Ken Roddy, Registered U.S. Patent Agent www.patentstuff.com Workshop – How to protect your idea in the early stages, and Everything you wanted to know about patents.(1/16/19)

Esther Crawford, Government Publications Department Head , Discussed the Rice University Fondren Library Patent Depository Library services and other programs for inventors. (2/14/07)

“What Inventors Should Know About Trade Secrets”, presented by John J. Davis, III with the law firm of Patout & Shaw, PLLC www.patoutshaw.com. John discussed great steps that may be taken to protect the secret or invention.

Brian Carpenter of Texas A&M Library demonstrated how to do an on-line patent search using their new “Tip2” (Texas Intellectual Property Partnership) facility.(4/28/04)

Sandeep “Sandy” Seth, Susman Godfrey, LLP Intellectual Property Attorney specializing in litigation discussed “Patent Infringement Litigation””Patent Infringement Litigation”, “Patent Claims”, and “Designing Around”. (5/14/08)

How you can receive up to 40 hours of free technical assistance through SATOP (the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program). This is an excellent FREE resource and has helped many of our members and other local inventors solve technical, design, and material selection problems with their product. Your invention does not have to be high tech or space related to receive help. (6/13/18)

Joe Decker of U of H Small Business Development Center (UH SBDC) Free business consulting and affordable training seminars for entrepreneurs in the start-up mode as well as to experienced business owners who want to take their companies to the next level. (10/24/12)

Roland von Kurnatowski, Executive Director of TX/RX LABS discussed this Houston nonprofit makerspace for inventors and creators that provides over 600 classes each year in an open environment staffed by professional educators, engineers, inventors, artists, and coders, who teach and help others to use high-tech tools to turn ideas into realities, such as 3D printers, computer-aided drafting (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines, laser cutters, plasma cutters, lathes, mills, water jets, and router tables. (06/12/20)

“Doing Market Research”, presented by Mark Streich, Director of Technology Innovation at the University of Houston Small Business Development Center (UH-SBDC). Mark advises (for free!) entrepreneurs and startups in a variety of markets on such issues as validating their business models, company strategy, operational issues, market positioning, intellectual property, financial projections, managing projects, restructuring their organization for success, funding opportunities, as well as executive coaching. Mark is often referred to as the “Startup Whisperer”, and gained public notoriety when Toastmasters named him “2nd Funniest Man in Houston.” (10/23/13)

Mr. Irwin Miller of the Houston Chapter of SCORE(Service Corp of Retired Executives), discussed the small business counseling and training services offered by this well known nonprofit organization and how they may help inventors. (10/10/12)

Ann Pham of the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC). TMAC Gulf Coast is affiliated with the University of Houston College of Technology. TMAC Gulf Coast provides a broad array of resources, training, technical assistance, and other services to small and medium size companies in the greater Houston area that help increase profits, streamline manufacturing processes, optimize operations, increase productivity, and integrate technology and equipment. (9/9/09)

Houston Technology Center (HTC), A non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, is Houston’s business accelerator and the largest technology business incubator in Texas. HTC accelerates the commercialization of emerging technology companies in Greater Houston by providing in-depth business guidance, access to capital and service providers, and entrepreneurial education. (2/28/07)

Scott Provost, Johnson Technical Support Group – SBIR and STTR government grant programs, technology transfer, available technologies and access to facilities and experts to assist the inventor with challenging technical issues, and seeking scientists and engineers. (5/28/03)

Linda Ravey discussed the new Texas A&M; University Technology Transfer and Commercialization Initiative program to add value to entrepreneurial research and development endeavors for the express purpose of accelerating the right technologies to market.

Lucia Sevcik, of HoustonRobotics.org and Regional Director of “FIRST” Robotics Competition for Students discussed this great program and showed local winners of the Lone Star Regional. (5/12/04)

“Social Media Marketing 101 – All the Basics of Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter” – Presented by Shelley Roth of Springboard Social Media http://springboardworks.com/. Shelley is a marketing professional, trainer, speaker, author and consultant, and loves to train small business owners, entrepreneurs, and independent professionals on how to incorporate social media marketing tools into existing marketing plans for increased brand recognition and sales. (3/27/13)

Ms. Sandy Lawrence, Small Business Marketing Expert, Founder and CEO of Perceptive Marketing. Sandy is a marketing and promotions executive with over 30 years experience, and a publicist for authors, publishers, speakers and small business owners. She has developed programs for independent authors and small businesses with limited budgets for marketing and hosts monthly Marketing Bistro workshops to train participants to do their own marketing. (2/27/13)

Noted author Steve Greenberg discussed his fascinating book about garage inventors, GADGET NATION: A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention (www.gadgetnation.net) It showcases more than 100 off-beat gadgets and the inventors behind them. These aren’t fictional gag gadgets. They are actual, real products that you can buy today. Maybe you already have? Available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

“How to Obtain News Coverage on an Invention” and “Writing a Press Release, Developing a Press Kit and Contacting the Media” presented by Emily Oberton, Communications Representative at Shell Deer Park. (2/27/08)

Mary Lynn Fernau, President of The Fernau Group Public Relations and Marketing – How to identify your audience, determine your message and get public exposure for your business, product or project. (11/13/02)

Laura Emerson of Great Communications, Inc. – Marketing Your Invention as a Business to Investors. (9/25/02)

Jeff Applegate, President of Blackwell Plastics discussed “How Blackwell Plastics Works With Inventors”. Blackwell Plastics, the largest custom plastics injection molder in the south central United States, provides plastic injection molding, extrusion, tooling, assembly, and finishing services. (1/25/12)

(Via Skype) Chris Hawker, founder of award-winning inventor-oriented industrial design firm Trident Design, LLC (www.trident-design.com). He is a serial inventor specializing in unique problem-solver gadgets, like the PowerSquid and the Onion Goggles and has licensed products as well as manufactured and marketed them himself. With over 25 products on the market and cumulative sales in the millions, Chris’s products have been sold in nearly every major retail outlet. Chris discussed how to approach each step in turning an idea into a real product as outlined in his eBook, “The Inventor’s Mind”. (11/14/12)