se trouve dans l'East Side, j'ai également appris à utiliser 2 800 mots d'espagnol de conversation (bien que généralement avec plus d'enthousiasme que de précision).

    Membre du comité exécutif, 2004-2012
    Délégué à la Convention d'État, 2004, 2006
    Président du comité des règles de la Convention du développement durable, 2004
    Président de la Convention de quartier 2004, 2006, 2008

Publications

  • Co-Author, Patent Practitioners- Global Insight into Early-Stage Technology and Future Engineering Skills

    World Congress on Engineering Education 2014

    The authors surveyed 315 patent practitioners with respect to both the engineering education coursework and engineering work experience that they seek in the transcripts and resumes of interview candidates entering their organizations. This set of technology professionals uses engineering education in support of innovation in early stages of technology development and therefore possesses an unexplored view of the research that will influence the needs of the engineering workforce for product…

    The authors surveyed 315 patent practitioners with respect to both the engineering education coursework and engineering work experience that they seek in the transcripts and resumes of interview candidates entering their organizations. This set of technology professionals uses engineering education in support of innovation in early stages of technology development and therefore possesses an unexplored view of the research that will influence the needs of the engineering workforce for product development roles by 2020. An understanding of the educational needs of patent practitioners is useful to engineering education because patent practitioners tend to address global opportunities by handling cases in front of the patent offices of multiple countries. Specifically, it is common for a patent practitioner to represent and supervise the representation of applicants on a single family of patent cases in front of multiple patent offices in Europe, Asia and the Americas, thereby receiving uncommon global exposure to the opportunities and challenges represented by differing market conditions and differences in cultural norms with respect to both technology and communication.


    Read More: http://www.qscience.com/doi/abs/10.5339/qproc.2015.wcee2014.37

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Voice Actor, The ACLU of Texas: A Maverick organization since 1938

    ACLU of Texas

    Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNEPzqosVaw

    This documentary by Diane Zander Mason tells the story of the founding of the ACLU of Texas during the Pecan Sheller's Strike of 1938 in San Antonio. In that documentary, it was my good fortune to act as the voice of the late Maury Maverick, who was at various times United States Representative from and Mayor of San Antonio.

    The best part of the role was the opportunity to sit down with Mayor Maverick's daughter and…

    Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNEPzqosVaw

    This documentary by Diane Zander Mason tells the story of the founding of the ACLU of Texas during the Pecan Sheller's Strike of 1938 in San Antonio. In that documentary, it was my good fortune to act as the voice of the late Maury Maverick, who was at various times United States Representative from and Mayor of San Antonio.

    The best part of the role was the opportunity to sit down with Mayor Maverick's daughter and discuss her father's adventures over dinner.

    See publication
  • Author, Grandma's Nightshirt

    Texas Historian

    Volume LIII, September 1992, Number 1 (attached to this profile). This article explores the question of whether President Lyndon Johnson intentionally deceived the American people with respect to the Gulf of Tonkin incident.

Courses

  • Advanced Family Law Issues

    Law 9269

  • Advanced Texas Criminal Procedure

    Law 9350

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution

    Law 9247

  • Bankruptcy

    Law 9385

  • Business Organizations I

    Law 9421

  • Business Planning and Drafting

    Law 9292

  • Civil Liberties

    Law 9360

  • Client Counseling

    Law 9227

  • Commercial Law: Secured Transactions

    Law 9342

  • Communication Theory

    ELEN 456

  • Computer Architecture and Design

    ELEN 350

  • Consumer Protection

    Law 9349

  • Criminal Procedure

    Law 9356

  • Digital Integrated Circuit Design

    ELEN 454

  • Digital Signal Processing

    ELEN 454

  • Entertainment Law

    Law 9230

  • Evidence

    Law 9520

  • Family Law

    Law 9370

  • Federal Income Taxation

    Law 9445

  • Independent Study in Patent Law

    Law 9V99

  • Intellectual Property

    Law 9364

  • Intellectual Property II - Pracitce Skills

    Law 9262

  • Legislation, Administrative Power and Procedure

    Law 9315

  • Linear Circuit Analysis

    ELEN 314

  • Linear Control Systems

    ELEN 420

  • Local Government

    Law 9365

  • Mechanical Engineering Design II

    MEEN 445

  • Microprocessor System Design

    ELEN 449

  • Nonprofit Organizations

    Law 9211

  • Oil and Gas

    Law 9330

  • Oral Advicacy

    Law 9196

  • Patent Law and Drafting

    Law 9321

  • Personal Injury Trial Law

    Law 9174

  • Practice Court I & II

    Law 9527 and 9528

  • Retirement Law

    Law 9272

  • Special Topics in Energy and the Environment

    ENGR 489

  • Trusts and Estates I

    Law 9504

Honors & Awards

  • School of Innovation Award in Appreciation for Service to Pro Bono Office Hours Program

    Texas A&M Univiersity

  • Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation

    Texas Bar Foundation (txbf.org)

    The Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation are an honor society composed of the top 1/3 of 1% of Texas attorneys. Election to the Fellows is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a member of the State Bar of Texas. Nomination is based on outstanding contributions to the legal profession as well as a commitment to the community.

  • College of the State Bar of Texas

    State Bar of Texas (texasbar.com)

    The College of the State Bar of Texas is an honor society composed of Texas attorneys who have committed to either teaching (examples called out immediately below) or consuming a large amount of continuing legal education.

  • Order of Barristers

    Baylor Law School (law.baylor.edu)

    The Order if Barristers is an honor society into which law students are inducted for excellence in advocacy exercises. We also served as judge's for Baylor's intramural moot court tournament and the annual tournament that Baylor hosted for the Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association (TUMCA).

  • Joseph Milton Nance Scholar

    Baylor Law School (baylor.edu)

    The Joseph Milton Nance scholarship is a renewable full-tuition scholarship provided to three students in each entering law class.

  • Engineering Scholars Program

    Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University (engineering.tamu.edu)

    The Engineering Scholars Program was, in the mid-1990s, the honors program of the College of Engineering.

  • Terry Foundation Scholar

    The Terry Foundation (terryfoundation.org)

    The Terry Foundation provides total cost of attendance scholarships to students at selected universities in Texas.

  • Vinson & Elkins Scholarship

    Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association of Greater Houston (pbkhouston.org)

  • National Merit Scholarship

    Texas A&M University (tamu.edu)

  • President's Endowed Scholar

    Texas A&M University (tamu.edu)

Languages

  • English

    Native or bilingual proficiency

  • Spanish (Hablo un poco)

    Elementary proficiency

  • French (Je comprends un petit peu)

    Elementary proficiency

Organizations

  • Senior Aggie Leadership Council of Austin

    -

    - Present

    Member of the Board of Directors, 2007-2008 The Senior Aggie Leadership Council is a group of Austin Aggies who are selected for membership based on positions of significant leadership in business, politics or the community. Membership is by invitation. Austin Aggies who have graduated from Texas A&M more than 20 years ago and have achieved positions of executive leadership are invited to apply.

  • Austin Intellectual Property Law Association (www.austin-ipla.org)

    -

    - Present
  • Baylor Law Alumni Association

    Life Member

    - Present
  • Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Texas

    -

    - Present
  • Texas Aggie Bar Association (www.aggielaw.org)

    President, 2008-2009

    - Present

    Member of the board of directors 2005-2010 The Texas Aggie Bar Association is a national networking organization for the attorney-alumni of Texas A&M University. In addition to providing a yearly CLE meeting on the campus of Texas A&M, the TABA holds quarterly happy hours in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio and raises scholarships to assist alumni of Texas A&M in attending law school. As president, I had ultimate responsibility for planning and supervising execution of the CLE and…

    Member of the board of directors 2005-2010 The Texas Aggie Bar Association is a national networking organization for the attorney-alumni of Texas A&M University. In addition to providing a yearly CLE meeting on the campus of Texas A&M, the TABA holds quarterly happy hours in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio and raises scholarships to assist alumni of Texas A&M in attending law school. As president, I had ultimate responsibility for planning and supervising execution of the CLE and networking events, as well as raising money for the TABA's scholarships. See: http://hullabalog.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/texas-aggie-value-statements/

  • Capital City A&M Club (www.austinags.org)

    President, 2006-2007

    - Present

    Member of the board of directors from 2005-2008. Founded in 1907, the Capital City A&M Club provides, on an ongoing basis, scholarships to 29 Aggies from the Austin area. The board provides volunteer leadership and execution of the fundraising and candidate selection for those scholarships, while also organizing 150 events per year to provide networking opportunities for the 15,000 Texas Aggies in town. The events ranged from breakfast for 20 to dinner for 1500. The club is the heart of a…

    Member of the board of directors from 2005-2008. Founded in 1907, the Capital City A&M Club provides, on an ongoing basis, scholarships to 29 Aggies from the Austin area. The board provides volunteer leadership and execution of the fundraising and candidate selection for those scholarships, while also organizing 150 events per year to provide networking opportunities for the 15,000 Texas Aggies in town. The events ranged from breakfast for 20 to dinner for 1500. The club is the heart of a close-knit network of Aggies living behind the Orange Curtain in the heartland of our former rivals. As the 100th president, I had ultimate responsibility for supervising the planning and execution of those 150 events, as well as recruiting and motivating a core group of about 30 volunteers. I also handled media inquiries when our activities made the paper, which was more frequent than I ever expected, and did a bit of fundraising whenever needed. The media exposure sometimes had longer legs than I expected. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/sports/ncaafootball/08steps.html?pagewanted=print&_r=0 and http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/ring-fire/page/0/1 The size and complexity of the organization provided me with an opportunity to develop transferable skills in managing large groups of people, managing stewardship of financial transactions executed by a distributed network of people running various events, and developing service concepts from market opportunity identification to sales plan. One of my proudest accomplishments with the organization came after I left the board, when a random audit by the IRS, which included my year, found that we had executed the financial details cleanly and in accordance with appropriate standards and controls during my time on the board. President, 2007 Member of the Board of Directors, 2005-2008 Member of the nominating committee 2011-12, 2015-7 Board meeting host, 2017 AFS Silver Century Club member

  • Greater Texas Federal Credit Union (www.gtfcu.org)

    Chairman of the Supervisory Committee (2016- )

    - Present

    Chairman of the Supervisory Committee 2016- NAFCU Certified Volunteer Expert 2016- Member of the Supervisory Committee 2014- Member of the Credit Union 1995- The committee provides various audit and oversight functions for GTFCU's board of directors. I am genuinely honored by this opportunity to give back to an institution that has served a critical function in my own life (for more than half my life). Moreover, the education afforded by exposure to the details of a 170-employee financial…

    Chairman of the Supervisory Committee 2016- NAFCU Certified Volunteer Expert 2016- Member of the Supervisory Committee 2014- Member of the Credit Union 1995- The committee provides various audit and oversight functions for GTFCU's board of directors. I am genuinely honored by this opportunity to give back to an institution that has served a critical function in my own life (for more than half my life). Moreover, the education afforded by exposure to the details of a 170-employee financial institution holding over $1/2B in deposits for roughly 65,000 members is invigorating.

  • Capital City A&M Foundation

    President 2007-2008

    -

    The CCA&MF is the 501(c)3 foundation supporting the scholarship efforts of the above-referenced CCA&MC. I have served on the board of the foundation in various capacities at various times from 2006 to 2014. Secretary to the board, 2011-2013 President 2007-2008

  • Terry Foundation (www.terryfoundation.com)

    new scholar selection board volunteer

    -

    The Terry Foundation, which fully funded my undergraduate education, selects new Terry Scholars through a series of annual selection boards. The selection boards interview scholarship candidates and make recommendations based on academic excellence, demonstrated leadership potential, and financial need. It has been my great privilege to serve on those selection boards in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2015. There is no business better than to play a small role in helping good kids reach…

    The Terry Foundation, which fully funded my undergraduate education, selects new Terry Scholars through a series of annual selection boards. The selection boards interview scholarship candidates and make recommendations based on academic excellence, demonstrated leadership potential, and financial need. It has been my great privilege to serve on those selection boards in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2015. There is no business better than to play a small role in helping good kids reach their dreams.

  • Travis County Republican Party, Executive Committee (www.traviscountygop.org)

    Executive Committee Member and Precinct Chairman

    -

    In a past life, I served as a Republican precinct chairman in two precincts that were roughly 85% democratic. The experience was a bit like selling dog food to people in a neighborhood where each house owns a cat. In the time that I was precinct chairman, I managed to raise the visibility of the GOP in my precinct from 'non-entity' to the front page of the Austin American-Statesman. You can read a little bit about my adventures in "The Big Sort," a book by Bill Bishop. See:…

    In a past life, I served as a Republican precinct chairman in two precincts that were roughly 85% democratic. The experience was a bit like selling dog food to people in a neighborhood where each house owns a cat. In the time that I was precinct chairman, I managed to raise the visibility of the GOP in my precinct from 'non-entity' to the front page of the Austin American-Statesman. You can read a little bit about my adventures in "The Big Sort," a book by Bill Bishop. See: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92292747. My most important accomplishment was an ordinance allowing dogs on restaurant patios. See: http://fideliodogs.com/blog/pets-on-the-patio-up-for-a-vote/ It is fair to say that I have more background than most people can imagine in selling a product with no natural local market. It helps that I also like cats and am largely undeterred by repeated rejection. I learned a lot about sales, marketing, and carefully targeting a pitch to concentrate on broadly shared bits of very small consensus. Because my precinct is on the East Side, I also learned to use 2,800 words of conversational Spanish (though usually with more enthusiasm than precision). Executive Committee Member, 2004-2012 State Convention Delegate, 2004, 2006 SD Convention Rules Committee Chairman, 2004 Precinct Convention Chairman 2004, 2006, 2008

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