Hi! I’m Kelli Proia.
I am an attorney, an educator, and an evangelist.
If that seems like a strange combination to some of you, let me explain.
Attorney.
I am a Massachusetts attorney with nearly 15 years of intellectual property law experience.
After graduating from the University of Maine School of Law in 1998, I spent 8 years working in large corporate legal departments creating and managing patent portfolios. In 2009, I decided to go into private practice working with small business clients, helping them develop their IP portfolios one small asset or agreement at a time.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked on patent and trademark prosecution, licensing and joint ventures, patent litigation, counterfeit goods, and a whole host of business agreements and policies, as well as many other corporate matters.
(Want to learn more? Then check out my LinkedIn profile here.)
All of this work led to my epiphany (and a subsequent new job title).
Educator.
My biggest lesson from 12 years practicing law: intellectual property is the most misunderstood, misused, and misappropriated business asset today.
Why? Most intellectual property owners just don’t understand it.
When I looked around at my clients and other companies, I quickly realized that they know they need to do something about their IP, but they aren’t really sure why.
If you bought a delivery van for your flower shop, you’d know how to start generating income with it, right? Well, the average patent costs about as much as a delivery van. Do you know how to maximize its value?
I started to ask myself…Is it OK for companies to spend so much money on a valuable business asset that they don’t really understand? And my immediate answer was “NO!”
It’s hard enough for some companies to make a profit today. They shouldn’t throw good money away.
So, why does it happen? Basically, nobody is teaching intellectual property owners the basic essentials of intellectual property law, strategy, or management. The missing factor in all of this is education.
In response to this need, I decided at the end of 2011 that it was time to stop the madness and help technology companies of all shapes and sizes really understand the value that lies in their biggest asset.
This led me to discover my passion.
Evangelist.
I love intellectual property. If I couldn’t practice Intellectual Property Law, I wouldn’t be a lawyer. That’s how passionate I am about intellectual property. So I preach, so to speak.
What do I preach?
There’s value in your Intellectual Property if you understand how to use it. All you need is an Owner’s Manual.
To whom do I preach?
Any start-up or entrepreneur who want to do things right from the beginning.
Small and large organizations who know they need a little help getting more out of their intellectual property.
Patent and intellectual property attorneys who are willing to listen to a new idea.
What’s the mission?
To end IP ignorance forever! My goal is to get an IP Owner’s Manual into the hands of every business in America.
I am an intellectual property evangelist.
And the Most Important Job of All.
When I’m not working on my business, I’m enjoying life with my husband, Bob, and our 5 year old daughter, Amanda. We love exploring our little corner of the world here in New England and spending time with friends and family.
If you would like to understand my IP philosophy and vision, read my Manifesto or hop on over to my blog to find out my latest thoughts and musings on IP management and strategy.