Lecturer Bios
Lisa M. Schreihart, BSEE, MSEE, MBA, JD
Lisa is an experienced (20 years) systems engineer and project manager (focused on software, signals, controls, wireless systems, and military electronics), a USPTO Registered Patent Attorney, and a NCPP Certified Patent Practitioner. Her time spent as a Patent Examiner in Art Unit 3685 gave her valuable insight into 35 U.S.C. section 101 examination practices, which she further developed in working closely with examiners on 101 issues across many cases at various law firms and with many clients as a go-to 101 rejection handler.
Lisa holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University, an MBA from the University of Iowa, and a J.D. From Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University. She is a member of the Maryland, District of Columbia, and U.S. Supreme Court bars. She enjoys finding creative ways to combine her diverse education and experience in engineering, business management, and the law for practical solutions.
While Lisa has found that not every subject matter eligibility problem is solvable under Alice, resolution of most 101 rejections is attainable with tweaking of perspective - for example, looking at patent law as a system with levers that can be managed for individual cases like a project. The approach can help refocus a patent practitioner on what is important to an examiner, often producing stronger claims as a result.
Timothy D. Snowden
Timothy Snowden is a registered patent practitioner, patent strategist and the founder of Definitive Patents, an independent patent prosecution agency and patent portfolio development consultancy, and also co-founder of Synchrony IP, a network of independent professionals serving IP-focused high-growth companies. With more than 15 years of experience in IP spanning patent preparation, prosecution, appeals, licensing, and portfolio strategy, he fills the role of a fractional Chief IP Officer, helping companies turn innovation into commercially focused patent assets.
His work spans medical, agricultural, mechanical, electrical, software, energy, and consumer technologies. Timothy graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University in Biomedical Engineering, with a minor in mathematics, and conducted published honors research on cardiovascular regeneration mechanics. He is a Certified Patent Practitioner, a Certified Licensing Professional, and a member of the National Association of Patent Practitioners. He also volunteers with the National Council on Patent Practicum, including work supporting standardized qualification and expanding opportunities for patent practitioners.
As a Christian, Timothy views innovation and entrepreneurship as part of humanity’s responsibility to steward God’s creation. His mission is to glorify God by helping entrepreneurs develop, protect, and responsibly commercialize their innovations.
